Year 11 student Erin B continues to make her mark on the competitive dance circuit, reaching the semi-finals in Latin at this year’s British National Ballroom and Latin Championships in Blackpool.
Held across two days in April, the championships brought together some of the UK’s top amateur dancers. Erin qualified months in advance — in Latin back in September and in Ballroom by November — and competed in as many as five routines across both disciplines. Despite this being her first time dancing with new partners following a recent change of dance school, Erin delivered confident and polished performances.
“The atmosphere was amazing,” she said. “Reaching the Latin semi-final was a real highlight — it felt like a reflection of how far I’ve come.”
Erin’s interest in dance was sparked early by her mother, who also competed in Blackpool, finishing fourth in her Ballroom final. Erin began lessons at the age of four and was competing by the time she turned five. She now trains at Kirsty Marshall’s Academy of Dance in Brighouse, where her schedule includes up to four hours of training on Tuesday evenings, private coaching and additional rehearsals throughout the week.
Alongside her demanding dance commitments, Erin balances her GCSE studies at Bradford Grammar School. “It can definitely be a challenge at times, especially with training or competitions falling just before an exam,” she said. “But I’ve learned how to use my time effectively – even small gaps between lessons or training can be useful!”
Erin’s next major dance competition is the Sequence Championships, also in Blackpool, in October, and she remains focused on improving and pushing towards a place in the finals. “It’s always in the back of my mind when I’m training,” she said. “That’s the next goal.”
“The atmosphere was amazing,” she said. “Reaching the Latin semi-final was a real highlight — it felt like a reflection of how far I’ve come.”