First, some background and a history
UEA Strictly is organised each year by the UEA Sport club, UEA Ballroom and Latin Dance club (UEA BLDC), formerly called UEA Dancesport (how many times can I say UEA…).
It was first started in 2012 by the Committee and then president, Gurdas Singh Sually who is still a prominent member in the University Dancesport world. Each year it has evolved, and brought in more and more interest with audiences of over 250.
What it’s all about?
The idea of UEA Strictly is that the clubs members become ‘The Professionals’ and each professional takes on a student from another club, they are ‘The Celebrities’. Each professional then picks a dance (usually a little struggle over the choices) and then choregraphs, picks the music and styling. They are then tasked with their turning their non-dancer celebrity into a dancer where they perform on the big UEA Strictly stage in the LCR to an audience. There are judges who score out of ten, and the top 3 get to perform again. The final winner is decided by the loudest crowd cheer. UEA BLDC even have the Strictly trophy with the names of each winner from each year on it. It’s a terrific event!
More history… because it is my past afterall
Taken from the old UEA Ballroom and Latin Dance Club website (formerly called UEA Dancesport), I’ve just popped here a bit of history – in case it ever got taken down. I am very fortunate to have been a part of the competing, the organising for a few years and also, the winning (it wasn’t a fix no matter what they tell you!). I have competed at UEA Strictly with 4 different partners and performed many more show dances for the show and I can honestly tell you how wonderful it is and how much it brings together different sports clubs who would never normally interact. We even won ‘Event of the Year’ for two years running.
2019 | Katie Ingram and Sam Forrest Representing Baseball dancing the Paso Doble!
2018 | India Gilmore and Daniel Peters Representing Women’s Rugby Won dancing the Jive!
2017 | Christopher Freakes and Marwa Ramsi Representing Korfball Won dancing the Charleston
2016 | Stuart Leaver and Marwa Ramsi Representing Karate Won dancing the Paso Doble
2015 | Kendra Tye-Page and Michael Reed Representing Lacrosse Won dancing the Paso Doble
2014 | Louis Preston and Bernadette Treen Representing Men’s Hockey Won dancing the Cha Cha Cha
2013 | Tom Hesse and Chloe Wade Representing Boat Club Won dancing the Jive
2012 | Sam Walford and Sarah-Jayne Aston Representing American Football Won dancing the Viennese Waltz
Norwich Latin Dance 