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Strictly’s Alexandra Burke defends Tasha Ghouri’s dance experience and hits out at Tom Dean’s early exit
Tasha was forced to hit back at fix claims
STRICTLY star Alexandra Burke has defended Tasha Ghouri after she was trolled for her past dance experience.
Alexandra, who participated on the 2017 series with pro partner Gorka Marquez, said she also came under scrutiny for having prior dance training during her time on the dance competition.
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Some BBC fans have thought it was unfair that Tasha was competing on the show with amateur dancers, despite her having a history of dance training before the BBC series.
Alexandra said she could sympathise with Tasha as she also faced "negative" criticism for her prior dance experience.
But she made the important point that Latin and Ballroom is not the same as contemporary dance, so Tasha should not be penalised.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Alexandra said: "Tasha's not had Latin and Ballroom dancing. I got that negative response, but I'd never had Latin and Ballroom dance experience.
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"So actually let her live and let her live her best life, because she's having the most amazing time most likely.
"I think it's super important that this is once in a lifetime opportunity for people to learnt Latin and Ballroom at such an older age.
"I didn't take that moment for granted because I've always wanted to do Latin and Ballroom but we couldn't afford to as kids.
"So Strictly was my way of living my best life and my dream with learning something new.
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"So everyone needs to let people have fun, because it's a great bubble to be apart of.
"It's joyous, dancing brings out great endorphins and you want people to have their moment."
I’m a Strictly expert - Tasha won't make the final and lacks chemistry with Aljaz
Alexandra also admitted that her good friend Nadiya Bychkova had a lot more to give but her and Olympian Tom Dean's time was cut short after being eliminated on week one.
"I haven't had a lot of time to watch it but sadly I think Nadiya and Tom went out too soon and I think they could have stayed in the competition a lot longer," she said.
"They went out in week one, I'm gutted they're out because I thought they had potential to go far.
"I was really rooting for them and Nadiya's also my sister and friend."
But Alexandra thinks Johannes Radebe and Montell Douglas could be the ones to watch.
She added: "I really want Johannes to do well, I'm really rooting for him.
"There's a lot of great talent this series."
Back in 2017, Alexandra told the BBC: “I have danced since I was little but different styles, street dance, contemporary; the more commercial side - so this is completely new to me.
"I am going to work as hard as I possibly can to learn all of the different styles of dance and routines.”
Tasha isn’t the first celebrity to be hit with fix claims – the same was said about theatre performer Layton Williams last year.
Reality star Tasha has hit back, saying: “When you’re in the studio, the glitterballs and the ballroom floor it’s like a whole new world.
"Commercial dance is very different to ballroom dance and Latin, I’m still having to strip down and relearn, even walking in cha cha step is weird to me."
"Turning your feet out and leading with your hips, I’m having to relean muscle memory so that’s the hard part.
"Even letting a man take the lead is a lot," she told ahead of her debut on the show.
It comes after fans thought it was unfair as Tasha had a history of dance training before the BBC series.
Some fans have shared their frustrations on social media.
"Tasha getting all high scores but sure she’s a professional dancer, bit unfair," wrote one.
Another questioned: "Isn’t Tasha Ghouri a professional dancer? Wasn’t that a thing when she was in Love Island?"
"I love tasha but she isn’t meant to be on the show because she is already a PROFESSIONAL DANCER." wrote another.
However, others jumped to her defence, with one noting: "shes not ballroom or latin trained though, there are multiple ‘trained’ dancers on the show"
Alexandra has partnered with Haliborange to help encourage children to dream big, and get creative and curious at the Haliborange Theatre of Dreams this October Half-Term.
Research shows that 95 per cent of parents wish for their child’s creativity and aspiration of dreaming big remains present as they get older and grow into adults.
Alexandra told us: " Haliborange, creating healthy lifestyle choices from a young age, that is what they stand for.
"About making your mind and body strong, it's important to instil that within a child when they are young and hopefully that is what I'm doing."
Speaking about her own dreams as a child: "Being an advocate for children to create healthy lifestyle choices and Disney who is telling us to dream big and to never give up, it reminded me of my childhood and how I was raised and how my mum gave us so my belief when we were younger.
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"My biggest dream was to be like my mum, to be a mum and be a signer. So for me my biggest dreams have come to life and there is so much more I want to achieve."
Grab your FREE tickets to the theatre workshops in Oxford Circus at Eventbrite and head to Haliborange for more information on the product.
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