Blackpool Dance Festival - Professional Latin Best Dressed

In the Professional Latin competition, Melia was the best dressed, wearing three dresses of the same design in different colours; black, light blue and nude with red. The dresses were sleeveless with stoned fringe all over the body and fringe on the bottom. Each of the dresses were belted with a flower made from boning. Melia, who is sponsored by DSI, looked particularly exquisite in the nude dress with red accessories.

Blackpool Dance Festival - Professional Ballroom Best Dressed

The best dressed dancer in the Professional Ballroom section was Katusha Demidova. Her unique asymmetrical dress had black and white horizontal stripes with white feathers around the edge of the skirt. The underskirts were a tan colour and her floats were white and also decorated with feathers. Katusha wore elegant pearls around her wrists and neck for a finishing touch.

Blackpool Dance Festival - Amateur Latin Best Dressed

Kerri-Anne Donaldson was the best dressed in the Amateur Latin section, wearing a Spanish style dress. The top was white with floaty sleeves and lace-up detail on the front, making it look like a corset. The black skirt was asymmetrical and had gold trimming around each of the ruffles. Kerri-Anne accessorised with gold shoes, gold jewellery and a red oversized flower in her hair.

Blackpool Dance Festival - Amateur Ballroom Best Dressed

In the Amateur Ballroom competition the best dressed dancer was Tania Kehlet. She looked absolutely stunning in a white dress with a beautiful feathered skirt. The dress had a high neckline and had lace-up detail on the back. Tania’s floats draped elegantly from her arms and her look was completed with an intricate plaited hairstyle.

Something Old, Something New

Bill and Bobbie Irvine MBE

I’m a huge fan of the old fashioned ballroom dresses, seen above on Bobbie Irvine, and it’s great to see that this style is influencing modern designs. Annette Sudol had vintage inspired dresses at the UK Open earlier this year and looked amazing in them.



Simone Segatori and Annette Sudol - UK Open 2011



Simone Segatori and Annette Sudol - UK Open 2011

Simone Segatori and Annette Sudol - UK Open 2011

The last series of Strictly Come Dancing embraced the style as well. This dress worn by Tina O’Brien was designed by Vicky Barkess and can be found at http://www.dancesport-international.com/

Tina O'Brien

I HEART SHOES

These are my new Latin shoes from DSI and they are absolutely stunning; this photo really doesn’t do them justice. I fell in love with Oxana Lebedew’s stoned silver shoes at the Blackpool Dance Festival back in 2009 and ever since then I’ve wanted to get something similar.

Franco Formica and Oxana Lebedew  Blackpool Dance Festival 2009

Alejandro Montenegro and Kerri Anne Donaldson  - UK Open 2011

Alejandro Montenegro and Kerri Anne Donaldson - UK Open 2011

Stoned shoes look great on the dance floor and Kerri Anne Donaldson’s shoes at the UK Open in January looked incredible with her dresses. She wasn’t the only dancer with sparkly feet though...

DIY – Many shoe styles are available in white so they can be dyed to match any dress. Buying your own stones to decorate your shoes can be a huge money saver plus you can design any pattern on them. Swarovski crystals look amazing on ballroom and Latin-American shoes; however Preciosa stones are the next best thing and a fraction of the price.