What does Darcey dance to in the kitchen?

This weekend on Sound of Dance, Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell joins Katie Derham to analyse a dancer's relationship with music – discussing her roles in ballets from The Sleeping Beauty to Song of the Earth.

But when the cameras stop rolling, the microphones are switched off and the audience has gone home, what gets this former prima ballerina moving? We asked Darcey for her ultimate kitchen party playlist – and boy, did she come through.

Dancing Queen – Abba

Darcey says: I love making playlists, especially if it’s for a mad party – then I’m totally on it. Everybody enjoys a good beat and something easy to dance to. And Dancing Queen is a really significant song for me because my husband and I had it at our wedding as our first dance. So much of Abba feels of-an-era: the positive, upbeat mood of the 1970s.

We didn’t choreograph our first dance – my husband only does rock and roll – but all our guests came and joined in. In fact, someone ripped my wedding dress by dancing right onto it!

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Beggin’ – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (Pilooski remix)

I'm really drawn to happy music with a strong, danceable beat. It’s what picks me up at the beginning of the day. As soon as I wake up, I turn on the radio, and suddenly everything is so much easier.

I can’t remember exactly where I first came across this remix of Beggin', but I was putting together a playlist for a party and it was just an instant seller for me.

I Get Around – The Beach Boys

My dad was obsessed with the Beach Boys, so I grew up with their music. Listening to this is like a blast of feel-good straight from the 1960s.

I was lucky enough to see Brian Wilson in concert a couple of years ago. It was an amazing experience: the concert was at Sydney Opera House, but absolutely everyone was out of their seats and dancing. He’s such an icon.

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I Wish – Stevie Wonder

I love Stevie Wonder – again, probably the influence of my parents. Although when I was a kid I would listen to songs like Ebony and Ivory over and over again in my room, and it used to drive them bonkers. Still, it’s how I got to grips with Stevie Wonder and my most favourite track is I Wish.

I could never get bored of this song. I think he's a genius. I just love that insistent beat and the way the rhythm builds and builds and builds and builds…

Love Me Again – John Newman

I first came across John Newman when I appeared on the same chat show as him a couple of years ago. I think he’s a really interesting artist: a young guy, but very thoughtful and with a really unique style that’s totally him.

He has this amazing, deep voice and is also obviously attracted to a heavy beat – a nice mix. This is one of my very favourite pieces to dance to.

(Getting Some) Fun Out Of Life – Madeleine Peyroux

I really enjoy the old classics when it comes to music. I suppose it's what you'd call "smooth" – that old-style, old sound, where you feel almost like you're in a jazz cub with the singer, just the two of you, with them playing on piano.

I love that sort of intimacy of sound that you get with this track by Madeleine Peyroux. It’s relaxing to dance to. I feel the same way about tracks like Aretha Franklins’s I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, or Nina Simone’s Feeling Good.

Rise and Fall – Craig David and Sting

I’ve always been a big fan of Sting and was obsessed with The Police when I was growing up. So of course I loved Craig David's Rise & Fall from the album Slicker Than Your Average, which features Sting [the song is based on a sample from Sting’s 1993 song, Shape of My Heart].

Some people might feel that this more of a listening song than an energetic dancing song, but I like the mellow side to it. It makes me feel really smooth and relaxed.

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Darcey Bussell joins Katie Derham on Sound of Dance to consider some of the almost alchemical ways in which dancers and music interact.