What does it take to get to the top in the world of competitive ballroom and Latin dancing? In her recent interview on Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne, Shirley Ballas, the head judge of Strictly Come Dancing, repeated the necessity of being resilient and “bulletproof” as she detailed the gruelling schedules, restrictive diets, misogyny and bullying she experienced in the dance world.
May 2021 177 As London hospitality reopens, the city’s latest five-star hotel The Dilly has also opened its doors for the first time at no. 21 Piccadilly. It is not just the latest five-star hotel in the centre of London, but also the first to offer its own dedicated dance studio – Inspiration 2 Dance. For private, teams, groups and family or even children’s lessons, guests are invited to learn Smooth, Latin and/or Ballroom from world-class teachers, bookable via the website or the hotel’s concierge. At Inspiration 2 Dance’s discreet London studio, founder Viktoriya Wilton has been inspiring the art of dance for more than a decade. She said: “During these times, it’s particularly wonderful to work with a five-star hotel that recognises the importance of dance to keep minds sharp and positive as well as bodies toned and flexible.”