Amy Clarke
This week was so exciting because Ellie Goldstein danced for the first time on Strictly Come Dancing with her partner Vito Coppola!
They danced the Cha Cha Cha and I thought it was really fun to watch. They danced to Ariana Grande’s “Yes, And?” and added a bit of Vogue style to the performance, which I thought was really cool and sassy.
I don’t know much about dance moves or technique like the judges do, but I could tell that Ellie was enjoying herself on that dance floor. That made me really happy to see. The audience clapped and cheered for her, and so did I at home!
The judges gave Ellie and Vito 17 points for Week 1, which I think is good for a first week. Even better - nobody went home this week! The scores will carry over to next week when the public gets to
vote
People vote in an election. In elections for councillors or MPs, you vote by putting a cross next to the name of the person you want to choose. In less formal elections, like in a small group, you might vote by putting your hand up. The person with the most votes wins.
. You can scan the QR code on the TV screen which links to the BBC Strictly voting page. It's free to vote online, which is great because phone or text voting can cost money, and my mobile bill can add up sometimes.
I’m really proud of Ellie for dancing live in front of a big audience. She is a brilliant example of someone with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
doing amazing things on a big show like Strictly Come Dancing. This is important to me and lots of other people, because it shows everyone that learning disability doesn’t stop talent or confidence.
Before their dance, the video clip showed Vito helping Ellie with where to stand and what to do. He used figures and shapes to explain, which I thought was respectful and helpful for how Ellie understands things. It made me smile seeing how kind he is to her.
Also, Blackpool Tower was lit up pink to celebrate Ellie being on Strictly, which is such a lovely thing – but they didn’t say that on the show. And it was Vito’s birthday too, so Happy Birthday Vito! 🎉
I'm so excited to see Ellie dance again next week - I will be voting for her because she’s brilliant and she’s making history. A big shoutout to Vito as well, he’s a lovely partner for Ellie and I think they make a great team.
Keep dancing Ellie and Vito - you have got a fan right here!
Ellie Goldstein made history in 2025
When she first stepped onto the Strictly dancefloor in the autumn, Ellie became the first contestant with
Down syndrome
Down syndrome, also known as Down's syndrome, is a type of disability. People with Down syndrome may find it hard to learn new things and may need support. They may have more problems with their health too.
to compete in the main series of the iconic ballroom show.
Donations to Mencap help us support the 1.5 million people with a learning disability to be seen, heard and valued.
Thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for their generous grant, funding this work.