Ballroom steps up to meet demand; LEISURE: Popular TV show has fans strutting their stuff on dancefloor.Byline: By victoria Farncombe FANS of Strictly Come Dancing Come Dancing is a BBC TV ballroom dancing competition show that ran on and off from 1949 to 1998, becoming one of television's longest-running shows. The show was created by Eric Morley, the founder of Miss World, and began in 1949 by broadcasting from regional eager to follow in the quick steps of Alesha Dixon, Darren Gough and Jill Halfpenny Jill Denise Halfpenny (born July 15 1975) is a British actress and former student of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Early life/Schooling A native of Leam Lane, Gateshead, she attended St. Edmund Campion School, Gateshead. have been packing out a new class at the historic Tower Ballroom. The famous venue, in Reservoir Road, which was saved from demolition by a residents' campaign, is going from strength to strength after holding weekly Latin and ballroom dance ballroom dance European and American social dancing performed by couples. It includes standard dances such as the fox-trot, waltz, polka, tango, Charleston, jitterbug, and merengue. classes giving ordinary Brummies the chance to master the moves made famous on the popular prime time show. Teacher Richard Rose said: "Strictly has made ballroom dancing very fashionable and we'll be teaching all the dances from the programme "The Tower is the only ballroom of its kind left in the country and it's the perfect place to learn ballroom dancing. It really has the atmosphere of the TV show." As well as learning the salsa, the samba and the American smooth, more experienced dancers can strut their stuff in a freestyle session which follows the class. Tower manager, Vicky Sherwin, said: "We're delighted that ballroom dancing is back at the Tower. The people who came here years ago are all coming back. It's fantastic." The Tower Ballroom has stood on the banks of the Edgbaston Reservoir Edgbaston Reservoir, originally known as Rotton Park Reservoir, is a canal feeder reservoir in the Ladywood district of Birmingham, England. Originally a smaller fish stock pool named Roach Pool[1] for more than 80 years. In December 2005 it closed its doors amid controversial plans to build 90 homes on the site. But a mass protest by residents and environment groups thwarted the development plans and the popular night spot was saved from the bulldozer. Businessman, Liam O'Connor, who runs pubs in Birmingham, Nottingham and Hull, took over the lease and in April 2008, following a pounds 150,000 refurbishment, the ballroom reopened. With its two bars, VIP lounge and revolving dance floor, the glitzy glitz Informal n. Ostentatious showiness; flashiness: "a garish barrage of show-biz glitz" Peter G. Davis. tr.v. venue perfectly embodies the spirit of Strictly. Richard added: "We're all over the moon that it reopened. Nowhere else compares to the Tower. It's absolutely fabulous." The lessons run from 7.30pm to 8.30pm on Wednesdays with the freestyle session lasting until 10.30pm. Tickets cost pounds 5 on the door. Visitors are advised to wear comfortable clothing with proper shoes, not trainers. "We're delighted that ballroom dancing is back at the Tower. The people who came here years ago are all coming back. It's fantastic. CAPTION(S): Dancers Richard Freakley (instructor) and Anne Hall (assistant teacher) are giving dancing lessons at the Tower Ballroom in Edgbaston. TR020309DANC-3 |
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