Strictly Come Dancing faces being embroiled in a new fix row following the signing of Tasha Ghouri who is a trained dancer.
MailOnline can reveal the former Love Island star, 25, has competed in a number of major dance events and featured in music videos, sparking concern she will have an unfair advantage over her celebrity co-stars.
Last year’s series was tainted by accusations that actor Layton Williams, an experienced West End performer, had the upper hand over his opponents due to his extensive dance background.
And Tasha’s participation on the BBC One show could be equally controversial, given she’s been dancing since the age of five and taken part in competitions.
A show insider said: ‘Tasha’s signing has certainly raised a few eyebrows. She’s a dancer by trade as well as a reality star and model, so it feels like she’s too qualified to appear on the show.
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Strictly Come Dancing faces being embroiled in a new fix row following the signing of Tasha Ghouri who is a trained dancer
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MailOnline can reveal the former Love Island star has competed in a number of major dance events and featured in music videos, sparking concern she will have an unfair advantage
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Tasha trained at Creative Academy in Slough, where she graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Dance Performance
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The reality star was given the lead role of Wonder Woman at a dance event called Move It, one of the biggest competitions in Europe
‘Tasha is certainly no novice and will always be so far ahead of her co-stars before training has kicked in.
‘There is a feeling her being on Strictly is a touch unfair on everybody else competing, especially those totally new to dance.’
Tasha became the first Love Island star to appear on the show with a cochlear implant, which is an electronic device she had fitted aged five.
The star’s parents learned she was deaf when she was 12 months and growing up Tasha underwent years of speech therapy.
She says the disability has become her ‘superpower’ and before going on Love Island vowed to become an inspiration to the deaf community, like her idol, former Strictly champion Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Tasha told MailOnline in June 2022: ‘I love Strictly and being a dancer, Rose is such an amazing role model it was so powerful what she did. She represented me, as well as the deaf community and I just thought it was awesome. It was a beautiful message.’
She met boyfriend Andrew Le Page on the dating show and the couple have since purchased a home they are renovating together in Guernsey.
The reality personality has told how dancing has aided her ‘hearing journey’ and she’s able to move in time with the vibrations, much like 2021 Glitter Ball winner Rose, who is profoundly deaf.
MailOnline has contacted Strictly and Tasha’s representative for comment.
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Tasha became the first Love Island star to appear on the show with a cochlear implant, which is an electronic device she had fitted aged five
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She met boyfriend Andrew Le Page on the dating show and the couple have since purchased a home they are renovating together in Guernsey
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Tasha has previously shared her love for Strictly Come Dancing, performing alongside the professionals and practicing the choreography from her living room
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She has shared several dance routines on her TikTok profile, impressing her fanbase with her moves
Rose was partnered with axed Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice, who previously enjoyed a fling with Tasha, which will do little to drown out the noise surrounding her dancing pedigree.
Tasha trained at Creative Academy in Slough, where she graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Dance Performance.
After gaining the qualification, she bagged her first job in the industry at a French ski resort.
Speaking about her time dancing in the Folie Douce bar, Tasha said: ‘It was such a dream come true. I got to dance high up in the mountains with the view of the snow and dreamy sunny days.’
She was also given the lead role of Wonder Woman at a dance event called Move It, one of the biggest competitions in Europe.
Tasha has appeared in various music videos, including a promo for British artist MNEK ft. Sleepwalkr called More Than Words in which she performed alongside dancers with hearing loss to highlight the deaf community.
Her work raising awareness for the disability has helped her bag a place on the 2024 series, alongside stars including ex-footballer Paul Merson, blind comedian Chris McClausland and TV host Nick Knowles.
Former Strictly pro James Jordan has voiced his concern at the show’s trend of signing up celebrities with dance backgrounds.
Indeed, he believes novices to the ballroom now have no chance of winning, which jars with the Strictly spirit.
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Tasha has appeared in various music videos, including a promo for British artist MNEK
He said: ‘Do I feel Strictly are going too far by bringing on professionally trained l dancers? Yes.
‘I would actually say to anyone thinking of doing Strictly, ‘Don’t do Strictly unless you’re dance trained in some shape or form because you don’t have a chance.’
Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh, EastEnders actress Maisie Smith and X Factor star Fleur East have all been subjected to criticism for their pre-show dance experience.
However, many stage school trained participants have claimed their dance knowledge has counted against them in regard to the public voted.
Actress Molly Rainford, a former Sylvia Young pupil, blamed her stage school background for repeatedly ending up in the dreaded dance off.
Speaking in 2022, she said: ‘I think potentially that could have been a factor.’
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
