George went to his nan’s line dancing class when he was 10... now he’s a world champion

Mar 13 2008 Lydia Whitfield, South Wales Echo

How a teenage boy from South Wales could become the next big thing on the dance floor

GEORGE Blick tagged along to his nannan’s line-dancing class when he was 10. Now, and seven years later, he is a five-time world champion in line-dancing and Latin dance dancing and has been accepted onto a prestigious theatre course.

George, 17, from Llantwit Major, is studying arts and musical theatre at Bridgend College, and says: “Lots of people think line-dancing is quite feminine, but it depends on the way you move! It’s not old-fashioned at all any more. All the dance programmes on TV have changed that.

“When I first started dancing, I got a little bit of stick from a few people in school but I think they were jealous. I was a bit shy when I first started but my friends are really supportive. Old style line-dancing, which is cowboy music, attracts older people but line-dancing has developed over the past 10 years and we dance to hip-hop and Latin American styles.”

George was recently accepted to study at London’s Laine Theatre Arts college, a which is internationally recognised as one of the leading training colleges for the pPerforming Aarts.

It’s one of the biggest colleges in Europe and George was among 1,000 people auditioned and one of only 40 accepted. He hopes to find sponsorship to fund a trip to America where he will focusfocussing on line-dancing.

He says: “My whole family has always been interested in dancing. I picked it up quickly when I went along with my nan. Now I do Latin, ballroom and line- dancing, which is probably the one I prefer.

“My dance partner Kirstie Symon and I have been dancing together a year now. We came first in the Welsh Latin Championships, and were followed by Colin Jackson, who is doing an ITV show on dancing, screening this month.

“I hadn’t had a dance partner before, so looking for a dance partner, I had to audition 10 different girls at New Cottage Dance School in Ystrad Mynach, which wasn’t a bad thing.! They were all very attractive!”

George also studies acting, singing and dancing at Ferris Entertainment Performing Arts in Penarth, where his dance teacher is Douglas Yolland, who has performed with Jennifer Lopez for MTV.

George, 17, and Kirstie, 16, train in Latin American and ballroom dance at New Cottage Dance Centre in Caerphilly with Carol and Phillip Perry. They recently thrilled members of Penarth Conservative Club Tea Dance, where between 60 and 70 dancers go every Monday afternoon.

George and Kirstie came fourth in the British Latin Pre Am Championships in Blackpool in January and George, who is Masters World Line Dancing Champion says: “The tea dance was a really nice change. We had a lovely afternoon and are trying to get back there as soon as we can.”

George and Kirstie, who goes to Lewis Girls School, practise between four and six times a week at Llantwit Major Rugby Club. Kirstie says: “I love dancing and competing and would really like to open my own dance school. The tea dance was a really nice afternoon.”

For more information on Ferris Entertainment, see www.ferrisentertainment.com or call 078 0149 3133.