On Sunday 12th February, Lancaster Ballroom Dancing Society collaborated with performing arts societies across the university in an incredible showcase of talent, and raised over £500 for Morecambe Bay Foodbank.
Celebrating their 19th annual showcase, LUBDS, with the help of twelve other societies, including LUDans, LUBallet, LUBells, LUAcapella, LUSalsa, LUSing, and ULMS, pulled out all the stops for a spectacular evening.
Performances included a mini Strictly Come Dancing, complete with a judging panel and audience voting and a mini-Mamma Mia! musical, with performance from both LUDans and LUBDS.
As is tradition, Harry Magic also entertained with a thrilling array of tricks, while LUAcapella President Eleanor Cotton gave a stunning vocal performance. There was also a raffle which was called at the end of the evening, and the entire event was live streamed by LA1TV to allow performers’ families to tune in on the action.
The money raised from this event has been donated to Morecambe Bay Foodbank which is part of a nationwide network working relentlessly to help struggling families during the Cost of Living Crisis.
Mini Strictly Come Dancing: The Results
Weeks before the showcase, students and society representatives were partnered with LUBDS exec members to begin rehearsing routines.
Competing for the crown were:
- LUSU VP of Education Noah Katz and LUBDS’ Kate Wyld
- Music Society President Robert Moffat and LUBDS’ Elisabeth Bancroft
- Comedy Society’s George Collins, and LUBDS’ Ella Martin
- Lancaster Volleyball’s Uchechi Emelonye and LUBDS’ Aldo de Grandis
- Harry Magic and LUBDS’ Ellie Rhodes
- Labour Club’s Angus Dunn and LUBDS’ Laura Blanchard
The performances were judged and scored by beloved LUBDS mentors: Ex-LUBDS President Jade Dobinson-Evans, Ex-LUBDS President and two-times Strictly-Showcase Champion Dan Clarkson, and LUBDS professional dance coach Kim Jones who ranked Top 3 in the British National Championships as well as representing Team GB at the World Championships. It’s safe to say that our contestants were in excellent hands.
Combining judges scores with audience votes, it was George Collins and Ella Martin that took the trophy, with their vibrant Jive to Bruno Mars’ ‘Runaway Baby’, which the crowd were delighted to see them perform again at the end of the night.
1st George Collins and Ella Martin
2nd Uchechi Emelonye and Aldo de Grandis
3rd Robert Moffat and Elisabeth Bancroft
Addressing the audience at the end of the night, LUBDS President Elisabeth Bancroft tearfully thanked everyone for all the support.
Putting on this event has taken a lot of hard work from a lot of people….without whom, none of this would have been possible.
ELIZABETH BANCROFT, LUBDS PRESIDENT
