| Description | 1 ballroom dress, matching pair of gloves and shoes, black gloves, sequins, certificates, 1 vinyl record, photographs.
Burnley-born Doreen Casey and Blackpool boy Harry Smith-Hampshire began winning amateur competitions in 1950 and decided to turn professional whilst building up a series of dance schools throughout the north of England. In 1952 they founded the world famous Lambeth School of Dancing in London.
During 1957 the couple were invited to give demonstrations and lectures in Moscow. During their two-week visit, they performed in the Kremlin in front of 18,000 people. The televised show introduced ballroom dancing to the Soviet Union.
Doreen and Harry were crowned European Champions at Earls Court three years later and went on to win the British International Professional Ballroom Dancing Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in 1959 and 1960 together with the World Professional Ballroom and Latin Championships in 1961. As undisputed masters of the Viennese Waltz they famously retired as undefeated world champions. |
| Custodial History | Items belonged to ballroom dancer, Doreen Casey, who wore the outfit when dancing at the Hall competing in the International Ballroom Dancing Competition. |