THE battle is on with 11 contestants dancing to be crowned St Luke’s Strictly Learn to Dance Champion 2019.

The contestants have now started their 10-week training programme and the annual fundraiser will culminate in a grand finale at the Grange Theatre in Hartford on Saturday, April 27.

This year’s contestants include an IT Manager, a trainee police officer, an undertaker and St Luke’s nurse, Di Collins. They have all been matched with an experienced dancer and have committed to ten weeks of training with Precision Dance Academy in Sandbach and to raising sponsorship for St Luke’s.

Di Collins, who works in Day Hospice, is looking forward to swapping her uniform for sequins and is hoping to raise the glitter ball trophy with her partner, Callum, when they perform the Cha Cha Cha.

She said: “It’s fabulous fun. I’ve never had a dance lesson in my life so there’s a lot to learn, but I’m loving every moment and I know I’m doing it for such a great cause because I work at St Luke’s and know how amazing the hospice is.”

All the couples will perform their dance routine in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. Prizes will be awarded for the judges’ choice, the audience vote and the best Strictly ‘journey’.

To sponsor a contestant, visit justgiving.com/campaign/Strictlylearntodance or for tickets go to thegrangetheatre.com