What Is Blackpool?



Is it the sights, the sounds, the smells, the donkey's, the beach? No, it is the hundreds of dancers in there fake tan and newly made outfits that decend on this Lancashire town year after year to claim the British National Championship titles.



From the very young juveniles to the not so young senior competitors, they flocked into the beautiful ballroom at the Winter Gardens like Peacocks displaying their tail feathers. All eager to show their prowess they are on the dance floor practicing and soaking up the atmosphere long before the competition begins. In the shadows the children are chatting excitedly about the forthcoming events and who they are waiting to see dance. Is it Darren and Lilia or maybe Christopher and Justyna? They all have the favorites and are excited at the prospect of seeing these ambassadors of dance perform in front of them, each and every one aspiring to reach the goals of their hero's.





The competitions start and the ballroom is electrical. Who is your favorite, shout out their number. Have you seen her new dress, isn't it beautiful? Parents and friends alike are biting their nails hoping that nothing goes wrong and that their couple get through to the next round. The heat is rising in the ballroom along with the excitement but now is the time for a general dance whilst the numbers are collated and the couples are decided for the next round. A lone gentleman is going through his routines. Will some one ask him to dance?

The judges return and the ballroom is silent for a moment. Into the 2nd round are couples numbers............. Hooray, Yippee, Woop Woop. Did anyone get the numbers? Elation and disappointment flows through the ballroom, there is a mix of emotions. Tears of joy and tears of sadness but these tears don't flow for too long as they proceed to watch their peers and friends and cheer them on the get into the next round.


The competition is now coming to a close and the finalists are receiving their trophies. They still look as groomed and perfect as they did when they walked in so many hours before. Will your couple win or will it go to your friends couple? And the British National Champion for 2006 is...............?


Every body wins......the dancers, the parents and the trainers for none of this would be possible without them.

Submitted by Sarah