Former UK ballroom dance champions Simon and Heidi Cruwys open possibly the South's largest one-stop dance studios in Bournemouth tonight.The brother and sister, who gave up competitions to establish their Dance Crazy studio in Winton, have moved to new premises on Christchurch Road, Lansdowne.
They cite the popularity of TV's Strictly Come Dancing for the huge rise in people of all ages wanting to learn how to dance.
They are clearly all in good hands with the dance couple who have danced from the age of seven but only partnered each other from their teens.Simon's first dance partner was Boscombe's former world champion dancer and star of Strictly Come Dancing, Karen Hardy.
He was eight and she was seven and they won many junior competitions together. Aged 14, he started dancing competatively with Heidi and in 1996 they won the closed UK professional ballroom championships. In the same year they were invited to South Africa to teach and lecture. Karen Hardy has remained a firm friend and would have loved to be at the dance studio's launch but is unable to make it as she is, of course, competeing with celebrity chef Gary Rhodes in the TV show. Guests will be assured of a VIP greeting however with dance cemonstrations and entertainment laid on.
by Hilary Porter
