EXCITEMENT is growing for a Worcester dancer as she nears the half-way point in a television competition.

Katie Love has had nothing but rave reviews since she first appeared on So You Think You Can Dance in the audition rounds and the pupils at her old school St Mary’s School, Battenhall, Worcester, are hoping this week is no different.

They are backing 24-year-old contemporary dancer Miss Love to win the competition, which comes with an opportunity to visit America to pursue their dance dreams and be named ‘Britain’s Best Dancer’.

Art teacher Jo Hunt, who taught Miss Love while she was a pupil at the school, said: “Katie was a lovely girl who I remember as having a generous and vivacious character.

“She played a key role in the life of our school, performing in many school productions and in the choir. We are all watching her progress closely and, of course, voting for her.”

Miss Love, who left Worcester for London aged 16 when she was accepted to a prestigious performing arts school, needs people to vote for her to keep her out of the bottom two couples – who then have to dance solos in order to keep their spot in the competition.

But, so far, she has avoided the dance-off as her obvious talent has impressed the thousands who vote each week.

Last week, Miss Love and her partner Lee Crowley – a hip-hop dancer from Wales with whom she was paired only a few weeks ago – performed a contemporary routine which delighted the show’s judges.

“You looked like a perfect partnership,” said judge Louise Redknapp.

But the stress of the competition is clearly not getting to Miss Love or Mr Crowley.

Later, they joked they might use another household object in their next routine, after using one in the first live rounds.