A south Essex teenager will appear in front of the nation in an attempt to dance her way to stardom.

Jade Tibbs, 18, is competing in Bump N' Grind, a televised competition to find the best dancer from hundreds of hopefuls across the country.

After attending auditions in London and becoming one of 30 dancers chosen from around 800 participants, she was put up in a hotel while filming took place for the show.

Dancers are eliminated from the programme every week depending on how they have fared in front of a panel of judges including former Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon, choreographers Louie Spence and Darrin Henson, and former reality show star Johnny Pitts.

The final is due to be screened in November.

The winner will receive a dance contract with the prestigious AMCK dance agency and the chance to appear in a music video for a famous performer.

Jade, from Hawkesbury Road, Canvey, has just finished two years at Masters dance college, Rayleigh, and although she got into dancing relatively late, she took to it like a duck to water.

She said: "I have been dancing for about seven years. I went to the local dance school beginners classes, but they quickly moved me up to the next level - I just picked it up straight away and I really enjoy it."

Jade is also a singer and has performed at a number of venues from north London to Southend.

She could not reveal how far she made it on the show for contractual reasons, but said she was thrilled to be doing it at all.

Jade said: "I am really pleased with how I've done.

"It has been an amazing experience.

"There were a lot of people in it and the competition is hard."

She said the show had also done her confidence the world of good, adding: "If you don't feel confident, then there is no point."

To see Jade's progress on Bump N' Grind, check out satellite channel Trouble TV at 6pm each Wednesday.