A dazzling night of sequins and sparkle took center stage at a Strictly Come Dancing-inspired charity contest, raising nearly £27,000 for mental health initiatives.
The event, held at Coventry’s Albany Theatre, saw sixteen amateur dancers paired with professionals as they performed Latin and ballroom routines in front of a panel of judges and an enthusiastic 500-strong audience.
Alex McGee and her partner Adam Brooks were crowned Strictly Experience 2025 winners after impressing the judges with their performance.
McGee, a Barclays vice president, had prior experience in ballet, jazz, and modern dance but took on ballroom and Latin for the first time.
She joined the competition to challenge herself after turning 40 and to support Coventry, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire Mind, a charity dedicated to mental health support.
The contestants trained for eight weeks under the guidance of event organizer Caroline Bullock, a former amateur competitor who later became a professional dancer.
Alongside her husband, Duncan, and professional choreographer Kat Miekus, Bullock helped shape routines and mentor the participants.
She praised the dancers’ dedication, stating they had put in “countless hours” beyond scheduled rehearsals.
Steven Hill, chief executive of the Coventry, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire Mind charity, emphasized that every pound raised would contribute to transforming lives.
Proceeds from the event, held on 8 March, will support the Coventry Wellbeing Hub, which provides drop-in mental health services, as well as the charity’s Young Black Men’s Project, aimed at building resilience and empowerment among youth.
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