On Saturday night, Strictly Come Dancing delivered a performance that left hearts soaring and emotions running high. Ellie Goldstein and her professional partner Vito Coppola captivated the audience with their enchanting butterfly-themed Waltz, earning a commendable score of 23 and securing ninth place on the leaderboard. While Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe claimed the top spot, it was Ellie and Vito’s heartfelt routine that stole the spotlight for its hidden depth, revealed only days later on It Takes Two.
The duo’s Waltz was a vision of grace and elegance, with Ellie gliding down a set of stairs alone before meeting Vito on the dancefloor. To the untrained eye, it was a beautiful start to a stunning performance. But behind this seemingly simple moment lay a profound personal triumph that brought Vito to the brink of tears mid-routine.
Speaking on Tuesday’s It Takes Two with host Janette Manrara, Ellie and Vito opened up about the emotional weight of their performance. Janette, clearly moved, described the routine as “beautiful” before asking Ellie about her solo descent down the stairs. “You started on your own again on the stairs, did you have any butterflies in your stomach?” she prompted.
Ellie, with her characteristic warmth, admitted, “I had nerves at first, but they were coming down. The Waltz was a good dance, it was a great dance by Vito.” The model went on to share how the dance felt “graceful and elegant,” confessing, “I got a bit emotional but on the inside, not on the outside.”
It was Vito, however, who revealed the true significance of the stairs—a moment that went unnoticed by the studio audience but held immense meaning for the pair. “Honestly, I was really trying not to get emotional during the dance!” he admitted. “The moment, coming down from the stairs… this is also our own little journey. We want to have a little challenge, and Ellie was a little bit afraid of getting down from the stairs on her own.”
He explained how they deliberately included the stairs as a personal challenge for Ellie, who had been apprehensive about navigating them solo. “I said, that’s why we’re going to set this challenge. You’re going to come down on your own, and we’re going to meet in the middle of the floor,” Vito shared, his pride evident. “I was so, so proud. The moment you were spinning around, I thought, oh, she’s going to fly now like a butterfly.”
The emotional resonance didn’t end there. Ellie revealed that her sister was in the audience during the live show, watching her shine. “I loved watching her,” Ellie said, her affection for her sister clear. Vito, ever the supportive partner, added, “Remember before the dance, you said to me, ‘I want to make my sister proud tonight.’ I’m sure you did.”
Janette, visibly touched, admitted, “I had tears in my eyes watching you two, it was so beautiful.” The studio may not have known the full story behind Ellie’s courageous descent, but for those in the know, it was a moment of pure triumph—a testament to her determination and the unbreakable bond she shares with Vito.
As Strictly gears up for Movie Week, Ellie and Vito are set to bring their magic to the dancefloor once again, this time with a vibrant Samba to Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” from the hit film Barbie. If their Waltz is anything to go by, this performance promises to be another unforgettable chapter in their inspiring journey. One thing’s for sure: Ellie and Vito are proving that courage, heart, and a touch of sparkle can create moments that resonate far beyond the dancefloor.