January 2009

With the start of another new year comes the perfect opportunity for fresh beginnings. In this issue I talk to Latin champion turned “Strictly” star Karen Hardy, who this month opens the doors of her luxurious new dance studios to the public. It’s a dream that stems right back to childhood and one that has taken several years to come to fruition, but at the launch party in December it was clear that the long wait was worth it. An array of faces from the dance world – including, of course, some from the TV show itself – came out in support of the venture, and you’ll find full coverage on page 18. Also talking fresh starts this month is our health writer, Imogen Walker, who offers a guide to self-screening for dancers on page 41. As she explains, the new year is the perfect time to take a step back and look carefully at our own wellbeing, both physical and psychological. And, to mark the start of 2009 we have completely revised and updated our listings section to make the information more easily digestible (from page 65). Don’t forget to check your school, class or event listing to make sure that details are up-to-date, and contact us by email at dancetoday@dancing-times.co.uk with any amendments. Elsewhere in this issue we have a full report from the 2008 British National Championships, where cover stars Jonathan Wilkins and Hazel Newberry took the Professional Ballroom title, as well as profiles of some of the other dancers who featured in these important championships. With that, we wish all our readers a happy and healthy 2009.
Katie Gregory