A self-taught breakdancer is hoping to spin his way to the £50,000 prize of a TV dance contest.

JP Omari, 24, from Brighton, has made it to the last ten couples competing for dance glory in the BBC's Strictly Dance Fever.

He has been training hard all week, learning rock and roll and salsa routines for the first dance-off tonight.

JP was born and raised in Rome but has lived in Brighton for several years.

He is a dance development worker who helps children at risk, is a member of various city dance crews, including The Floor Crusaders, and teaches at schools and workshops.

Yesterday, children taking part in the Dance Easter School at Brighton Youth Club said they would be cheering on JP.

Rhys Mobsby, 14, of Clayton Road, Brighton, worked with JP on the "hip hopera" project School 4 Lovers, a hip-hop production of Mozart's opera Cosi fan Tutte, which was performed at Glyndebourne in March.

He said: "JP is really energetic and he makes you smile and laugh.

"He goes through the dance step by step so you don't feel left out. I am going to be using all the credit on my mobile phone voting for him."

Rachel Somers, 14, has been to hip-hop Saturday classes with JP.

She said: "He inspires you. He was a great teacher and I really enjoyed it.

"I was the youngest in the class so he helped me."

JP graduated from university with a business degree but from a very early age his real passion was dance - he remembers watching Michael Jackson's Thriller from behind his mother's shoulder at the age of four.

The Argus was not able to speak to JP as he, his dance partner Stacey and the other contestants have a hectic training schedule in the run-up to Saturday night.

Over the next eight weeks the ten couples will compete live on air every Saturday, trying to keep their place by covering dance styles from swing to lindy hop.

Each week, one couple will be voted off until three pairs remain for the grand final.

The panel of judges includes regulars Arlene Phillips and Stacey Haynes, legendary ballet dancer Wayne Sleep and TV's Ben Richards. Graham Norton presents.

The show starts at 6.10pm on BBC1 and 7.15pm on BBC3. To find out more, go to www.bbc.co.uk/strictlydancefever