Blackpool Dance Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackpool Dance Festival |
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| Dates | Annually, last week of May |
| Location(s) | Winter Gardens, Blackpool, England |
| Years active | 1920–present |
| Founded by | Harry Wood, Nelson Sharples |
| Website | www.blackpooldancefestival.com |
The Blackpool Dance Festival is a super famous dance competition. It's held every year in Blackpool, England. This festival started way back in 1920. It's known as the world's first and biggest ballroom dance event.
Thousands of dancers come from all over the world to compete. For example, in 2013, nearly 3,000 dance couples from 60 different countries took part! It's a huge event for anyone who loves ballroom dancing.
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What Happens at the Festival?
The festival usually takes place in May. It lasts for eight exciting days. Dancers compete in many styles. These include ballroom and Latin American dancing. There's also American smooth dancing.
British Open Championships
A big part of the festival is the British Open Championships. This is where top dancers compete. There are categories for adult amateur and professional couples. There are also competitions for formation teams. These teams dance together in amazing patterns.
In 2005, two new competitions were added. These were the British Rising Star Amateur Ballroom and Latin events. They give newer talented dancers a chance to shine. There are also special invitation events. These include the Professional Team Match. Another is the Exhibition Competition. These events are very popular with the audience.
Other Dance Events in Blackpool
Blackpool is a big center for dance. Besides the main festival, other dance events happen there every year.
- The Junior Dance Festival is for younger dancers.
- The Blackpool Sequence Dance Festival focuses on sequence dancing. This includes the British Sequence Championships.
- The British National Dance Festival also takes place in Blackpool.
Reaching a Global Audience
In recent years, the Blackpool Dance Festival has become even more accessible. It uses modern technology to share the magic.
The festival now offers live-streaming online. This means people all over the world can watch. If you can't go to Blackpool, you can still see the amazing dancers. This has helped more fans worldwide enjoy the artistry of competitive dance.
