When and where were you born?
I was born in Banbridge, 25 miles south of Belfast in Northern Ireland. As a kid I played soccer. My brother and sister, who were twins were dancing all the time, since they were six and I was ten, and although I wasn’t interested in dancing, I would get dragged around to their dances for about six months saying “I’m not going to do this.” Until one of the kids I played soccer with had a sister who needed a dance partner, so it was funny having a ten year old boy come up to me - at ten years old as well - asking me to dance with his sister. So, that’s when I started. It was awful because my brother kicked my butt every time I danced against him, which was not a nice experience. His name was Jeremy and he is currently a Professional back in Northern Ireland.

What is your favourite style of dance?
I like watching Smooth and Standard, even though I don’t do it.

What was the transition like for you when moving from Amateur to Pro?
It was very easy because I didn’t have a job and needed to make some money. Supershag also tried to help people, at the moment we have helped sponsor a couple that was English #1 Amateur couple, Evgeni Smagin & Rachel Heron. This year we helped sponsor the American Amateur Team with their accommodation at the Celtic Classic in Ireland. When I danced, I had a full time job, because as an Amateur in England we weren’t allowed to teach, yet I was dancing with all the Germans and Scandinavians who had their own studios and, it was difficult. I had to really work to pay to dance, so it was nice when I started to get paid for it.

Do you have any role models?
Sam Sodano is a huge role model for what he achieves in this country. I also think that John Kimmins, the way that he has promoted American dancing abroad has done an incredible job. Eddie Ares, not only with dancing and his students, but he has set up a new global network. Those are three people I really respect. From a dancing point of view, Diana McDonald is the most unbelievable teacher and person that I have ever danced with.

What

was one of your most memorable and rewarding dance experiences to date?
In 1987, in Bulgaria. I was dancing with a lady called Nicky Nordin. She actually judged at Blackpool for the first time this year, which was rather nice. But, anyway, Michael Jackson had just brought out his “Bad” Album and there had been a concert in West Berlin the night before we danced the comp and there had been a riot in East Berlin with kids trying to get near the wall to hear the music. So, the week after, on the Friday night, the competition became televised, we won the competition and they asked us to do another dance. So, I went to the producer of the TV program and asked if he had a problem if I used this particular music, and he thought it was fantastic.

So, there were 24,000 to 25, 000 people in the stadium and as soon as the first bar of Michael Jackson’s “Bad” song played and we started doing the Cha Cha, everybody stood up and started clapping. That’s what it felt like to be a pop star. We even needed a police escort to get us out of the building because people wanted autographs and stuff, so that was nice.

FUN FACTS ABOUT CHRIS JOHNSTON

Do you have any other interests or activities outside of dance? I was ranked in the top ten in tennis at fourteen years old, but now it’s just work, work, work. I don’t have time to do anything, but I enjoy working, so that’s pretty good.

What is your Favourite Food? Steak, cooked anyway, as long as it used to breathe, I will eat.

What is your dream car? I drive it. I have a Porsche 911 Convertible. If you work all the time, you can actually afford to have one.

Favourite time of day? Definitely night time.

Favourite Quote? I suppose it’s to just do it! Stop talking about it and just do it!

Favourite place to visit? Miami, Florida.

Do you have any pet peeves? People who talk too much and don’t do anything.

If you could only have one of your senses, which would it be – taste, touch, smell, sound, sight? Why? Sight. I am a very visual person, so couldn’t imagine what it would be like to not see anything.