Christophe Licata, emblematic figure of Dancing with the stars since its beginningschose to break the silence one year after a tumultuous 2024 season. The 38-year-old dancer publishes his book next Monday Revelation(s) published by Leduc in which he looks back on his thirteen years on the flagship TF1 show. For the first time, he speaks about the ordeals he went through and behind the scenes of this adventure. Since his arrival in 2011, Christophe Licata has become a pillar of DALS. French Latin dance champion in his youth, he dazzled the public alongside partners like Amel Bent, Dita Von Teese and Priscilla Betti. “When I arrived in Paris, I thought the adventure would last three months. Finally, it has been thirteen years since I lived an extraordinary experience : unforgettable encounters, spectacular shows, but also sleepless nights searching for the perfect choreography”he says in his book. But behind the glitter and the spotlight lie moments of doubt and suffering. The year 2022 had already been marked by personal trials, notably the illness of his wife Coralie, but the 2024 season was particularly difficult due to the difficult relations between his partner Inès Reg and another candidate, Natasha St-Pier.
Christophe Licata returns for our colleagues from Parisian on the heavy climate within the show. He describes a form of harassment, and regrets that certain dancers and candidates have ganged up against him. “It was like school bullying. People who were supposed to be mature were behaving like children. When we were eliminated, everyone was congratulating Nico Capone and no one came to comfort us“he laments. Despite these tensions, Christophe tried to calm things down. “I went to our dressing room to burst the abscess. But I was criticized for not being supportive of Anthony. We didn’t have the same vision of things. Today, relations have calmed down, but I know who I can count on.”he admits. Beyond professional tensions, Christophe Licata reveals having been the victim of a physical attack in the middle of the street during this season. Seriously, he confides: “When I returned from rehearsals, people attacked me. They hit me, but fortunately, witnesses scared them away. I didn’t tell anyone: not my wife, not production, not the police. I hid my bruises for fear of it coming out in the press.” This experience pushed him to wall himself in silence for months as he told our colleagues: “I was paralyzed by fear. I no longer trusted anyone.”
Writing as an outlet
The writing of “Revelation(s)” allowed him to turn the page and on the genesis of this project he explains to Parisian : “Initially, this book was to explain why I didn’t want to do an additional season. It turned into a real therapy, allowing me to better understand what I went through.” The dancer hopes that his testimony will raise public awareness of the importance of respect and kindness in competitions. It also reminds us that behind the smiles and grace of the dancers sometimes hide deep wounds.
