AN APPEAL has been launched to get more men to sign-up to this year’s Weldmar Strictly Ballroom.

The event is currently suffering from a shortage of male contestants.

Training for the event starts in August before a finale in November.

Many of the competitors in 2013, including the eventual winners, had little or no dancing experience.

With training beginning in a few months, Katie Slade from Weldmar’s fundraising team is urging men in the area to get involved.

She said: “We need more men. We have two so we need six more but we always need spares.

“The competition in 2013 was phenomenal and the guys that took part, some are still dancing today.

“We’d appeal to people to come forward.”

Katie wanted to highlight just some of the benefits of taking part.

She said: “They get sixteen weeks of professional lessons and we’ve got some beautiful girls.

“The can come and learn a new skill and make some new friends, it’s a really sociable thing and all whilst raising money for a worthy cause.”

The 2013 final saw the dancers perform in front of almost 500 people.

The winners were Lloyd Richards and Kate Pealou, both of whom had little dancing experience.

Katie said: “They were mostly people who hadn’t danced before. They can go from nothing at all to performing in front of 500 people.”

The finale takes place at Freshwater Beach Holiday Park in Burton Bradstock.

Each couple perform a dance they have perfected over the previous weeks before the judges give feedback and score the dancers.

However, the judges don’t have a say on who is crowned champion with the audience then voting for their favourite couple.

This year’s final will take place on Saturday, November 21 with lessons starting on Thursday, August 6.

Lessons are provided by the Eileen Spracklen School of Dance, the cost of which is included in the entry fee with extra private lessons available if couples think they are needed.

Regular lessons take place every Thursday for an hour.

The competition is open to everyone of all ages and there is no need to join with a partner as Weldmar can pair you with another dancer.

The dancers are asked to pledge to raise £200 for Weldmar and are also asked to sell ten tickets for the finale evening.

To register, go to http://www.weld-hospice.org.uk/fundraising/strictly-ballroom

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830982

e: alex.peace@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @DorsetEchoAlex