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| Strictly Come Dancing stars open studio |
| Written by Administrator | |
| Monday, 05 March 2007 | |
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STARS of hit BBC TV show Strictly Come Dancing sashayed into Sheffield for the opening of a new studio. South Yorkshire's very own Strictly champions Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova were joined by fellow pros and Strictly stars Anton du Beke and Erin Boag for the official launch of the new City Limits dance centre on Penistone Road in Hillsborough. Darren's celebrity dance partner from series two of the top-rated show, Strictly winner Jill Halfpenny, also shimmied into Sheffield with her mum for the grand opening. City Limits is the official 'home' of Darren and Lilia and is the new venture of Darren's parents, Judith and Tony Bennett, replacing their long-established dance school in Walkley. The new venue, overseen by Darren's twin brother and fellow dancer Dale, aged 30, boasts four air conditioned studios for classes in ballroom, Latin, salsa, disco, freestyle, ballet, tap, rock 'n' roll, cheerleading, and street dance styles. The highlight of the grand opening - attended by hundreds of invited guests - was a dazzling exhibition performance of Latin dances by Darren and his Russian-born wife and professional dance partner Lilia. Debonair Strictly Come Dancing favourite Anton du Beke, dapper in a double-breasted pinstripe suit, kept the ladies entertained by posing for photographs and flirtatiously whirling a lucky few on to the dancefloor, and Jill Halfpenny signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans. The former EastEnders actress, who starred in West End musical Chicago as a result of winning Strictly, told The Star she had loved every minute of dancing with Darren. "Everybody still asks me about the jive. I don't know why that dance captured everybody's imagination so much but it was fantastic to do," she said. "Unfortunately I haven't really kept the dancing up. I've kept in touch with Darren since the show but dancing together would be impossible. "I'm certainly not going to be dancing tonight - Lilia does it so much better than I do!" Darren told guests the dance centre was the culmination of months of hard work by his parents, and revealed his father had bought the premises - a former kitchen factory - without telling anyone his plans. "The first time Lilia and I saw the place there were about 30 broken window panes and a pigeon had got in and was flying around. Everybody thought my dad was mad," said Darren. "Tonight proves he was right all along. This place is fantastic." Darren and Lilia, 28, now split their time between London and a home in Treeton, Rotherham. For more information about dance classes at City Limits log on to www.city-limits.co.uk or call 0114 234 4866. Source |
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