Blackpool Dance Festival
The Blackpool Dance Festival is the most popular annual ballroom dance competition in the world. what really makes it stand out is that contestants from all over the world are coming here. It’s held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Thousands of couples from more than 60 countries are coming to compete here and it really stands out as one of the major competitions out there.
“Attending the event is a spectacle on its own, and you will appreciate and enjoy every moment for sure. That’s because everything there is full of style, excitement and it really showcases the true value that such an event can bring to people again and again.”
An interesting tradition is that the festival is always held annually during the last week of May. It has been like that since 1920. Included in this festival you can find the Latin American and Ballroom Dancing, you have the British Open Championships in professional couples or adult amateur couples, but they are also covering formation teams too. Starting with 2005 they also brought in the Latin Competitions and the British Rising Star Amateur Ballroom event too.
who invented the festival?
The idea to have a Blackpool Dance Festival came from Harry Wood, which was the musical director of the Winter Gardens and Mr Nelson Sharples from the Messrs Sharples and Son LTD. They both were music publishers during the 20s and they were always focused on novelty dances and trying out new things. Creating the Blackpool Dance Festival was a great idea for them because it brought in a lot of attention. During that time the Latin American Dances and Modern Ballroom didn’t evolve that much, so presenting them in a great manner to the local audience was innovative and also quite the treat too.
The festival was shared on a yearly basis, but they did stop it during the war, even if there was a Blackpool Dance Festival in 1940. However, since then they did keep the tradition of holding this event every year. It goes to show just how impressive and interesting the festival was, as it managed to survive for such a long time.
TEAM MATCH
One of the top things about the event is definitely the Professional Invitation Team match. This was started back in 1968 and it continues even today. It was initiated by the Great Britain and Germany team that danced 10 dances however since that point there were 4 teams invited every time. It’s a great indication of how the Blackpool Dance Festival strives to bring in more diversity and unique ideas to the table, something that will definitely continue to occur for years to come.
KEEP IN MIND
One thing to keep in mind about the Blackpool Dance Festival is that it always strives to increase in scope yet at the same time it comes up with something interesting and exciting. The events are unlike anything you have ever seen and you will be quite amazed and impressed with it and the features that it can deliver. Attending the event is a spectacle on its own, and you will appreciate and enjoy every moment for sure. That’s because everything there is full of style, excitement and it really showcases the true value that such an event can bring to people again and again.
If you want to get involved with Ballroom Dancing, check our class schedule here.