LIFE'S A BALL

For years ballroom dancers have shimmied in their droves to the seaside town of Blackpool, taking to the floor in hopes of being crowned the world's best. But what's it like performing week in, week out beneath the glitz and glamour? And how can a new generation of hopefuls overcome the high costs of competing to bring about a dance, dance revolution?

ANNA CAFOLLA

Blackpool is a mid-sized seaside resort town in the north west of England. Its population swells in different seasonal inflection points, stag parties and hen dos descending from the end of winter for the karaoke bars and casinos, tourists bussing in for fish and chips and the Pleasure Beach's thrilling – if rickety – rollercoasters as the weather gets milder. It's in May, at the hallowed Winter Gardens venue, that a global community gathers for the world's first and foremost ballroom dance competition. For two weeks every May since 1920 – except during wartime – ballroom dancers have landed in town for the Blackpool Dance Festival. Five significant competitions for dancesport (the name for competitive ballroom dancing) take place here through the year, but these 14 days are red-circled in…

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Dazed & Confused (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2024

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