FLAVIA Cacace dances over the tricky personal questions as smoothly as any American smooth move she's ever performed on Strictly.

 

The lady, in Glasgow this week and starring alongside Vincent Simone in their Hollywood musical celebration show Dance Till Dawn, is always pleasant during conversation.

But the 35 year-old reveals herself to be as adept at avoiding the tricky questions as she was of Phil Daniels' two left feet.

For example, is it true that dancing really is the vertical expression of a horizontal desire?

"I think dancing is a very emotional thing to do," she says, speaking in general terms.

"There are lots of styles of dancing which portray a story. The cha-cha is the cheeky dance, tango is the dance of love. And you do have to be very close to your partner; it's all about balance and weight."

And passion?

"Yes, the tango is raw," she says. "But as a professional, you get over that very quickly. You keep things professional."

Not always. Flavia and Vincent Simone were partners in every sense of the word since they met as young professionals.

But the relationship ended in 2008 after she and Eastenders star Matt Di Angelo met on Strictly, and found their feet and hearts to be in alignment.

The couple were together for three years. But then Flavia quickstepped into a new relationship with another of her celebrity partners, Coronation Street star Jimi Mistry.

Along the way, the Italian, whose parents moved to London when she was four, had to get used to the living her private life in public.

"I never expected it," she says of the headlines, but without referencing anyone in particular.

"And you're not prepared for it. Actors and singers expect it if their career progresses, but you don't really expect to get that level of publicity being a dancer. It's not part of what you thought your life would be about."

Yes, but if you're going to fall for a celebrity . . .twice?

"It sat uncomfortably, it was quite a shock," she says of the media interest. "You don't realise it's going to happen. And you don't realise there are so many people watching at home and they know everything about you."

Flavia adds; "And no one can teach you how to deal with it. Dancers don't often have agents or managers to give you advice so it's very much about learning as you go."

Flavia, who is now married to Jimi Mistry, still avoids specific names when asked a lighter question; how does it really feel when you are partnered with someone who clearly has elephant DNA?

"It's part of human nature to weigh people up when you see them, I suppose.

"And while it's hard to tell if someone will be any good, you will judge their posture and shape to begin with.

"But a lot of it for me is about personality. It's an entertainment show and it's not all about the dancing."

Yet you want to win?

"Yes, but sometimes if a person can't dance so well it's less pressure on you. And dancing with Russell Grant was the most fun I've had on the show."

What about Jimmy Tarbuck, who departed before the band struck up? Or the clumpy Phil Daniels?

"Obviously it is hard when you get someone whom you know is going to struggle, or they will have a hard time with the performance.

"But you've just got to take it, deal with it and make the most of it."

You're currently touring the country with your ex, Flavia, you and Vincent dancing your hearts out together to a backdrop of romantic forties Hollywood.

Does this engender a little jealousy?

"No, none whatsoever," she says, her voice now as dramatic as her tango. "Our partnership is based on a friendship we've had for so many years.

"And our partners are so supportive of what we do. We couldn't be in a luckier position, really."

What about you and Jimi, do you still still dance together?

"Yes, after a glass of wine we'll often have a little boogie in our kitchen," she says, relaxing a little more, clearly relieved at not having to avoid tripping over her tongue.

"And when we go to parties or wedding together it's lovely to be able to dance together."

On softer ground, Flavia is happy to talk about the strains of dance on the body.

"It's very hard," she says. "We've got a couple of injured cast members, but luckily Vin and I are okay, it's just muscular pains so we're getting lots of sports massage."

Has she become addicted to the smell of wintergreen?

"Yes," she says, laughing. "It's almost like a perfume to me. I've gotten so used to it over the years."

She adds, reflecting, "It's a strange way to make a living, but I'm so glad I'm able to do it."

But perhaps a little less glad to talk about it.

*Dance Till Dawn, the King's Theatre, until Saturday.