Blackpool Dance Festival invites UK dancers to share their treasures at special 'Antiques Roadshow' event

The Blackpool Dance Festival is inviting dancers and their families, past and present, to a special community celebration event at the Winter Gardens Blackpool on Saturday 22^nd November from 11am-2pm.

This unique gathering will bring together generations of the dance community to share their personal memories, memorabilia, and treasured keepsakes that tell the story of one of the world's most prestigious dance competitions ahead of its landmark 100th anniversary in May 2026.

Taking place during the 50th anniversary of the British National Dance Championships, it is hoped that this unique 'Antiques Roadshow'-style gathering will bring together decades of dance memories, memorabilia, and treasured keepsakes that tell the story of one of the world's most prestigious dance competitions.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, 22nd November 2025
• Time: 11am–2pm
• Venue: Winter Gardens, Blackpool
• Entry: Free

Dancers, family members, and anyone connected to the festival's rich history are encouraged to bring items such as:

• Competition programmes and score cards
• Dance shoes and costumes
• Trophies and medals
• Photographs and other memorabilia

Visitors will be encouraged to share their stories with the dance team creating valuable content for the centenary celebrations.

The Mystery of the Missing Trophy

Organisers are also hoping the event will help track down a significant piece of Festival history: a figurine trophy believed to have been sold at auction for over £30,000 some years ago. Anyone with information about this trophy's whereabouts is urged to come forward.

"The Blackpool Dance Festival has been at the heart of British ballroom and Latin dancing for nearly a century," said Natalie Hayes, Dance Festival Organiser. "This event is a wonderful opportunity to preserve those memories and stories for future generations of dancers. We can't wait to see what treasures people bring along."

The British National Dance Championships and the Blackpool Dance Festival showcase the finest British and International ballroom and latin dancing talent and take place in the iconic Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens.

Whether you competed at Blackpool in the 1970s, watched a family member take to the floor in the 1990s, or have inherited dance treasures from previous generations, this is your chance to be part of dance history.