Plans in motion for international dance contest

The Guernsey International Dance Sport Championships is a three-day event

Organisers have been meeting to plan an international dance event due to be held in Guernsey later this year.

The Guernsey International Dance Sport Championships is being planned by the British Dance Sport Association (BDSA) from 6-8 December at the Beau Sejour leisure centre.

Peter Nash, sports and development director for the BDSA, said: "Our main aim is to bring an international event to Guernsey because it's a very sporting and dancing island but, for some years, dancing has probably not been at the forefront."

He said organisers hoped there would be a minimum of 700 dancers taking part in ballroom and Latin events, which would also include wheelchair dancing and inclusive categories.

Mr Nash said it was important the BDSA worked with the island's tourism team as they were expecting hundreds of spectators, as well as dancers, from a multitude of countries.

"I think it's very important that we don't just sell it as a dance competition but as a whole festival - a celebration of all things Guernsey," he said.

Paul Wickfield is voluntarily assisting the association and said the event was "a first on the scale" of what the association aspired to.

It is hoped if the event is a success, it will become a regular fixture on the winter tourism calendar, he added.