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A policeman, a well-known deputy and a ‘mystery man’ feature among 12 local personalities who will take part in Guernsey’s equivalent to Strictly Come Dancing.
The 12 amateurs and their dance partners have started training for the event in April.
The local Strictly-style competition sees dancing newcomers learn a mixture of ballroom and Latin dances, culminating in a weekend of competitions.
The rescheduled event is 1940s-themed as it was due to mark 2020’s 75th anniversary of the Liberation. The shows take place at Beau Sejour on 23 and 24 April and organiser Jamie Le Tissier hopes they will be the best yet.
"We are really excited about the 2021 event. It’s been a very difficult year and we are committed to celebrating the anniversary of the Liberation, which largely passed us by due to what was going on. We are reflecting the anniversary through the music and costume, with a celebration of the island’s freedom from German occupation."
Those taking to the dancefloor include Deputy John Gollop, Choices Nurse Manager Fiona Hardy, Beetons Chip Shop's Kim Ashplant, PC Samuel Kusimo and a 'mystery man' who will not be revealed until the night of the final show.
Pictured: How Deputy John Gollop might look on the dancefloor.
Each year the challenge, which started in 2007, raises money for local charities. Over the 13 years it’s been running, the Dancefloor Challenge has raised approximately £150,000 and this year’s chosen charities are Choices and the Guernsey branch of the Royal British Legion.
Mrs Hardy said the challenge combines a fun concept with real charitable benefits.
"I’m so grateful that Choices has been chosen as one of the beneficiaries of the Dancefloor Challenge 2020 and very excited to be able to represent the charity as one of the dancers,’ she said.
"Choices clinic works in partnership with HSC but is reliant on donations in order to keep providing a contraceptive and sexual health clinic for the Bailiwick. This will be such a fabulous opportunity to raise funds for the clinic, raise our profile within the community and have a lot of fun in the process."
The full list of participants in what is officially the 2020 challenge:
Sonia Guille (paramedic) dancing with Luke Webb
Tony de Sousa (Channel Insurance Brokers) dancing with Julie Haimes
Samuel Kusimo (police officer) dancing with Nikola Samanova
Suzy Heyworth (Feelunique) dancing with Dave Hyett
John Gollop (States Deputy) dancing with Charlotte Trigwell
Clive Gibbons (Newhaven) dancing with Debbie Bideau
Charlie Long (Carey) dancing with Phil Hugo
Nathan Long (Kleinwort Hambros) dancing with Katie Sebire
Kim Ashplant (Beetons Chip Shop) dancing with Chris Jehan
Michael Carre (TMF Group and Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club) dancing with Evita Dapsevica
Fiona Hardy (Choices) dancing with Phil Breban
Mystery Man dancing with Jo Ellis
Jackie Foss (Specsavers) dancing with Wayne Harris
Michael Tagoe (Cimandis) dancing with Debi Harris
Dean Hollingsworth (Stonewood Wealth Management International) dancing with Lucy Slimm
Theo Hamilton (Seahorse) dancing with Charmaine Garrick
This year's event is being sponsored by Donkeylogic, Tropical Sun, Channel Insurance Brokers, Kleinwort Hambros, Cooper Brouard and Thirst Music School. The organisers are keen to hear from any other businesses able to help out. More information on the event can be found HERE.
Pictured top: The Dancefloor Challenge line up (Credit: SJT Photography).
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