They've done it all, TV, books, panto, tours what is left to do? Yet just when we thought we were all Strictly-ed out they are taking over the theatre. This June, Craig Revel-Harwood's Strictly Confidential will be opening at the Plymouth Pavilions before embarking on a nationwide tour, which ends on July 28th at the Grand Theatre in Leeds. It seems they are taking Bruce Forsyth seriously and have just kept dancing.



Strictly Confidential promises to be an extravaganza of music and dancing as well as spray tan, sequins and glitter-balls. Starring Strictly professionals Natalie Lowe, Ian Waite and Artem Chigvintsev along with last year's runner up Lisa Riley the show looks to be an amalgamation of all the best bits, our favourite stars, magnificent dances and of course the man we all love to hate Craig. Best of all is the promise of behind the scenes gossip. After the success of the question and answer sessions that featured not only in the Strictly Live Tour, but also Anton and Erin Go to Hollywood, amongst the dances each star will present the story behind their own Strictly adventure.



The stars themselves certainly seem enthusiastic. The Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley, who got knocked out in Week 11 of series 10 told newspapers, 'when I first signed up for Strictly I had no idea that I'd be able to Ballroom dance, so I was thrilled to be asked to do the live tour. Being able to be part of Strictly Confidential as well is such a great opportunity and I'm really looking forward to continue working with Craig, Artem, Natalie and Ian throughout 2013.' After their latest DVD Strictly Come Dancing: The Show Stoppers, released last November, was dismissed as 'simply so-so on the sequinometer', however, we must ask the question- have we just had too much Strictly? Can Craig's latest innovation really capture the magic of the TV series?



We will just have to see, but if Craig tells us it is going to be fabbbbbuuuullllooooouuuuusssss, who are we at Ballroom Central to believe anything else!

The Blackpool Dance Festival 2013 will soon be underway, kicking off with the Junior Dance Festival next month. This April, teenagers from across the world will be descending on Britain’s most famous seaside resort in a whirl of glitter, shoes and sparkly dresses for seven days of Ballroom, Latin and Sequence dancing.





The festival, which attracts 12 to 16 years old couples from around the world, has been running since 1947 and is growing every year. In 2012 it celebrated its 65th birthday by attracting over four-hundred couples, eight Sequence Formation Teams and sixty-seven Latin/Ballroom Formation Teams; representing thirty-four countries in all. This year the competition will begin on the 1st April and include twenty-nine competitions across the three branches of dancing: Latin, Ballroom and Sequence. Alongside this there will also be four team matches and three formative competitions. As well as the Junior competitions the Juvenile dancers, aged 6 to 12, will also be competing and shall start off the first rounds with the Jive at 3.35pm Monday 1st April. The Tower Ballroom is bound to be alight with spectacular sambas and waltzes.





Blackpool doesn’t have a reputation for being the dance capital of the world for nothing. The Junior Dance Festival is one of numerous Ballroom competitions that will be hosted in the town this year including the World Professional Dancesport Championships. The main dance festival, which dates back to 1920 and includes the British Open Championships, will start on the 23rd May and tickets can still be bought online. Here at Ballroom Central we are clearing our calendars to get ready for a spring full of dance and you should to. It promises to be truly magnificent.

Although the New Year meant saying goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing, 2013 seems to be the year that Ballroom Dancing has come to the stage. Strictly stars have been touring the nation bringing Strictly Fever to every nook and cranny- the only problem is trying to choose which one to go and see!




Over the last couple of months Strictly Come Dancing has dominated our TV screens, newspapers and the internet, now the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour has also drawn to a close. Celebrities from Strictly Come Dancing series 10 were joined by the judges and professionals in their mission to spread spraytan and glitterballs to the masses. In a mock competition the audience were able to vote for their favourite couples based on the night’s performance. From Birmingham to Glasgow Lisa Riley, Louis Smith, Dani Harmer, Denise Van Outen, Fern Britton, Michael Vaughan and Phil Tufnell have been shaking and shimmying. After two months of salsa and that sensational rumba-tango fusion however, Louis Smith proved to audiences across the country that he deserved to become the Strictly champion 2012 by winning the most live shows. Performing to packed audience every night, all we can say about the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour is…Mission Accomplished!




Although the Strictly Live Tour came to an end last weekend Ballroom Central’s favourite couple Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag are carrying on dancing throughout the rest of February in their fifth live tour Anton and Erin Go To Hollywood. Joined by the singer Lance Ellington, the London Concert House Orchestra and four excellent dancers; Francine Cornell, Gemma Facinelli, Tom Goodall and Chris Piper the show is jam packed with musical numbers and Hollywood glamour. Mixing comedy with waltzes and adding a sensational duet by Lance and Anton how could it get any better??? Oh wait! Anton once again dons his tap shoes to 42nd Street in a spectacular finale, which earns the show the acclaim it has won from critics. As a review of the performance at the Birmingham Symphony Hall observed Anton and Erin Go To Hollywood ‘undoubtedly has the “wow” factor’.





Anton and Erin aren’t the only Strictly professionals on tour however, Brendan Cole’s Licence to Thrill opened at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on 20th January and tours until the 9th March. Brendan’s fast pace dances and sparkly costumes have afforded him a popularity that rivals Anton and Erin’s. Accompanied by fourteen musicians, directed by Barry Robinson, and five other dancers including Brendan’s brother Scott Cole the show is jam packed. Once again the Strictly stars prove that they can do more than point their toes, as Brendan treats the audience to a song. It is no wonder that Licence to Thrill is being described as a ‘feast for the eyes and the ears’.





I think we can agree that the 2012 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special was not the end of Ballroom for whole year, but you better get your tickets quick, because these sensational shows are must-sees.

A great show on Saturday night seeing the celerities matched with their professional dancer. Some of the celebrities look very promising and the lovely Darcey Bussell adding a touch of elegance to the judging panel.
Here is the line-up if you missed it.
- Fern & Artem
- Dani & Vincent
- Victoria & Brendan
- Sid & Ola
- Nicky & Karen
- Jerry & Anton
- Kimberley & Pasha
- Lisa & Robin
- Denise & James
- Louis & Flavia
- Richard & Erin
- Colin & Kristina
- Michael & Natalie

Who's your favourite?

Strictly is back on our screens this Saturday night and after weeks of speculation the glitzy line-up has now been confirmed.

- Colin Salmon - Actor
- Dani Harmer - Actress
- Denise Van Outen - Actress
- Fern Britton - TV Presenter
- Johnny Ball - Veteran TV Presenter
- Jerry Hall - Former Model
- Kimberley Walsh - Singer with Girls Aloud
- Lisa Riley - Actress
- Louis Smith - Olympic Gymnast
- Michael Vaughan - Retired Cricketer
- Nicky Byrne - Singer with Westlife
- Richard Arnold - TV Presenter
- Sid Owen - Actor
- Victoria Pendleton - Olympic Gold Cyclist

So there you are, a great line-up for this coming season. We love this year's variety of contestants, which one will lift this year's glitter-ball trophy? Roll on Saturday nights!

Ballroom Central would like to wish team GB the very best of luck for the London 2012 Olympics.

All those years of gruelling training schedules are starting to pay off for the champions representing Great Britain. For many of the team it is the first time they will be representing their country at an Olympics such as 15-year-old Rebecca Tunney, who will be Team GB’s youngest athlete this summer. Rebecca is one of the 18-strong gymnastics squad for London 2012 which also includes Beth Tweddle who is already three-time World Champion & Great Britain’s most successful gymnast in history.

Gymnastics in the UK has gone from strength to strength since Beijing 2008 and with such a strong squad for London 2012 the medals for team GB look promising!

We really do hope we can reach some medals and that the strong enthusiasm and determination across the whole of the GB squad pays off for our Olympians!

All the best Team GB for London Olympics 2012, we will be cheering you on!

Huge savings on dancewear and dance shoes in our summer sale!

Check out our clearance and end of season bargains across a huge range of ballroom shoes, latin shoes, practice shoes & accessories with prices reduced across items from all your favourite brands including Roch Valley, Port Dance, Freed, Werner Kern & many more!

For lots of fantastic savings visit our 'Special Offers' section & with next day delivery available across our online store you could be wearing your items tomorrow!

Hurry, Don't miss out on a bargain!

You will be spoilt for choice with our fabulous range of Latin shoes this season!

What ever style of Latin dance gets your hips shaking, be it the Cha-Cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble or Jive we have a huge selection of Latin dance shoes available from the worlds leading dance shoe manufacturers in a wide variety of colours and heels sizes to give you that sexy flair!

The typical ladies Latin dance shoe is an open toed sandal with a 2 - 3 inch heel and a flexible design. Dance shoes are the foundation of good dancing and a Latin dancer in flexible dance shoes will be able to embrace the fast paced, sensual moves of the Latin dance technique,

Latin dance shoes should fit snugly, with your toes right at the edge of the sole. Some dancers even prefer to have their toes overhanging the sole slightly to enable them to feel the floor better; however it’s really a personally choice.

Ballroom Central is very pleased to bring you our extensive range from Roch Valley, Port Dance, Werner Kern, Anna Kern, Supadance & Ooba Shoo. Underneath the glamour are the latest innovations in shoe production that will provide the optimum support and stability enabling fluidity throughout the dance.

If you’ve not dashed straight to our Latin shoe section yet to pick out your favourite pair then read on for a selection of our most wanted designs this season to tempt you!

Roch Valley continually strive to develop new & exciting products and work with dancers at all levels to ensure the highest quality in comfort & performance. This season they have introduced the ‘Selina’ Latin sandal in classic black with silver hologram. The 2.5" Slim flared heel is perfect for beginners and the x strap design is suited to dancers who don’t like the feeling of the shoe separating from the foot when pointing. With a padded insole & leather lining for comfort and quick fasten buckle system. Elegant & glamorous and at a great price!

Supadance shoes offer unrivalled comfort and the highest quality, Not surprisingly they have been chosen by many world champions We love the 1029 - A classic Latin Patent T-Bar Sandal with round insole toe shape, a regular fit and featuring a 2.5" slim heel. The t -bar design of the 1029 will give you a secure fit. Soft, flexible & supportive.

Portdance is committed to creating beautiful ballroom dance shoes, with the highest quality and comfort. They guarantee the essential features in the ballroom dance world: Quality, Sensuality, Glamour and Flexibility. We love the PD140 Premium in Tan Satin which features a cross over ankle strap and an ultra slim heel. The flesh tone of the shoes is great for lengthening the look of your legs on the dance floor!

The Werner Kern Nueva Epoca is an extremely exclusive Tango and Salsa range made in Italy. The collection is developed by Werner Kern together with designers from Buenos Aires and Italy. Only the most sophisticated and extraordinary materials have been used. There are many vibrant colours to choose from in this range including the fabulous Werner Kern Angeles Ladies Tango Shoe in electric blue! Featuring an impressive 8cm ultra slim heel and an attractive slim ankle strap, it’s a shoe to rival all others on the dance floor!

Get ready to grace the floor with Dancewear Centrals’ versatile range of ballroom, Latin and salsa practice wear for ladies and gents. Whether you are just starting classes for fun or are a top level competitor, you will know the most important thing to wear whilst training is clothing that is comfortable but does not restrict your movement. We have selected a range of quality practice wear from brands such as Capezio and BodyWrappers so you can add comfort, glamour and sophistication to your training sessions.

Our Ballroom Wear range is always expanding but heres our top 3 favourites that we reccommend you take a look at:

The Capezio Asymmetrical Short Ruffle Skirt is made of a very soft knit fibre; this garment gives excellent drape and movement - ideal for both practice and performance.

Hit the floor Strictly Ballroom Style with the Body Wrappers Asymmetrical Pullover Dress! Embrace every dance move with the large flutter sleeve and cascading side drape. Features decorative side gathers and clear detachable or interchangeable shoulder strap. Steal the show by wearing with Capezio Shimmer tights and your favourite shoes to your next Latin or Salsa class!

Capezio Flared Leg Pants are perfect for ballroom practice. Made of a very soft knit fibre, the garment has excellent drape and movement and features a roll down waist band. Made with DanceDry technology to accelerate evaporation and keep the body dry; ensuring comfort during those long rehearsals and dance classes.

Chosen for there comfort, style and performance Dancewear Central are pleased to present a selection from the Freed of London Dance Steps range now in stock!

All Freed shoes in the ladies collection extend our selection of social and wide fit ballroom shoes. Freed Dance Steps range are all hand made in the UK and feature a comfortable low heel. Take a look at the Freed Garnet or Topaz open toe shoe , Garland court shoe or the Amethyst ladies social shoe which are all available in either an 'E' or 'EE' width fitting.

We've also added to our children’s range too with the Freed lucy1 and the Sparkle for girls and the Freed of London MPB Patent Ballroom Shoes for the boys! All are ideal for junior Latin and ballroom dancing competitions.

Freed of London is a long established brand of shoes worn by many World Standard and Lain American Champions. By building on their experience and working with some of the world's leading professional dancers and coaches they have created a range of styles which allows dancers of all abilities to show their full potential on the dance floor.

For the very best Freed Dance Shoes buy from Dancewear Central for next day delivery.

We are committed to supporting dance teachers and dance schools with the best products, specialist advice and the most competitive prices. We understand it can be hard to maintain a dance school on a tight budget which is why we can offer you exclusive discounts for all your dancewear requirements.

Apply for an account with us and your dance school can take advantage of 10% off all orders and receive free delivery!*

Discount can be used on everything in our online store: - from the latest dance fashion for practice wear to uniforms, exam wear and dance shows we have a wide range of specialist dancewear for all your needs.

It’s simple to register for your dance school discount; simply fill in the form from the link on our home page to confirm your schools status. When we have verified your school/teacher status we will send you an email and your discount & free postage will be automatically deducted from your orders.
You can place your orders online or by phone and with our live stock availability feature on all products as well as an experience sales team on hand, you can be sure of a professional & personalised service.

Please note that following your application we may need to contact you for further information to verify your status as a teacher such as a letterhead or valid website address. *free delivery for UK Mainland orders only.

Apply today and start saving!!

Ballroom Central wishes you a very Happy New Year 2012!

What are your New Years Resolutions?? Have you made goals for yourself in the hope of becoming a better dancer, choreographer, or teacher this year? Or maybe you have decided 2012 is the year you will take up a new dance discipline, so why not take a look at our sale section for practice wear and dance shoes to get you started!


DANCEWEAR SALE NOW ON!!

Browse through our Special Offers section for practice wear, dance trainers, ballroom & latin shoes, accessories & bags. Including sale items from our best selling brands such as: - Capezio, Roch Valley, Bloch, Mirella, Sansha, Port Dance, Freed, Oobashoo & SupaDance

Fantastic discounts available such as dance bags from just £4.95, warm up wear now from only £6.95, or you can even grab yourself a bargain pair of ballroom shoes such as Ladies Supadance latin shoes from just £44!

Plus many more sale items to help you dance your way into 2012 in style!

We are making way for our brand new spring collection so hurry, these great offers are only available for a limited time!

All the best for 2012 everyone - Keep Dancing!!

Don’t leave your Christmas shopping till the last minute! There’s still time to get all your dance gifts for Christmas from BallroomCentral. You can shop with us 24 hours a day and have it delivered to you're front door. Order your Dancewear online and avoid the crowds, queuing and cold weather this year!

Our recommended order dates for Christmas delivery are as follows:

UK Standard Delivery - Friday 16 December 2011
UK Next Day Delivery- Friday 21 December 2011
European Standard Delivery – Monday 12th December 2011

Please remember delivery times can vary and may be longer than expected due to high volumes of post at seasonal times, and weather delays so we would recommend ordering as soon as possible.

We’ve extended our Returns Policy for Christmas 2011 so all goods* ordered as Christmas gift's from 1st November 2011 onwards can be returned for a full refund or exchange up until the 20th January 2012. *(Excluding tights and make-up)

Don't forget we have live stock availability so you can be sure you item is in stock when you order!

Heel protectors are our most frequently requested dance accessory and we are delighted to now have in stock a variety of brands and styles to offer our customers.

Heel protectors are small transparent synthetic sleeves that simply slip over the tip of the heel. We have a selection of sizes which will fit most heel styles and shapes.The main purpose of heel protectors is to help to prevent damage and to prolong the lifetime of the heel tips on your ballroom shoes. They offer increased protection to help stop the heels from wearing out and can assist with grip on slippery dance floors.

Many dancers will no doubt have experienced the ‘skidding heel’ at some point. Heel protectors can give additional grip on the floor, so when you are driving forward your heel is less likely to slip from under you.

Some ballroom dancers find that heel protectors can give a little extra surface area to the heels which can make performing a heel turn easier. Another big reason why dancers like top wear heel protectors is to prevent uneven wear on the heel. If you find you tend to roll towards the outside of your foot when you dance you will probably notice that the outside edge of your heel will be worn away. The uneven wear on your shoes can then cause a tendency to roll out even worse. Or, if you are a dancer who has a tendency to use a lot of foot pressure you may find that heel protectors reduce the chances of sliding when you hit a seam in the dance floor!


Dance societies such as the ISTD, the IDTA and the UKA operate dance exams and competitions and it is sometimes mandatory that dancers use heel protectors in order to protect the dance floor from damage. This can be a requirement for both the competition floor and the practice floor. Not wearing them can even result in being disqualified!

We stock heel protectors that are specific to the brand and heel style of your shoes and would recommend purchasing them at the same time as your new ballroom shoes.

Werner Kern heel protectors are available in two sizes for Werner Kern Ladies dance shoes - 5.5cm heel or the 6.5cm heel. The Nueva Epocha Heel protectors are recommended for use with their 8.5cm heel.

Port Dance heel protectors are recommended to fit Port Dance flared Heel shoes or Port Dance Slim heel shoes.

Supadance heel protectors are available to match Supadance slim heel shoes or Supadance flared heel.

Prices start from just £2.95 so you can dance away in your favourite shoes without worrying about the heels wearing away!

Ballroom Central are very pleased to announce we now have a live stock availability system for ordering your dancewear online - A brand new service for our customers.

For online ordering and delivery of all your dancewear needs, our individual product listings will show you whether we have a particular item in stock.

To check availability of an item simply select your colour and size option and Dancewear Central's stock levels will be displayed. It couldnt be simpler!

All your favourite dancewear brands in one place including Bloch, Capezio, Roch Valley, Freed, Werner Kern, Port Dance, SupaDance. Visit our website for our complete range of the best dancewear brands at very competitive prices, avaliable with next day delivery too!

The Smartphone hasall but taken over the world. Thanks to the iPhone and its competitor devices, we can now check our email on the move. We can access our files on the go. We can shop at the bus stop, update our social media profiles while commuting and take pictures of anything and everything around us then share with a global audience within seconds.

In fact, thanks to the diverse 350,000+ apps on Apple's iTunes app store, if you can think of a task, there really is an 'app for that.'

Ballroom dancing hasn't missed out either, with a growing number of iPhone apps (with varying downloader ratings) now available from 59p. The apps are general "teach yourself," style apps. Of course, it is highly doubtful that an app would be any substitute for a good dance lesson, but the ability to remind yourself of steps wherever in the world you are and in every spare moment is likely to be welcomed by the ballroom dance fanatics. For those who live and breathe ballroom, these apps are a sure fire way to keep it on the mind in the moments you're on the move.

Well worth a search for "ballroom" on the app store and if you use any or come across any particularly fantastic ones, leave a comment here to let us know!

Happy mobile dancing!

It might seem like forever and a day away, but the International Ballroom Dance Championships 2011 are only 9 months away.

“Only?” I hear you ask!

Granted, it seems like we’re almost wishing the year away, but October will come around quickly and it will do no harm for ballroom enthusiasts to get their tickets booked quickly if they want to be sure of securing a seat for the glitz and glam that the annual event promises to offer.

The vital information? Well, it will take place on 13^th October 2011 at the Royal Albert Hall, from 5:45pm.

This is an unmissable event for ballroom enthusiasts as the best of the best from all over the world take to the floor to compete for the coveted title, dancing the Cha Cha, Rumba, Waltz, Tango and a whole host of others.

We, at Ballroom Central, will of course keep you up to date in the run up with all the performance news and ticket news too. We’re rather excited about it ourselves!

Find out more.

Arguably this year’s most entertaining Strictly Come Dancing finalist, Ann Widdecombe won over the public with her flamboyant (yet somewhat lacking in grace), energetic performances on the hit show. And now she’s calling for ballroom dancing to be taught in schools. Speaking about the benefits doing so, the politician said;

“Dancing stimulates imagination and teaches discipline and fitness. I stand up and I make speeches for anything up to 45 minutes and I never even consider that I might forget what I am going to say. Trying to string together 30 seconds’ worth of ballroom steps has proven quite a challenge. Trying to remember which one comes next.”

She also claims that ballroom dancing would develop good relationships between boys and girls of school age and improve interaction.

Well, we obviously agree! Many schools are now teaching dance of some sort and given the required level of discipline in ballroom, we think it would be a perfect way to add a bit of variety to school PE lessons.

It’s certainly not out of the question either, with the Government seeking more innovative ways to get kids on their feet and getting fit. And who better to champion the cause than Ann Widdecombe?

Kara Tointon was this year’s somewhat unsurprising winner of Strictly Come Dancing. Most are in agreement that she was indeed a worthy winner but Kara got more than just the Glitterball from the series! She and dance partner, Artem Chigvintsev are now romantically involved and in chat shows since the end of the dance series, Kara has spoken emotionally and candidly of the new relationship.

But we’re more interested in the dancing than the gossip at Ballroom Central and we were delighted to see Kara win the series. Despite the undoubtedly wonderful entertainment of Ann Widdecombe and Matt Baker’s skilled dancing, we can’t help but think the best dancer won. Kara won the judges over very early on in the series and it seems she was a winner with the voting public too, who ultimately crowned her the winner of the 2010 series.

Of course, as is always the case, as soon as one series is finished there’s speculation about the next. And we’re just as curious as anyone about who is likely to be appearing next year. We would personally like to some unexpected contestants taking part. David Beckham, perhaps? Maybe he could compete against wife, Victoria? Or are we just wishful thinking here?

Oh well, time will tell.

That just leaves one question? What do we do with our Saturday nights until next Winter?

Ann Widdecombe is the unlikely success story of ‘Strictly Come Dancing,’ this year. She’s sailed through week after week, largely thanks to her adoring public and all this in spite of the fact she will openly admit to being, well, not the best dancer on the show!

But what does Ann Widdecombe teach us about ballroom?

It Should Be Fun!

Even if she isn’t the most graceful dancer to grace the Strictly stage, she’s certainly one of the most entertaining. She looks like she’s having the time of her life every single week without fail. And that’s entertaining for the audience!

You Can Start at ANY Age

You don’t have to been dancing since you could first walk to enjoy ballroom. While starting as a child will certainly give you a head start and many professional ballroom dancers did indeed begin as children, that’s not to say you can’t have a good time. One of the older contestants on the show at 64, Ann is proving that you can enjoy the activity at any age!

Confidence and a Sense of Adventure Goes a Long Way

Ann Widdecombe might not be the best technical dancer, coming bottom on the judges’ vote this weekend. But she’s confident! And that shows itself in hjow adventurous she is prepared to be. We’ve not seen any of the other contestants spend quite as much time rolling around the floor, that’s for sure.

So while Ms. Widdecombe is unlikely to be competing professionally any time soon, she is entertaining the public and the fact they love her so much has taken her weeks and weeks into the competition, which ultimately tells you that ballroom can be fun even if you’re not professional standard!

Traditional ballroom dancing was a social activity for generations and generations, where people of all ages would gather in ballrooms and dance the night away. Of course, this is less the case in the 21^st century, but that’s not to say that none of the beautiful ballrooms still exist. In fact, here are 5 of the most beautiful ballrooms in the UK:-

Blackpool Tower Ballroom



A stunning ballroom in Blackpool’s iconic tower, which still hosts regular events.

Rivoli Ballroom, London



London’s Rivoli Ballroom is in a Grade II listed building.

The Northumberland Ballroom



The Northumberland is a Victorian ballroom in London (W1) which still retains in pristine decor and is simply beautiful.

Bloomsbury Ballroom, London



Another stunning ballroom, though you’re likely to find very much different events there now as it is used to host gigs.

Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh



The ballroom at the assembly rooms in Edinburgh plays host now to varied events, but still retains its traditional and distinguished decor.



It seems our growing passion for dance is extending beyond the realms of reality TV! Yes, that’s right. One very niche travel area enjoying a surge in bookings thanks to the inspiration to get dancing from popular shows such as Strictly, is the dance holidays.

We did a bit of reading around and it seems that this type of holiday is actually becoming much more popular, with a higher demand leading to more providers. We like to think of ourselves as being somewhat “in the loop” when it comes to ballroom but up until we looked into this, even we were not aware of just how big this industry it.

Dance holidays often combine sun, sea and salsa. There are UK based holidays where the focus is on social dance and there are even holidays abroad. You can go to Argentina, the home of the Tango, and practice your moves alongside the best, go to Venezuela, to Spain... and a whole host of other countries.

We think this type of holiday is great. You get the best of all worlds. You can enjoy the sea and the sun and when you have had enough of the sunbathing, you can don your dance shoes and strut your stuff.

We found opportunities for this type of holiday for all levels through from beginner to professional. So for a summer break with a difference, this could be just what you are looking for...



'Strictly Come Dancing,' is well underway and we've already waved goodbye to celebs such as magician, Paul Daniels.

But one celeb who is proving a bit "hit and miss" with the ballroom show's adoring public is Ann Widdecombe. Some love her, some hate her!

In fact, prior to the competition, former Strictly judge, 'Arlene Philips,' was actually nothing short of nasty about the former Home Secretary, commenting publicly that:-

"She looks as though she's eaten too many bagels. I don't know whether she'll be as interesting as John or last as long. She could be somebody who people get bored with very quickly, a joke too far."

Granted, Widdecombe's performances certainly aren't as technically adept as those of some of the other celebs, but we frankly think that commenting about the "number of bagels," she had eaten is downright mean! And even if she might not be the most technically superb ballroom dancer appearing on the hit show, she always puts in a whole lot of effort and she is having a great time!! While it's always incredibly to watch the most talented ballroom dancers, we reckon that even amateurs should be encouraged to have a go!

Of course, we want one of the better dancers to be the overall winner. It is a dancing contest afterall. But why shouldn't Ms. Widdecombe have some ballroom dancing fun for a few weeks?

What do you think?

So, we've been spoiled rotten over the weekend with 2 nights of Strictly (not to mention 'X Factor' for those interested). But who came out looking like the likely favourite to win overall, do we think?

Well, bookmakers, William Hill, seem to think Matt Baker was head and shoulders above the rest and the general feel of the blogs and forums would also agree. So could the former Blue Peter presenter be heading for the ballroom crown? Well, William Hill spokemans, Rupert Adams, seems to think that Baker has his work cut out thanks to competition from his rivals, commenting that:

"It is the most open strictly that any of us can remember and we are seeing cash for the top nine in the betting."

If we take Will Hill's pricing of the contenders, then Paul Daniels is a major outsider. That's something we can certainly back up with the judge's scores too, of 2, 5, 5, 4, despite of him being coupled with the phenomenally talented professional, Orla.

Betting odds aside, though, what an entertaining weekend! It certainly is looking closer to call than previous series of the show might have done so early on.

The early shows are always a particular treat as we see such a variety from the really-not-very-good-at-all to the spectacular.

So, Strictly is well and truly underway and Britain has its ballroom shoes out for another series!

This time of the year is simply fantastic for the reality TV fanatics. ‘X Factor’ and ‘Strictly’ go head to head for ratings and they’re both definitely the highlights of the reality TV calendar.

Ballroom Dancing contest, “Strictly Come Dancing,” is a firm favourite with UK audiences and we thought we’d go through the celebrity line up before the show gets in full swing!

The line up is fairly glitzy this year, to say the least, with celebrity contestants ranging from sports stars to soap stars and even a former MP! Let’s take a look...

- Ann Widdecombe, 62 year old former politician.
- Patsy Kensit, 42 year old actress.
- Flicity Kendal, 63 year old actress.
- Gavin Henson, 28 year old Welsh rugby star.
- Paul Daniels, 72 year old celebrity magician.
- Pamela Stephenson, 60 year old TV psychologist and sex therapist.
- Peter Shilton, 60 year old former England football goalkeeper.
- Tina O-Brien, 27 year old actress.
- Goldie, 44 year old former DJ and celebrity Big Brother star.
- Michelle Williams, 30 year old former member of Destiny’s Child.
- Jimi Mistry, 37 year old actor.
- Kara Tointon, 27 year old actress.
- Matt Baker, 33 year old TV presenter.
- Scott Maslen, 39 year old actor.

So, what a lot of variety! From the twenty-somethings, to the seventy-somethings, from rugby players, to singers, actors to psychologists – this year’s line up has it all. Our guess would be that Michelle Williams would be the early favourite, having likely already had a certain amount of dancing experience. But if there’s one thing this show has taught us, it’s that there’s always a surprise or two in store.

The Internet has changed - well - almost everything! From how we spend our money, to what we spend it on, to how we work, research and even socialise. So it really isn't much of a surprise that it has also revolutionised dance. It's made buying dancewear easier, finding classes easier and has even turned some classes digital.

Video tutorials for all types of ballroom dance are popping up on Youtube time and time again and are getting thousands upon thousands of views. Are these videos, including the example below, an alternative for people for whom ballroom dance lessons are all too elusive on a tight budget? And can you really learn how to dance from such tutorials?



There's no denying that they explain beginner's dance steps really easily. So they are superb for hobbyist learning. But as with anything, if you really want to become advanced or even professional, you'll need to dedicate time (and of course,money) to face to face intensive coaching. But for the home dancers and beginners, Youtube is an amazing way to learn a new step or two without spending a single penny!

Anyone with any ballroom dance experience will know just how hard you have to train to make it look like the pros make it look on TV! So it's little wonder then, that the previous 'Strictly Come Dancing,' celebs have been keen to get some practice in with the pros prior to starting recording the hit TV show.

But this year, there's a little twist! Whereas in previous years the celebs have met their partners and began training in the studio quite some time before their debut live TV performance, this year that won't be happening! The 'Strictly' production team have decided instead that they'll hold a ceremony on TV where the celebs and their partners meet each other for the first time. One small catch - that will only be three weeks before their first live TV performance.

Do we think this might lower the standard of dance on the show? Well... there's an argument for that of course. But what it might also do is shed some more light on just how much hard work goes into learning to ballroom dance like the stars. Is it just me who's been slightly jealous at just how effortless some celebs (with no prior dancing experience) have been able to make it look in previous series of the show?

Of course we all love to see adventurous routines executed to perfection and it's to be hoped that the move will not prevent couples from being so adventurous in their choice of routine. But you know, as much as we love to see these routines work out - one or two little errors here or there might just remind the rest of us that these celebs are only human and have to work just as hard as anyone else to get it right on the dance floor.

Anyone with any ballroom dance experience will know just how hard you have to train to make it look like the pros make it look on TV! So it's little wonder then, that the previous 'Strictly Come Dancing,' celebs have been keen to get some practice in with the pros prior to starting recording the hit TV show.

But this year, there's a little twist! Whereas in previous years the celebs have met their partners and began training in the studio quite some time before their debut live TV performance, this year that won't be happening! The 'Strictly' production team have decided instead that they'll hold a ceremony on TV where the celebs and their partners meet each other for the first time. One small catch - that will only be three weeks before their first live TV performance.

Do we think this might lower the standard of dance on the show? Well... there's an argument for that of course. But what it might also do is shed some more light on just how much hard work goes into learning to ballroom dance like the stars. Is it just me who's been slightly jealous at just how effortless some celebs (with no prior dancing experience) have been able to make it look in previous series of the show?

Of course we all love to see adventurous routines executed to perfection and it's to be hoped that the move will not prevent couples from being so adventurous in their choice of routine. But you know, as much as we love to see these routines work out - one or two little errors here or there might just remind the rest of us that these celebs are only human and have to work just as hard as anyone else to get it right on the dance floor.

Ballroom Dancing is more commonly associated with elegant professionals in stunning ballrooms during sophisticated competitions than with clunky footed amateurs - granted! But there's a rise in popularity of ballroom lessons with those who might consider themselves a little, well, clumsy when it comes to strutting their stuff.

Yes, the soon-to-be-weds up and down the country are now able to take lessons specifically geared towards preparing them for the very first wedding dance on their big day,

Ballroom dances of various styles are traditionally seen at weddings. Of course, the capabilities of the dancers (and thus complexity of the dance) vary. It's this that has provided a very lucrative opportunity for ballroom dancers, some of whom have a lot of experience teaching much more advanced dancers.

It's not just men who fear being a calamity during the first dance either. Wedding dance lessons are as popular with women! While some couples will attend them together, leaving nothing to chance for that all important first dance,

Of course, the dance is only half of the battle....There's also the song to pick!

The rumour mill is spinning today with rumours that bosses of Dancing with the Stars (the US answer to Strictly Come Dancing) are keen to sign up a certain Miss Cheryl Cole (should that be Tweedy?) for the next series. Fans of the Girls Aloud star would love to see her ballroom dancing here on the BBC's Strictly, we're sure, but whether or not she opts for the stateside show remains to be seen.

However, if they are able to sign Ms Cole up, whether for the British or American show, this will surely boost ballroom once again. While the popularity of Street Dance and Hip Hop dance continues to soar, given its contemporary edge and frequent place on TV shows such as Britain's Got Talent, it would undoubtedly be great for ballroom dance for a very much 'of the moment' British star to make a splash in the world of ballroom.

Of course, ballroom has benefitted from both shows mentioned above, as well as many others. But as the Government continues to encourage us all to "get moving," we're all for seeing more and more stars endorse ballroom dance in this way.

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It’s no secret that we’re all passionate about dance! It’s no secret that the British (and American) public has fallen head over heels with ballroom dance either, with an explosion in popularity of ballroom dance based reality TV shows. But now even our bosses are going barmy for ballroom!

According to research carried out by visitblackpool.com, corporate ballroom dance package bookings are up 17% since January, with more managers encouraging them as a team building exercise. While the idea of gliding across a ballroom with your colleagues and your managers might seem a little unusual, it’s not difficult to see why this would be an activity encouraged by workplace leaders.


Ballroom dancing has a very disciplined structure by nature and requires the perfect co-ordination (and co-operation) between two people. However abstract it might seem to compare that to working together as part of team in business, it’s certainly proving a hit with some companies. But it’s not all about building stronger teams. The researchers at visitblackpool.com also believe that managers are now seeing the benefit of encouraging their staff to interact outside the stress of the office and in an environment where they can talk and have fun!

So who knows? That next party your boss was planning might not be a bog standard drinks and dinner job! You might well find yourself putting on a pair of ballroom shoes!

Last year, the UK Government made the decision to allow all schools to teach ballroom dancing in PE. The idea behind it was to give kids a different activity with great calorie burning potential. Ballroom dancing can burn as much to 300 calories in a one hour session.

Prior to the decision to make this national, a pilot was carried out in 29 Primary and Secondary schools, involving 2500 children from the ages of 5 to 17. Teachers reported benefits that far exceeded those to their health!

• Children who had previously struggled with self-esteem were gaining confidence.


• Children were better behaved during the classes, something that teachers believe related to the structured and disciplined nature of ballroom.


• Many children expressed a desire to take up further lessons outside of the school environment.


• Those who are generally less sporty became much more engaged in this physical activity.

And it was a hit with the pupils too, with 80% of those involved giving ballroom dance the thumbs up.

As a result, ballroom dance became a part o the curriculum. Known as the ‘Essentially Dance,’ campaign, it now features in schools up and down the country. Incorporating this form of dancing into school Physical Education lessons is something the government believes will increase the enjoyment of PE lessons, particularly amongst those children who do not enjoy other sports, and help to combat childhood obesity.

The 27th May will see the start of a nine day festival of dance in Blackpool. The Blackpool Dance Festival is a big event and in 2010 is in its 85th year! It will include the British Open Championships for both professional and amateur couples and formations. Since 2005 it has also included the British Rising Star Amateur Ballroom and Latin Dance contests.

Last year, the spectacle featured 1,808 competing couples, representing 60 countries and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Perhaps one of the biggest appeals of this event for competitors and spectators alike is its history. The festival has been running since the 1920s, where it started in the Empress Ballroom of Blackpool’s famous Winter Gardens.

Add to this the fact that as well as invitation only events, there are open application events whereby anyone can apply to take part. This has led to exposure for numerous talented dancers over the years and really injects an air of excitement into the tournaments. There are also cash prizes for winners and an unrivalled atmosphere throughout the event.

So whether you plan to don your dance shoes and take part or simply want to enjoy watching others take part, the 27th May to 4th June are dates that should be in your diary.

Find the full details on the Blackpool Dance Festival website here: http://www.blackpooldancefestival.com/

London’s ‘Move It’ festival of dance took place between 10th and 13th March 2010 and was, once again, a roaring success.
As well as the hundreds of exhibitors and class act performances by acts such as Flawless, the classes that were held during the festival proved immensely popular. Through the four day celebration of dance, there were scores of classes offering an opportunity for movers and groovers of all ages and abilities to try their hand at many forms of dance.
The classes included street dance, hip-hop, ballet, tap, burlesque, a Ministry of Sound ‘Pump It,’ dance workout, jazz, disco and Irish dance. There were also choreography workshops and fitness sessions too.

‘Strictly Come Dancing' pro, Erin Boag, presented and ran a number of classes and performing acts included ‘Britain’s Got Talent,’ finalists, ‘Flawless, Zoonation, the Animaniacs and Sarah Lamb (Royal Ballet School Principal).

The festival more than lived up to the hype and expectation and it once again proved that a celebration of the diversity of dance has the power to appeal to the masses. Thousands of people of all ages and abilities paid a visit to the festival to enjoy performances, visit exhibitors or attend one of the many classes.

If you didn’t manage to make it this year, the good news is that next year’s dates have also been announced! Once again the festival will run from 10th – 13th March! So if you couldn’t quite get there this time, you’ve got plenty of time to prepare for next year.

This celebrity line up for the tenth series of ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ (America’s answer to ‘Strictly Come Dancing,’) has been announced recently. The new series hits screens in the US at the end of the month and will feature a range of celebs – including a rather iconic former astronaut and a Pussycat Doll!

The line up looks a little something like this:

• Buzz Aldrin: The second man on the moon will join the line up at the age of 80! He'll be paired up with professional, Ashley Costa.


• Shannen Doherty, star of 'Beverly Hills,' amongst others will pair up with pro, Mark Ballas.


• Pamela Anderson, who I am sure needs little by way of introduction will swap 'Baywatch,' for Ballroom, pairing up with Damian Whitewood.


• Evan Lysacek, an Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater, will take to the floor with Anna Trebunskaya


• Niecy Nash, TV presenter and comedienne will join up with Louis Van Amstel.


• Chad Ochocinco, former NFL star, teams up with pro, Cheryl Burke.


• Kate Gosselin, reality TV show star will dance with Tony Dovolani.


• Erin Andrews, a US sports reporter, will dance with professional, Maksim Chmerkovskiy


• Aidan Turner acts as something of a representative for us on this side of the Atlantic! The Irish actor will dance with Edyta Sliwinska.


• Jake Pavelka, star of ABC show, 'The Bachelor,' will dance alongside Chelsie Hightower.


• Nicole Scherziner, last but by no means least will also join the show. Pussycat Dolls lead singer and all round performer, she will be paired up with Derek Hough.

Early bets might say that the sensible money would be on Nicole Scherzinger, given her vast dancing experience, or on figure skater, Evan Lysacek. But given 'Strictly's' previous winners, which have included cricketers, a news reporter and actors, we know that previous experience might not end up counting for much!

We'll be keeping a close eye on the series!

It’s no massive surprise when you consider the popularity of the hit TV show, but the Strictly Come Dancing live ballroom tour is well underway and is going down very well indeed!

Having danced their way through Manchester, London, Nottingham, Glasgow, Birmingham, Sheffield and Liverpool, the stars of the show are currently completing their final couple of nights in Newcastle before the tour closes.

The live shows have followed a similar format to the TV shows, with 8 of the celebrities from last year’s show and their professional dancing partners competing, before facing the comments of the famous four judges. The ‘winner’ on the night is decided by a combination of audience votes and judges’ scores.
The show has been described by Suzanne Black of the Worcester News as “not one to miss,” by the Daily Mail as, “slick stage show,” and “crowd-pleaser.” And, as you’d expect, the blogosphere is awash with positive praise for the performances.

For a ballroom dancing show of this nature to fill out arenas normally played by the likes of Jay-Z, Rihanna and a host of commercial pop musicians makes it fair to say that the real winner of this live tour (and perhaps of the Strictly brand) is ballroom dancing itself. Ballroom has enjoyed a surge in uptake since the popular show began airing and even those who have yet to don their ballroom shoes are taking more of an interest than ever before.

Strictly Come Dancing seemingly opened the floodgates for dance related reality shows, with the BBC even adding to its dance show collection recently with new offering, ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ The host of such related TV shows have certainly revived the popularity of dance within the mainstream to an unprecedented level. And that’s no bad thing! After all, it’s a much healthier pastime than watching TV and playing video games!
Have you seen the Strictly Come Dancing Tour? What did you think?

For the ballroom pros, this certainly won’t be new information. But for those who have yet to take the floor, you might be surprised to find out just how good for you ballroom really is.

If you’re one of the millions who started 2010 with a resolution to get fit and healthy and are now finding you’re tiring of the gym, ballroom might just be the answer! In fact, depending on the step, an hour of ballroom dancing can burn of anywhere between 250 and 450 calories. And while ballroom dancing is indeed a reasonably intense aerobic exercise, it doesn’t just have cardio benefits. It works the muscles all over your body.

A session on the dance floor also has far more appeal to most than a laborious hour on the treadmill, given that it’s exercise you can take part in with a friend or partner and it’s fun! Research shows that the more fun exercise is, the more of it we’ll do, thereby increasing its benefits again!

But the health benefits of ballroom are not just limited to physical ones either. In fact, studies show it has a positive effect on your mental health too. Any form of exercise causes your brain to release endorphins, which are chemicals that put you in a good mood. On top of that, the element of memorising involved with learning a new step is great for your mind and a study released by the New England Journal of Medicine said dance can actually help to lower the chances of Alzheimer’s and dementia in later life, thanks to the way it works your mind.

So essentially, ballroom helps you get happy, get fit and keep your mind ticking over. If those aren’t enough cause to persuade you to pull on your dance shoes, I don’t know what will be!

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