Marcella Solimeo (20), from Lakeside, was the youngest professional dancer on the Strictly Come Dancing show.
The star started ballet dancing at the age of three, and Latin-American when she was 12.
Unfortunately, her time on the dance floor in the competition was short-lived, but the young star is happier than ever before.
Being on Strictly come Dancing has always been one of her goals and knowing that she achieved something that big meant more to her than words could express.
“It was an experience of a lifetime,” said Solimeo.
” It was a competition and we were bound to go home at some point, but I did believe and still do believe that Siv Ngesi, my dance partner, has so much potential and could have gone much further.
“Of course I was a little disappointed, especially because of how much work we both put in, but at the same time I am so proud of him and how far we went in the competition.
“The standard is so high, so to know we lasted so long up against such competition is an achievement in itself.”
Solimeo has learned that teaching someone who knows nothing about dancing is a tough task, and that it’s just as hard for a non-dancer to perform something out of their comfort zone, which made her more proud of Ngesi.
Patience is one of the fundamental keys when teaching someone else, explaining things differently until they understand.
“Not only are you teaching someone else, but you also never stop learning yourself; that was what I learnt most,” said Solimeo.
The highlight for the star was the experience as a whole and being a professional on the show.
“The highlight with regard to Ngesi and I would be how much we improved each and every week and how much our marks kept on getting better every Friday, that for me was proof of hard work and how much we went back in rehearsals to keep on working and getting better,” the young dancer explained.
When asked if she would enter the competition again, she said, without hesitation: “Ii would certainly do Strictly Come Dancing again.
“There is just so much positive and so much learning you do on such a show that it would be an honour to be a part of it again.”
Her favourite moment on the show was when she performed in their first dance off and Ngesi performed a crazy spilt at the end of their routine.
That gave them a standing ovation in the dance-off and saved them from going home.
To get a standing ovation for your performance and work as a dancer is a great satisfaction.
“I would also say a favourite moment of mine was to work with Ngesi and to know that I have a friend in him,”she said.
Solimeo is currently doing corporate work and was in rehearsals for the Strictly Come Dancing show as a guest performer on Friday, August 22.
After participating on the show her love and passion for teaching grew stronger and she would love to share her knowledge with young and upcoming dancers.
“I will also continue to better myself and take lessons myself to keep on expanding my knowledge, improving and working on my own dancing, in that way I only have more knowledge to share and more to give,” she said.
