WEYMOUTH dancing sensation Kristy Cullen is high-kicking onwards - in the finals of the BBC TV show Strictly Dance Fever.

Having won over the judges and voting viewers, the student and part-time dance instructor now enters the marathon last leg in which 10 couples will be competing against each other over the next eight weeks.

Miss Cullen, 18, and partner Nathan Potter, 26 from Eastbourne, danced to the theme music from TV show Fame.

Miss Cullen said: "I was really nervous leading up to the Saturday night.

"We rehearsed on Friday and Nathan dropped me for the first time and hurt his foot.

"I was even more nervous on the night itself, but as soon as the music started the nerves went.

"They always go when I'm dancing."

All the couples had to choreograph their own dances and make their outfits.

The show is hosted by Graham Norton, who spent the rehearsals reassuring the nervous dancers.

Miss Cullen said: "He was just like he was on the other telly shows he's been on. He was lovely.

"He kept telling us not to be scared of the judges.

"It wasn't easy though, with one of the judges, Arlene. She was staring at us and was quite intimidating.

"I just felt totally shocked when I realised we were going through.

"It's brilliant, though.

"Now I get to dance every day."

Each heat has 10 couples competing in different dance categories with five couples being selected to go through a results dance-off.

From this, two couples are voted off by people at home.

The finals will see Miss Cullen and Mr Potter living with the other couples and learning a new dance style each week before performing it live on the show.

The judges and people at home will vote to decide which pair will go each week.

The eventual champions will win £50,000.

Miss Cullen is having to abandon her dance A-Level as well as stopping the dance classes she teaches at the Quay Theatre Arts in Weymouth to pursue the 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity'.