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About Us

Southsea Dance Festival has been under new ownership of Lucy Russell since 2022

Southsea Dance Festival was founded in 2019  by Rowena Wintle & Cheryl Yates-Owen after a very successful first festival unfortunately the pandemic halted being able to hold another festival.

We are really looking forward to returning once again this October with Southsea Dance Festival to be able to provide another performance opportunity for dancers near & far. 

 
Lucy had competed for many years growing up before going on to have a successful career as a dancer travelling the world on cruise ships, touring with shows, being a showgirl in Paris, a backing dancer for Little Mix, Craig David & Tiesto, plus many more amazing opportunities.
 
Lucy runs Petersfield Dance Festival which started in 2017, each year the festival has grown & is now a full member of the British & International Federation of Festivals & an All England Regional Qualifier. Lucy has kept Petersfield going throughout the uncertain times we’ve had even taking the festival online.
Lucy also runs Southern Dance Class Awards which is a one day event which tours the South of England, routines are learnt on the day & competed with in front of a professional panel of adjudicators, providing vital ‘audition’ style picking up skills & performance, which is very important in the industry.
 
Lucy will be bringing her festival knowledge to Southsea Dance Festival, in order to provide a positive & encouraging place to perform for the young dancers. Ensuring that all dancers feel welcome & supported is at the heart of our festival values.
We have a new venue for 2023 returning back to Portsmouth Grammar School where Southsea Dance Festival first started!
 
We carefully choose our adjudicator each year, alot of factors are taken into consideration. Providing a positive experience is at the forefront of who we choose to adjudicate. Current knowledge of the industry is also a big part, the industry rapidly changes and we want to be safe in the knowledge to know the advice that is being given in relevant to helping the students grow as performers which will fit the current performing arts world. As we are full membership of the British and International Federation of festivals all the adjudicators have been trained to the highest level to provide consistent unbiased adjudication.
 

We look forward to welcoming many performers onto our stage and new schools are always welcome, please take a look around the website, which is packed full of information. 

Please do not hesitate to contact Lucy should you have any questions.