Strictly Come Dancing Weekend Experience

Amy joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2017 and has had six celebrity dance partners since then, reaching the final with TV presenter Karim Zeroual in 2019 and most recently dancing with Eastenders actor, James Bye. Amy also danced with CBeebies presenter, George Webster in the 2022 Strictly Christmas Special. Amy started dancing at the age of 8, going on to become British Dance Federation Champion, English Closed Champion and a World Championship semi-finalist. With her dance partner and now husband, Ben Jones, Amy became British National Latin Dance Champion just before she joined Strictly. Amy has also presented television programmes and her documentary "Crohn's and Me" won a BAFTA Cymru Award.

Carlos knew he wanted to dance from a young age, being interested in all forms of dance and fascinated by ballroom, Latin and contemporary dance styles he practically insisted that his parents got him dance lessons! Carlos determination quickly paid off as he went on to become Chinese National Champion, Amateur Latin Rising Star runner up at the UK Opens and a semi-finalist in the World Championships on multiple occasions. Carlos joined Strictly in 2022, when he was paired with actor and singer Molly Rainford, making it all the way to the grand finale.

Dianne’s interest in dance started when she saw her brother taking dance lessons, and she hasn’t looked back since! With her brother, Andrew, she became Western Australia New Vogue Champion twice, before becoming Australian Open Champion. In 2015 Dianne became a professional dancer in Dancing With The Stars Australia. From there she joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 being partnered with broadcaster Revd Richard Coles. In 2018 Dianne was paired with YouTube star Joe Sugg making it all the way to the final. Subsequently, Dianne has danced with DJ Dev Griffin, singer Max George, actor Robert Webb and radio presenter Tyler West.

Gorka began dancing aged 12 having accompanied his father to a dance class in his native Bilbao. Gorka’s first major competition was the World Latin Championships where he represented Spain before going on to be a semi finalist in the World Dancesport Federation World Cup. Gorka joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 being partnered with actor Tameka Empson. In 2018 he was paired with singer Alexandra Burke and they made it to the final and along the way scored thirty two 10’s. Subsequently Gorka has danced with presenter Katie Piper, actor Maisie Smith, actor Katie McGlynn and again reached the final with presenter Helen Skelton in 2022.

Sicilian-born Graziano Di Prima, an Italian Latin Champion, joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. He was partnered with Capital FM's Vick Hope for his first year and together they made it to week five of the competition. In 2019, he made Strictly history as he danced with his best friend Johannes Radebe in the first same sex dance on the show. In 2021, he partnered Loose Women panellist Judi Love and reached week 7. In the same year, Graziano lifted the Glitterball Trophy in the Strictly Christmas Special with Pop Star Anne-Marie. In 2022, he reached week 11 with actor Kym Marsh. Their Argentine Tango scored them 10’s. He has also taken part in the Strictly Come Dancing Live and Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals tours.

Giada is the 9 times Italian Showdance Champion as well as a finalist in Freestyle Latin at the World Championships. Giada is currently a professional dancer in "Ballando Con Le Stelle", which is the Italian version of Strictly. She has also taken part in many group numbers for Blackpool and Musicals Week on Strictly. Graziano proposed to Giada live on stage in 2019 and they married in Sicily in July 2022. When Giada isn't dancing on TV or stage she is busy running her dance academy in Venice.

 

Polish born Jowita started dancing aged 12 and rapidly made her mark, going on the become Polish Open Latin Champion in 2014. Moving to the UK, Jowita took part in the TV dance competition, The Greatest Dancer, being mentored by former Strictly professional dancer Oti Mabuse. Jowita and her partner went on to win the series which included as part of the prize, an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing. Clearly, Jowita’s performance stood out as she was asked to join the Strictly line up in 2021 and was paired with her first celebrity partner in 2022, wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin. Jowita and Hamza’s performances wowed the judges and audience, lifting the glitterball trophy in the grand finale.

 

Southampton born Kai was poised to follow his father with a career in professional football but at the age of 12 he discovered dancing and never looked back! By the time he was 14 he was already World Junior Latin American Champion. In 2017 Kai joined Dancing With The Stars Ireland, the Irish version of the Strictly Come Dancing format and took part in four series before joining Strictly in September 2021 being paired with TV presenter AJ Odudu and in the 2022 series with presenter Kaye Adams.

 

Venezuelan born Karen started dancing aged 8 when her family moved to New York. She quickly won a scholarship to the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, studying African, contemporary and ballet before moving onto ballroom and Latin dance. Karen became World Mambo Champion in 2008 and Professional American Rhythm Rising Star Champion in 2009. Karen joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2012 when she was partnered with Westlife singer, Nicky Byrne reaching the quarter finals. Karen has been paired with chef Dave Myers, TV personality Mark Wright, with whom she made it to the finals, broadcaster Jeremy Vine, singer Will Young, chef Simon Rimmer, actor Charles Venn, comedian Chris Ramsey, TV star Jamie Laing, actor Greg Wise and comedienne Jayde Adams.

 

Russian born Katya started dancing at the age of six. With dance partner Neil, she is four times British National Champion and three times winner of the World Amateur Latin Championships. Katya joined Strictly in 2016, being partnered with former Chancellor, Ed Balls and created one of the TV moments of the year when they danced to "Gangnam Style". The following year she lifted the glitterball trophy with her celebrity partner, actor Joe McFadden. Katya took part in the first same sex celebrity/pro partnership with boxer Nicola Adams in season 18. Most recently, Katya danced with Arsenal legend, Tony Adams creating choreography that included a memorable "Full Monty" routine in Movie Week! Outside of dancing, Katya loves to design and make her own clothes and is a strong proponent of upcycling to create new outfits.

 

The son of band leader Ray Ellington, Lance got his first performing break winning the TV series “New Faces” in 1977 as part of the duo Koffee ‘n’ Kreme. This TV exposure led Lance touring with Johnny Mathis as well as performing at the Royal Variety Show. From there Lance’s career skyrocketed as he went on to work with major artists such as Robbie Williams, George Michael, Sting and Michael Jackson, as well as writing songs for artists including Westlife and Steps. Lance is well known to viewers of Strictly Come Dancing, having joined the line-up of singers with Dave Arch’s band in 2012, and he has sung the lead vocal to many iconic dance routines. Lance has released four albums and continues to tour, record and perform throughout the world.

 

Luba showed her dancing prowess from a very young age, leading her to leave her native St Peterburg for Verona in Italy where she became four time Italian Dance Champion and also Italian Open Latin Showdance Champion as well as a finalist in the European 10 Dance Championships and European Latin Championships. Luba joined the Strictly family in 2016 as assistant choreographer, taking to the dance floor as part of the professional dancer line up in 2018. She has been paired with rower James Cracknell OBE and American football player Jason Bell as well as taking part in many group numbers and Strictly Christmas Specials.

 

Ukrainian born Nadiya is a two time European Champion and World Champion in Ballroom and Latin “10 Dance”. She is also a multiple time winning Slovenian Ballroom and Latin Champion, training at the same dance school as former Strictly professional, Aljaz Skorjanec. Nadiya joined Strictly in 2017, being paired with actor Davood Ghadami making it to the quarter final. In subsequent series Nadiya has competed with singer Lee Ryan, goalkeeper David James, TV presenter Dan Walker and Matt Goss of boyband Bros.

 

Nancy started dancing at the age of 8 and fell in love with the sport becoming a finalist in the Under 21 World Championships, National Amateur Championships, and the International Singapore Championships. Nancy also took part in the Chinese version of the TV dance competition So You Think You Can Dance where she made the finals. Following this, Nancy joined the cast of Burn The Floor, travelling the world for four years before joining Strictly in 2019. Nancy’s first celebrity partner was in 2021 when she danced with TV presenter Rhys Stephenson making it to the semi-final, and in 2022 she was paired with actor Will Mellor, once again reaching the semi-final.

 

Born at a British Army base in Munster, Germany, Neil started his dance journey aged 3 when he started ballet lessons. He subsequently trained in tap, modern, ballroom and Latin. Neil doesn’t like to brag but he holds 45 dance championship titles including 8 times British National Champion, 8 times Dutch National Champion and 4 times World Latin Champion. Neil joined Strictly in 2016 taking part in group routines, Christmas specials and features on It Takes Two. He was partnered with footballer Alex Scott in 2019 making it to the Quarter Final, and with actor Nina Wadia in 2021.

 

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Nikita’s family moved to Italy when he was 9 to help his older sister pursue her dance career. Despite his initial desire to be a karate hero like Jackie Chan, Nikita discovered the joy of dance and ended up being Italian Latin and Ballroom Champion six times. In 2021, Nikita became a professional dancer on Let’s Dance, the German version of Strictly Come Dancing, before joining Strictly in 2021. In his first season he was paired with Tilly Ramsey making it to week 10, and in 2022 he was partnered with Paralympian Ellie Simmonds making it to week 7.

 

 

Originally from Belfast, Patrick is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and is a world-renowned singer and stage performer. Patrick’s stage career began with performances in the revival of the musical “Hair” and he went on to perform on the West End stage in shows such as “We Will Rock You”, “Singin’ In The Rain” and “Phantom Of The Opera”. Patrick has provided supporting vocals to recording by artists such as Robbie Williams, Il Divo and Russell Watson and has toured with Michael Ball & Alfie Boe, Elton John and most recently provide backing vocals for Phil Collins on Genesis world tour. Strictly fans will have seen Patrick as one of the vocalists in Dave Arch’s band on “Strictly Come Dancing” as well as a featured vocalist in the “Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour” and “Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals” tours.

 

 

Tommy began his singing career aged nine performing as part of The Blaize Brothers with his siblings Tony and Darrin. Performing at clubs across the UK, Tommy got the taste for performing and his vocal talents led to him working with artists as diverse as Robbie Williams, Stevie Wonder and Queen. Tommy has been a vocalist on Strictly Come Dancing since its inception in 2004 and his distinct voice has accompanied many iconic dances across the twenty series of the show so far. In that time, he has sung hundreds of songs of all different styles and he relishes the challenge of learning new songs every week as each series goes on. Tommy released his own album, "Life & Soul" in 2017 and is currently working on the follow up.

 

 

Vito started dancing aged 6 in his native Italy and he was soon winning national competitions, going on to be Italian Latin American Champion no less than eleven times! Vito has also been a finalist in the World Championships three times as well as being a European Cup winner. In 2021, Vito left competition dancing and took part in Ballando Con Le Stelle, the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing, before joining the Strictly line up in 2022. In his first series Vito competed with singer and presenter Fleur East and they made it all the way to the final, as well as picking up a perfect 40 score for their Couples Choice routine at Blackpool.