Strictly Come Dancing is not a TV show so much as a bonafide phenomenon.
Indeed the Guinness World Records has even named Strictly to be the world's most successful reality TV format.
Making the grade as one of the professional dancers is a major accomplishment – making the final is an even bigger one, as Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg managed in 2018.
Buswell has been dancing since she was five years old, bursting onto TV screens on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ before taking part in several Broadway-produced musicals including ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Rock of Ages’.
Her idols growing up were Australian national dance champions Jason Gilkison and Peta Roby. She would later join their company and even work with Gilkison on Strictly – as she says, "it's funny how things in life pan out."
Read more about hers – and her lockdown – below.
(And read Joe Sugg's Lockdown Life here.)
Life
What upcoming project(s) are you most excited about?
At the moment I just can’t wait to get back to dancing as I'm really missing it.
I always look forward to a new season of Strictly Come Dancing so I'm hoping it all goes ahead this year.
I'm also really looking forward to the Joe and Dianne show next year.
We have worked incredibly hard to put this show together and the hard work has paid off – I think it's brilliant and I just can’t wait to perform it to you all alongside Joe.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
It 100 percent has to be when I was asked to be a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. The feeling was like no other.
It's every dancer's dream to be apart of this show and I know a lot of people auditioned to become the next professional dancer. So to be one of the chosen girls is something I'll always be proud of.
Then in my second year – making it all the way to the final was such a huge achievement.
If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be?
It would have to be that I could be closer to my family. Australia is so far away from the UK, it's not as easy as getting on the train for a few hours.
I miss my family very much but I know how proud they are and would never stop me from pursuing my career no matter how far from home I am.
What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?
I have many dreams and ambitions and they are all very different. For example my dreams range from having my own dance school one day to having my very own breakfast cafe!
I would love to get into acting and would love to learn to sing so I could be a lead in a musical one day.
Outside of your family, who is / was your biggest inspiration?
Growing up there was an Australian world champion couple by the name of Jason Gilkison and Peta Roby.
I was obsessed with them, had posters all over my walls and I knew every dance they had performed. I would often see them at big competitions but I was always too nervous to go and say hi or ask for a picture.
Little did I know that these two dancers would be a huge part of my life as I grew up.
They had their own dance company that toured the world and they asked me to be apart of it – of course I joined.
They then became my teachers and mentors for the next eight years. Jason is now also the main choreographer on Strictly Come Dancing.
It's funny how things in life pan out.
Tell us something nobody knows about you…
I'm not a natural redhead.
Lockdown
How are you finding lockdown
I have used the time to be more creative and make more videos which I really enjoy doing.
I'm the kind of person who thrives off being busy so I was worried about how I would cope in this situation, but I have certainly kept myself entertained.
Best thing about lockdown?
Being able to cook and bake. I have definitely needed the extra practice and I feel like my skills have come on leaps and bounds over the last nine weeks.
Worst thing about lockdown?
I was planning a surprise visit to Australia to see my family in July for a few weeks, so I would say not being able to travel.
Top tip for surviving lockdown?
Make sure you keep yourself active, eat healthily and get enough sleep.
It's easier now to stay up and binge on Netflix because you can sleep in. But I'd say try and not let yourself get into bad habits
If you could be locked down with one person, alive or dead, who would it be?
Firstly I'm pretty lucky to currently be in lockdown with Joe Sugg he makes every situation fun and is such a positive person but if I had to change it would be my Mum or Dad.
Just because I miss them so much and would be wonderful to have nine plus weeks with them.
What are you most looking forward to doing once lockdown is over?
Going to my favourite breakfast cafes and ordering my poached eggs on smashed avocado. And just being able to have some friends over and enjoy their company
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