DANCING With The Stars pro Laura Nolan is hoping her boot scootin’ skills as a line dance teacher will help her and partner Rhys McClenaghan win tonight in a country special.
This evening’s show will see the six remaining couples twirling and tapping to the tunes of country classics.
And Laura is at a distinct advantage as she has been teaching her own line dancing class for the past six years.
Laura told The Irish Sun: “This is two worlds colliding for me. It’s a coming together I could only dream about.
“All my own line dancers are excited about it. We’re doing Nathan Carter’s Wagon Wheel so of course I am going to throw in some line dances.”
Partner Rhys credits his girlfriend Emilee Carr with getting him ready for his hoedown tonight.
Rhys told us: “I wasn’t a big fan but Emilee is a huge fan and got me into it. I’ve grown to love it. I don’t think tonight’s dance would be anywhere near as enjoyable if I wasn’t so hooked on country music now.”
Laura and Rhys will be hoping that their routine tonight will be such a barnstormer that it might land them their first 10 from judge Brian Redmond.
While fellow judges Loraine Barry, Arthur Gourounlian and Karen Byrne have all awarded the couple top marks, Brian hasn’t gone any higher than a nine.
Rhys said: “To finally get that 10 off Brian would be great. Jack (Woolley) has proven that you can get a 10 off Brian so it’s aiming for a performance that he thinks deserves it.”
Along with rehearsing for his big dance on DWTS each week, Olympian Rhys, who won gold for Team Ireland at Paris 2024, is also training for the next Olympics.
Laura said: “Rhys does six hours dancing a day — then leaves and does another five hours of gymnastic training. I thought the dance pros had it hard. But he takes it to another level.”
And the Team Dance challenge returns tonight.
After they’ve danced, the final six couples will be divided into two teams of three.
The couples will perform again in their teams hoping to increase their judges’ score.
GLITTERBALL STARS – ALL THE DWTS WINNERS
SERIES ONE – 2017: Former Kerry footballer Aidan O’Mahony beat the odds to be crowned Ireland’s first-ever Dancing With The Stars champion alongside pro partner Valeria Milova, beating out former Fair City star Aoibhin Garrihy and Red Rock actress Denise McCormack.
SERIES TWO – 2018: Singer Jake Carter – the younger brother of country crooner Nathan – was just 19 when he nabbed the Glitterball in 2018 with pro dancer Karen Byrne. And the dance partnership later blossomed into love for the popular pair, who confirmed they were dating months after their big win.
SERIES THREE – 2019: Popular presenter Mairead Ronan became the first female winner, landing the Glitterball with Kilkenny dancer John Nolan in 2019. The mum-of-three said her victory was proof “you can do anything you put your mind to”.
SERIES FOUR – 2020: The 2020 series finale was brought forward due to the outbreak of Covid-19, with 2FM star Lottie Ryan left in tears at clinching the trophy with pro partner Pasquale La Rocca.
SERIES FIVE – 2022: Returning to screens in 2022 after a year off in 2021 due to the continuing coronavirus crisis, ex-jockey Nina Carberry became the third woman on the trot to win the Glitterball, marking a second title for pro Pasquale.
SERIES SIX – 2023: RTE 2FM star Carl Mullan was left stunned back in 2023 when he lifted the Glitterball with pro Emily Barker. The underdog came out on top against fellow finalists Brooke Scullion, Suzanne Jackson and Damien McGinty.
SERIES SEVEN – 2024: Paralympian Jason Smyth came out on top as the 2024 series winner, with pro Karen Byrne becoming the second dancer to win the DWTS title twice. The legally blind athlete moved viewers to tears with an emotional showdance to secure the title.
Rhys and Laura will feature in Team Timber, along with Aishah Akorede and her pro Robert Rowinski, and Danny O’Carroll with his pro Salome Chachua.
Rival Team Footloose are made up of Jack and partner Alex Vladimirov, Kayleigh Trappe and partner Ervinas Merfeldas, and chef Kevin Dundon and his pro dancer Rebecca Scott.
- Dancing With The Stars airs tonight at 6.30pm on RTE One.