I take private lessons every week at The Dance Studio in Brotton owned and run by Peter and Lynda Mitchinson who are Former British Ballroom Champions and represented our Country on the dance floor. I started when I was already in my 40's, it was really to learn some social dancing and for something to do together with my wife. Our first lesson was with Lynda who immediately put me at ease and feel like I could achieve something. I was hooked after that first lesson and we bought proper dance shoes that week so that we could glide around the floor with more ease. Over the next few months Lynda increased our work and technical ability continually seeing how far we could go until one day she announced that we should be taking lessons from her husband Peter who would get us that extra shape and Technique needed to progress further. I was a little reluctant but just like Lynda did previously Peter made us feel comfortable and confident about our ability. Peter really does get the most out of dancers, he has a good eye for detail and knows exactly how to put right any faults or body shape that need tweaking or strengthening. Unbeknown to my wife and I at the time Peter and Lynda had already considered the fact that we should compete and one day after our lesson Peter rather casually said something like "So you're ready to compete and there is a nice competition at Scarborough that you could probably do well in",,,,, Well we looked at each other and didn't know what to say, but went along with it just because we truly were made to feel up for it. On the day of our very first competition we sat in the car park of the Scarborough Spa wondering how we got there and had butterflies in our stomachs with nerve & anticipation.... We took deep breaths and entered the building. Peter and Lynda met us as we walked in and made us feel a little more relaxed. I was shown where to register for dancing and Peter told me to have a go at a few events and not just the category we had trained for as this would give us more experience. I entered us for beginner & novice and then waited for our numbers to be shouted out (we were couple number 26). Finally our numbers were shouted out for our competition and we walked to the floor, took our place and the music started as always with the Waltz. We danced as best we could and the adrenaline was coursing through me with every step. The music finished and we walked to our seats and waited for the results. Not expecting anything we were both shocked when it was announced "The winners, couple number 26", stunned we walked to receive our very first trophy for ballroom dancing. We came second in our other event and that was it, we caught the bug and decided that we would give the competitive circuit a try and see how far we could go.
From that point we competed every month until my wife decided to call it a day and tell me to find a new partner. At the point we ended our partnership we had reached 10th place in the English Amateur Dancesport Association and had won a cabinet full of trophies.
Currently dancing with my new partner Deborah Jones and we have a great bond, excellent work ethic and are a truly good partnership, a good year ahead pencilled in for competitions up and down the country and hopefully at the end of the year we will have made a mark on the dance scene......
In order to maintain stamina and shape we have to practice as well as take lessons. Currently we practice at Skelton Civic Hall for full on practice sessions and we take to the floor as often as we can at social ballroom events for pleasure at the Redcar Bowl and Tower Ballroom in Middlesbrough.....