Lights, Camera, Sparkle: Latin and Ballroom present Warwick Does Strictly!

Get ready for an explosion of sequins, swirling skirts, and fancy footwork! Warwick Latin and Ballroom (LnB) is set to ignite the Copper Rooms floor on 24 January with their annual ‘Warwick Does Strictly’ event. Inspired by the BBC’s hit Saturday night entertainment show, this year’s dazzling display promises an evening of glitz and glamour. 

The chance to organise such a major event is an experience we’re both incredibly grateful for.

Clementine, Events Officer at Warwick Latin & Ballroom

“We would be lying if we said it wasn’t stressful at times, especially around partnering!” admits Clementine, one of LnB’s Events Officers alongside Alice. “Making sure everyone is happy in their partnerships is crucial and we want everyone to have a great time throughout this whole process.” This year’s crop of ‘celebrities’ come from a wide range of clubs and societies, including Mixed Netball, Swimming and Water Polo, Trampolining, and Musical Theatre Warwick, with 11 student dancers – the competition’s ‘pros’ – ready to guide them.  

Despite the pressures, the organisers are clearly driven by their passion for Latin and Ballroom and the spirit of the show. “Alice and I love all things LnB, and as you can probably guess, we are huge fans of the show! We really want to do it justice and represent our sport as best we can,” Clementine shares. And the journey itself has also been deeply rewarding, offering an exciting creative freedom alongside other valuable experiences for the pair. “While it has been eventful, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed the process. Having complete creative freedom and the chance to organise such a major event is an experience we’re both incredibly grateful for.” 

I was inspired by how much fun everyone had dancing last year, and the long-lasting friendships that were formed – I just had to get involved!

Charlotte, Warwick Does Strictly! ‘Pro’

For Charlotte, one of the ‘pros’, the experience holds a deeply personal significance. Sharing her passion with partner TJ has been a joy. “I am loving teaching someone about something I love so much, it is an absolute pleasure.” She has also found the creative aspect of the challenge particularly invigorating: “I’ve never choreographed a dance before, and getting free reign with the steps is really exciting.” 

As the performance approaches, anticipation among the contestants is mounting: “I’m so excited to be sitting backstage with TJ, I’m excited for the buzz, hearing the audience, and giving him a massive hug once we smash it!” Charlotte shares. Looking back on her time as last year’s organiser, she reflects: “I was inspired by how much fun everyone had dancing last year, and the long-lasting friendships that were formed – I just had to get involved.” 

From coupling and costumes to the cha-cha-cha and Charleston, the competition has a rich history. Alice notes: “We have references to Warwick Does Strictly going as far back as 2007. We cannot say for certain how it started, but we suspect an enthusiastic Strictly fan suggested the idea and it stuck!” 

This year’s event also partners with disability charity icandance: “At Warwick Latin and Ballroom, we believe everyone should have the freedom to express themselves through dance. This is why we are raising money for icandance… [It’s] a wonderful charity that empowers disabled children and young people to express themselves through dance and performance.” In addition to ticket sales, students will be able to support their favourite couples through donations. 

For anyone inspired by the dazzling performances this year, the club encourages anyone interested in taking part next year to reach out via Instagram and join the waiting list for Warwick Does Strictly 2026! 

In another 60 years, we hope to have even more enthusiastic dancers than we do now

Alice, Events Officer at Warwick Latin & Ballroom

So, mark your calendars for 24 January, and follow @warwicklnb on Instagram for couple reveals and more as tickets for Warwick Does Strictly are set to hit the SU website soon. Bring along your flatmates and friends, including that one friend who claims they can dance but actually has two left feet, from 7pm to LnB’s sequined takeover of Copper Rooms 1! And if you can’t make it in person, you can still watch the event by tuning in to the livestream on Warwick LnB’s YouTube channel. 

Looking ahead, Events Officer Alice is excited about the future of Warwick LnB as the University approaches its 60th anniversary in 2025, envisioning continued growth for the society: “Warwick Latin and Ballroom has expanded year on year, and in another 60 years, we hope to have even more enthusiastic dancers than we do now. We also expect our hugely successful home competition, Warwick Varsity, to grow even bigger and better.” And finally, she affirms: “And, of course, we’ll still be running our fabulous Warwick Does Strictly!”