A DUDLEY dance teacher has waltzed and jived her way onto BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Amy Dowden is one of the brand new professional dancers on this year's show and has been partnered up with entertainer Brian Conley.

The pair survived the first dance-off against former Holby City actress Chizzy Akudolu and mastered the American Smooth to a Wizard of Oz theme last week.

Amy 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.

“We’re training every day, filming VTs and It takes Two so it’s keeping me really busy. I’m loving it.”

Away from the show, the 27-year-old and her professional dance partner, Ben Jones, are the current British champions in Latin American dance.

She moved from her hometown of Caerphilly in South Wales to Dudley six years ago and, alongside Ben, has been teaching youngsters to move and shake at Hallfield School in Edgbaston since 2012.

Stourbridge News:

“I love teaching the children at Hallfield School and look forward to returning in January," she said.

"The children are great and always happy to learn new moves. Some of them have even joined my dance academy outside of school."

She continued: “Ben has been great. He and Katie Wallace, who also teaches with us, have been holding down the fort and keeping the classes running every Friday while I’m away.”

Richard Batchelor, headmaster at Hallfield School, said: “We’re so proud of how far Amy has come. We will be following her journey on Strictly intently.

"She has certainly got the support of everyone here at Hallfield.”

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One every Saturday and Sunday evening.