13 year old Blythe Fitzgibbon, has certainly not allowed the Covid lockdown to scupper her chances of world domination on the dance floor. Together with her partner Ella, who attends a school in Rainham, the Year 9 student has continued having lessons via Zoom as they were unable to always get into the studio. Blythe, who normally dances with Dance Envy in Rochester, has still maintained her programme of training 3-4 times a week and said “I have been fortunate to have lessons with Shirley Ballas, AJ Pritchard and Barbara McColl. I have learnt a huge amount from these professionals as well as my fantastic teachers”.

Blythe started dancing in 2016. Her first competition was with a formation team which took place in Blackpool in 2017 and she has continued with Formation as well as competing as a Solo competitor. Blythe continues, “Since January 2019, I joined a partnership as an All Girls competitor. Ella and I began as Juveniles and won the Juvenile All Girls Latin, in the All England Grand Prix, at the Blackpool Tower. This is the biggest competition to date that we have won. Now that I am 13 and my partner is 12 we have moved up into the Juniors so are competing against 16 year olds but are working very hard and aiming to achieve big titles in this section.”

Blythe and Ella have recently taken the gold medal in the U13 Battle of the Ballroom and have, just this past week, taken the silver medal in the Blackpool Junior Festival which is an International competition with other countries including China, Australia and Malta. Blythe said “There are so many emotions that I feel when I win but mainly happy and proud. I really am so grateful to have these amazing opportunities and memories”. Mrs Palmer said, “We wish Blythe and her partner, Ella, all the luck in the world. It’s great to see that the girls are continuing their dancing career despite the hurdles they have had to endure this year. Good luck girls”.