Hartlepool woman Stephanie Croxson is competing against nine other couples in the BBC's Strictly Dance Fever.
Stephanie's first live performance went down well with the judges on Saturday night and she and her partner Ben Harrold came third.
Now the talented pair hope to win the public vote every week until the grand final in two months' time.
Her sister Hayley Rasul, 28, said: "I'm really proud of her.''
Stephanie and the other competitors are currently living in a luxury mansion for the duration of the show.
Hayley added: "She rang me just to say that she likes it in the mansion and she's going to send some tickets up to us.
"We're hoping to go down this weekend."
Stephanie, 21, of Raby Gardens in Hartlepool, started dancing when she was 13 and is now a full-time student at Reynolds Stage School in Bexley, Kent.
The former Dyke House pupil, enjoys disco, ballet, tap, modern, jazz, contemporary, Latin and ballroom.
She beat off 80,000 other dancers to take part in the show and paired up with Ben at the auditions when her original partner failed to make it through.
"Stephanie is really good, but there are a lot of good couples on the show,'' said Hayley, from Carlton Street.
"She auditioned last year but didn't make the final 10 pairs, but this time we're hoping she'll go all the way."
Strictly Dance Fever is on BBC1 on Saturday night at 8pm and this week Stephanie will perform the hustle and the Argentine tango.