Dancing with the Stars contestant Brooke Scullion has said representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest was "a doddle" when compared to the nerve-racking dancefloor demands of the RTÉ One show.
The Derry singer, who missed out on a place in the Eurovision grand final in Turin last May, is now hoping to lift the glitterball trophy on RTÉ One next month, admitting that Dancing with the Stars "completely takes over everything in your life".
"Eurovision was a doddle because I had done it a thousand times before I even had to go on the big stage," the 23-year-old explained to RTÉ Entertainment. "I could've done that with my arms crossed and blindfolded! It was all planned to perfection.
"Whereas this, anything could go wrong at any given moment. There's just so much room for error. My Salsa in week one - that was the craziest moment of my life!
"However, ever since week three, that's when my nerves disappeared. I was like, 'You're working too hard to let this dampen your experience'.
"Nerves is not a thing that I would've usually had to deal with - I would have always practised enough to know that I was going to deliver. Whereas you only have a week to learn a whole dance, a whole technique, a whole style. It's just a different challenge.
"You obviously get nerves and that's good because it's a sign that you care - but don't let them distract from the fact that you're having a good time! So from week four on is when it actually started to get enjoyable."
Brooke and her professional dance partner Robert Rowiński are putting the finishing touches on their dance for this Sunday - Contemporary Ballroom with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra performing the Kate Bush classic Running Up That Hill.
"It's been incredible. It's the first week where I've enjoyed every second of rehearsal. Do you know why? Because I've no bloody shoes on! I have no heels on - it's been hell!"
"I am not a heels girl!" Brooke laughed. "Maybe after this, I will give them their respect and I'll wear them and I'll not be annoyed about it. But training in them for six hours a day and then wearing them Sunday is just... adrenaline doesn't cover everything!"
Looking forward to her performance, she said: "It's unreal, this one is all about how you feel and emotion with technique, obviously, in the middle. With the orchestra, it's going to add another level of excitement. I'm buzzing."
Brooke saluted Robert as a teacher and dance partner who "just makes every day fun".
"We're always laughing and we're always spending time together outside of the show too," she continued. "We actually do really enjoy each other's company and it's just nice to have someone like that when I'm down here by myself."
As she headed back to rehearsals, Brooke said she had learned more than dance moves on the show.
"I've learned to be more professional," she concluded. "I'm always professional, but this has thrown so many curveballs. You focus when you need to focus, you let your hair down when you need to let your hair down, you listen to your body and listen to your mentality and how you're feeling.
"It's all about actually connecting with yourself. Dance is very expressive and very much 'invasive', I guess - where you're constantly connected to yourself, how you feel and how the music makes you feel.
"It's been very much an internal lesson about myself - and I've definitely changed for the better."
Dancing with the Stars, Sundays, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, 6:30pm
