Strictly Bournemouth

Wessex Cancer Trust, who have successfully held “Business Come Dancing” fundraising events since 2009, have teamed up with dance & health charity and dance development organisation Pavilion Dance South West (PDSW) to hold a special “Christmas Business Come Dancing” gala event on Thursday 11 December at Pavilion Dance in Bournemouth.

Ten local businessmen and -women have teamed up with professional dance partners and are going to present a duet in the style of their choice in front of a live audience and a panel of judges in a bid to win the “Christmas Business Come Dancing 2014” trophy. All proceeds will go to Wessex Cancer Trust and the Parkinson’s Dance class at PDSW.

Hazel Hatch, Business Development Manager at Wessex Cancer Trust, says, “We are pleased to be working together with PDSW and pleased the funds raised by this fantastic event help both charities who help local people. This is the first time we have put on a Christmas Special, but as the companies want to dance to raise money it’s a fantastic opportunity for both raising money and having fun. I can’t wait to hear the Judges’ comments, it’s so ‘Strictly’! Both charities would like to thank sponsors Heart Radio and Koh Thai, our media partner, the Daily Echo, and all the businesses involved.”

“We are very excited about this collaboration,” explains Deryck Newland, Artistic Director of PDSW. “127,000 people in the UK have Parkinson’s. Whilst there is no cure at present, drugs and alternative therapies help manage the condition, one of these being dance. Our class has been described as a ‘lifeline’ by participants because alongside the therapeutic benefits, it is delivered with a sense of fun in a safe and social environment. What better way to raise funds for this area of work than with a dance event?”

Raising funds and competing for the trophy with their professional partners are:

• Tracie Beardsley — Fab Frocks (1940s Social Dance)

• Rob Hazell — Flirt Café Bar (Lindy-Hop)

• Emily Hingston — Global Radio (Contemporary Dance)

• Marie Houlden — Bourne Kinesiology (Musical Theatre)

• Paul Kinvig — Dale Carnegie UK (Musical Theatre)

• Jo Legg — Global Radio (Ballroom Latin)

• Sarah March-Paschal — Coles Miller (Irish Dance)

• Carlie O’Neill — Tanner & Tilley (Contemporary Dance Fusion)

• Simone Thomas — MWAH (Street Dance)

• Anne Jones — Princecroft Willis (Disco)

To learn more about the contestants and their professional partners please follow this link.

To support the professional dancers please follow this link.

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