A RHYTHMIC gymnast has made it through the latest round of a TV dance contest.

Hannah Martin was one of eight remaining acts on BBC One’s The Greatest Dancer on Saturday.

Speaking on the show, the 17-year-old from Burgess Hill said: “Last week was so much fun and I’m so happy to be through.

“There’s a stronger side to me that I want to show in my performance.”

The theme for Saturday’s show was “around the world” and each act chose a different country to inspire their performance.

Hannah, who writes poetry to help her work through her routines, was the last act to perform and wowed the judges with her dramatic gymnastic dance, which was inspired by Greece.

She said: “I’ve incorporated Athens into my performance by being a Spartan gladiator.”

Judge and dance captain Cheryl Tweedy told Hannah she had no reason to feel uncertain about her abilities.

The pop star, who attended the Royal Ballet School at a young age and is a former member of Girls Aloud, said: “Everything you do, you make really hard for yourself as you choreograph it all yourself.

“Tonight I did feel in you a hesitation but there’s nothing to be uncertain about.

“You are an unbelievable dancer, like we tell you every week.”

Dance captain and star of Strictly Come Dancing Oti Mabuse told Hannah: “I love seeing this side of you.

“The fact that you use this entire floor by yourself – that’s so difficult to do. Really be proud of yourself, because that was super.”

Talking about her routine, Hannah said: “There were definitely some tricky parts in there, but I’m so glad they went well.

“It was all about embodying the character and I enjoyed every second.

“I’m really close to my family and I hope I made them proud tonight.

“To get this far is absolutely incredible.”

In the show, each dance captain has a “squad” of different acts they hope will win the competition.

Hannah is in Matthew Morrison’s squad – he starred in the TV musical series Glee and has performed on Broadway.

Hannah was one of the first contestants to find out she had enough votes from the public to perform again this Saturday, when the remaining acts will take on the challenge of dance fusion.

Speaking on the show, Hannah’s parents told Matthew their daughter was ambitious. Her mother Larna said: “Hannah has always been a very determined young lady. She won’t stop until she arrives at the destination.”