DanceSport event ‘a precursor for what might be possible’

While some dancers twirled into the island for last month's event, so did Storm Darragh, which caused a few hiccups for other dancers and some adjudicators.

Paul Whitfield was helping out with the organisation from a local perspective.

‘The British DanceSport Association were really motivated to host this event in 2024. They always knew it could be a risk hosting it in December, it’s a difficult month for people travelling, but it was a starting point to direct people to the sport and to get some coverage for the event,’ he said.

‘Overall it was a success, but equally challenging, bringing over international judges and dancers, there are a lot of logistics behind organising the event – but the BDSA are very motivated.’

Three days of training and competition took place at the start of the month, featuring past and present ballroom and Latin world champion dancers, and young and upcoming stars, and some local dancers.

‘For people in the local dance community, they haven’t got big opportunities like this and from people I’ve spoken to they said it gave them something bigger to aim for on island,’ said Mr Whitfield.

‘This could be a really positive event going forward and I hope that people see it as a positive.’

The Guernsey Sports Commission has been looking at doing more to promote dance in schools and make it accessible for children who do not attend dance schools.

While the event was being set up, Peter Nash of the BDSA committee admitted that travel to Guernsey was a huge barrier for getting competitors and their families to the island.

‘We can get people to London easily and cheaply, but it can cost sometimes quadruple to then get to Guernsey, it’s the difference of a RyanAir or EasyJet compared to the cost of a Guernsey ticket,’ he said.

‘In the UK, people are able to get the last train home.

‘Here, we were promised a Stansted flight on the Sunday evening but that didn’t happen, so while some people here are staying an extra day which is great for the island, other people haven’t come at all. But overall I am excited to see where DanceSport can go and how it can expand in Guernsey.’

Organisers hope that the event, which received grant funding from the Tourism Management Board’s will return in either 2025 or 2026 and could become a regular on the calendar.