Glitter Ball Season is here and what a start!

Sequins are sparkling, and the music has begun- it can only mean one thing…BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing is back! The first week of routines have officially kicked off, and once again, viewers across the country have a front row seat to a sensational display of talent, passion, and pure joy. But this year, there's even more reason to be excited, as our Strictly Charity is back and stepping into the spotlight alongside the nation's favourite dance show as it unfolds each week!

Strictly Come Dancing!

The wait is over! On this week’s show the judges finally got to dust off their score paddles, and we got to see our celebrities perform their own routines with their professional partners for the first time. The atmosphere was electric, the floor was buzzing and there were sparkles everywhere you looked.

Sadly, Dani Dyer had to step down from competing this year due to a fractured ankle- we are sending our best wishes for a speedy full recovery. However, while Dani is not competing, her Professional partner Nikita Kuzmin is still in the runnings for the coveted glitter ball trophy, as he is now partnered with West End star Amber Davies. With not knowing each other 48 hours prior to their performance on the show, the pair were a sensational hit, their Waltz was spectacular and they are now joint third on the Week One Leaderboard with 27 points! It’s clear to say that this pairing is definitely one to watch!

The show featured even more remarkable performances, including Karen and Carlos’ Jive, Jimmy and Lauren’s Quickstep, and many more. The judges gave us a grand opening performance alongside the Strictly pros which took us on a journey through the decades, and it was certainly spectacular. Throughout the show the judges provided us with valuable feedback and scores, and it will be interesting to see how the celebrities will take this on before next week.

Strictly Charity!

While the Strictly Ballroom was sizzling with talent, our very own ballroom at the Ipswich School of Dancing was bursting with excitement, talent and spirit as our contestants took to training with sparkle in their steps and smiles on their faces.

For some, this week marked the first time our partnerships met to practise, and the atmosphere was sizzling with anticipation, nerves, and plenty of laughter. From first steps to blossoming routines, its clear that we have some serious potential on our hands and we can’t wait to see how each couple will grow in confidence and connection as the weeks go on.

We’d like to hear from you!

Do you have a colleague, family member or friend that you know is taking part in our Strictly Charity event? Whether they are a natural dancing dynamo or stepping out of their comfort zone for the very first time, we’d like to hear from you!

Send us your messages of support, behind the scenes photos, or maybe some words about why and how they have inspired you. We will be sharing highlights throughout training, and your shoutouts could make it into upcoming posts!

Let’s celebrate every dancer, every step, and every reason why we are coming together for the incredible charity of Inspire!