Traditionally, July is our “Blackpool issue”, just as it is this year with the Dance Festival report by Bryan Allen and Paul Harris starting on page 16. In its 80th year, the festival is steadily growing and attracting an ever greater number of international competitors and spectators alike with a record number of over 1,700 couples having entered this year. Tickets for next year will be on sale at the end of the month, as Sandra Wilson, new Festival Organiser, points out in our interview on pages 30 and 31 and despite the rather steep prices (first row seat tickets for example cost just a bit short of £300 per person as Bryan Allen has pointed out to us!), they are selling quickly. So if you do want your “festival fix” next year — hurry!

Sylvia Boerner,
Editor

This month’s front cover shows Amateur Latin finalists Mark Ballas and Julia Musikhina (England) at the English Open Championships (report page 9).
Photograph by Ron Self.

Blackpool Dance Festival 2005 reports by Bryan Allen and Paul Harris

Blackpool 2005 impressions Photograph feature by Christopher H D Davis

Keeping the tradition Sandra Wilson interviewed by Sylvia Boerner

A festival of Arabic Dance by Wendy Cook

Sequence Today: Three Times a Winner by Margaret Yates
Spindle Swing
Hickory Quickstep
Bramble Bossa Nova all by Ian and Sue Webster

Variations — A Simple Sparkler in Jive by Steve Verrall
A Variation in Foxtrot by Elizabeth Romain

Review: Swing Thing by Nikki Santilli