1. The Tower Ballroom Marathon, Birmingham (1930)
The Tower Ballroom Marathon, Birmingham (1930)
The Tower Ballroom Marathon of 1930 was a legendary event held in Birmingham, England. It was a dance marathon that was held over the course of two weeks. The event was organised by the local Ballroom Dancing Association and featured a total of 24 couples.
The marathon began on the evening of the 2nd of August, 1930 and ended on the 15th of August. The couples were required to dance continuously for a total of 14 days and nights, with only short breaks for rest. The marathon was divided into two parts, with the first week being a competition between the couples, and the second week being a celebration of the winning couple.
The winning couple, Fred and Edna, were crowned champions after dancing for a total of 690 hours and 5 minutes. They were awarded a cash prize of £25 and a trophy for their efforts. The event was widely reported in the press and was seen as a great success.
The Tower Ballroom Marathon was one of the first of its kind in the UK and is still remembered fondly today. It was a remarkable achievement and a great example of the spirit of ballroom dancing in Britain.
2. The London Palladium Marathon (1931)
The London Palladium Marathon (1931)
The London Palladium Marathon of 1931 was a legendary ballroom dance marathon that took place at the iconic London Palladium theatre. It was a four-week event that attracted over 2,500 couples from all over the country.
The marathon began on the 13th of August and ended on the 10th of September. The participants were required to dance for a minimum of three hours each day, with a maximum of five hours. Every couple was given a fifteen-minute break every hour.
The marathon was open to any couple that wanted to take part, regardless of their skill level. The couples were judged on their technique, stamina, and general performance. The top three couples were awarded cash prizes and the overall winner was crowned the ‘King of the Palladium’.
The marathon was a huge success and attracted huge crowds each day. It was the first of its kind in Britain and set the standard for future ballroom dance marathons.
Winners of The London Palladium Marathon
The winners of the London Palladium Marathon were:
1st Place: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stone
2nd Place: Mr. and Mrs. William Jones
3rd Place: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Smith
3. The Grand Theatre Marathon, Leeds (1932)
The Grand Theatre Marathon, Leeds (1932)
The Grand Theatre Marathon in Leeds was one of the most memorable ballroom dance marathons to ever take place in the UK. It was held in 1932 and was organised by the Grand Theatre in Leeds. The event was a huge success, with over 500 couples participating in the marathon.
The marathon was divided into two categories: the ‘open’ and the ‘closed’. In the ‘open’ category, any couple could participate, while in the ‘closed’ category, only couples who had been selected by the theatre were allowed to compete. The marathon lasted for a total of four days, with couples dancing for up to 36 hours at a time.
The marathon was won by a couple from Leeds, who managed to stay on the dance floor for an impressive 33 hours. They were awarded a cash prize of £50, and their names were added to the theatre’s Hall of Fame.
Conclusion
The Grand Theatre Marathon in Leeds was a major event in UK ballroom dance history and a testament to the popularity of this type of event. It was a huge success, with over 500 couples taking part and the winners receiving a cash prize. It is remembered as one of the most memorable ballroom dance marathons in the UK.
4. The Empire Ballroom Marathon, London (1933)
The Empire Ballroom Marathon, London (1933)
The Empire Ballroom Marathon of 1933 was an event held in the Empire Ballroom in London, England. It was the first of its kind and set the bar for future ballroom marathons to follow.
Organised by the British Dance Council, the marathon ran for a full 24 hours and attracted over 500 competitors. The marathon was open to both amateur and professional dancers, with the winners receiving a prize of £100.
The marathon began at 8pm on the 7th of April and featured a variety of different dances, from the traditional waltz to the more modern foxtrot. The marathon was a huge success, with couples dancing until the early hours of the morning.
The marathon was also broadcast on the radio, allowing those not present to listen in. This was a huge success and the marathon was followed by many more in the following years.
Winners
The winners of the Empire Ballroom Marathon were George and Joan Smith, who had been dancing for a full 24 hours. They were presented with the prize of £100 and a trophy.
The runners-up were Tom and Mary Jones, who had danced for 22 hours and won a prize of £50.
Legacy
The Empire Ballroom Marathon was a huge success and set the standard for future ballroom marathons. It was the first of its kind and was followed by many more in the following years.
The success of the Empire Ballroom Marathon also helped to popularise ballroom dancing in the UK and it remains a popular activity to this day.
5. The Trocadero Ballroom Marathon, London (1934)
The Trocadero Ballroom Marathon, London (1934)
The Trocadero Ballroom Marathon of 1934 was an iconic event that took place in London’s West End. Held in the Trocadero Ballroom, the event was a dance marathon that lasted for over a week. It was a popular event, with over 500 couples taking part.
The marathon began on the 22nd of March 1934 and lasted until the 4th of April. It was the first of its kind in the UK and attracted a huge crowd of spectators. The marathon was won by a couple named Mr and Mrs. Ernest Johnson, who danced for a total of 143 hours.
The event was a huge success and was followed by other dance marathons in the UK. It was an important milestone in the history of ballroom dancing in the UK and is remembered fondly to this day.
6. The Oxford Street Ballroom Marathon, London (1935)
The Oxford Street Ballroom Marathon, London (1935)
The Oxford Street Ballroom Marathon of 1935 was one of the most memorable ballroom dance marathons in the UK. The event was held at the iconic Oxford Street Ballroom in London, and was organised by the British Ballroom Dance Association.
Held over two days, the marathon saw over 500 couples from all over the country competing in a variety of dances, including the foxtrot, waltz, tango, and quickstep. The marathon was the first of its kind to be held in the UK and was a resounding success.
The marathon was an exciting event and featured a number of different competitions, including the ‘Slowest Couple’, ‘Best Dressed Couple’ and ‘Most Energetic Couple’ awards. The winning couple, who managed to dance for a total of 40 hours, was awarded a cash prize of £50.
The Oxford Street Ballroom Marathon of 1935 was a unique event that has gone down in the history of ballroom dancing in the UK. It was a memorable event that showed the British public just how much fun ballroom dancing could be.
7. The Royal Albert Hall Marathon, London (1936)
The Royal Albert Hall Marathon, London (1936)
The Royal Albert Hall Marathon was one of the most memorable ballroom dance marathons in the UK. It was held in 1936 and was the first marathon of its kind to be held in the UK.
The marathon was organised by the British Ballroom Dancing Association (BBDA) and was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It was one of the most popular ballroom dance competitions of the time, attracting over 500 couples from all over the UK.
The marathon was held over the course of four days and nights. During this time, the couples had to dance continuously, with only five minutes of rest every hour. The marathon was a test of endurance, as couples had to stay on their feet for up to 48 hours.
The marathon was won by the couple of Arthur and Doris White, who danced for an impressive 41 hours and 45 minutes. They were awarded a prize of £100 and a silver cup.
Legacy of the Marathon
The Royal Albert Hall Marathon is still remembered today as one of the most impressive ballroom dance marathons in the UK. It was the first of its kind and set the standard for future marathons.
The marathon was a huge success and helped to popularise ballroom dancing in the UK. It also helped to promote the BBDA and the Royal Albert Hall as a venue for ballroom dance competitions.
The legacy of the Royal Albert Hall Marathon lives on today, with many ballroom dance competitions being held in the UK. It is a reminder of the endurance and dedication of the couples who took part in the marathon and the passion for ballroom dancing in the UK.
8. The Tower Ballroom Marathon, Birmingham (1937)
The Tower Ballroom Marathon, Birmingham (1937)
The Tower Ballroom Marathon in Birmingham was one of the most memorable ballroom dance marathons of the 1930s. It was held in the iconic Tower Ballroom in Birmingham in 1937 and was a huge success.
The event was organised by the Tower Ballroom’s owner, Sir William Cadbury, and was a great spectacle for the city. The marathon was open to all, with couples competing for a prize of £100. The marathon lasted for 24 hours and the couples had to dance for the entire duration.
The event was hugely popular and was attended by thousands of people, who cheered on the competitors. It was a great spectacle and was a great success for the Tower Ballroom.
The Winners
The winners of the marathon were a couple from Birmingham, Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. They won the £100 prize and were declared the champions of the marathon.
Legacy
The Tower Ballroom Marathon was a huge success and is remembered to this day. It was the first of its kind in the UK and set the standard for future ballroom dance marathons. It was the perfect example of how ballroom dancing can be a popular and entertaining event.
9. The Royal Albert Hall Marathon, London (1938)
The Royal Albert Hall Marathon, London (1938)
The Royal Albert Hall Marathon of 1938 was one of the most memorable ballroom dance marathons in the UK. It was an event that lasted for an incredible three days and two nights, and it featured some of the most talented dancers from all over the country.
The marathon was organised by the Royal Albert Hall and the London Ballroom Dancing Association, and it was held in the iconic venue from the 15th to the 17th of June 1938. The marathon was open to couples of all ages, and the rules were simple: couples had to stay on the dance floor and keep dancing for the duration of the event.
The marathon was won by a couple from London, Mr and Mrs William White, who managed to stay on the dance floor for an impressive 59 hours and 25 minutes. They were awarded a trophy and a cash prize of £50 for their efforts.
The marathon was a huge success and it was attended by thousands of spectators. It was a truly remarkable event and it is remembered fondly by those who were lucky enough to witness it.
10. The London Palladium Marathon (1939)
10. The London Palladium Marathon (1939)
The London Palladium Marathon of 1939 was a special event that took place on the iconic Palladium stage. The marathon was organised by the British Ballroom Dance Council and was the first of its kind. It lasted for over three weeks and featured some of the most talented dancers in the country.
The marathon was a competition between teams of couples, with the winning team receiving a large cash prize. The competition was fierce and the atmosphere was electric, with the audience cheering on their favourites.
The marathon was a great success, with the audience being so enthralled with the performances that many stayed for the entire three weeks. It was a great opportunity for the dancers to showcase their skills and for the audience to witness the best of British ballroom dancing.
The Winners
The winners of the marathon were a team of two couples from London, who were awarded the £2,000 prize. They were praised for their skill and grace and went on to become well-known figures in the British ballroom dancing world.
Legacy
The London Palladium Marathon of 1939 was an important event in the history of British ballroom dancing. It showed the world that Britain had some of the most talented dancers in the world and helped to give the dance form a new level of popularity.
The legacy of the marathon lives on today, with many of the same couples or their descendants still performing in ballroom competitions around the country. It is a reminder of the great achievements of the dancers of the past and a celebration of the skill and grace of British ballroom dancing.
