Local Ballroom Dance Couple to Compete at British Open

Every athlete dreams of reaching the pinnacle event of their sport. Football players dream of the Super Bowl, soccer players dream of the World Cup, golf players dream of the Masters. For professional ballroom dancers Waylon Jones and Ashley Judge, an invitation to the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival in England means their dreams are coming true. The Blackpool Dance Festival, also known as the British Open, is considered one of the top dance competitions on the globe.

Jones and Judge, who compete in cabaret/exhibition dance, describe this invitation as a huge honor. Furthermore, the invitation demonstrates they are one of the rising couples on the ballroom dance scene.  

"They only select the top six couples in the world," said Jones, a Dacula resident. "We've been moving up the ranks pretty quickly and have been getting noticed by a lot of different judges and a lot of people on the international circuit."

For Jones and Judge, the realization of their dream is the fruit of hard work and great dance chemistry between the two of them.

"I had gone through a couple of partners looking for the right fit personality wise, talent wise, and desire wise and searched for a very long time," recalls Jones.  "There was one girl who gave me her video and dance resume to watch, that one caught my eye more than anyone else's. We met up and from there we hit it off.  Fifteen months later we are prepared to represent the U.S. in the British Open."

The pair puts in a lot of work each week perfecting their choreography, editing and working with the music, perfecting technique, and even doing weight training. 

"It's a full-time commitment, something that you are always conscious of, something that never leaves you, it becomes an essential element of who you are," said Judge. 

With the increased popularity of ballroom dancing due to prime time shows like "Dancing With the Stars," Jones and Judge have seen a growing interest in the sport.

"All of the sudden ballroom dancers are household names whereas in the past they wouldn't be," said Judge. "People are aware that dance is more than something you did when you were a kid, it's a career, it’s a commitment, it's hard work."

With the increased attention, Jones and Judge hope that people will give it a try. 

"People feel intimidated by dance, saying 'I could never do that,' but dance is for everyone," said Judge.  "I absolutely encourage anyone and everyone to try dance class for yourself. It brings so much vitality physically and emotionally and beyond."

"There is no limit to how young or how old you can be to participate in ballroom and social dance," adds Jones.

But what people will see in Blackpool, England this spring is more than just people having fun. It's a highly trained art form with highly skilled athletes performing. 

"Unlike the foxtrot or a cha-cha, our dance is more interpretive. I refer to our style of dancing as more like ice skating done on the ballroom dance floor, where it can be done to any song done to any sort of feel. It doesn't have to be a recognizable to any sort of dance," said Jones.

To participate in this acclaimed event, the pair will need to raise money to cover travel expenses.  To help with this, Jones and Judge will be holding a benefit fund raising event in Lawrenceville on April 30.  The event will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church Gymnasium in Lawrenceville.  The cost is $60 per couple and $40 for an individual ticket. 

The event will feature live entertainment, a silent auction, food and Jones and Judge performing the piece they will compete with in Blackpool.  For more information, to purchase tickets to the ball, or to make an online contribution to help sponsor their trip, go to www.waylonandashley.com. 

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