James and Claire Taplin have danced all their lives. James started at the age of 6 and Claire at 3.James was born into a dancing family, both his mother and father danced competitively, plus his two brothers. James had a very success juvenile and junior career, winning the British Junior Championships.Claire started her dancing life at 3 attending ballet classes - her first dance appearance was on a London stage at the age of four for a ballet and arts competition. At 6 she started to attend ballroom and latin classes, and at 15 Claire was one of the youngest winners of the Hampshire Amateur Ballroom Championship and then went on to win the same title for another two years before partnering up with James Taplin in 1993.James and Claire had a very successful amateur partnership first representing Wales, becoming their Number 1 representative travelling the world competing in European and World Championships. In 1995 they moved from Wales to dance for England. They had a successful amateur career becoming England’s Number 2 representative in 1999. They also made many International Semi-finalists including:United Kingdom ChampionshipsInternational ChampionshipsIn 2000 the dancing blossomed into their personal lives, as they got married on August 12thIn 2001 they turned from amateur to professional competitors, enabling them to embark on their teaching career as well as carry on competing. They gained finalist status at the British National Championships, and semi-finalists in the United Kingdom and International Rising Star Championships. They also reached the top 48 in the world, at the Open British Professional Championships.In 2004 they hung up their competitive shoes to concentrate on their teaching careers.During all their years as competitors they both kept down full times jobs, James an International Bank Clerk and Claire a Graphic Designer. In 2005 they were both able to hand in their notices for the day job to concentrate on full time teaching, which they now achieve nearly every day of the week.  Whether it is teaching social dancers, medallist, competitors, travelling to Guernsey, judging, lecturing or demonstrating they both love to pass on the joy of dance, and hope that one day one of their pupils in their children’s class will carry on in their footsteps and become the next British Junior Champion.

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