FOLLOWING in the footsteps of the Strictly stars a local dance team took to the floor at the famous Blackpool Tower ballroom.

Members of JLD Dance shimmied with style competing in the 2010 ISTD Grand Ballroom and Latin finals.

Around 14 dancers had trained hard all year to qualify to perform at the prestigious venue, the mecca for ballroom.

To crown a fantastic year, JLD Dance have recently been sponsored by Broadland Sports Club, Fleggburgh. The team train at the club which provided jackets for the competition making the dancers look very professional.

The occasion involved 50 dance schools from around the country competing in both unqualified and qualified events. The competition included dancers as young as four or five all the way up to the over 35 category.

JLD Dance had a successful year with seven dancers making the finals (top six) and 10 other competitors making the semi-finals (top 12). Karryn Dixon, whose daughter Sophie took part in the competition, said: “For a small dance school based in the east of England this was a fantastic achievement. Dancing at the Tower Ballroom the week after the Strictly Come Dancing celebrities made it even more special.”

Results as follows:

Finalists

Under 8 unqualified ballroom: Abbie Clarke – 4th.

Under 8 unqualified Latin: Abbie Clarke – 2nd.

Under 8 couples’ ballroom: Franklin Woods and Abbie Clarke – 2nd.

Under 8 couples’ Latin: Franklin Woods and Abbie Clarke – 5th.

Adult silver/gold foxtrot: Samantha Short – 5th.

Adult silver/gold jive: Sophie Roll – 7th.

Over 35 couples’ cha cha -Paul Douse and Gillian Oakley - 3rd.

Semi-finalists

Under 8 couples’ ballroom: Analisha Amis and Elise Dixon.

Under 8 qualified ballroom: Elise Dixon.

Junior silver/gold ballroom: Toby Lee-Douse and Terri Wade.

Under 8 qualified latin: Franklin Woods.

Junior bronze couples: Rose Mason and Elizabeth Gollop.

Under 35 silver/gold jive: Samantha Short and Sophie Roll.