Strictly Come Surrey 2024

Dust down those glitter balls and sequins – Strictly Come Surrey is BACK!

Tickets for the spectacular event taking place at the Ivy Arts Centre on Sunday 21 April 2024 (doors 5.30pm for 6pm) are on sale now and to whet your appetite, the partnerships have been revealed.

Scroll down to find out which nominated staff and students are taking part and which dance experts they’ve been paired with.

The competition, run by the Students’ Union and Ballroom and Latin Dance Club (BLDC), will be judged by a professional panel made up of members of the BLDC, SU and GSA.

The judges will evaluate the performances of the celebrity dancers and their professional partners, and the winners of the competition will be determined by audience members in attendance and watching on the live stream.

So come and witness some incredible performers as they give it their all.

And remember – Keep Dancing!

Anna says: "I have always loved dancing. My colleagues are aware of it so clearly decided that it would be a good idea to test me and see how good I am!

"Undoubtedly, the greatest challenge has been synchronising my mind and my body. This has made me aware of the passage of time; at 40, I can attest that there's a notable difference from being 20!

"This has highlighted for me the significance of maintaining physical activity as we age, to preserve that crucial connection between our mind and body. Dancing in heels has been particularly difficult, but I'm steadily improving in that regard!

"I find the high-energy nature of samba perfectly aligned with my personality. On the flip side, I do find it challenging to keep up with the rapid pace and remember all the steps required.

"Elia has been amazing and so patient. She has educated me that the rhythm is just as important as remembering the steps. It has been great fun to practice together and I will miss our meetings when Strictly is over."

Claire says: "One of my personal tutees nominated me for SCS. I really wasn't sure whether to accept, as I have no dancing experience but I do love dancing around the kitchen and at parties. A colleague who took part a few years ago persuaded me to go for it as he said it was good fun. 

"Liam and I try to meet once a week, diaries permitting. I'm sure we will need to meet more often nearer the time as I keep forgetting all the steps!

"I find the footwork quite complicated and very quick. I need to get fitter and train my feet to go in the right place. The dance requires lots of hip action, which I haven't mastered yet, but my partner is very patient and we do have a laugh which helps.

"My colleagues, family and friends are being very supportive and they are looking forward to the show. They keep telling me to just enjoy it, which I am, but as we get nearer to the day, I know I'm going to be a bag of nerves!"

Eli says: "I grew up dancing to Latin Music in Colombia. Even after living in the UK for 23 years, I still try to persuade my friends to dance salsa with me. That's why I was thrilled to learn that I had been nominated for Strictly Come Surrey. 

"My dance partner, Tarah, is excellent and has helped me become more confident with my dancing skills. My challenge is that I am used to 'feeling the music' rather than following specific steps. We will be dancing Jive, a style I am not familiar with. Tarah has had a tough job teaching me, but she has faith in me, and we are training hard and enjoying it.

"Dancing sets me free; it's a therapy that supports my mental health and wellbeing. I highly recommend it – the benefits are priceless. I’m excited about the show, and our families and friends will be there to support us – so no pressure, then!"

Kofi says: "I was nominated for Strictly anonymously and am still waiting for the person to unmask themselves! I hope they do soon!

"I have been a part of the University’s Salsa and Bachata Society for a year now and I’ve loved every minute of it, however that is very relaxed and a social type of dance so doing something as formal as the waltz is something new, but still exciting.

"The toughest part of training so far is transitioning to such a formal dance and getting the technique correct. The waltz isn’t too technical, but the small details count and make a big difference in making it look as slick as possible. Emma has definitely squeezed my arm a few times to remind me to keep my elbow up, and I’m sure it won’t be the last time she does that either.

"Originally, I thought the pace and formality of the dance would make it less enjoyable than salsa. However, since starting training my perspective has completely changed; Emma has put together such an amazing routine and I have even found it to be too quick in some sections. My favourite part has to be working at a difficult section and having it finally work and run smoothly in the routine.

"I am really thrilled to be a part of such an amazing event and to be learning the incredible routine which Emma has created. With it all being for a charitable cause, what’s not to love?!"

Nayiri says: "I decided to take part in Strictly Come Surrey because I've always loved the show and how it celebrates dance.

"It's a chance for me to challenge myself, get better at dancing, and feel the excitement of performing in front of a live audience. Plus, my best friend from school, who's a trained dancer, really cheered me on!

"I've done some dancing before; I took classes when I was younger, mostly freestyle and street styles. But since I was 14, it's mainly been dancing at social events.

"Right now, I'm training once a week to learn the moves and improve my technique. But I know I'll have to step it up as the competition gets closer. Remembering all the steps is really tough, but I'm up for the challenge!"

Will says: "Outside of my significant experience on the video game Just Dance, I have never graced the ballroom before, so this is all new. To this day I have no idea who nominated me. So, either someone is watching over me like I’ve been entered into the Hunger Games, or I got drunk and thought it would be funny. Either way, somehow, I’m here.

"When I read I’d be dancing a ‘Viennese Waltz’, I thought “cool, waltz, nice and slow.” No one told me I’d be a human Beyblade for 2½ minutes. Although the footwork is difficult and there is more spinning than a Circuit Laundry machine, it is actually quite fun to do in a challenging way. The song we’ve gone for is quite fast, so it means our form has got to be strong throughout.

"Mylène is an incredible partner and a very good teacher. The Viennese Waltz is by no means an easy dance, and I told Mylène at the start to throw whatever she wanted at me. But throughout, she has been great company in the rehearsal room, as well as an honest voice when something needs doing. If there’s one sentence I’ll remember from the training, it will be: “Will, what on earth is that frame?”"

Alex says: "As a big Strictly fan, when my friends nominated me to participate in Strictly Come Surrey it felt only right that I said yes, especially now that I am a final year student and my university experience is close to its end.

"I had no idea that ‘Strictly Come Surrey’ was a thing until my friends saw it posted on the Union’s Instagram page and whilst we all joked around about me participating at first, it wasn’t long before my close friends encouraged me to just go for it and have fun.

"I have no proper dance experience, but I am very musical so dancing around the house is something I admittedly do, albeit a bit rubbish, all the time.

"My dance partner, James, and I have been training every Thursday and we are dancing the quickstep, which is definitely as challenging as it is fun! The footwork and speed of the dance have definitely been the hardest parts to learn but I love how upbeat it is and it I like that our dance is slightly more performative than traditional quickstep.

"James has been so supportive and encouraging throughout the Strictly experience, and so have my friends who are excited to watch! I’m very nervous but hopefully I can just go out there and have a good time."