Sophie's bellylicious home performance VIDEO & PICTURES
Young and old showed up in the Winter Gardens yesterday to see Sophie Mei's bellylicious moves.
"You all may remember my final song which was my original audition on Britain's Got Talent in front of the scary Simon Cowell," said Sophie Mei,aged 20, who lives in Pitsmoor, before she performed Temptation.
Click on the green play icon to see Sophie's performance.
The Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist showed Sheffielders her moves as part of Wednesday Night Live, the campaign to add a bit of life and colour to the city centre by stepping up the entertainment after normal working hours.
"I love being back in Sheffield and performing in the city," said Sophie, a student at Manchester University.
"It's been a bit mad since I went on Britain's Got Talent, but I'm loving it. I get recognised all the time and people keep saying 'are you that belly dancer'?
"But all the comments I've been getting are positive ones so that's fantastic."
Sophie started dancing six-and-a-half years ago when she was just a "shy" teenager.
"Believe it or not I used to be quite shy but belly dancing helped me to combat that," she said.
"I started taking the classes at a community group based in Pitsmoor Christ Church."
She decided to go on Britain's Got Talent to "put belly dancing on the map" and dispel some of the myths surrounding it.
"I wanted to give belly dancing the image it deserves and make people realise it is not something sleazy," she said.
"I also wanted to do something different and boost my confidence. I never imagined I would go as far as I did, it's been fantastic."
Amateur dramatics fan Sophie, a former member of the Crucible's Youth Theatre, is also hopeful that some acting or TV presenting opportunities may arise from her new found fame – but she is keeping her feet firmly on the ground.
"I want to finish my degree – that is just as important to me as all this," she said.
"Once I have done that I can concentrate fully on what I want for the future but right now I'm enjoying all the gigs and the feedback.
"It's great being back in Sheffield too where all my friends and family are."
In addition to Temptation Sophie performed Kiss Kiss and She Bangs, and the talented dancer gave the audience a quick lesson in how to wiggle that belly.
Related articles:
Sophie's home date
Sexy reaction belies TV belly dancer's intentions
Britain's Got Talent belly dancer heads festival date
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
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Light sleet showers
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