Erica Cody said she’s ‘beyond proud’ of her Dancing with the Stars partner Denys Samson amid Russia’s attack on his native Ukraine.
Ukrainian Denys is a newcomer to the RTE show this year, and travelled to Ireland to begin training for the series before Christmas.
Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday morning, Dublin born singer Erica credited her partner for “powering through” this week despite the heartache and destruction in his war torn home country.
The singer wrote: “The way you have been able to power through this week given everything that’s going on, I take my hat off to you and I am so beyond proud of you. I’ve got you always. Let’s go partner.”
She went on to thank fans and followers who have reached out to him over the week during the difficult time.
“Also massive thank you to everyone who reached out to send their love to Denys this week, you’ve no idea how much it means to him,” she added.
Denys is a two-time 10 Dance World Champion and is also a two-time champion in his home country, as well as a Blackpool festival European Championship finalist.
No stranger to Dancing with the Stars, he took part in the Ukrainian version of the show as a professional dancer last year.
Speaking ahead of this year’s series, he said: "I’m super excited to be part of Dancing with the Stars here in Ireland. I’m fresh, I’m new and I’ve come all the way from Ukraine to be part of this amazing show, and of course, I would love to win!”
Denys and Erica are set to take to the dancefloor tonight to fight for that chance to stay in the competition until the end, after finding themselves in the first dance-off of the season last weekend.
They proved victorious over Missy Keating and her professional dance partner Ervinas Merfeldas after the judges ruled a unanimous decision to send them home.
This weekend is Big Band Week with the dancers taking to the floor to perform their numbers to music performed by the RTE Concert Orchestra.
