The Waltz That Broke Her: Dianne Buswell Reveals The Emotional Confession Behind Her Most Profound Strictly Moment
Few journeys in television feel as deeply personal and culturally resonant as those on Strictly Come Dancing. For professional dancer Dianne Buswell, her nine years in the famed ballroom have been a tapestry woven with glitter, grueling rehearsals, professional triumph, and, most surprisingly, life-altering love. In a raw and reflective moment, Buswell pulled back the curtain on her time on the show, sharing a collection of memories that illuminate not only her career but the extraordinary personal evolution she has undergone. While the show is known for its dazzling lights, Buswell’s story is a powerful reminder that behind every perfect ten is a deeply human experience, filled with vulnerability, overwhelming pride, and the kind of magic that changes a person forever.
Buswell’s tenure on Strictly has been marked by an unwavering enthusiasm that is infectious. Despite nearly a decade of high-octane performance, she confesses that every year still feels like the first. “When are you going to leave?” is a common question she fields, to which her answer is a definitive “No.” For Buswell, the only question that matters is, “How many more years can I do?” This enduring passion is the fuel that has powered her through countless routines and partnerships, starting with a debut that set a whimsical tone for the years to follow.
The Whimsical Debut and the Search for Theatricality
Her very first partner was the beloved Reverend Richard Coles, or “Revo” as she fondly calls him. The memory of his entrance—descending in a cloud while playing a harp—stands as a testament to the show’s unique ability to blend high glamour with unexpected charm. For any professional dancer, the first live routine is a cocktail of nerves and excitement, but Buswell recalls her initial feeling being dominated by sheer joy. She was an Australian dancer, suddenly standing on the most famous dancefloor in the United Kingdom, and the excitement was palpable. That first dance was a special, career-defining moment, but it was just the prelude to her signature style.
Buswell quickly became known for her creative approach to choreography, describing her routines as “little mini movies.” The goal is to tell a complete, emotionally resonant story in just a minute and 30 seconds—a feat she admits is “quite hard.” This theatrical ambition shone brightly during themed weeks, which she cites as her absolute favorite. The Halloween dance she performed with Tyler was a perfect example. The number was visually stunning and highly conceptual, culminating in a striking moment where “creepy hands… took our faces.” Buswell was immensely proud of the routine, seeing it as a complete success in cinematic storytelling, even though it ended in their elimination. The heartbreak of leaving aside, the creative satisfaction remains a high point of her artistry.
The Triumph of the Iconic Hips
The show’s magic often lies in the transformation of its celebrity partners, and Buswell has been instrumental in several remarkable journeys. One partnership that stands out for its sheer athletic triumph is her pairing with Bobby Brazier. The challenges are always immediate and intense, and she recalls a moment of deep worry at the start of a particular week as they tackled the Samba, a notoriously demanding Latin dance. The Samba requires a specific articulation of the hips and a foundational rhythm that can be difficult for a novice to grasp.
Yet, as is often the case in Strictly, perseverance led to a breakthrough. Dianne recounts the exact moment “something clicked,” and she discovered the phenomenal capacity for movement in her partner. “I discovered the use of his hips,” she recalls, instantly realizing, “That’s what I need.” What followed was the successful channeling of this discovered talent, leading to what she now refers to, with affection, as “quite some iconic hips.” The partnership culminated in a triumphant final performance that earned an extraordinary three tens—a 10, 10, 10—making her “extremely proud of him.” It was a moment that underscored the value of patience, targeted coaching, and the exhilarating feeling of seeing potential realized on the biggest stage.
The Profound Power of the Waltz
While the triple-ten score with Bobby was a professional peak, it was a much quieter, more intimate moment with Paralympian Chris McCausland that cemented the most profound emotional space in her heart. For Dianne, their Waltz is a dance that will “always have a special place” in her memory.
The dance was a masterclass in controlled emotion and trust. She remembers Chris closing his eyes, a small but significant gesture that told her, “He is loving this.” The experience was “so powerful” that even the retelling gives her goosebumps. But the emotional climax came with a meticulously choreographed step that required a staggering amount of faith and vulnerability from both of them: the moment where she intentionally left him to walk alone.
As she pulled back, separating herself from her visually-impaired partner, she watched him intently. The choreography was designed to show his strength, but in that moment, what she saw was pure, human vulnerability. The shift in his expression, moving from vulnerability to a clear feeling of safety as she returned to his side—captured the hearts of everyone watching. “So beautiful, so emotive,” she summarizes. It was a partnership that transcended the technical demands of the dance, tapping into deep reservoirs of trust and emotional sincerity. The routine concluded not with triumphant shouts, but with shared, private emotion. “I think we just cuddled each other and cried in each other’s arms,” she recalls. Buswell has never felt more professional or personal pride than when she finished a dance with Chris. It was, she concluded, a dream come true.
A Life Changed Forever: Love and Legacy
The ballroom floor has not only been the site of professional highs but also the setting for the most significant personal change in her life. Buswell readily acknowledges that Strictly has changed her life in “more ways than one,” chiefly through meeting her partner, Joe Sugg, in 2018. Their love story, which blossomed from a dance partnership, has been one of the show’s most celebrated off-screen successes.
The Quickstep they performed at the legendary Blackpool Tower holds a dual significance: it was a beautiful, technical ballroom dance, and it fulfilled a deeply personal ambition. Buswell admits that dancing a beautiful ballroom routine on the hallowed Blackpool floor was something she had dreamed of since she was six years old. To share that fulfillment with the person who would become her life partner added an indelible layer of magic to the memory.
In recent times, Buswell has continued to break ground, offering a breathtaking glimpse into her future. The experience of being the first professional dancer to perform live on Strictly while pregnant was both “empowering” and “quite cool.” It was a moment of profound personal and professional synthesis. She speaks beautifully about the documented nature of her life, realizing that her future son can go back and watch everything, “from day dot when his mom and dad met.” The entire journey—the professional struggles, the artistic triumphs, the finding of love, and the joy of creating life—is all captured for posterity.
Looking back at the nine years, Buswell finds the sheer volume of experience “mind-blowing.” Her sentiment is one of profound gratitude: grateful for the show, grateful for the people she has met, and grateful for the journey that she knows is “yet to come.” Dianne Buswell’s time on Strictly Come Dancing is more than a tenure; it is a human saga of dedication, vulnerability, and the transformative power of art, reminding us that sometimes the most magical moments happen when you simply stop dancing and allow yourself to feel.