Gorka Marquez: ‘I want to show the other side of Strictly’
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‘Sometimes I don’t feel like I want to dance,’ Gorka Marquez – one of the nation’s favourite professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing – admits. The 34-year-old is talking to Metro about a viral Instagram post he published in September. He shared a selfie of himself crying and said he felt ‘guilty’ for leaving his partner Gemma Atkinson and their children Mia, five, and Thiago, one, while he worked away from home.
The response was massive. Gorka was praised for being open, honest and vulnerable – particularly as man in a society where toxic masculinity still pervades. He says he posted it to make others feel ‘less alone.’. Gorka explains: ‘People always show us with a smile, entetaining, with glitter, getting hair and make up done, doing a theatre tour or doing an arena tour and believe everything is just “Wow.” But there is a lot of sacrifice. I left home when I was 16 to become a dancer.
![[Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind the Lens - Series 2 Picture shows: (L-R) Gorka Marquez, Mia, Gemma Atkinson and Thiago Photographer: Mark Forrer]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_206569639-c186.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=475)
‘Sometimes I don’t feel like I want to dance, like how people don’t want to go into the office. Sometimes, your body is broke from nine hours a day rehearsing and it’s cold and your joints are aching but you have to do it. ‘I just want to show that we all go through that and to help people going through the same thing to make them feel less alone.’.
![[For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Paul Merson and Karen Hauer who have been paired for Strictly Come Dancing. Issue date: Saturday September 14, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Strictly. Photo credit should read: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_221647883-64b7.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘I just did it to show that we’re still like humans. I don’t consider myself famous. I just consider myself as dancer who is lucky enough to perform on television.’. Karen Hauer, 42, Gorka’s fellow Strictly pro and tour buddy – the pair will be travelling up and down the UK from February for their Speakeasy tour – alsoagrees that life as a dancer can be tough.
![[Karen Hauer Instagram 17 October 2023]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_179453237-8ed7.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
