Dudley star Amy Dowden ready to take to the Strictly dancefloor
Black Country dancer Amy Dowden will again appear on Strictly Come Dancing tonight when she competes with dancing partner, actor Brian Conley.
The 26-year-old from Dudley is enjoying time in the spotlight after joining the hit BBC show as one of three new professionals dancing with celebrities.
Last week she got through with the Time After Time actor, performing the American Smooth to a Wizard of Oz theme.
This week she will be dancing the Paso Doble to I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness.
And she will be watched back home in Dudley by her partner Ben Jones, who she won the British National Championships in Latino American dancing in Blackpool last year.
The pair run an academy called Art in Motion, which runs classes in Tipton, Wombourne and Great Barr.
She moved from Caerphilly in south Wales six years ago to Dudley, where the pair now live in Oakham.
Mr Jones, 29, has danced since the age of 14, starting while attending Tividale High School.
He said: "She is absolutely loving it, she's enjoying working with someone who is new to dancing and helping them progress, they've done really well together."
Mr Jones hope she reaches the Blackpool stage of the TV show, which would take place the day after the pair compete again in the British National Championships.
He said: "Of course, I hope they go all the way, but to get to Blackpool would be excellent."
Miss Dowden, who also teaches at Hallfield School in Edgbaston, said: “Working with Brian is lots of fun. We’re always having a laugh. I leave training everyday with my jaws aching from laughing so much.”
The dancer is currently spending most of her time in London for the show. When she is knocked out, or wins, she will return to Dudley and continue her work for the academy and school.
