Pro dancer GIOVANNI PERNICE of Strictly Come Dancing, who reached the finals in the last series with his partner Faye Tozer of Steps, is bringing his sizzling hot dance moves to Weymouth Pavilion on Wednesday. JOANNA DAVIS finds out more.

A STRICTLY Come Dancing pro is said to be leaving audiences raving as he opens his third UK and Ireland tour.

Giovanni Pernice's Dance is Life tour will call in at Weymouth Pavilion next week, Wednesday, March 6 at 7.30pm.

Three-time finalist and double Guinness World Record holder Giovanni, who hails from Italy, is on his third UK and Ireland tour.

The 28-year-old, who was born in Sicily, is fresh from success on last year's Strictly Come Dancing, where he reached the final with partner Faye Tozer.

And the last series of Strictly proved to be extra special for Giovanni - he met his current girlfriend former Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts on the show. Ashley joined as one of the celebrity contestants and partnered Pasha Kovalov. She sat in the front row to watch Giovanni on the opening night of his show and said she was 'proud' of her partner.

Giovanni is the Italian Open Latin Dance Champion (2012) and the Guinness World Record holder for Jive kicks and flicks, as well as Charleston swivels. He chose to become a dancer after watching Come Dancing a television show about ballroom dance competitions. He specialises in Latin style. Joining Strictly in 2015 for its 13th series, Giovanni was partnered with Coronation Street's Georgia May Foote. They reached the final but finished as join runners-up.

In 2016 Giovanni was partnered with TV presenter Laura Whitmore and reached week seven. In 2017 he was partnered with Debbie McGee, wife of the late magician Paul Daniels, and once again reached the final.

Giovanni decided to bring his sell-out 2017 tour Dance Is Life back to theatres in 2019.

He said: “It was such a well received production, but being my first ever tour, it was only 32 shows. We missed out so much of the UK but now we get to perform it at even more venues!”

The smash hit dance spectacular Dance Is Life, choreographed by Jason Gilkison, Strictly Come Dancing’s creative director, got audiences very hot under the collar.....and Giovanni is ready to raise the temperature just a little bit more this time round!

The action packed production combines the Italian’s wit and charm, with outstanding music, sensational choreography, and stunning costumes by DSI.

Headlined by Giovanni, the show also features seven other world-class professional dancers, with Strictly’s newest pro, Luba Mushtuk, returning as Giovanni’s leading lady, to continue their alluring partnership.

Australian dancer Trent Whiddon joins the cast with his wife Gordana Grandosek Whiddon. Trent partnered singer Pixie Lott on Series 12 of Strictly Come Dancing in 2014, reaching the quarter-final and returned to the BBC show in 2018 as assistant choreographer to Jason Gilkison. Gordana has appeared on Dancing with the Stars in her home country Slovenia. She has also worked on the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour in 2015, and most recently partnered Ronan Keating on the 2018 Children in Need Special.

Together Trent and Gordana are one phenomenal dance couple!

Sensational husband and wife dance duo, Stephen and Kylee Vincent, who performed on Giovanni’s Born To Win tour in 2018, are back! Both have had very successful competitive careers - Kylee is the undefeated WDC South African Amateur Latin Champion and the U21 British Open Champion, and Stephen is a Latin UK Champion. They have also performed all over the world with shows including the world’s leading Ballroom dance show Burn the Floor and Priscilla - Queen of the Desert.

Completing the line-up are Krystian Radziejowski and Sylwia Radziejowska. This very talented couple from Poland won many championships during their competitive careers and have also represented their home country in all international competitions, including the World and European Championships in every age category. They have performed in'Legally Blonde - The Musical on Broadway, and around the world with the world-famous Burn the Floor.

A showcase of ballroom and Latin dances, the show features the Paso Doble, the waltz, the rumba, and the jive, to name just a few, with a beautiful Italian theme running throughout the show.

So sit back, let yourself be transported to Sicily, and enjoy the story...

*Dance Is Life, Weymouth Pavilion, Wednesday, March 6, 7.30pm. Call the box office for tickets.