With a new home at the Winter Gardens, the 2011 ISTD Blackpool Grand Finals were bigger and better than ever! Dancers and audiences alike welcomed the move to our new home at the Winter Gardens and the Empress Ballroom proved the perfect setting for a fabulous weekend of dancing.

It’s always fantastic to see competitors of all ages coming from every corner of the country and beyond, along with their enthusiastic families and supporters. The atmosphere in the Ballroom was buzzing, with the usual frantic activity off-stage as competitors caught-up with old friends and got in some last-minute practice before their event. And with 4,000 entries overall and 15 hours of competitions on Sunday alone, there were lots of events for everyone to take part in!

Our new venue offered more seating, more space, a separate practice area, a huge floor for the competitions (the same floor used at the Open British Championships), and a much warmer environment for participants. The Grand Dance on Saturday night lived up to its promise of an event not to be missed with a spellbinding performance by world class demonstrators Maurizio Vescovo and Andra Vaidilaite. And then it was time for everyone to take to the floor for a night of dancing featuring music by the Empress Dance Orchestra with Ashley Frohlick, Musical Director. 

Dancesport International (DSI) has been the main sponsor of the Blackpool Grand Finals since it first took place in Blackpool in 2000 and we were delighted to welcome them back again. Their stand was a hive of activity throughout the weekend, with competitors taking advantage of the opportunity to pick up essential items and try on the latest styles. 

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Blackpool Grand Finals – from the tiny tots who experienced their first competition, to the organisers and adjudicators whose skill and dedication ensured a professional and smooth-running event for all. 

The 2012 Blackpool Grand Finals will take place in the Empress Ballroom on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 November 2012, so save the date now! Visit www.istd.orgfor full programme details. 

The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) is one of the world’s leading dance examinations boards. Our dance teachers are highly experienced in teaching children and adults in a variety of dance styles ranging from Ballet to Ballroom, Salsa to Tap, and South Asian Dance to Latin American Dance. 250,000 of our examinations in a variety of dance forms are taken each year. With more than 7,500 members in over 50 countries, the ISTD provides a range of syllabi, courses and events across the globe.  For more information about the ISTD or to find a dance teacher in your area, visit  www.dance-teachers.org.