Editing Arlene Phillips

{{short description|English choreographer television judge and presenter (born 1943)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific prefix   = [[Dame]]
| name               = Arlene Phillips
| honorific_suffix   = [[Order of the British Empire|DBE]]
| image              = Arlenephillips@strictly.png
| image_size         = 160
| alt                = 
| caption            = Phillips in 2009
| birth_name         = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1943|5|22}}
| birth_place        = [[Prestwich]], [[Lancashire]], England
| death_date         = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) -->
| death_place        = 
| death_cause        = 
| nationality        = British
| education          = 
| alma_mater         = 
| occupation         = Choreographer
| years_active       = 1976–present
| known_for          = {{hlist|Theatre choreographer|director|television personality|television judge|former dancer}}
| partner            = Angus Ion (1985–present)
| awards             = [[Laurence Olivier Award]]<br/>[[Carl Alan Award]]
| website            = {{URL|arlenephillips.com/}} {{URL|arlenelive.com}}
| notable works      = ''[[Annie (1982 film)|Annie]]''<br/>''[[Starlight Express]]''<br/>''[[Saturday Night Fever (musical)|Saturday Night Fever]]''<br/>''[[Hot Gossip]]''<br/>''[[Loose Women]]''<br/>''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]''<br/>''[[So You Think You Can Dance (UK)|So You Think You Can Dance]]''<br/> ''[[We Will Rock You (musical)|We Will Rock You]]'' 
}}
'''Dame Arlene Phillips''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}} (born 22 May 1943)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/interviews/2017/arlene-phillips-i-now-want-to-do-things-that-are-totally-out-of-my-comfort-zone/ |title=Arlene Phillips: 'I now want to do things that are totally out of my comfort zone'|date=15 August 2017|author=Mark Shenton|publisher=The Stage Media Company Limited}}</ref> is an English choreographer, theatre director, talent scout, former television judge, presenter, and dancer. She reached mainstream fame on television as a judge on ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' (2004-2008) and ''[[So You Think You Can Dance (UK)|So You Think You Can Dance]]'' (2010-2011). She has also achieved success as a stage choreographer on musicals including ''[[Starlight Express]]'' (1987), ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'' (1993 and 2022), ''[[Saturday Night Fever (musical)|Saturday Night Fever]]'' (1998), and ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' (2023).

== Early life ==
Phillips was born on 22 May 1943 in [[Prestwich]], [[Lancashire]].<ref name="celeb">{{Cite news|url= https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2021-11-16/im-a-celebrity-dame-arlene-phillips-to-be-shows-oldest-contestant |title=I'm A Celebrity 2021: Prestwich's Dame Arlene Phillips to be show's oldest contestant at 78 |publisher=itv.com |date=November 16, 2021}}</ref> She has a brother, Ian and a sister, Karen. She attended Broughton Preparatory School, [[Cheetham Hill]], Manchester;<ref name="pass"/> Beaver Road Primary School, [[Didsbury]];<ref name="pass"/> and [[Shena Simon Campus|Manchester Central High School for Girls]]<ref name="pass"/> after passing the [[eleven plus exam]].<ref name="pass">{{Cite news|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/passed-failed-an-education-in-the-life-of-arlene-phillips-choreographer-and-creator-of-hot-gossip-2007713.html|title=Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Arlene Phillips, choreographer and creator of Hot Gossip |publisher=independent.co.uk |date=June 24, 2011}}</ref> When Phillips was 15, her mother, who had been suffering from [[leukaemia]], died aged 43 just before Phillips was due to take her exams.<ref name="pass"/>

Phillips originally wanted to be a ballet dancer and began dance classes at the age of three, receiving a grant from the local council to study ballet and [[tap dance]] at the Muriel Tweedy School in Manchester after leaving school at 16.<ref name="pass"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Weale |first1=Sally |title=‘Worse than the Tories’: cultural figures question Labour plans for arts in schools |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/mar/02/cultural-figures-question-labour-plans-for-arts-in-schools |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=9 March 2025 |date=2 March 2025}}</ref> Her mother had always expressed a desire to dance, which inspired Phillips into pursuing dance professionally.<ref name="pass"/>

== Professional career ==
Phillips is internationally renowned as a choreographer and director of West End and Broadway musicals, but has many other professional credits.<ref name="pass"/> In her mid-teens, Phillips moved to London.<ref name="hall">{{Cite news |last=Malcolm |first=Pheby |date=August 22, 2018 |title=Hall of Fame - Arlene Phillips |work=iNostalgia |publisher=inostalgia.co.uk |url=https://inostalgia.co.uk/local-history/arlene-phillips/ |access-date=May 23, 2023}}</ref> where she developed her own style of jazz dance, strongly influenced by [[Jazz dance|American Modern Jazz]] dance popular in London at that time.<ref name="hall"/> She went on to teach her style of jazz dance at The Dance Centre, later named [[Pineapple Dance Studios]] in [[Covent Garden]],<ref name="hall"/> and at the [[Italia Conti Stage School]],<ref name="hall"/> so establishing herself as a successful teacher and choreographer.<ref name="hall"/>

Phillips was assistant choreographer on the 1982 film ''[[Annie (1982 film)|Annie]]''<ref name="hall"/> and the promotional video for the [[Duran Duran]] song ''[[The Wild Boys (song)|The Wild Boys]],'' named Best British Video at the 1985 [[BRIT Awards]].<ref name="hall"/> In the summer of 1996, she was stage director on the opening run of [[Michael Flatley]]'s Irish dance show, ''[[Lord of the Dance (musical)|Lord of the Dance]]'' at [[Dublin]]'s [[Point Theatre]].<ref name="speak"/>

Phillips choreographed the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] opening and closing ceremonies <ref name="hall"/> alongside fellow Mancunian, [[David Zolkwer]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Beckham in Commonwealth Games logo row |url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jul/26/marketingandpr1 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 July 2002 |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref>

From 2004 to 2008, she was a judge on the [[BBC One]] show ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'',<ref name="hall"/> and commented on the acts in ''[[Eurovision: Your Country Needs You]]'' for the BBC in 2009.<ref name="hall"/> In 2008, she created, produced, and choreographed the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] television serial ''[[Britannia High]]''.<ref name="hall"/>

Following Phillips's appearance on ''Your Country Needs You'', she choreographed the performance of the [[United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest|United Kingdom]] in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2009]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://esctoday.com/news/read/13963 | title=Eurovision Day 7: Russia, Germany, UK, Spain | access-date=9 May 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090511082718/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/13963| archive-date= 11 May 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> She went on to choreograph [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck's]] performance of the UK entry in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2012|2012 contest in Baku]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Plunkett|first1=John|title=Eurovision 2012: Engelbert Humperdinck 'very proud of song'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/mar/19/eurovision-2012-engelbert-humperdinck-song|access-date=6 November 2015|work=The Guardian|date=19 March 2012}}</ref>

In March 2013, Arlene appeared on ''[[Let's Dance For Comic Relief]]'' in the Dance Judge Panel with [[Greg James]] and [[Lee Mack]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lets Dance for Comic Relief – Series 5 – Episode 3 |url= http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/vhx4w/lets-dance-for-comic-relief--series-5---episode-3 |publisher=www.radiotimes.com | access-date=2 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307022142/http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/vhx4w/lets-dance-for-comic-relief--series-5---episode-3 |archive-date=March 7, 2013 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

== Hot Gossip ==
{{main|Hot Gossip}}
In Britain, Phillips first became a [[Celebrity|household name]] as the director and choreographer of [[Hot Gossip]], a British dance troupe which she formed in 1974.<ref name="pass"/> The group's performances were considered risqué at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC One - So You Think You Can Dance - Arlene Phillips |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3YGYR9ydFxGvT9Zh3jkw0CH/arlene-phillips |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Raeside |first=Julia |date=2011-05-30 |title=Why we fell in love with Pan's People |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2011/may/30/why-we-loved-pans-people |access-date=2025-04-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Hot Gossip spent two years performing in a London night club where Phillips and her manager developed the group's dance act.<ref name="pass"/>

==''Strictly Come Dancing''==
{{main|Strictly Come Dancing}}
Phillips was a member of the inaugural judging panel between 2004 and 2008 for the [[BBC]] television series ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'', alongside fellow judges [[Len Goodman]], [[Craig Revel Horwood]], and [[Bruno Tonioli]].<ref name="hall"/><ref name="mirror"/>
   
In 2005 and 2006, Phillips was a judge for the spin-off series ''[[Strictly Dance Fever]]'', which was also created by the BBC to seek dancers wishing to join the chorus of a West End musical.<ref name="hall"/> Later in 2007, she created and judged another BBC dance series, ''[[DanceX]]'', a show formed to find a new commercial dance act. After the initial audition process, the competitors were split into two troupes of dancers, with Phillips mentoring one troupe and the other being mentored by her fellow ''Strictly Come Dancing'' judge Bruno Tonioli. The two troupes competed live on television each week, with Tonioli's troupe being the eventual winners.<ref name="hall"/>

=== Departure from ''Strictly Come Dancing'' ===
After the close of the 2008 series of ''Strictly Come Dancing'', the BBC announced that several changes would be made to refresh the show in 2009.<ref name="drop"/> This led to a great deal of speculation in the media that Phillips might be dropped from the judging panel, but the BBC refused to respond to reports. They finally confirmed the news at the launch of their autumn schedule on 9 July 2009:<ref name="drop">{{cite news| url= http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6675424.ece |work=The Times|title= BBC drops Strictly judge Arlene Phillips for a younger model Alesha Dixon |date=10 July 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110615185104/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6675424.ece |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> she was replaced by former Strictly winner [[Alesha Dixon]].<ref name="drop"/> The news led to much criticism being directed towards the BBC for its apparent discrimination against older women on television; the BBC, however, strongly denied this.<ref name="drop"/><ref name="age"/>

The replacement of Phillips led to an unprecedented intervention from the then [[Minister for Women and Equality]], [[Harriet Harman]].<ref name="age"/> During a session in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], Harman responded to questions stating that she believed the decision to drop Arlene Phillips was motivated by age discrimination, and called on the BBC to ensure that she would be taking part in the new series.<ref name="age">{{cite news|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5844671/Strictly-Come-Dancings-Arlene-Phillips-is-a-victim-of-ageism-says-Harriet-Harman.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090719105755/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5844671/Strictly-Come-Dancings-Arlene-Phillips-is-a-victim-of-ageism-says-Harriet-Harman.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 July 2009|title=Strictly Come Dancing's Arlene Phillips is a victim of ageism, says Harriet Harman|last=Singh|first=Anita|date=16 July 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=25 April 2010}}</ref> The BBC did not formally respond to Harman's request, but repeated its comments that the decision was not due to age.<ref name="age"/>

==Later activities==
In October 2009, Phillips appeared on the first episode of the 38th series of the satirical show ''[[Have I Got News for You]]''.<ref name="mirror"/> Between April and July 2010, she made nine guest panellist appearances on ITV's flagship show ''[[Loose Women]]''.<ref name="mirror">{{cite news|url= https://www.mirror.co.uk/features/topic-desking/tv/who-arlene-phillips-former-strictly-25163467 |title= Who is Arlene Phillips? Former Strictly judge axed by BBC set for ITV's Dancing on Ice |publisher= mirror.co.uk|date= October 8, 2021}}</ref>

===''Britannia High''===
{{main|Britannia High}}
In 2007, Phillips became the Executive Producer and Creative Director for the ITV television series ''[[Britannia High]]''. The show was a fictional drama about the lives of six students at a London performing arts school. Based on an idea by Phillips and West End producer [[David Ian]], the series was marketed as the UK's answer to [[Disney]]'s ''[[High School Musical]]''. The show's music was created and written by hit songwriter, and [[Take That]] frontman, [[Gary Barlow]].<ref name="speak">{{cite news|url= https://thespeakersagency.com/speaker/arlene-phillips/|title= Arlene Phillips|publisher= thespeakersagency.com|date=2021}}</ref>

===''So You Think You Can Dance?''===
Phillips has also been a judge on the UK version of ''[[So You Think You Can Dance (UK)|So You Think You Can Dance?]]''.  The show's original creator [[Nigel Lythgoe]] is head judge on the series, and Phillips is joined on the panel by pop singer [[Louise Redknapp]], and dancer and choreographer [[Sisco Gomez]]. Phillips's appointment as judge for the series came soon after the controversy over her departure from ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]''. The first episode aired on [[BBC One]] in January 2010, and a second series in 2011.<ref name="mirror"/>

===''Gala for Grenfell''===
In July 2017, Phillips announced a dance gala to raise funds for those affected by the [[Grenfell Tower fire]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40522206|title=Arlene Phillips plans Grenfell gala|date=6 July 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=17 August 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> The Gala for Grenfell took place on 30 July 2017 at the [[Adelphi Theatre]], London and included stars from ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'', [[The Royal Ballet]] and Sir [[Matthew Bourne]]'s New Adventures company. Phillips said of the dancers taking part "They’re just doing it as themselves because each of the dancers is giving a gift and I want you to see them, and that they’re doing it for the love".<ref name="gren"/> The proceeds from the event went to the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation, the charity running the Grenfell Tower Fund.<ref name="gren">{{cite news|url= https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/arts/gala-for-grenfell-each-dancer-is-giving-a-gift-they-re-doing-it-for-the-love-a3595706.html|title= Gala for Grenfell: 'Each dancer is giving a gift — they're doing it for the love' |publisher= The Evening Standard|date=July 25, 2017}}</ref>

===Spoken word tour===
In 2017, Phillips embarked on a UK-wide spoken word tour, in conversation with Jacquie Storey.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.arlenephillips.com/tour|title=Arlene! The Glitz. The Glamour. The Gossip.|work=arlenephillips.com|access-date=2 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803005307/https://www.arlenephillips.com/tour|archive-date=3 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===''Holding Back the Years''===
In 2017, Phillips was a presenter on the [[BBC One]] series ''[[Holding Back the Years (TV series)|Holding Back the Years]]''.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=BBC|date=2017|title=Arlene Phillips|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08l5ntd}}</ref>

===''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!''===
In November 2021, Phillips at the age of 78 became the oldest ever contestant to appear on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s ''[[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series)|I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!]]''.<ref name="mirror2">{{Cite web|url= https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/im-celebrity-signs-strictlys-arlene-25111870 |title= I'm A Celebrity signs Strictly's Arlene Phillips as oldest ever contestant |publisher=mirror.co.uk|date=September 30, 2021}}</ref> The record was formerly held by [[Stanley Johnson (writer)|Stanley Johnson]] who took part in the [[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British series 17)|17th series]] of the show at the age of 77.<ref name="mirror2"/> Phillips participated in [[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British series 21)|series 21]] of the show and was the first celebrity eliminated.<ref name="mirror3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/breaking-im-celebritys-arlene-phillips-25622926 |title= I'm A Celebrity's Arlene Phillips is first star eliminated from ITV show - and fans are furious |publisher= mirror.co.uk|date=December 5, 2021}}</ref>

===''Dancing on Ice''===
On 20 February 2022, Phillips joined [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s ''[[Dancing on Ice]]'' as a guest Judge for Musicals week.

===''Toys the Musical''===
On 10 October 2024, Phillips joined Toys<ref name="pump1">{{Cite web|url=https://pumphousewatford.co.uk/events/toys-the-musical/ |title= Toys The Musical |publisher= pumphousewatford.co.uk}}</ref> as the executive co-producer.<ref name="wbc1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.watford.gov.uk/news/article/665/dame-arlene-philips-announced-as-co-producer-of-new-musical-toys-premiering-at-the-pump-house |title= Dame Arlene Philips announced as co-producer of new musical Toys, premiering at the Pump House |publisher= watford.gov.uk|date=October 8, 2024}}</ref> Phillips said at the time "I’ve been involved with Toys for many years, with the super talented and much missed Phil Edwards. I am delighted that Paul Morrissey and I can start the adventure of Toys coming to life and I’m thrilled to be producing this show with him." Toys only played for a short period with one reviewer writing "Although the story is a bit challenging to follow and there is lots of exposition to digest, there’s also lots of heart and thoughtful life lessons about the value of toys as therapeutic tools as well as playthings."<ref name="fringe1">{{Cite web|url=https://watfordfringereviews.blogspot.com/2024/12/review-toys-new-musical.html |title= Review: TOYS a new musical |publisher= watfordfringereviews.blogspot.com|date=December 12, 2024}}</ref>

== Honours ==
Phillips was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2001 Birthday Honours]].

Phillips was made [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[2013 New Year Honours]] for services to dance and charity,<ref>{{London Gazette
| issue = 60367
| date = 29 December 2012
| page = 8
| supp = y
}}</ref>

She became [[Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (DBE) in the [[2021 Birthday Honours]] for services to dance and charity.<ref>{{London Gazette
| issue = 63377
| date = 12 June 2021
| page = B8
| supp = y
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=11 June 2021|title=Birthday Honours 2021: Covid vaccine heroes recognised by Queen|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57427788|access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Phillips has been in a relationship with Angus Ion, a set builder, since 1985. The couple first met on the set of the music video for the [[Freddie Mercury]] song "[[I Was Born to Love You (song)|I Was Born to Love You]]".<ref name="mirror"/>

==''Alana Dancing Star'' books==
In 2010, Phillips wrote a series of children's fiction books. ''Alana Dancing Star'' is a series of six books, in which the title character explores different genres of dance. The series covers [[ballroom dance]], [[samba]], [[hip-hop]], [[Bollywood]], Broadway, and [[tango (dance)|tango]]. In summer 2011, one of the books, ''Viennese Waltz'', was selected to be part of [[Richard and Judy]]'s Summer Children's Reading List.<ref name="pass"/>

==Discography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! [[UK Singles Chart|UK Chart Position]]
|-
| 1982
| ''Keep in Shape System with Arlene Phillips''
| No. 41 <ref name="officialcharts">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/arlene%20phillips/|title=ARLENE PHILLIPS|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 1984
| ''Keep in Shape System Volume 2''
| No. 100<ref name="officialcharts"/>
|}

==Theatre credits==
*''[[Starlight Express]]'' – [[Apollo Victoria Theatre]], 1984; Broadway, 1987<ref name="mirror"/>
*''[[A Clockwork Orange: A Play with Music]]'' – [[Barbican Centre]] for the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], 1990<ref name="hall"/>
*''[[Matador (English musical)|Matador]]'' – [[Sondheim Theatre|Queen's Theatre]], 1991<ref name="speak"/>
*''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'' – [[Dominion Theatre]] and [[Cambridge Theatre]], 1993<ref name="mirror"/><ref name="theatre"/>
*''[[Saturday Night Fever (musical)|Saturday Night Fever]]'' – [[London Palladium]], 1998<ref name="ipswich"/>
*''[[We Will Rock You (musical)|We Will Rock You]]'' – [[Dominion Theatre]], 2002<ref name="hall"/><ref name="theatre"/>
*''[[The Sound of Music]]'' – London, 2006; Canada, 2008<ref name="hall"/>
*''[[Flashdance (musical)|Flashdance]]'' – 2008;<ref name="Playbill">{{Cite news|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/115024.html |title=Flashdance |periodical=[[Playbill]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219181952/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/115024.html |archive-date=19 February 2008}}</ref> [[Shaftesbury Theatre]], 2010–2011<ref name="theatre">{{Cite web|url= https://theatricalia.com/person/6rz/arlene-phillips |title=Arlene Phillips - Past productions |work= theatricalia.com |access-date= 15 April 2025}}</ref>
*''[[The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' – London Palladium, 2011<ref name="hall"/><ref name="mirror"/>
*''[[Allelujah!]]'' – [[Bridge Theatre]], 2018<ref name="theatre"/>
*''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' – Bridge Theatre, 2019<ref name="theatre"/>
*''[[What's New Pussycat? (musical)|What's New Pussycat?]]'' – [[Birmingham Repertory Theatre]], 2021
*''[[The Cher Show (musical)|The Cher Show]]'' – UK & Ireland Tour, 2022 (director)
*''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' – Bridge Theatre, 2023<ref name="bury"/>

== Film credits ==
*1982: ''[[Annie (1982 film)|Annie]]''
*1983: ''[[Monty Python's The Meaning of Life]]<ref name="speak"/>
*1984: "[[Private Dancer (Tina Turner song)|Private Dancer]]" ([[Tina Turner]] music video)
*1985: ''[[Legend (1985 film)|Legend]]''<ref name="speak"/>
*1988: ''[[It Couldn't Happen Here]]''
*1988: ''[[Salome's Last Dance]]''<ref name="speak"/>
*1990: ''[[White Hunter Black Heart]]''<ref name="speak"/>
*1980: ''[[Can't Stop the Music]]''
*1996: ''[[The Wind in the Willows (1996 film)|The Wind in the Willows]]''
*1979: ''[[Escape to Athena]]''
*1981: ''[[The Fan (1981 film)|The Fan]]''

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Work
! Result
! Ref
|-
|align=center|1987
| [[41st Tony Awards]]
|[[Tony Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography]]
|align=left|''[[Starlight Express]]'' Broadway
|{{nom}}
|style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="tony">{{cite web |url= https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1987/category/any/show/any/ |title= Tony Award Nominees 1987 |work= tonyawards.com|date= 1987 |access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|1994
| [[1994 Laurence Olivier Awards]]
|[[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer|Best Theatre Choreographer]]
|align=left|''[[Grease (musical)]]'' [[Dominion Theatre]]
|{{nom}}
|style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="ipswich">{{cite web |url= https://martini.ipswichstar.co.uk/things-to-do/national/23339622.derek-jacobi-arlene-phillips-given-special-olivier-awards-ahead-ceremony/ |title= Derek Jacobi and Arlene Phillips given special Olivier Awards ahead of ceremony |work=martini.ipswichstar.co.uk |date= 22 February 2023 |access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|1999
| [[1999 Laurence Olivier Awards]]
|[[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer|Best Theatre Choreographer]]
|align=left|''[[Saturday Night Fever (musical)]]'' [[London Palladium]]
|{{nom}}
|style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="ipswich"/>
|-
|align=center|2006
| The Theatre Carl Alan Awards
|Outstanding Services Award
|align=left|Career achievement
|{{won}}
|style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.tdci.org.uk/carl%20alan%20awards.htm |title= The Theatre Carl Awards: The Oscars of The World of Dance |work= The Theatre Dance Council International |date=2006|access-date=26 January 2023}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|2023
|[[2023 WhatsOnStage Awards]]
|[[2023 WhatsOnStage Awards|Best Choreography]]
|align=left|''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'', [[Dominion Theatre]]
|{{won}}
|style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/23rd-annual-awards-full-list-winners_58193.html |title= The 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards – full list of winners |work= WhatsOnStage |date= 12 February 2023 }}</ref>
|-
|align=center|2023
|[[2023 Laurence Olivier Awards]]
|[[Society of London Theatre Special Award|Special Recognition award]]
|align=left|Career achievement
|{{won}}
|style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="speak"/><ref name="recognise">{{Cite news |last=Wiegand |first=Chris |date=2023-02-22 |title=Derek Jacobi and Arlene Phillips picked for career-crowning Olivier awards |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/feb/22/derek-jacobi-and-arlene-phillips-picked-for-career-crowning-olivier-awards |access-date=2023-04-24 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|2024
|[[2024 Laurence Olivier Awards]]
|[[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer|Best Theatre Choreographer]]
|align=left|''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' (2023), [[Bridge Theatre]]
|{{won}}
|style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="bury">{{cite web |url= https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/24253228.arlene-philips-dancer-wins-olivier-award-guys-dolls/ |title=Ex Strictly judge Arlene Philips wins Olivier Award for Guys and Dolls |work=burytimes.co.uk |author= Isabel Oldman |date= 15 April 2024 }}</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of dancers]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16357460&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=miss-strictly--name_page.html Article from The Mirror newspaper]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20010302144852/http://www.nightfever.co.uk/arlene.htm Biography from the official website for the Saturday Night Fever musical]
*{{IBDB name}}
*{{IMDb name|0680219}}

{{OlivierAward Choreographer}}
{{OlivierAward SpecialAward}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Arlene}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:English choreographers]]
[[Category:English women choreographers]]
[[Category:Laurence Olivier Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People from Prestwich]]
[[Category:Musical theatre choreographers]]