Great Oakley ballroom dancer heads to Blackpool

Fifteen-year-olds Emily Brown, of Great Oakley, and Scott Wilson, of Bedworth, Warwickshire, rehearse in Kettering and are receiving funding for coaching expenses from local charity The Travers Foundation.

The Travers Foundation is a volunteer-run charity which helps 13 to 30-year-olds living in Northamptonshire, Rutland or Leicestershire improve their skills in sports, the creative arts and the performing arts.

Scott and Emily have danced together since the age of seven, and their achievements are impressive – they are the current UK Junior Sequence Champions, having won the title in 2015, 2016 and 2017; and they are the current British Junior Sequence Champions, having won this title in 2015 and 2016.

They are hoping to add the 2017 British Junior Sequence title to this list before retiring from the Junior ranks when they turn 16.

Scott and Emily recently performed at The Travers Foundation showcase event at the Corby Cube, and wowed the crowd with their impressive tango which was surely worthy of a ‘ten from Len’ (BBC Strictly’s former head judge for the uninitiated!)

Scott and Emily have also branched out into Modern Ballroom, finishing third in the British Closed Junior Ballroom Championships at Blackpool in November 2016.

They won the DPA/BDF National League Junior Sequence Award for 2015/2016 and finished third in the DPA/BDF National League Junior Ballroom Award for 2016/2017.

These are leagues where the marks gained at weekly competitions all over the country over a 12-month period are totalled to show the six leading couples in each grade at the end of the year.

Chairman of The Travers Foundation Terry Forsey said: “We are delighted to be able to help Scott and Emily with their ballroom dancing ambitions.

“They are clearly extremely talented, and we wish them all the best for Blackpool!”

For further information on the work of the Travers Foundation visit www.travers-foundation.org.uk.