“My childhood had a big impact on what I do now,” says Pierre, who speaks with a strong French accent.
“I was shy and timid as a child.

“When I came to England I spoke with an accent, I had half a tooth and kids made fun of me, so I didn’t smile much.

“I only had one or two friends and one suggested I went to dance classes with her on the Coventry Road in Small Heath.

“I went and something stirred within me. Suddenly I was accepted through dancing. The dancing spoke instead of words.

“I wasn’t very good at it because I didn’t have the ear for the music – but I loved it.

“Sadly, my father died when I was just 15, so I didn’t have any money for classes. But I did a paper round and washed my boss’s car to raise the four shillings and sixpence for the class.”

Pierre moved to London in his 20s, first working as a hairdresser at Harrods then teaching at the Arthur Murray dance academy.

He became well-known at a young age after winning a Duel of the Giants dancing competition in London in 1967 and 1969.

http://www.sundaymercury.net/lifestyle-news/midlands-education-news/2010/07/18/world-famous-ballroom-dancer-pierre-dulaine-on-fleeing-his-country-being-bullied-teaching-street-kids-to-dance-and-antonio-banderas-playing-him-in-a-film-about-his-life-**/

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