Giovanni Pernice

Early life

Pernice was born in Sicily. At the age of 14 he moved to Bologna to concentrate on dance. He chose to become a dancer after watching Come Dancing a television show about ballroom dance competitions. Specialising in Latin style, Pernice has won a number of competitions including the Italian 2012 Championships.

Strictly Come Dancing

In 2015 Pernice appeared as a professional dancer on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing for its thirteenth series. He was partnered with former Coronation Street actress and model, Georgia May Foote. They reached the finals of the competition, but finished as joint runners-up alongside Kellie Bright and her professional partner, Kevin Clifton. They also participated as partners for the 2016 Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour.

In 2016 Pernice returned to Strictly Come Dancing for its fourteenth series. He was partnered with television presenter Laura Whitmore. They were eliminated Week 7 in a dance-off with Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton, the Series 14 champions, and finished in 9th place.

In 2017, Pernice returned to Strictly Come Dancing for its fifteenth series as a professional dancer. His celebrity partner was Debbie McGee, television and radio presenter and former ballet dancer.

Pernice has also appeared on a number of episodes of BBC 2 Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two with Zoe Ball.

Pernice is the current Guinness World Record Holder for Jive Kicks and Flicks, performing correctly 55 jive kicks and flicks in 30 seconds in a challenge held in December 2016 on 'It Takes Two' with supervision by Guinness World Records

Dance Tours and Professional Dance Engagements

Pernice has taken part in the national Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour in 2016 with his celebrity partner Georgia May Foote and again in 2017 as part of the professional dance troupe for group numbers and professional dances.

In 2016, Pernice announced his first dance tour 'Dance is Life', translated from the Italian expression 'Il Ballo e Vita'. The tour comprised 32 dates in England, Scotland and Wales between April to July 2017 to positive reviews . The opening night was 26 April 2017 at The Albany Theatre, Coventry. The last performance took place on 23 July 2017 at the Marina Theatre, Lowestoft. The tour was produced by Paul Irving of Strictly Theatre Co. The Director and Choreographer was Jason Gilkison. The lead dancers were Giovanni Pernice with leading lady Luba Mushtuk, with a cast of Kai Widdrington, Giulia Dotta, Robert Rowinski, Dianne Buswell, Curtis Pritchard and Emily Barker.

Competition History

Pernice is a member of the Federazione Italiana Danza Sportiva, part of the World DanceSport Federation and competed at Youth and Adult levels between 2007 and 2014. Notable results include winning the Italian Open Latin Championships in 2012 with his dance partner Erika Attisano and 2nd place in the International Open Latin in Slovenia 2014. Pernice has won many further Open competitions including Pieve di Cento - Italy (2011), Ancona - Italy (2011); San Marino (2011) and Saint Cugat des Valles - Spain (2011). His competition dance partners include Erika Attisano (2011-2014) and Alexandra Koldan (2014-2015).

Series 14; with Laura Whitmore

Due to an ankle injury Laura was unable to dance in week 5 they were given a bye, and able to automatically progress to the next week.

Personal Life

Following Series 13 of Strictly Come Dancing, Pernice dated Georgia May Foote, the relationship ended in August 2016.