Blackpool Same Sex Dance Festival
Blackpool Same Sex Dance Festival and
essda european same-sex dance championships
From 14-15 June 2014 at Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens
Blackpool will again play proud host to the eagerly anticipated Same-Sex Dance Festival which has grown even bigger this year and will be hosting the ESSDA European Championships for the first time.
The Sugar Dandies, as seen on Britain’s Got Talent, alongside VisitBlackpool, will present the debut of same-sex dancing on the world stage of Ballroom and Latin dancing at Blackpool’s legendary Empress Ballroom on the 14 and 15 June 2014.
Dancing talent from across Europe and around the world will descend on Blackpool’s Winter Gardens to compete in the historic Empress Ballroom for the first time.
Sugar Dandies Soren and Bradley Stauffer-Kruse are delighted to be back.
Bradley said: “This year marks the first time that same-sex dancing will take to the floor of the historic Empress Ballroom home to the most prestigious dance competition in the world. It’s like the Centre Court in Wimbledon turning pink!”
“This is such an important competition for same-sex couples and to be able to host it in the home of dance is vital. Blackpool is known throughout the world for dance and the support and welcome we receive from the town is incredible.
Soren adds: “Spectators will be guaranteed a great atmosphere, a flamboyant twist on traditional Ballroom dancing and a sexy and sizzling display of Ballroom and Latin dancing as well as formation teams and couples show dance.
The weekend extravaganza will take place at the Winter Gardens, with the Same Sex Dance Festival being co-ordinated on the same weekend as the Blackpool Pride Festival also taking place in and around the Winter Gardens.
The theme of this year's Blackpool Pride is ‘dance’ to celebrate the extraordinary combination of the ESSDA European Same-Sex Dance Championships and the weekend long Blackpool LGBT Pride Festival.
Councillor Graham Cain, cabinet member for tourism and leisure, said: “We are delighted to once again be supporting the Blackpool Same-Sex Dance Festival.
“This event saw great success last year, it was incredible to see so many talented couples from across the world descend on our resort for this outstanding competition.
“Soren and Bradley are so passionate about the event and they work incredibly hard to make it such a resounding success.”
The Mayor of Blackpool and Peter Tatchell are also confirmed to attend the championships.
This year’s event has attracted sponsorship from all of the big names in the dance industry and beyond. Barry Free CEO of Supadance is excited to sponsor the event for the third year running. In addition DSI and Chrisanne have come on board to provide support. Blackpool’s Houndshill Shopping Centre is also sponsoring the event.
This year’s judging panel has a distinctly European flavour with adjudicators from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and of course top adjudicators from the UK.
The event will open in style with a Champagne reception in the Winter Gardens Arena for participants and finish with a red-hot-salsa dance party at Viva. Don’t miss the fun!
Tickets
One day finals ticket £16.00 and two day finals ticket £28.00 in advance
For tickets and more details about The Blackpool Same-Sex Dance Festival go to www.samesexdancefestival.com or to book accommodation go to www.visitblackpool.com
Tickets are also available from the VisitBlackpool Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01253 478222 and the Winter Gardens Box Office, Church Street.
Notes to editors:
Images attached from the 2013 Blackpool Same Sex Dance Festival, in Blackpool Winter Gardens, Spanish Hall.
For further information please contact Vicky Grimes, Communications assistant on 01253 477055 [email protected]
VisitBlackpool is the tourism arm of Blackpool Council and is tasked with promoting the UK's most popular holiday destination to leisure and business visitors, both domestically and internationally.
The first Same Sex Dance Competition was held in 2012 in Blackpool, on its return in 2013 it was renamed the Blackpool Same Sex Dance Festival.
For more information about Blackpool Pride go to: www.blackpoolpridefest.com