After a very long 20 months since Sports Ball 2020 which marked our last special event pre-pandemic, we were thrilled to finally be able to kick back off with events last Wednesday with our Strictly Come Dancing 2021.
Strictly Come Dancing is held every year as a fundraising event for our charity partners Lothian Disability Sport (LDS). All proceedings on the night which invovled voting for the best couple via donations went towards LDS and from this we managed to raise a whopping £2194!!
As part of their remit, the SU Chairities Executive Officer organises the event with support of the Sports Union staff team. This year it was led out by Hazel McNeill who did a stellar job making it a success. To reflect on the night she has said the following:
Our first big social back after a year and a half proved to be a huge success, I’m extremely proud of how it all turned out and all the money that was raised for Lothian Disability Sport. It was great to see so many people engaged with the event, including SU alumni, to help make it such a big night for the Sports Union! It was a great atmosphere and had fantastic support from all the clubs!
Hazel McNeill, 20/21 Charities Executive Officer
The event was held at Liquid Rooms where we welcomed SU staff, members, alumni and our friends at LDS. The night is very similar to the tv show itself, we have couples paired from different sports clubs battling it out for the title of Strictly Come Dancing winners and a cash prize for their clubs. The couples had help from the Dance Club, with them being paired up with a mentor to help them choreograph their routines. These couples were judged by an amazing panel which consisted of Ben Graham, Beth Thom, Grant Sailsbury and Kerry Furlong. The night was also hosted by our SU President Amber Taylor and SU Ambassador Theo-Harrison Drummond. As well as performances from couples we have fantasitc performances from both our SU Ambassador team and Dance Club.
Our ambassadors kicked off the night with a very fun High School Musical themed performance, special mention to our volunteer Hannah Barnett who led this with the team.
The Dance Club woo’d the crowd at half time with a performance incorperating all 6 of the styles that they offer. This was great for the Club to show why they are classed as the ‘professionals’ as they don’t compete in the event itself.
There were 8 couples battling it out for the winners spot with different styles of dance, this ranged from Country to Rock ‘n’ Roll. As well as the couples representing their club either being part of their committee or a member, there was also representation from our Talent Development Scholars who shown that they weren’t only elite in their sport but also on the dance floor with two exceptional performances.
There could only be one winner, and after a busy period of voting there was a dance off with the two couples with the highest donations and scores from the judges. This resulted with a very difficult dance off and the two that went head to head was, Ellie Kemsley (Hockey) and Sean Klemer (American Football), and Anna Douglas (Netball) and Martin Ross (Squash).
Following very close scores given by the judges our crowned winners of Strictly Come Dancing were Ellie and Sean with their expectional Charleston routine! Another special mention to Ruth Kowbel who was their Dance Club mentor that helped them choreograph!
We are already so excited for next years event already!
