Proud professionals from our local Step By Step Dance School took on the BBC regional challenge for 'Dancers in Need' Saturday 29th November 2008, and topped the leader board for 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 5th places!! BBC Radio Northampton presenters had just 6 weeks of tough training to learn, develop and master their routines for Cha Cha, Waltz and Quickstep and then perform them in front of acclaimed judges and adjudicators and an audience of 400 at the Charity event in Wicksteed Park Pavilion, Kettering.

BBC Inside Out presenter David Whitely was over awed at the fabulously high standard of dancing, and highly complimentary comments such as, 'a very highly polished performance..' and 'fabulous footwork..' by West End choreographer Nick Winston and All-England dance adjudicator Geoff Lucas set the scores reaching up into the high forties! Superb winners of the event, Julia Morgan and local professional dance partner Andrzej Mialkowski cleared the board with no less than three 10's during the whole competition, earning a score in the finals of 48 out of a possible 50!! How fantastic is that!! Just one point behind saw an amazing performance by Mark Dean and his professional partner Kamila Domauska, with third place secured by a highly entertaining performance from Anna Bartlett and her professional dance partner Dave Roberts. All three professionals represent the amazing talent of our local dance school Step By Step, founded by Andrzej Mialkowski, International Dance Champion, just over three years ago. And it doesn't stop there! Another of the dance school's dancers also bagged fifth place, Andrea Law who danced with radio presenter Bernie Keith!

The event was fantastic to watch, and was 'like a dream come true' for the competitors who never believed six weeks ago that they would ever be able to dance like that, let alone perform in front of a crowd and a TV camera!! Proud parents, friends and colleagues were thoroughly entertained and were impressed, not just by the standard of dancing, but by how wonderful the competitors looked - just like on the tele!! Their sparkly sequinned clothes were a picture to behold, and beautifully complimented by hair and makeup professionally donated by S&A Beauty & Tanning Studio, Wellingborough.

Well-done Step By Step!! Members are very proud of your achievements and look forward to the promise of more great performances in the up and coming Dance Presentation and Competition at The Mill Arts Theatre on Saturday 13th December. If you would like to find out more about these events and dance classes in your area, please look on the web site

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/cin/