Charity dance event Strictly Christmas returns to Coventry this weekend

[dutchman]

Due to popular demand, an extra matinee show has been added for Strictly Christmas with an afternoon tea experience



Coventry's leading dance charity event, Strictly Christmas is back this weekend raising funds for Zoe's Place Baby Hospice. The two shows will run tonight (December 15) and tomorrow (December 16) at The Royal Court Hotel in Keresley.

Strictly Christmas involves 24 contestants partnered with an experienced dancer for 8 weeks of training to learn a Latin or Ballroom routine while carrying out fundraising activities. Since 2017, the event has raised over £500,000 for Zoe's Place which offers respire, end of life and palliative care for babies, infants and children under 5.

But this year, an extra show has been added to cope with an increasing demand for tickets - with over 700 tickets for both shows sold out within days of going on sale. There will now be an extra matinee performance and a sparkling afternoon tea experience for audience members.

The matinee performance will take place from 12:30pm tomorrow (December 16) and features a star-studded judging panel from 2011 Strictly winner Harry Judd who forms one quarter of boyband McFly, world champion dancer Vincent Simone who appeared on Strictly from 2006 to 2012, professional dancer Chloe Hewitt and Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyanganya, who regularly features on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Amazon Prime and Eurosport.

Show Director for Strictly Christmas, James Sanders, said: "Every year we have had sell-out shows but this year we had unprecedented demand for our two evening shows and both shows sold out in a matter of days. Not wanting to disappoint anyone, the only option was to look at adding an extra performance. We are really pleased to be able to add our extra matinee show, with a sparkling festive afternoon tea experience, ensuring no one misses out on Strictly Christmas.

"Strictly Christmas is only possible through the efforts of a huge number of volunteers – from our organising team, to our experienced dancers, and of course our amazing contestants. We’re looking forward to continuing to raise vital funds for Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice Coventry and encourage everyone to support us, in whatever way they can."

Ian Carr from Zoe's Place Baby Hospice Coventry added: "This event just goes from strength to strength. After last year’s 5 th anniversary dancing bonanza I didn’t think it could be any more spectacular and successful. Yet with the news that there is an extra performance added due to incredible demand for tickets and a stellar cast of judges, this year promises to be even bigger and even better.

“We are so grateful for everyone involved and their incredible efforts in raising such jaw dropping amounts; the event plays a major part in raising our target of £1.5 million to keep the hospice providing help for poorly children and their families so they can live their lives to the fullest."

Fore more information about Zoe's Place Baby Hospice Coventry, visit the website. For more information and to book available tickets for tomorrow's matinee performance, click here.