Patrons
Philip Wylie, Dance Consultant and UK & International Adjudicator
Philip Wylie a former top class amateur and professional competitor is well known in the dance world and over the last 30 years has organised many dance festivals, dance holidays and recently presented the United Kingdom Formation Championships at the famous Tower Ballroom Blackpool.
For many years he has adjudicated the International Championships at the Albert Hall and has great teaching experience from Beginner through to World Champion. He is also known for his ability to teach in a friendly, relaxed and practical style suitable for all. He has been recognised by the world of dance receiving the Carl Alan Award and British Dance Federation Award for ‘Outstanding Services to Dance’.
With the popularity of Philip’s Dance Holidays increasing year on year, Holiday and Dance offer a wide choice of holidays to suit all tastes. With our extensive selection of excellent dance holidays you can choose a venue which suits you. We offer expert dance tuition at all levels; for the beginner our Learn and improve sessions will help them to progress. However, if you are already a skilled dancer they offer a range of dance experiences including Modern Ballroom, Latin American, Social Sequence and Salsa. At the same time, why not take advantage of some excellent cabaret performances from some of the world’s finest dance champions. http://www.holidayanddance.co.uk/
Philip is pleased to be supporting the Wheelchair Dance sport Associations and Hope the organisation grows from strength to strength.
Dr Richard Weiler MBChB, MRCGP (Dist), MSc Sport & Exercise Medicine (Dist), FFSEM(UK)
Dr Weiler is a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine. He is Club Doctor at West Ham United FC, Lead Medical Officer for Disability Football with The Football Association, tunnel doctor at Wembley to the England Men’s Football Team (2011) and Club Doctor to Guernsey FC. He also spent 5 years as Club Doctor at Watford FC.
Dr Weiler can treat sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions at any age. He is also module lead for Sports Medicine at University College London and the Institute of Orthopaedics on the MSc in Musculoskeletal Science and is also an external tutor and lecturer on the University College London MSc in Sport, Exercise and Health.
He has published research in various aspects of Sport and Exercise Medicine on bone health in elite athletes, innovative mobility aids, exercise medicine and physical activity as a prevention and treatment for chronic disease. For the last two years he has been specialty advisor in Sport & Exercise Medicine to the Department of Health and is currently on the expert advisory board at Macmillan Cancer Physical Activity Group, on the Board of Fellows at Map of Medicine and an advisor to mycme.com. He has recently published an NHS Information Document explaining the role and benefits of the Sport and Exercise Medicine specialist to the NHS and has published chapters in several Sports Medicine books.
Dr Weiler is pleased to be supporting the WDSA (UK) and its work of engaging and developing individuals to enter into an activity which enable disabled people to live a healthier and happier life.
Marina Pusic Fitness Model, Bodybuilding and Fitness Competitor, Judge, Fitness Coach & IBFA (International Bodybuilding Fitness Association) Croatia President
Marina Pusic was born in Zagreb, Croatia but made London her home for the past 16 years.
As a little girl Marina was always engaged in various sports and activities. She was a member of competitive swimming club, dance group and an orchestra back home in her native Croatia.
She continued with her education in London where she graduated in Journalism and Communication Studies with Italian Language, and part of her study years she also spent at “Università di Bologna” in Italy.
After graduation most of her working career was across the Media Industry especially TV Production. However, during her vibrant time at university she managed to find spare time to train and she developed a passion for Fitness and Bodybuilding, which later in life made her change her career. She started to work as a Personal Trainer, Fitness Model and actively compete and judge at Fitness and Bodybuilding events. She also proudly represents her country as a president of IBFA CROATIA (International Bodybuilding Fitness Association).
Marina is a twin to her sister, and one of the two who was born with “Tetralogy of Fallot”, a cyanotic heart defect which causes low oxygen levels in the blood. However, this condition has not stopped her from training hard, reaching her goals, bettering herself and helping others achieve their goals.
Here is one of her favourite quotes which she believes is the same or even more important for any disabled person wanting to dance:
“There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can’t. What you’ve got to do is turn around and say ‘watch me’.”
Gary Avis, Ballet Master and Principal Character Artist.
Born in Ipswich, he joined The Royal Ballet in 1989, promoted to Soloist, 1995, Principal Character Artist, 2005, was made Assistant Ballet Master, 2007, and Ballet Master, 2010. His repertory includes Drosselmeyer, Von Rothbart, Tybalt, Lord Capulet, Monsieur G.M., Gaoler, Tsar Nicholas, Step-Sister, Duchess, Madge, Dr Coppélius, Paris Singer, Kostcheï, High Brahmin, Prince Gremin, The Man (Song of the Earth), DGV and Tsarina’s Slippers (Royal Opera). He has created roles for and worked with MacMillan, Tharp, Tetley, Morris, Hynd, Bruce, Wheeldon, Tuckett, Bintley, Page and Marriott. He co-founded K Ballet, Japan, and has performed with ENB.
In 2011 he received an Honorary Doctorate from University Campus Suffolk and was awarded the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Male Performance – Classical. He partnered Darcey Bussell in the Viva la Diva Arena Tour, on Strictly Come Dancing and at the London 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony.
Gary is proud to be a Patron of The Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (UK) to see the work the charity does to enable disabled people to access dance and be active in the community, Gary is also Patron of the Chelsea Ballet and The Hunger Project UK.
Camilla Dallarup, Dancer, Actress and Motivational Speaker
Danish born Camilla moved to England 17 years ago and had a long successful career as a professional dancer before she became a regular on the British TV screens.
Camilla is currently launching a new website for her motivational speaking www.camillasacredallerup.com She will be doing talks at both ‘The Vitality Show’ and ‘The Mind Body and Soul Exhibition’ in 2013.
Over the past two years Camilla has been concentrating on her acting, completing four UK tours of ‘Calendar Girls’, one of the UK’s most successful touring shows, playing the parts of both Celia and Elaine. She also squeezed in two pantomimes playing the Fairy Godmother in Telford for Paul Holman Associates production of ‘Cinderella’ for Christmas 2012 and in 2011 she played the Genie of the Lamp in First Family Entertainment’s ‘Aladdin’ in Milton Keynes.
Camilla rose to fame as Strictly Come Dancing’s most successful female professional dancer and after 6 series she, in 2008, won the trophy and decided to move onto other TV challenges. With her warm and fun personality she has since then gotten the nation fit with GMTV’s dancing queen diet and has been to the jungle and back with I’m a Celeb.
As a TV presenter she has hosted shows like Dance Factory and been a panellist on Skate and Jump Nation on BBC. She often appears on the radio and different chat shows such as Live in Studio 5 and The Alan Titchmarsh show.
Camilla has also been running her own business for 11 years which includes professional dance shows, team building and corporate motivational speaking, where she incorporates with her own journey and her experiences as a qualified NLP master practitioner coach to inspire others. With 2 fitness and a dance DVD’s under her belt, she also enjoys writing pieces which mix fitness with well-being and has a regular column with Bodyfit magazine. Camilla worked as a model in her teens and this has come in handy and made her popular for different brand endorsements.
She has done many interesting campaigns from being the Face and Legs for Aristoc tights to promoting Freixenet just to mention a few. Camilla is a regular in publications and her wedding was featured on the front cover on Hello magazine last summer.