Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Simmonds admits the waltz has been "challenging" for both her and Nikita Kuzmin.
The 27-year-old, who has achondroplasia dwarfism, appeared on ITV's This Morning today where her and her professional dance partner chatted with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about their waltz. The pair will dance their first ballroom routine on Saturday, followed by the series first vote off to be broadcasted on the Sunday evening.
Ellie and Nikita have now opened up about their tough week. The pro dancer explained how they have had to make some adaptations, especially to their ballroom hold ahead of this weekend.
Speaking on This Morning today, Nikita said: "Realistically, it's quite a lot but at the same time we still have the same technique. We still have the same rules but I think we're doing something very special so we're investing all our hearts into everything.
"Obviously there's a lot to do with the ballroom hold. The hold, the stride. Usually you and your partner have the same size of stride but now we have to figure out how we're going to move around, especially with the ballroom dance."
He added: "It's such a beautiful thing that we're doing. For me, as a creative person and a choreographer, it's something so beautiful."
The pair have admitted it's been a very "challenging" week for them, as they prepare their Waltz for the judges.
"This was a really challenging week, but I can say proudly I got her smiling by last night," Nikita said, as Ellie went on to add: "I was struggling. I couldn't remember the next move, it was just frustrating."
It comes after Ellie admitted she is just going to "grab" onto Nikita as she discussed the adaptations they have to make.
"It’s new. How am I going to grab him, I mean hold him? I’ve never danced in my life – so how are we going to work it out, how are we going to adapt, it is the unknown," she said, "It just gets me emotional really. I’m the first individual with dwarfism to do it in the UK. When I was a kid, if I’d seen someone with dwarfism doing a dancing show on a Saturday night, it would just be something so special."
Ellie has been subjected to some horrific trolling since signing up for the show.
"I’ve had it already. Some people have said ‘How’s the dwarf going to dance?’ It’s sad and it does get to you," she recalled to The Mirror, "But from that one comment, there are so many other amazing comments. People who have reached out to me – it’s been so touching. If only I had this as a child, watching someone with dwarfism on a dancing show. I never even thought I’d do Strictly."
