TV dancing sensation and international champion Johannes Radebe announces the dancers joining him in his brand-new production Johannes Radebe: Freedom Unleashed, which will open on 31 March and run through to 28 May 2023, performing across the UK with a week-long run at London’s Peacock Theatre from 4 – 8 April 2023.
Johannes will be joined by Oliver Adam-Reynolds (Dirty Dancing West End), Lila Eccles (Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella), Lowri Evans (Johannes Radebe: Freedom), Demmileigh Foster (9 to 5), Jared Irving (Matthew Bourne’s Lord of The Flies), Luke Jarvis (Chicago), Shayna McPherson (Disney’s Aladdin), Duane-Lamonte O Garro (The Lion King), Joshian Angelo Omana, Barnaby Quarendon (Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake) and Zinzile Tshuma (Thriller Live!)
Completing the company will be South African singer-songwriter and former contestant of The Voice South Africa, Ramelo.
Following this year’s tour, Johannes will then host a very special one-off event entitled Johannes Radebe: One Night in Heaven, which will see him host a 60-minute high heels dance class to raise money for charity.
The event will take place at Heaven Nightclub in London’s West End and will welcome participants of all levels to the dancefloor. Following the class, the dancefloor will then be open for two hours of floor-filling anthems and surprise guests, all there to help a good cause. Profits from the event will be donated to a collection of charities. Tickets are on sale now.
In Freedom Unleashed, Johannes and the diverse, world-class cast of talented dancers and singers will be performing to a mix of African rhythms and huge party anthems with a touch of ballroom magic – making the show a jubilant celebration of culture, passion, and freedom.
Born in the township Zamdela Sasolburg, South Africa, Johannes Radebe started dancing when he was seven. He was fascinated by the discipline and glamour of Ballroom and Latin. Over the next 13 years, Johannes competed in local competitions, climbing up the Latin ranks with top honours, and eventually adding Ballroom and other dance styles, such as African Contemporary and Jazz. He became a finalist at national dance competitions and received an invitation to compete internationally in St Petersburg, Russia.
At the age of 21, Johannes left South Africa to work on the internationally renowned Italian cruise liner Costa. Persistence and experience saw this young, vibrant South African given more responsibilities including choreographing, teaching new dancers, and then eventually being promoted to Dance Captain. In 2018, he was invited to join the debut season of the international hit show, Dancing With The Stars, in South Africa.
Johannes toured the world in the international dance show Burn The Floor before being headhunted by Strictly Come Dancing, later moving to the UK to dance on the flagship BBC show. In his second series, he was partnered with Catherine Tyldesley and danced the first same-sex routine with fellow Strictly star Graziano Di Prima. He was partnered with Caroline Quentin in his third year and the couple made it to week seven. In 2021, he and his celebrity partner, John Waite, made history by being the first all-male partnership to compete on the show. The pair made it to the final and won the British LGBT Award for Media Moment of the Year. Johannes also recently won Attitude’s Game Changer Award. In 2022, he was partnered with comedian and actress Ellie Taylor.
The UK Tour of Johannes Radebe: Freedom Unleashed is presented by ROYO.
