Anna Geary is practising her steps solo on the dance floor – jump, one, two, three – almost like dodging past an opponent on the pitch.

The camogie star is completely in the zone, the dancefloor could be Croke Park and she warming up for an All-Ireland final.

When Irish Country Living received an invitation from RTÉ to go backstage at Dancing with the Stars, we automatically expected the venue to be the Donnybrook studios, and were quite surprised to find out that in fact the show is filmed in Bray, Co Wicklow.

On arrival, the reason is obvious: the set is huge. The spaciousness is needed to accommodate all the extra sparkle and glitter.

Just a couple of hours before the show airs live, the contestants are in their costumes, ready for the dress rehearsal to begin.

John Edward Nolan, pro-dancing partner to comedian and actress Deirdre O’Kane, swings by to say hello.

He has a fist full of jellies, popping them into his mouth in between sentences.

Snacks like jellies are quite common before dancing, as they help keep your energy up without making you feel too full.

John is joined by the woman herself, Deirdre, who explains just how physically demanding the competition is.

Physically demanding

“If you are going from regular exercise, a couple of classes a week of Pilates or something, to six hours a day of dancing, your body is going to get a shock.

My calves are really bad, my feet are aching, my neck, my back and arms are sore. My head is wrecked.

"Thank God, I’m not one to complain,” laughs Deirdre.

As physically demanding as the competition is, the comedian explains that the real challenge is the technical side of the dances.

“This frame business and keeping your head out sounds so easy and looks so easy, but it is incredibly difficult.

"A simple thing like that: you can’t believe that it is the thing messing you up. You think it would be the pace, but it actually isn’t, it is the frame.”

John is full of praise for his partner, though, and when they take to the floor for the rehearsal it is clear why, the pair are bursting with energy – and Deirdre’s frame is far from an issue.

Judging

The judges are not allowed to watch the rehearsal in case it skews their opinion of the live show, but we catch up with Lorraine Barry off-set to pick her brain about this year’s dancers.

There are two main components to what she is looking for: that the technical elements of the dance are correct and also entertainment value.

“If it was a salsa, I would be looking for the character of the salsa, making sure there is a great tempo, a rhythm to the music, making sure the feet have the correct footwork and that there is a hip action.

"The other thing I would be looking for is the lift content,” outlines Lorraine.

“On the other side, I would be looking for the entertainment value.

That is to do with the music choice, what costumes they would wear in harmony with that, and then obviously a little bit of an opening and an ending to the number.

Lorraine believes this year’s celebrities are surpassing the standard set by last year’s – and there are a number that standout competitors at present: Anna Geary, Alannah Beirne and Jake Carter being among them.

A little laughter

Presenters Amanda Byram and Nicky Byrne use the dress rehearsal wisely and perfect their autocue lines, but the pair are also prone to the odd joke and crack up laughing when Amanda pulls Nicky up on pronouncing “favourite” wrong.

There is great camaraderie between all the dancers, as they shout encouragement to each other.

Most don’t take themselves too seriously. Jake is by far the most energetic and enthusiastic cheerleader.

It is clear he and Rob Heffernan have a serious bromance on the go, as they are most definitely each other’s best supporters.

Halfway through the rehearsal, the dancers huddle around Nicky for the post-dance-mortem and mention an afterparty. “Who asked where we are going after?”

“I think it was Kai.”

At the mention of a party, there is only one man Nicky turns to enquire of the venue – and that is, of course, Marty Morrissey.

Who promptly announces the establishment.

We are sure the dance moves will be just as good at the Marty after party too.

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