Blackpool: Friday

Friday in Blackpool was pretty exciting! For DSI Elite Performer Gunnar Gunnarsson, it was his very first British National Dance Championships as a British citizen.

To make it even more nail-biting, Gunnar’s passport only arrived in the post on Thursday morning just as he was due to compete on the Friday. The arrival of Gunnar’s passport meant he was guaranteed to dance (he wouldn’t have been able to without it) so it was an emotional day for him and his partner Marika Doshoris.

The talented pair danced in the British National Professional Latin and won all five dances!

In the semi-final Gunnar wore a couture version of his signature waistcoat in Black Smooth velvet, which he paired with a Black couture-style Monte Carlo shirt made in single Mesh.  For the final Gunnar wore a made-to-measure Adrian shirt in DSI’s Black Crepe.

Also making the Professional Latin final in cha cha cha and jive were our very own Sam Hunter and Shannon Fitzgerald, our newest DSI Elite Performers. It was their first competition after a two-year break from competing, as well as their first event as professionals, and we are extremely proud of them.

Sam wore a couture men’s shirt made in single Mesh with Velvet striped panels down the front and Velvet piping. Shannon wore a Black stripe (1265) and Mesh couture dress with a fringe skirt, which was heavily embellished in Crystal AB sew-on and flat-back stones as well as Jet flat-backs.

Finally, on Friday Bettina Hatfield and her partner Vadym Negrebetskyi also made the British National Amateur Ballroom final and finished a fantastic and well-deserved second place. Congratulations to them!

Bettina brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to the floor, wearing an Ocean Blue Smooth velvet dress, with our luxury Ocean Blue Ostrich 5 ply feather boa, throughout the rounds. For the final Bettina changed into a White Smooth velvet dress with our luxury White Ostrich 5 ply feather boa.