Amber Davies and the Strictly Come Dancing Friendship That Defies the ‘Relationship Curse’
Amber Davies, a West End performer and former Love Island contestant, has managed to avoid the infamous “relationship curse” of Strictly Come Dancing by forming a strong bond with her dance partner’s girlfriend. The 29-year-old has developed a close friendship with Nikita Kuzmin’s girlfriend, Lauren Jaine, and even introduced her to her own partner, Jersey Boys actor Ben Joyce.
Lauren, who has been dating Nikita for two years, has also taken to social media to defend the couple after fans speculated about the show’s relationship dynamics. In a post over the weekend, she urged fans to be respectful to the real-life partners and let them enjoy the experience of the show.
A Growing Connection
Amber and Nikita, 27, have been working closely together on the show, and their partnership has not only been successful on the dance floor but also off it. The pair recently wowed the judges during Movie Week with their American Smooth performance to “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” from The Sound of Music, earning 35 points and finishing second on the leaderboard.
A source told The Sun that Amber is keeping her focus firmly on the competition, stating: “She’s told friends she’s not getting ahead of herself and is taking it one week at a time. She’s madly in love with Ben and he’s totally behind her. They’re both performers and know how to shut out the noise.”
The source also mentioned that Amber and Lauren get along well and even swapped numbers early on in the competition.
Addressing the Backlash
Amber has faced some backlash from Strictly Come Dancing fans regarding her previous dance experience before joining the BBC show. As a former Love Island star and a performer in several on-stage musicals, including Pretty Woman and Back to the Future, she was questioned about whether it was fair for celebrities with training to compete alongside novice dancers.
Despite her attempts to defend her position, the controversy did not go unnoticed, and many fans were not convinced. However, Amber took to This Morning on Wednesday to clarify her stance. When asked by hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, who described her as a “professional performer with dance experience,” Amber affirmed she had never danced on the ballroom floor before.
“The ballroom and Latin community know that musical theatre is worlds apart [from ballroom dancing],” she said, responding to the criticism.
The Challenge of Ballroom Dancing
When asked if she felt it was fair for fans to complain about her past experience, Amber responded: “I do understand where they come from, because I can perform. But, there’s a great example. Yesterday we were doing our American Smooth, and even just walking left right, left right, brought me to tears. It’s so much more complicated than you can imagine.”
Her professional dance partner, Nikita Kuzmin, added that even though ballroom dancing may seem simple, it can be “really difficult” to pick up. Despite these explanations, fans on social media were not won over, with many taking to X to express their dissatisfaction.
Replacing Dani Dyer
Amber replaced injured Dani Dyer just days before Strictly‘s first live show. Bosses had hoped that Dani, 29, who was originally partnered with Nikita, would go far in the competition. However, it was announced that she had to withdraw after fracturing her ankle in training.
With the competition continuing this weekend on BBC One and available to stream on iPlayer, Amber is now under the spotlight once again. Her background in musical theatre and West End performances has sparked debates about whether her experience could give her an edge in the competition.
