In a poor, Catholic home in a suburb of Dublin, Dermot Clemenger grew up – with mother, father and nine siblings. The childhood was marked by the emotional and violent father, who spent a lot of time in the pub and constant threats to leave the family. – He was a narcissist and selfish. He was an enigma to me. At home he was as he was, throwing out ugly words. But then outside the house he would always present himself as this pious and nice man who helped others, says Dermot. He describes Ireland during the 70s and 80s as a conservative developing country, ruled by the Catholic Church. It was a Catholic boys’ school that applied to Dermot: – All the boys wanted to play football and rugby – I wanted to dance the cha cha. So I was very odd. We were also beaten for the smallest thing. Maybe you laughed with a friend and then got slapped on the hands – for something completely normal. The school years were surrounded by a fear of pencilism along with exclusion and bullying, and Dermot bluntly states that he does not remember a single fun day at school: – The day I left was the best. His brother’s death has shaped his whole life But when Dermot was 17, his older brother died suddenly in a car accident. The brother who was 27 years old was his best friend and idol. – He won the fight against dad. He was so kind and generous and gave me the love that dad didn’t give. The years that followed involved a lot of confusion and too much alcohol and partying – all to numb the pain, and Dermot notes that his brother’s death has marked his whole life. Dance became the rescue The passion for dance was awakened early and in many ways became the rescue. There were more and more dance competitions to attend – and it became both Dermot and his mother’s escape from their father. – You might not think that someone who has worked with Let’s Dance and with TV has problems with self-esteem. But you have confidence in what you do – “Dance-Dermot” – but Dermot Clemenger has problems with his self-esteem. I struggle with it. It is clear that dancing with the loving mother have been the consistent bright spots in Dermot’s life. And the mother is still alive: – Mother will soon turn 90 and dances three times a week – you almost have to book an appointment to talk to her these days, he laughs.
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