DEDICATED dance teacher Nicolette Whitley is waiting anxiously to hear if she has reached the live semi-final of a top talent contest.

The 22-year-old from Penyffordd and her dance partner Renako McDonald, 22, of London, who perform as Alleviate, will find out on Sunday if they have reached the last 28 in Sky 1’s Got to Dance show.

After rave reviews from the show’s judges following their televised audition, the former Castell Alun pupil said making the live section of the show would help her fulfil her dream of becoming a professional dancer.

She said: “The audition in Glasgow was as nerve-racking as people think, even with all the shows I did in university. You know the judges are going to come back and judge you and knowing it is going to be watched by millions of people. It is really scary but it went really well.”

Nicolette and Renako met at Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts where they studied between 2007 and 2010.

They are now hoping the dance panel of Diversity lead choreographer Ashley Banjo, former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, and Tap Dogs star Adam Garcia will put them through.

Nicolette, who started dancing just six years ago after a stint as a gymnast, said: “It would just mean everything for us to make the semi-finals. It would be amazing to get on the telly. It will help us both as we want to work professionally in the dance industry.

“I would like to be in a top touring show or one day dance on the West End – it would be a dream come true.”

It was during a summer school at Busy Bodies dance school based in Hope and Buckley the pair hit on the idea to enter the show and started working on their routine.

Nicolette said: “I really enjoy teaching. I love it at Busy Bodies. I used to go myself when I was in high school and then the owner Sharon Nesbitt took me on. I would like to thank her for teaching me.

“Busy Bodies is about kids having fun and learning something. Hip hop and street dance is really popular at the moment, all the kids want to do it. Anything that gets kids into dance is a good thing.”

Despite her talent Nicolette, who said she rarely finds time to go out because of her busy schedule, said she is not critical of how other people dance.

She said: “When I see people dancing badly, I think at least they are having a good time. It is not my place to judge them.”

- Got to Dance airs on Sunday at 7pm.