Blackpool has long been recognised as the home of dance in Britain. From its world-famous ballrooms and international dance festivals to the novelty dances that swept the country during the twentieth century, the town has inspired generations to take to the dance floor. In 2020, that proud tradition entered a new chapter with the creation of The Blackpool Way, a community dance designed to celebrate the town’s unique cultural heritage while bringing people together through movement. The project emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions prevented people from gathering in dance halls, theatres and community venues. Rather than allowing Blackpool’s dance culture to fall silent, local organisations collaborated to create a new social dance that could be learned and shared by people of all ages, wherever they lived.
The Blackpool Way was inspired by one of the town’s greatest dance successes, The Blackpool Walk, a novelty dance introduced during the 1938 holiday season. Choreographed by dance champions Cyril Farmer and Adela Roscoe, with music by Lawrence Wright under his pen name Horatio Nicholls, the Blackpool Walk became a nationwide craze, with visitors taking the music and dance steps home from the resort to communities across Britain. More than eighty years later, that same spirit of participation provided the inspiration for a new generation. The new dance was created by House of Wingz, one of Blackpool’s leading creative arts organisations. Founded by husband-and-wife team Aishley Bell-Docherty and Samantha Bell-Docherty, House of Wingz has earned a reputation for encouraging creativity through dance, music, theatre and community arts, providing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to express themselves through performance.
Rather than choreographing the dance in isolation, House of Wingz invited members of the public to submit dance moves from around the world. These contributions were combined into a single routine, creating a dance that reflected both Blackpool’s traditions and the diverse communities that continue to shape the town today. Original music was composed by Callum Harvie, giving The Blackpool Way its own distinctive identity while paying tribute to Blackpool’s long association with music and dance. The project formed part of Get Dancing, an initiative developed in partnership with Showtown Museum and the arts organisation LeftCoast. Its aim was not simply to create another dance routine but to celebrate Blackpool’s unique place in Britain’s entertainment history and encourage people to reconnect through creativity following the isolation of the pandemic.
To accompany the launch, a professionally produced short film followed young dancer Blake Rainey through the streets and landmarks of Blackpool. As he travelled across the town, local performers joined him, performing The Blackpool Way against the backdrop of Blackpool Tower, the promenade and other iconic locations. The film highlighted both the town’s remarkable dance heritage and the talent of its modern creative community. The choreography was intentionally designed to be easy to learn, allowing children, adults and families to participate regardless of previous dance experience. Workshops were held across Blackpool, encouraging schools, community groups and visitors to learn the routine and become part of the project. In doing so, The Blackpool Way echoed the original success of the Blackpool Walk, which had also been created as a dance that everyone could enjoy.
Although only introduced in 2020, The Blackpool Way has become a modern expression of a tradition stretching back more than a century. It demonstrates that Blackpool’s reputation as Britain’s dance capital is not confined to its famous ballrooms or international competitions but continues to evolve through the creativity of its own community. By linking the resort’s historic dance heritage with contemporary performance, The Blackpool Way ensures that Blackpool’s long-standing association with music, movement and entertainment continues into the twenty-first century, proving that the town’s greatest traditions are those that continue to inspire new generations.
Images by © House of Wingz
