Waltzing Olga eyeing a dancefloor empire

Russian ballroom dancer Olga Melnik, who has waltzed her way to victory in the World Dance Championships in Kiev ion a star-studded dancing career, wants to build a studio at the Hotel Manxonia on Bispham Promenade.

The 49-year-old said: “I had a beautiful dance studio in Russia and had child dance champions, and I want to build a team and studio here.”

Olga fell in love with the bright lights of Blackpool after travelling to take part in the annual World Dance Festival, held at the Winter Gardens every May.

It was there she met her husband Ron Hart three years ago. She said: “I danced for years at the Winter Gardens.

“I loved Blackpool and knew I would like to live here.

“I’m very happy now.”

Olga has been showing teachers at Aspire Academy, in Blackpool Old Road, Blackpool, how to strut their stuff in recent weeks.

So far, her class has met three times and learned Viennese Waltz, Cha Cha Cha, and basic Jive.

Deputy principal John Topping said: “We are thrilled Olga has agreed to give our staff basic ballroom lessons.

“At the end of a busy week in school, we enjoy the physical exercise and learning new dance styles.

“I’m hoping over the following weeks and months we can encourage more colleagues from our Fylde Coast Academy Trust family of schools to join our staff class on ‘Dance Fridays’.”

Olga, who has been dancing all her life, won the 2011 World Dance Championships in Ukraine, after impressing judges in the over-35s category.