Anthony Hurley was the Ballroom Dancers Federation Chairman between 1993 – 2001

Kenny Welsh was the Ballroom Dancers Federation Chairman between 2001-2023

Nine times World Ballroom Champions (1973 to 1981).

Queen’s birthday honours list 2012: OBE for serves Ballroom Dancing.

The honour of the Commander of the Order of The British Empire for Services to Dance, in Her Majesty the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours List

Vice-President WDC , Vice-Chairman Competitive Dance Executive Committee. Past Vice-President Ballroom Dancers Federation.
Winner of the Sonny Binick Life-time Achievement Award for services to Ballroom Dancing.
Former Multiple European Professional Ballroom Finalist, Multiple World Professional Ballroom Semi-finalist.

David Sycamore served as a member of the Ballroom Dancers’ Federation’s Executive Committee for 25 years, including eight years as Honorary Secretary, before being elected as an Honorary Vice-President in 2019.  During this time he was a delegate for the BDF to the British Dance Council and also sat on the BDC’s Rules Committee and International Professional Affairs Committee.

For his dedication to Ballroom Dancing, David, along with his partner Denise, was awarded the Sonny Binick Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Ballroom Dancing in 2018.

Following a successful competitive career, which saw them winning titles including the World Professional 10-Dance Championship five times and the World Professional Latin Showdance Championship, David & Denise are in great demand as coaches of contemporary competitors.  David is also a member of the Education Department of the World Dance Council, which seeks to enlighten future generations of dancers.

David continues to play an active role within the BDF, attending EC meetings when possible as well as serving on some sub-committees and representing the BDF at IPAC meetings.

Born in Southport , started dancing at the age of ten years old, first major championship was the International Championships at the Royal Albert Hall ,finished fifth in the Juvenile Ballroom Championships.

Achievements during competitive career were :
International Juvenile and Open British and International Junior Ballroom and Latin finalist . British and European Youth Latin winner .Open British, Open UK , International , World and European Amateur Latin finalist. Former Winner of the United States Open, Italian Open Amateur Latin Championships and winner of International Rising Star Professional Latin Championships , UK Closed, British Amateur and Professional Latin Championships also European Professional Latin finalists.

Following retirement now teaching and lecturing worldwide and also a WDC/BDC World , European , British , United Kingdom and International adjudicator. Qualified with the ISTD and IDTA , Vice President of the Ballroom Dancers Federation and a director of the British Dance Council.

I have been in the dance business since 1959. Competing in Juvenile, Junior, Youth, Amateur and Professional. I have run a very successful dance studio for 35 years. I have been on the EC of the Ballroom Dancers’ Federation for 30 years. Chairman of Junior Blackpool for 17 years. Day Chairman of Blackpool China for 4 years. Championship adjudicator. Vice President of the British Dance Council for 9 years until 2017.

John joined the BDF Executive Committee in 2010 and currently Honorary Secretary.

Former Senior competitor in both Latin American and Ballroom competitions. Former Senior All England Latin American Champion. Finalist in the British Open, British National and International Latin American Championships. Represented England in both Latin American and Ten Dance competitions.

Previous dance profession involvement was as a Board Director and Vice Chairman of South East National Dance Agency and a Board member of the English Amateur Dancing Association.

Currently also Trustee and Hon. Secretary of the Dancers’ Forget-Me-Not Fund.

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Cheryl has been a member if the BDF since 1980.
Having started dancing at the age of nine at Patric Plumbs Studios in Wimbledon has had a successful career competing as a Juvenile, Junior, Youth, Amateur and Professional.
Amateur titles include:
British Youth Latin
Imperial Latin
Laird Classic Latin
London Latin
Greater London Latin
And was a finalist in all major Latin Championships
As a Professional titles include:
Wessex Latin
London Latin
Classic Du Quebec
And was a finalist in the World Cup 10 Dance Championships.
Once retired from competing travelled the world on the QE2 doing cabaret and teaching!
Then settled in Southampton and opened ‘On Your Toes Dance Studio. Which ran for 12 years teaching all age groups & levels before re-locating to Devon where she continues to teach as well as adjudicating many major championships throughout the year.

I began dancing at the age of 8 at my local dance studio where I went through the medalist system. I was introduced to competition dancing and never looked back.

I became International Junior Champion then went through my youth and Amateur career. As a professional I became UK Closed Profesional Champion and runner up in BRITISH And UK Rising Star Championships.

Since retiring from competition I have concentrated my energy on teaching and coaching which I absolutely love.

I have been privileged to adjudicate all the major titles and lecture all over the World.

I was born in Durban, South Africa and started dancing at the age of 12. I moved to the Uk in 1990 to further my dance studies and was Open British Youth Latin Vice Champion in 1992. In 1994 I partnered with Matthew Cutler and the rest as they says history.  

2 x Open British Amateur Latin Champion

Worlds, European, International, UK Open, British National and Closed UK Amateur Latin Champion as well as all Amateur Latin American titles worldwide.

Professional Latin American Finalist in all events 2000-2004

In 1999 I was the principle dancer of the original stage show, Burn the Floor.

2 x Carl Alan Award recepient for outstanding services to dance.

I have met Her Royal Highness, The Queen of England twice for services to dance.

I have taken part in 3 series of Strictly Come Dancing, the Strictly Live Tour & the original Come Dancing series. As well as various TV & Stage shows.

Since retiring, I have concentrated on my teaching career and it has become my passion to pass on my knowledge and love of dance to others.

I have been honoured with the privilege to adjudicate all major dance titles and I am very fortunate to be asked to teach and lecture all over the world.

Amateur Career:
Under 21 Ukrainian National Champion,
5  x United Kingdom Closed Amateur Latin Champion,
Semi-finalist British Open Amateur Latin.

Professional Career:
4 x United Kingdom (Closed ) Professional Latin and British National Latin American Show Dance Champion,
5 x European Professional Latin Semi Finalist,
British Open Semi Finalist in Professional Latin

I was born in Valencia, Spain and moved to England at the age of 19 to further my dance career.

I have represented Great Britain since that time. My greatest achievements include:

– Semi finalist in the British Open and International Championships

– Rising Star finalist at the International Championships

– Representing Great Britain at the British Open Team Match

Since retiring, I am now privileged  to be teaching, lecturing and adjudicating nationally and internationally.

I started to dance at the age of 10, commencing with Ballet. After 2 years began attending Saturday morning dance classes for Ballroom and Latin American dancing at the famous Hammersmith Palais, achieving highly commended in medals and awards. From there it was decided to dance on the ‘open circuit’ as juvenile and subsequently junior, becoming a 10 dance champion.

I continued to dance in the Amateur ranks with great success. Then, turning professional at the age of 19, I danced my way round the world on cruise ships giving cabaret performances as well as teaching classes and private lessons on board.

From there I teamed up with one of the greatest dancers of that time, now sadly deceased, Geoffrey Clapham, and together our main achievement was to win the Rising Star Latin American Championships at Blackpool in 1975, as well as many other titles in the UK and abroad. With Geoffrey I embarked upon my teaching career, coaching and lecturing all over the world. To this day I have continued my love of teaching all levels from juvenile to senior, and novice to professional in many countries throughout the World.

I am on the Executive Committee of the BDF which is an organisation that recognises the importance of nurturing the talent of young dancers. We also organise major competitions throughout the year. In addition the BDF organise training camps for Youth, Amateur and Senior Competitors.

I am married to Richard who is the Manager of Dance Options and in my spare time I enjoy playing golf and cooking at home.

Damian began dancing Ballroom & Latin at the age of 14, at the Merralls School of Dancing on the Wirral, progressing quickly through the ranks to becoming one of the top youth competitors in both Ballroom and Latin in the country. He won 3rd place in the British National Youth Latin Championships, UK Closed Youth Ballroom Winner, and Semi Finalist in both Ballroom and Latin at the Open British Youth. As a Youth competitor he travelled extensively throughout Europe representing Wales.

Damian moved to London at age 22 to specialise in Latin with his then Danish partner, and soon entered the top 24 couples in the world at the International, British Open, Worlds and UK Open Championships. Later living in Perth Australia, he became the Lion City, West Australian, Victorian Champion and was Vice Champion in Australian and Australasian Championships, and 16th in the Open British Latin Championships. He also went on to represent Australia at the World Championships in Oslo 1990

In 1994 Damian started representing Canada with his now wife, Clara. Together they became the top ranked Amateur Latin couple in North America. He turned professional in 1996 and was fortunate to be accepted to join the world renowned competitive dance studio, Dance Options. Whilst continuing his competitive career, he was being trained by some of the most prestigious and well respected teachers in dance. In 1998 Damian qualified professionally, and is now recognized by the International Dance Teachers Association becoming a Fellow in 2010, the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance, and the United Kingdom Alliance.

Together both Damian and Clara were UK Closed Professional Latin Finalists, and Vice Champions at the British and Irish South American Showdance Championships. They were also, British South American Showdance Representatives at the World Championships in 2001 & 2002.

They now run the very successful dance school Caterham Dance School, offering coaching to many competitive couples.
Damian has judged and taught extensively throughout the World including the prestigious Junior Open British Festival, International Latin Championships, British National Championships and the WDC AL World Championships.

He has served as Treasurer of the BCDC for 5 years, and has sat on the BDF EC since 2018.

Stephen has been a member of the BDF since 1979, and has served on the committee since 1990.

Starting to dance at the age of 7, Stephen competed as a Juvenile, Junior, Youth and Amateur, before turning Professional in 1979.  He was successful in winning the World Amateur Ballroom Championship in 1978, and also the British Open Amateur Ballroom Championship in 1978 and 1979. He then went on to win the British Open Professional  Ballroom Championship in 1986,87, and 88, and the World Championship in the same years.

As an amateur, Stephen took a strong interest in the affairs of Ballroom Dancing and was elected onto the committee of the British Amateur Dancers Association in the early seventies.

He has initiated many changes to the world of Ballroom Dancing and contributed in many ways to the success of the BDF for 30 years.

In 2009 Stephen was awarded the MBE by Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle.  It was awarded for services to Ballroom Dancing, and in particular to his charity work in setting up the Dance Sport Foundation, which raised thousands of pounds to support young British dancers.

One of his proudest achievements is the formation and organisation of the BDF National Congress which was started in 2009, and is held at the British National Championships, in Blackpool every year.  The congress is free of charge, and everyone attending the festival is invited to attend.

Stephen teaches with his wife Jennifer at JJ’s Dance Studios in Beckenham, and they will continue to work tirelessly to improve all aspects of British Ballroom Dancing.

I started dancing at the age of 8 in both ballroom and latin. As a youth, I was ranked England’s number 1 Youth and represented GB at the World and European Championships. Stefanie and I started dancing together in April 2008 and have thereby gone through our youth, amateur and professional careers together.  Off the dance floor, we got married in February 2020.

My proudest moments and achievements are:

– Ranked 2x UK’s number 1 couple in Amateur Ballroom

– World Amateur Championship finalist

– Semi-finalist of all major championships including the British Open Dance Festival, The UK Open and the International Championships

– Professional Rising Stars Finalist at the International Championship and UK Open

 It makes me very proud to have represented Great Britain all over the world – competing in Europe, Asia and America.  Together with Stefanie, we are honoured to have been crowned winners of the following prestigious events:

 ​- The Universal & The Imperial Championships

– Korean Open Championships

– Taiwan Open Championships

– German Open Championships

– Swiss Open Championships

– French Open Championships

– Polish Open Championships

– English Closed Championships

– Welsh Open Championships

 After competing for 26 years, I retired from competitions in 2022. Now, I aim to contribute as much as I can to the BDF, as well as continuing to adjudicate, teach and lecture both domestically and abroad.