Ballroom dance superstore owner says Blackpool deserves City Of Culture status
The owner of a unique ballroom and Latin dance superstore says Blackpool deserves to win the City Of Culture bid, as the resort’s global reputation as the dance capital ‘can’t be bought’.
Nathan Hughes opened Blackpool’s only dedicated ballroom and Latin store just a few months ago - but he is already firmly backing Blackpool’s bid to be City Of Culture.
Although Nathan is not Blackpool born and bred, he has had a love for the resort since he was a child. “Like many ballroom dancers, I have fond memories of competing at the Winter Gardens and the Tower. It is world renowned, and THE place where all dancers want to come.”
’Blackpool’s dance heritage can’t be bought’
Nathan’s customer base includes champion dancers and celebrities, who are visiting the resort to compete or perform.
“Blackpool’s dance heritage goes back such a long time. We just had the 100th anniversary of the Blackpool Dance Festival. We have Strictly Come Dancing here at the Tower Ballroom, and that kind of heritage can’t be bought.
That’s why I believe that Blackpool should be the City Of Culture...and also the Capital of culture.”
‘Bizarre’ that Blackpool didn’t have a ballroom shop
Nathan stopped competing in his late teens, but later found himself working in the dance world as a tailor.
He had a trade stand at Blackpool Dance Festival when he got the idea to open Blackpool Dance Store.
“A woman asked me for a specific item, which I didn’t have. I told her I wish I could tell her of a place she could get one, but BIZARRELY, the world capital of ballroom dance doesn’t have a dedicated ballroom dance shop!”
As worn on Strictly Come Dancing
Blackpool Dance Store, on Topping Street, sells top British brands including International Dance Shoes, Pure Class, Chrisanne Clover and DSI (DanceSport International) - the label that designs the costumes on Strictly Come Dancing.
They even stock, and display, outfits that were designed and worn on Strictly Come Dancing - including a beautiful pink ballgown worn by Nadiya Bychkova during Series 19, and a red and black dress worn by Ranvir Singh during her unforgettable Paso Doble with Giovanni Pernice in Series 18.
“Surprisingly, they are quite the bargain around £1,000 each. In the dance world, dresses easily sell for around 6/7k. So you get a gorgeous dress with the added bonus of owning a piece of TV dance history.”
The store even has a gloss floor designed to feel like walking into a ballroom.
Back the City Of Culture bid
Nathan adds: “In the few months we’ve been open, we’ve had customers from all over the world as they are here competing at the Tower Ballroom or the Winter Gardens and they might not have brought everything with them. I’m finding that people travel from other towns so they can try on dance shoes, as a lot of places only sell online.”
Find Blackpool Dance Store online at blackpooldancestore.co.uk
Nathan adds: “As dancers, Blackpool is our global spiritual home. When cities win UK City of Culture (like Hull and Liverpool proved), it triggers massive funding: safer, cleaner streets, upgraded transport, better venue investment, and a thriving town centre for every competitor, family, and visitor. A win for Blackpool is a win for the global dance community.”
To find out more about the bid for City Of Culture, and to back the bid, visit https://www.visitblackpool.com/blackpool-city-of-culture/