(Image: Denise Sides)<\/em><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n Transport was arranged discreetly, with a taxi laid on from her hotel to prevent the filming location becoming public knowledge.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t know who it was for at all,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was supposed to be like a dancing competition in this big old social club in London with ballrooms. Then this young girl walks in, all dressed up, and she comes over and says, \u2018Hi, I\u2019m Taylor.\u2019\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI was like, no way. Oh my God.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Meeting Taylor
\n<\/h3>\n
\n Denise said the star immediately put everyone at ease, thanking the dancers for coming and explaining what she wanted from the scene.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cShe was singing, dancing and directing it as well,\u201d Denise said. \u201cShe knew exactly what she wanted. She\u2019d say, \u2018Try this, try that,\u2019 and she was really nice about it. Some can be a bit abrupt but she wasn\u2019t. She was lovely and so talented.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Swift even took time to compliment Denise\u2019s royal blue ballroom skirt which she has owned since turning professional in 1988.\n<\/p>\n
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Denise Sides in her blue ballroom gown for the ‘Opalite’ music video (Image: Denise Sides)<\/em><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n \u201cShe came to me and said, \u2018I love your dress. It really fits the set.\u2019 Then she said she wanted me to look bored and fed up, like I didn\u2019t want to be there,\u201d Denise laughed. \u201cI said, \u2018Oh, I can do that easy!\u2019\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n After filming, Swift offered photos to some of the dancers.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI told her my son and grandson are fans, the whole family love her music,\u201d Denise said. \u201cShe said, \u2018That\u2019s what I want. I want to appeal to everybody.\u2019\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n When she watched the finished video for the first time, she admitted it came as a shock.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cYou just can\u2019t believe it\u2019s you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Filming took place in November, but Denise had to keep the project secret until its release last week.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThat was hard,\u201d she said. \u201cI only told a few people in my dance class and my family. My grandson\u2019s at university studying filmmaking, so he knew how it all worked. He\u2019s telling everyone at Uni now!\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n ![]()
Screenshots from Taylor Swift’s music video ‘Opalite’, Denise Sides on the right (Image: YouTube\/Taylor Swift)<\/em><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n Six decades of dancing
\n<\/h3>\n
\n Denise began dancing as a child and has never stopped. She competed as a teenager, later turning professional and running her own dance school since the 1990s.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThat\u2019s my happy place, my passion,\u201d she said. \u201cIf I\u2019m not teaching, I\u2019m dancing myself.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n She teaches Strictly-style ballroom, wedding dances, beginners\u2019 classes and more advanced sessions, keeping numbers small to maintain what she describes as a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI like it technically correct,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I\u2019m not into regimental teaching. It\u2019s a friendly night to meet people. It\u2019s a good hobby to do with your partner or even a friend.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Her weekly sessions run every Tuesday at Wrexham Railway Club, with a 7pm main class followed by an 8pm absolute beginners\u2019 session.\n<\/p>\n
\n Denise has also hosted inclusive workshops for young people with disabilities, she hopes the video appearance might inspire new faces to try dancing.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to get a new class going,\u201d she said. \u201cMaybe people will think, \u2018Well, if Taylor chose her, why don\u2019t we?\u2019\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n From Wrexham to London
\n<\/h3>\n
\n Although she has previously filmed in Manchester and the North West (including ballroom scenes for television dramas) Denise said travelling to London for such a high-profile project felt different.\n<\/p>\n
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Photos of the outside of the music video set (Image: Denise Sides)<\/em><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been filming up north and you know your way around,\u201d she said. \u201cBut going down south, it\u2019s different territory. I was a bit nervous at first. But I\u2019m so glad I went.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n With more than 20 years of background acting experience and several other productions under her belt, Denise describes the Swift shoot as the most important of her career.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI\u2019ve done quite a few things,\u201d she said. \u201cBut she has been the most important person I’ve done work for.”\n<\/p>\n
\n And at 71, she hopes her experience sends a message.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cYou\u2019re never too old,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve been dancing over 60 years and I\u2019m still going.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n “It was an experience I will never, ever forget.”\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n