Amber Davies Poised for Strictly Final, Teacher Praises Welsh Star
Catherine Jones recalls Amber Davies as a natural performer from Wales, charting her rise from Welsh school stages to London's West End and into the Strictly final.
Amber Davies heads into the Strictly Come Dancing final with a deep well of performing arts experience behind her. A former Welsh teacher describes her as a natural performer who has carried a lifelong love of the stage into the competition.
Her former teacher, Catherine Jones, remembers Davies shining in school productions at Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph, Denbighshire, before moving to London to pursue acting and singing as a teen.
From Welsh stages to the West End
Jones notes that Davies’ professional theatre background helped her join the show at short notice after Dani Dyer sustained an ankle injury, placing Davies in the final run of the competition. Davies will square off on Saturday against YouTuber George Clarke and football analyst Karen Carney after 12 weeks on the ballroom floor.
"She really loved performing and being part of every show," Jones told Radio Wales Breakfast. "From a young age she was a natural on stage, excelling in school choirs and theatre projects."
Her early journey included competing at the Llangollen Eisteddfod and a spell in New York, where she performed in churches and studied at the LaGuardia High School of Music & Drama, renowned for training in the performing arts.
Later, Davies starred in musical productions like Pretty Woman, 9 to 5: The Musical and The Great Gatsby, and she is slated to lead the Legally Blonde tour next year.
Davies faced online criticism after stepping in for Dyer, with some viewers arguing her theatre background gave her an edge. Jones argued that theatre success does not automatically translate to ballroom mastery and noted that Davies has had to learn basic dance skills she missed while away from the dance floor.
She added that some of the choreography on Strictly can be daunting, and Davies has taken the challenge in stride with commendable progress.
Jones urged supporters in Wales to back her former pupil in the final, insisting, "I’d still say she is the best dancer there." Regardless of the result, she hopes Davies enjoys the moment and takes pride in reaching the final, feeling she has already earned recognition as a winner in her own right.
Expert comment: Davies’ theatre background is impressive, but success on Strictly hinges on adapting to new dance techniques. Her persistence has earned her respect as a determined and capable performer.
In summary, Amber Davies’ journey from Welsh stages to a national ballroom final demonstrates how a solid performing arts foundation can support a high-pressure TV competition while underscoring the need to master core dance basics along the way.
Key insight: A strong theatre background can boost a contestant on a televised dance show, but the ballroom demands fresh choreography mastery. Amber Davies has shown grit and growth to reach the final. BBC News
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