Family affair for a dance trio

Photo: Picture: TIM FRANCE

Award-winners: Tracey Ralphs with daughters Olivia (left) and Isabella, who have all made it to the finals of a dancing competition

A TRIO of talented dancers from the same family will all be taking to the floor during a national dance competition at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.

Tracey Ralphs (37), along with her daughters Olivia (8) and Isabella (5), will all be competing in the Nationwide Medallist of the Year event in April.

Mother and daughters won one of 12 places in each of their age groups during the North-West qualifiers last month.

Now the competition has turned into a real family affair with all three set to thrill audiences with a range of different dances, including ballroom, Latin, freestyle and disco.

Mrs Ralphs, from Birks Avenue, Lees, used to take lessons as a child at Jaymar Dance Centre, Rock Street, but gave them up when she was 13.

Her passion for performing was reignited when Olivia began with lessons three times a week at the centre two years ago.

Little Isabella was also bitten by the ballroom bug and she, too, started dancing eight months ago.

Their fancy footwork paid off as Olivia came first in her age group during the qualifiers and Isabella finished third, despite it being only her first competition.

Mrs Ralphs, who works in a bank, said: “It is quite an achievement for us — both Olivia and Isabella have a natural talent for dancing.

“I’d not been dancing for over 20 years but just being in the dance centre with my children made me want to take it up again.

“I do ballroom and Latin and it is like riding a bike — you never forget.

“Olivia does ballroom, Latin freestyle and disco and Isabella performs the jive, cha cha cha, waltz and tango.

“Going to the competition in Blackpool will be nerve-racking, but it’s going to be a day to remember.

“My son Alexander (9) is more interested in football than dance but I’ll be bring him and husband Steven along for support.”