Because she was born and trained there.

She's originally from Bournemouth.

Ooo ooo I lvie in Bournemouth teehee!

It's one of the biggest competitions of the year and so most of the best dancers in the world will be there and it's fantastic to watch!! I'm sure Darren, Lilia, James and Ola will be competing and I know for sure that Andrew and Hanna will be there!

It's brilliant and I can't wait until Jan...word of warning to you all - the evenings are MEGA-smart!! ( I got caught out a couple of years ago and felt a bit of a plum!!)

Where is it held? Sorry if this has already been asked. And also do you like buy tickets for it?

at the BIC - there is a link at the top of page 1 or go to the BIC website

Oops, thanks, sorry about the numpty question - saw the link just after I posted.

Always the way!

I wish the BBC would record some of the finals. There is such interest in dancing these days, I'm sure there would be an audience for it, even if it was only on BBC 3

You would think with all the promoting dance because it`s good exercise that they`ve been working on lately that they would at least televise it

Especially as these competitions are already being recorded!

I believe that Darren and Lilia may have decided not to compete this coming January at Bournemouth. They may, of course, decide to go to support couples they know and possibly train, but they would have to dance all rounds this year as they withdrew from the competition through injury last year, and I would imagine they may well need a rest, particularly as Darren is only just recovered from serious injury. I am sure they intend to compete at Blackpool in May however.

That's a shame, I remember that they were so desperate to dance there last year as well.

If they want to get back in there, they'll have to dance from the first round at some point though, I wonder why they would choose not to go right ahead and get it over with this year.

I guess sacrifices do have to be made, however.

I would imagine it would have something to do with them being completely exhausted from doing SCD, after all, both of them reached the final stages!

As I said in another thread - there is no way that a professional couple can compete to their maximum as well as participate in SCD.

I'm glad that this has proven my point. In order to take part in the show, I believe that the dancers are making a big sacrifice competitively.

Exactly why I'd be horrified if Hanna ever returned.

SCD only takes three months of the year, I think they are perfectly capable of managing both. Bournemouth is one competition!

No, you're wrong. Bournemouth is a MAJOR competition - that's the difference!

I do know! But it is one of a fair few. They still manage to reach the final stages of SCD and maintain a high ranking. They didn't do it last year and they're still doing very well. I am a dancer and I do know what I'm talking about - honest!

I never for one moment said you didn't know what you're talking about or that you're not a dancer, I don't see how that's relevant .

I'm not a dancer, yet I have my own opinion. Maybe we differ there.

Perhaps Darren and Lilia do manage to do it to some degree, but couples such as Ian and Camilla, Anton and Erin . . . do you see their competitive careers progressing anywhere since being a part of Strictly Come Dancing?

Okay maybe I misinterpreted but I thought you were implying my views were wrong! Never mind, and you are a dancer anyway

I see what you mean about Camilla and Ian but Anton and Erin had retired before SCD (hadn't they? Last competed in early 2004, can't remember when SCD started) but in all honesty, if I were a pro like Camilla I would give up the pro danncing to be on the show!

I'm very surprised that they're considering not taking part, despite how exhausted they are! They were devastated not to be dancing last year and after all the time off with injury I would have thought that they couldn't really afford to miss such a major comp.

However dancing exhausted is never the best idea (although all dancers do it) as they could risk further injury.

Anton and Erin hadn't retired before Strictly and in fact still aren't officially retired. I spoke to her last year and she was hoping to go back into competition when they finally got time, maybe that may have changed now, but she always sounded as if she really missed it and was pretty insistent when she said she hadn't retired.

Personally as much as they might want to, I doubt they'll go back because of all the other stuff - but as of last year they weren't officially retired.

No, I don't think you're wrong at all. I just think that Darren and Lilia would be able to do so much better for themselves competitively if they weren't in the show. I agree with you though that out of all of the professionals, they seem to be the least affected by it. I would hardly call myself a dancer though!

Anton and Erin packed in when they were halfway through the second series of SCD, in November 2004. Their last competition was the British National.

I just think it's wrong in the way that it seems they have lost their passion for competition and the lifestyle that it brings with it, and all that they begin to care about is being famous. In my eyes, it's not about the money or the recognition that it brings to you, it's about dancing because that's all you know, it's your life and there is nothing else. It seems such a shame to let go of that just to be famous.

To be fair, I don't think Darren and Lilia have in any way lost their passion for dance and it is their life. You don't have to compete in every competition to prove that. I certainly don't believe they would give up their love for dance just to be famous. In the dance world they woud have been famous before starting SCD anyway. It did read as if you were implying that they were only out for the money and fame now, although perhaps you didn't mean that, but that would be totally wrong I think. Anyone who does know them would know how passionate they are about dancing. Everyone has to make a living out of what they do, and entering a competition is their decision, it is neither right or wrong, they make a decision based on what they want to do.

One of the reasons Darren may not be doing Bournemouth is possibly an injury concern related to his quite serious injury last year, and as anyone who dances will know, it is lunacy to compete if you are not fully fit. He probably has to be quite selective about what he does compete in, and having to dance all the early rounds as well as semis and finals is probably not his best option if he is concerned.

I was totally not referring to Darren and Lilia in my previous post, just to confirm. At least they still make the effort to compete and take part in as many championships as they can make possible.

I'm on about those who no longer compete at all, Brendan, Ian, Camilla and the like.