 |
The Partnership Anton and Erin began dancing together in 1998 and they have since been taught by some of the most respected and highly acclaimed ballroom experts in the business; including Richard and Janet Gleave, Michael and Vicki Barr, Anthony Hurley, Len Armstrong and nine-time ballroom World Champions Marcus and Karen Hilton M.B.E. Within a year of dancing together they won the 1998 New Zealand Championships - which they would win again in 1999 - and they also made it to the prestigious International Dance Championships at the Royal Albert Hall. After flying up the Amateur rankings, they turned Professional in 2002 and placed third in their very first national competition which was held at Blackpool. Other impressive competitive achievements include the titles of UBC Canadian Champions in 2002 and IDTA Classic Champions in 2003 and 2004. They were also finalists of the BDF Star Ball and the UK and International Rising Star Championships in 2003 and were finalists of the British National Championships for three years running in 2002, 2003 and 2004. They became two of the most popular and instantly recognisable dancers in the country when they were selected to take part in the primetime BBC One hit programme ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and have since taken part in every series of the hugely successful show. Anton has delighted viewers with his quick wit, cheeky personality and gentlemanly demeanour. He reached the semi finals of the first series with popular operatic singer Lesley Garret C.B.E. and has since partnered television presenter Esther Rantzen O.B.E., actress Patsy Palmer and Dead Ringers comedienne Jan Ravens. His partner for 2007 is GMTV presenter Kate Garraway. Erin earned the nickname ‘Miss Whiplash’ due to her habit of working hard for great results. All of her partners - former England rugby player Martin Offiah M.B.E, comedian Julian Clary, Olympic hurdler Colin Jackson C.B.E. and former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel - exceeded expectations and she made the finals with both Julian Clary and Colin Jackson, becoming one of the most successful professionals on the show. She returned to win the annual Christmas Special with Colin Jackson at the end of 2006 and will be dancing with former snooker player Willie Thorne in 2007. Anton and Erin branched out into stage work when they collaborated with the highly acclaimed director Alan Harding to choreograph the stage show Simply Ballroom in 2005. They are also Production Associates and Erin designed many of the 150 magnificent dresses. It has been a phenomenal success. Theatre critics unanimously applauded the show and national and international tours have delighted sold-out audiences. Anton and Erin recently joined the cast for a special gala performance at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. A wonderful presentation of Simply Ballroom with guest appearances by two of their former Strictly Come Dancing partners - Lesley Garrett and Julian Clary - will be released on DVD in November 2007. Anton and Erin are also currently working on new routines for the show, as it prepares for a brand new tour in 2008. In addition to stage and Strictly Come Dancing success, further television guest appearances have included ‘Dancing in the Streets Ballroom Blitz‘, ‘Celebrity Star Spell‘, ‘Test the Nation‘, ’The National Lottery’, ‘Celebrity The Weakest Link’, ‘Loose Women’, ‘GMTV’ and ’Richard and Judy’. They also took part as guests, dancers and coaches on the popular BBC programme ‘Strictly Dance Fever.’ Anton additionally offered performance advice to contestants on the talent show ‘Let Me Entertain You’ and became a contestant himself on the BBC programme ‘Underdogs.’ He enjoyed presenting a BBC documentary ’Kings of Waltzes’ with Lesley Garrett and has worked as a presenter for ‘City Hospital’ as well as hosting his own popular radio show on BBC Radio Oxford in 2006. Erin has also found great success presenting both live and on screen. In 2007 she has hosted various events for clients such as The Warner Hotel Group and Haven Holidays and she was delighted to be asked to present a new fitness DVD with fellow Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hardy, entitled ‘Strictly Come Dancersize‘. The DVD will be released in December 2007 through the BBC and 2entertain Ltd. Anton and Erin have additionally presented and taught on the first two of a series of six ‘Learn to Dance’ DVDs, which will be given away by the Daily Express later in the autumn. They also appear in an instructional DVD that accompanies a new book written by Anton, entitled ‘Anton’s Dance Class’, which has been published by Kyle Cathie Ltd. Anton and Erin are regularly invited to perform at a variety of corporate events, charity functions and concerts and they have performed their spectacular cabaret as part of star celebrity cruises for P&O. They are also in high demand to present team building workshops for clients such as BT, Coutts Bank and EEIBA. They continue to teach both beginners and experienced ballroom dancers through private and group lessons and they also host regular weekend Dancing Breaks at five star hotels around the country, which are always immensely popular and complete sell-outs. |
|
