Strictly one ambition for dancer Jennifer

20 April 2006

Jennifer Mistri and Mark Williamson in Strictly Dance Fever

NOBODY puts Jennifer Mistri in the corner - if the Seven Kings schoolgirl has her way, she is going to dance into the nation's hearts.

Jennifer, 18, is taking time out from Canon Palmer Catholic High School, Aldborough Road South - despite the fact that those crucial A-levels are looming - to follow her dream.

She is hoping to hoof it into the TV history books by winning BBC1's Strictly Dance Fever, the first episode of which was aired on Saturday.

And she has a secret weapon in the form of devoted sister Natasha, 24, who is trying to mobilise the whole of Redbridge to keep Jennifer in the running after supporting her through months of gruelling auditions.

Like her sister, Natasha is also a keen dancer who started out as a toddler at the Steps Ahead school in Chadwell Heath.

She joined Jennifer in a jive double act that impressed the show's judges so much they put her in straight into the top 10 ahead of thousands of contestants from across the country - and gave her a shot at the £50,000 cash prize.

Jennifer can't speak to the Recorder this week, as she is locked away in the mansion where the 20 contestants live and practise for the duration of the show.

She says her dream is to partner Justin Timberlake on the dancefloor, but she has been paired up with Mark Williamson, 18, from Belfast.

And according to the BBC, Jennifer is more than happy with the match, having admired Mark's moves at an audition and telling the producers: "He was the only one that I wanted."

Each Saturday night a couple is voted off, but Natasha believes her little sister can make it to the final stages - although if she wins, she will only have 20 frantic days left to revise for her A-levels.

"I don't think she is worrying about that at the moment," said Natasha.

"When the careers adviser at Canon Palmer asked her what her ambitions were, she said: 'All I want to do is dance'.

"She doesn't sing or act and it can be difficult to get into dancing professionally if that is all you do, but someone from last year's show ended up dancing in the West End and talent scouts have already started checking out the top 10, we have heard."

"This is Jennifer's dream, I can promise you.

"And this is such a great opportunity for her to do what she loves professionally -and of course win £50,000 between them.

"She's going to be the youngest contestant in the mansion and it is the first time she has ever moved out of home, so she is very scared.

"Please, please help keep Mark and Jennifer in the house as long as possible."

Make sure you tune in each week and vote for Jennifer and Mark..