A clip from the BBC on FB etc shows Ian Waite in Blackpool, and says he is on the way to the TOWER Ballroom. No, he wasn't. He went to the Winter Gardens.

BBC - do you really not know the difference?

Wow let stress out...

well they perpetuate the myth every year re the tower don't they - we all know the Winter Gardens is home of competitive ballroom dancing I suppose they have to big up the tower because that is where show is from ?

Saw a post on twitter saying kids in blackpool pulling suitcases and obviously dancers and speculating if they were extras for SCD when in fact on their way to Winter Gardens for nationals - so looks like the bbc hype thing works

Because we all know that the entire BBC from executive level down is involved in the captioning of clips on Facebook and not some spotty little oik doing media studies for A-Level on work experience!

LOL!!! I see what you mean, but it is just one more indication of the beeb's lack of interest or care in anything to do with real dance.

Imagine if they had talked about this weeks international football match and said "England played Switzerland at the Cardiff stadium .................."

Incorrect captioning aside - I did really enjoy the segment and I hope it gave people inspiration to take up Latin and ballroom knowing there's a circuit that allows them to compete regardless of age or ability. I started on the medallist circuit after 6 weeks of dancing and had a great experience.

I'm guessing that the Beeb know how the two venues are linked.
Obviously you don't.

To be fair, I would imagine kaycee knows more about the venues than most people on this forum, having competed at Blackpool.

On ITT last night when they showed Ian going to Blackpool interviewing the amateur dancers they clearly said it was The Winter Gardens.

I wonder how tightly Ian had to clench his buttocks when saying his lines. He will certainly know the difference.

My first dance competition ever was at the ISTD medallist grand finals in the Wintergardens. I loved it and got an unexpectedly good result (unfortunately coming back down to earth in the local qualifiers the year afterwards). As a general rule I danced much better in the Wintergardens than in local comps because the atmosphere and dance floor were so much better. I agree that people should be encouraged to try out the experience as it is great fun.

Cleethorpes is always Grimsby's VT stunt double ...

Someone needs to tell Zoe .. She mentioned the tower ballroom at least 10 times on ITT.

I'd gladly let them dance at the Tower of London if the ravens were there to pick at the remains of the defeated in the dance-off

I dislike it when they say 'dancing at the top of The Tower'

The ballroom is not at the top, far from it.

Petty I know, just winds me up just like when they say in the X Factor 'a million percent yes'

He absolutely a million percent said he was at the winter gardens.

Yes the tower was mentioned but he definately said he was at the winter gardens

The 2 venues are not linked, and yes I do know that. I've spent enough time in both venues over the years.

Thank you, Ann. Most people who have competed at either or both venues know the difference!

That's fine if she mentioned it relating to Strictly, because that is where they will be. The Wintergardens is where they hold real comps (the Tower being too small).

It's difficult to work out from some photos the logistics of these two venues.

Isn't the difference, that at the Tower, the stage is at the end of the hall and in the Winter Gardens, the stage is halfway down one side?

basically yes, in the winter gardens there is much more seating area and dressing rooms that can be reached right off the side of the floor (in the tower you are either up in the gods or in the basement) there is even a vast bar off the room too - and with the outside areas there is room for dance stalls etc to be set up and restaurant and bars which makes it more suitable especially for the open,

When dad used to describe the room difference to the dancers who had not been he used to say imagine a rectangle - at the tower the short side is against the stage and in the winter gardens the long side is against the stage.

Winter Gardens holds far more and stage and extra spaces much bigger hence used for the competitions - Tower used for juniors until about 10 years ago but all held at Winter Gardens now.

Ditto Bendy's reply. I would also add that the stage at the Tower is also relatively small and would have difficulty holding a full sized orchestra as they do at the Winter Gardens.

Personally I always found the Tower BB to be dark and claustrophobic, while the Wintergardens is light and bright. And the Tower floor was so slippery it was a nightmare for Latin.

I suppose, at the end of the day, in the same way that the dance rehearsal clips have been reduced and then turned into trips out all over the place, in order to please the audience who aren't, mostly, dance lovers, so the vague placing of the venue isn't of any consideration for the viewers.... which is where the BBC's focus is. It's a shame, but it is what it is and I've found this year to be perhaps the most dull of any series, despite the better dancing. I wonder how long the show can continue as it evolves further and further from actual dance ? Maybe the answer is, quite a lot longer than if it was focused on dance, which is doubly sad in my opinion!!!!

Long way to go yet with this show. every year.

My money's on the inclusion of pets next year, So it will become a "proper dog and pony show."

Well the BBC are always reluctant to mention the existence of the Empress Ballroom in the Winter Gardens, where the Blackpool Dance Festival and the British Championships are held.