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History of Bullen School of Dance

The Bullen School of Dance was established by John Bullen (David's Grandfather) in 1896 in Liverpool, by the Everton Football Club, and is now probably the oldest Dance School in the world.

John & Gerald Bullen moved the School to Southport in 1936, taking over a large detached house with a Dance Studio in Lyndhurst Road, Birkdale. That is where Gerald met Betty who attended the dance classes as a pupil and, after a very short time, they got married.

Gerald & Betty were quite content with running daily dance classes to cater for Old Time and Ballroom and quite frequently hiring the Studio out for special occasions.

David became more interested in helping at the School as far back as 1954 – mainly putting the music on for all the various dances at the Studio.

David's main achievements are being presented with the Carl Alan Award for Services to Dance in 1982 and becoming President of the Allied Dancing Association in 1985/1987 and again in 1991/1993.

David also started Social Formation Teams and won the British Title for 7 years. He was also the first to introduce Social Dance Competitions and he was the first person to win all 3 sections in an Inventive Dance Competition which was at the IDTA Congress in Blackpool.

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In 1952 Gerald & Betty presented their first annual Old Time & Sequence Ball at the Floral Hall, Southport with over 600 attending. Music was usually provided by the Tommy Nightingale Band, many other Schools also presented their Balls at the Floral Hall. Sadly, there is only The Bullen School of Dance still operating and up to 2019, the Annual Sequence Gala was always held at the Floral Hall.​

 

Due to Covid, there was a gap of 2 years in 2020 / 2021, and because of the closure of the Floral Hall, David started the Annual Gala once again in 2022 at the Marine Hall in Fleetwood and in 2023 & 2024 at the Norbreck Castle Hotel when everyone enjoyed the excellent afternoon tea.​

 

In 2025, it will be The Bullen School of Dance 71st Gala, which will be a very special 2 day event at the recently refurbished Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool on Saturday 10th May and Sunday 11th May 2025 which will also incorporate David’s Birthday Extravaganza. This event promises to be an event to remember!

History of our Competitions:  
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David Bullen has been presenting The North of Britain Open Ballroom & Latin Titles at The Floral Hall, Southport for over 30 years.

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Sadly, since the Pandemic, The Floral Hall has been closed with a new refurbished Building planned to open in 2027/2028. Following the closure of the Floral Hall, I am delighted that this prestigious Event will now be held in the magnificent setting of the Empress Ballroom of the Winter Gardens, Blackpool.

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The ‘Bullen’ Family have been the longest serving Patrons at The Floral Hall, having presented Events at this great Venue for over 68 years.

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The first Event was The Bullen School of Dance Old Time & Sequence Ball in 1952 which was presented by Gerald & Betty Bullen.

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The 5 day Southport Easter Sequence Dance Festival was formed in 1971 with The Southport Ballroom Dancing Festival commencing in 1978.

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Le Classique de Danse Awards were first presented in 1988.

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The Southport Ballroom Dancing Festival was originally a 1 day Festival on a Sunday, but the Entries were so high, so after a few years, it was decided to extend the Festival to a 2 day Saturday & Sunday Event.

 

Certain memories always spring to mind –

Stephen Hillier & Lindsey Tate dancing their Amateur Final at 1 am in the Morning and Marcus & Karen Hilton dancing their Amateur Latin Final at 2 am in the Morning.

 

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Many Legends in the Dancing World have adjudicated at the

Southport Ballroom Dancing Festivals

over the years including:-

 

Len Armstrong, Bryan Allen, Donnie Burns & Gaynor Fairweather MBE,

Shirley Ballas, Bob Burgess & Doreen Freeman, Freddie Boultwood, Paul Beeton,

George Coad & Patricia Thompson, Geoffrey Clapham, Raymond Draper,

Alan & Hazel Fletcher, Alan & Maureen Ford, Sydney Francis,

Norma Graves, Richard & Janet Gleave, Constance Grant, Tony & Paula Goodyear,

Beryl Holland, Eric Hancox, Michael Houseman & Valerie Waite,

Harold Hulley & Doreen Edwards, Stephen Hillier, Lindsey Hillier,

Nigel Horrocks, Bobbie Irvine MBE, Walter Laird, Eric Lashbrooke,

Doris Lavelle, John & Joan Knight, Leonard Morgan, Alex Moore,

Raymond Myhengen, Edna Murphy, Monica Needham, Graham Oswick,

Stan Page, Dimitri Petrides, Harry Rollins, Lorraine, Margaret Redmond,

Richard Rose, Peggy Spencer MBE, David Simon,

Harry Smith-Hampshire & Doreen Casey, Robin Short & Rita Last,

David Sycamore & Denise Weavers, Michael Stylianos & Lorna Lee, Sammy Stopford,

Carol Smythe, Paul Taylor to name a few..

 

 

Past Winners of the North of Britain Open Titles include:-.

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*Robert Barley & Susan Shipley * Warren Bullock & Jane Phillips *

* Danny Bell & Chrystal Baird * David & Mary Corfield * Kevin & Joanne Clifton*

*Matthew Cutler & Cara Stubbington * Dermot Cleminger & Diana Karlsson*

*Scott Draper & Lyn Marriner * Anton Du Beke & Erin Boag *

* Roy & Brenda Twigg *Bernard & Ursula Delair * Andrew Escolme & Amy Louise Baker*

* Gerard & Kath Fenney * Chris & Ann Freeman * John & Julie Foulds*

* Alan Grundy & Lisa Palmer * Max Gharazon & Byrony Fielding *

* Stephen Hillier & Lindsay Tate * Damien Hey & Hannah Davis*

* Christopher Hawkins & Hazel Newberry * Marcus & Karen Hilton *

* Paul Holmes & Kate Fisher * David & Ann Johnston * Keith Jones & Lyn Clissack *

* Chris Johnston & Nicola Cranshaw * Leighton & Gloria Jones*

*Martin Knight & Denise Murphy * Darren Lucas & Lorna Dawson *

* Martin Lamb & Alison Fulham * Martyn & Elaine Long *

* Darrell & Tricia Leung Tony & Margaret Long * Mark Lunn & Karen Hardy *

* Robert & Barbara Litchfield Sean & Carol Madden * Keith & Marie Morris *

* Kevin & Christine Millward *Scott Montague & Kimberley Mitchell *

* Kenny McKechnie & Beverley Rees * Alan & Ginny Newman *

* AJ Pritchard & Chloe Hewitt * Phillip & Carol Perry*

*Augusto Schiavo & Caterina Arzenton * Andrew Sinkinson & Loraine Barry *

* Gary Sharpe & Stephanie Turner * Ian & Christine Stevenson *

* Ian Saville & Linda Chatterley * Callum Sanderson & Natasha Jackson *

* Alan & Donna Shingler* Eugeny Smagin & Rachael Heron *

* David & Helen Trueman * Ian Waite & Melanie Walker *

* Alan Valentine & Wendy Greenwood *

and Many More . . . 

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Famous Champions have performed in Cabaret at the

Southport Festivals and David Bullen Events including:-

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* Michael & Vicky Barr *     

* Glenn & Lynette Boyce *

* Corky & Shirley Ballas *        

   * Donnie Burns & Gaynor Fairweather MBE *

* Robert & Linda Bellinger *

*Craig Bedwell & Angela Painting *

* Luca & Loraine Barrichi *

* John Byrne & Jane Lyttleton *

* Glenn & Lynette Boyce *

* Keith & Judy Clifton *

* Jonathon Crossley & Lyn Marriner *

* Matthew & Nicole Cutler *

* Mark Chilcote & Maddison Ingoldsby *

* David Douglass & Janice Barb*

*Barry & Julie Earnshaw *

* Peter Eggleton & Brenda Winslade *

* Glenn Richard Boyce & Caroly Janes *

* Andrew Escolme & Amy Louise Baker *

* Peter & Ingeborg Fischer *

*Alan & Hazel Fletcher *

* Richard & Janet Gleave *

* Robert & Barbara Grover *

* Len Goodman & Cherry Kingston *

* Marcus & Karen Hilton MBE *

* Stephen Hillier & Lindsay Tate *

* Michael & Lauren Hemera *

* Christopher Hawkins & Hazel Newberry *

* Anthony Hurley & Fay Saxton *

* Timothy Howson & Joanne Bolton *

* Paul Hill & Jennifer Grew *

* Bill & Bobbie Irvine MBE *

* Colin & Lene James *

* Laird & Lorraine *

* Hans & Anne Laxholm *

* Chris Millward & Victoria Bennett *

* Peter Maxwell & Lynn Harman *

* Wayne & Wendy Packard *

* Ian & Ruth Walker *

* Darren Park & Andrea Kilgour *

* Mark Paton & Jacqui Davis *

* Kim & Cecile Rygel *

* Warren & Kristi Boyce *

* Espen & Kirsten Salberg *

* Scott Wilson & Emily Brown *

* David Sycamore & Denise Weavers *

* Anton Sboev & Patrizia Ranis *

* Sammy Stopford & Lyn Aspden *

* Michael Stylianos & Lorna Lee *

 * Michael & Marie Sandham *

* Augusto Schiavo & Caterina Arzenton *

* Andrew Sinkinson & Loraine Barry *

* Gary Sharpe & Stephanie Turner *

 * Hide Tanaka & Adele Preston *

* John & Betty Westley *

* John Wood & Anne Lewis *

* Kenny Welsh & Kathy Gilmartin *

* Andrei Toader & Mia Linnik-Holden * 

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