BOSSES at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens say they are “delighted” to have secured two new dance events after losing out on hosting the World Street Dancing Championships.
The venue was dealt a blow when the United Dance Organisation (UDO) confirmed it was taking its popular street dancing competition to Glasgow after eight years in Blackpool.
But Winter Gardens’ marketing manager David Gore, said two new UDO events this year will still draw crowds of dancers to the famous venue.
The first, the North West Streetdance Championships, was held on Sunday.
Mr Gore said: “We were delighted to welcome the first of two new UDO events to the Winter Gardens last weekend, the North West Streetdance Championships, which will be followed by the finals of the National Schools Streetdance Championships in July.
“Sunday’s event went very well for all concerned.”
Mr Gore added staff at the Winter Gardens had worked closely with the UDO over the past five years to make the World Streetdance Championships a success.
Owen Derbyshire, marketing manager at UDO, said: “We are hoping the next event in Blackpool should be massive.
“Lots of schools are excited about it and the kids love Blackpool. It’s a fantastic destination to visit.
“It’s not just the competition, we hope to offer celebrity question and answer sessions.
“People are willing to travel up to five hours from all over the country to be there.”
UDO confirmed it was moving the World Championships away from Blackpool because of a funding cut.
A spokesman for Marketing Blackpool, which promotes events for Blackpool Council, said UDO’s premier street dance event was supported for three years as part of the North West Development Agency’s financial support for events in Blackpool.
Marketing Blackpool made further cash available in the fourth year, but funding would not continue as the event had become “commercially viable and profitable” on its own and no longer needed public sector support.
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