Kai Widdrington, known for his dazzling performances on Strictly Come Dancing, has a story that’s as captivating as his moves on the dance floor. Born to a renowned footballer, Tommy Widdrington, who currently manages Aldershot Town FC, Kai seemed destined to carve his path in the world of soccer. His roots in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, where his father played for Port Vale FC, set the stage for what many thought would be a promising football career for the young talent.
As a child with boundless energy and dreams of emulating his dad’s success on the football field, Kai joined Port Vale FC academy with aspirations of becoming a “star footballer.” However, fate had different plans for him. Recognizing his son’s need for an outlet to channel his exuberance and passion, Kai’s parents nudged him towards an unexpected direction – ballroom dancing.
“I really didn’t like it that much…”
At first resistant to this new endeavor, Kai reluctantly took up ballroom dancing lessons from neighbors who were professional instructors. It wasn’t until he was paired with a dance partner and began competing that he discovered his love for the art. The thrill of competition sparked something within him that even surpassed the allure of scoring goals on the pitch.
“I needed to do what I needed to do to win…”
Despite initial hesitations about donning sparkles and Cuban heels, Kai’s determination to succeed overshadowed any self-consciousness he may have felt about performing flamboyant dances. Winning became his driving force – a fierce motivation that propelled him into pursuing excellence in every twirl and step he took.
As he reminisced about those formative years spent in Stoke-on-Trent during interviews with BBC Radio Stoke, Kai recalled how music became intertwined with his passion for dance. Listening to songs en route to football practice triggered visions of choreography in his mind – a pivotal moment when he realized that dancing held a special place in his heart compared to football.
“It was about winning for me…”
While flourishing alongside future Premier League stars like Luke Shaw and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during his time at Southampton FC hinted at a promising athletic trajectory ahead of him, Kai made a bold choice that diverged from conventional expectations. Opting out of securing a potential spot at Southampton FC as a budding football star, he embraced dancing wholeheartedly as his chosen path forward.
Returning back to Southampton after leaving Stoke-on-Trent where he cherished fond memories of childhood camaraderie and carefree days spent with friends permeated by fun-filled experiences; it was evident that Kai’s roots continued shaping who he’d become despite geographical shifts over time.
Currently captivating audiences worldwide with “Evolution,”his dance show while gearing up for another season on Strictly Come Dancing reaffirms how far he’s journeyed since those early days dreaming big amidst familiar streets of Stoke-on-Trent. Reflecting on how participating in the iconic BBC show has transformed him profoundly especially considering humble beginnings rooted in Stoke-on-Trent evokes feelings of gratitude towards life-changing experiences encountered along this remarkable journey.
