Lancaster University Ballroom Dancing Society are thrilled to have been selected to host one of the biggest dance competitions of the year. Having beaten Universities such as Edinburgh, Nottingham, and Birmingham, LUBDS are taking the Northern University Dance Competition (NUDC) to the one and only Blackpool Tower. This is the first time the competition will be held in this iconic venue and marks a big step for the University Dance circuit. For many, dancing in the Tower will be a once in a lifetime experience and the popular competition in the stunning location will certainly provide a truly memorable day for spectators and competitors alike.
NUDC sees all Northern Universities come together and compete in a host of different styles of dances that allows dancers of all levels to participle, giving everyone from total beginners to long-time competitors a chance to compete. As well as the standard Latin and Ballroom, other dances include Rock and Roll and the Mayfair Quickstep, in which LUBDS has a strong track record in, having taken the top three spots in both dances at Roses 2012. The much-anticipated ‘Offbeat’ competition will also take place which sees each University create a unique team dance, moving away from Latin and Ballroom and concentrating on complex formations, elaborate choreography and entertaining themes. Lancaster are hoping to build on last years ‘Singing in the Rain’ success with an upbeat, punk-rock inspired ‘We Will Rock You,’ inspired dance, complete with slashed tartan and Mohawks.
Lancaster have couples entering all levels, with 2-time British Amateur Modern Sequence Dance Champions Hannah Roberts and Phil Rawcliffe hoping to take away the trophy in the advanced round. “The whole of LUBDS has been working really hard all year and there’s been loads enthusiasm from everyone,” says Team Captain Sally Naylor, “everyone in LUBDS is having a lot of fun and are hoping all our efforts will pay off.” Having taken all four points at Roses 2012, and bringing home more medals as the year has gone on, LUBDS are in it to win it!
The NUDC committee, led by Andrew Pickup, have been working up to the event since October and are confident the event is going to make for one of the best NUDC’s yet. “Hosting the competition is an amazing opportunity for us, both as dancers and as organizers,” says Pickup, “I am confident that this is going to be not only the biggest Northern Universities Dancesport competition, but the best and we hope that it will put Lancaster Ballroom Dancing firmly on the map!” A highlight of the night will be World Amateur Latin Champions Neil Jones and Katya Sokolova who are providing a fantastic demonstration that will both awe and inspire and to see them perform will be a treat for even the most experienced dancer. They will be lighting up the floor in the evening, which is part of the exciting new format of the competition that sees the Team match, Latin final and professional demonstrations make up the evening ensuring a buzzing atmosphere for the peak of the competition.
Not only is Blackpool Tower the iconic location for Ballroom Dancing but 2013 marks the first year LUBDS is hosting the competition, and they are pulling out all the stops. Tickets are available on the Blackpool Tower Website and you can find the page on Facebook at ‘NUDC at Blackpool Tower.’ The whole competition will be streamed live by LA1:TV throughout the day as well. LUBDS really are ecstatic to be hosting NUDC at Blackpool Tower for the first time – let’s make history, Lancaster!
To find out out further details of this event click http://www.facebook.com/NudcAtBlackpoolTowerHostedByLubds
