Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Obituaries
  • About
    • Advertise
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Dance partners, aged 7 and 8, to compete at national competition in Blackpool

News | Alexia Conrath | Published: 09:00, Saturday November 23rd, 2019.
Zac Ryland-Jones, eight, and Brooke Smith, seven

Two children aged seven and eight will compete at a Latin dance competition in Blackpool today (Saturday, November 23).

Dance partners Brooke Smith, seven, from Caerphilly and eight-year-old Zac Ryland-Jones from Hengoed will be competing in the under-12 category.

The duo practice at Shappelles dance school in Ystrad Mynach, spending four hours a week training together.

The dance partners are set to compete in Blackpool

Brooke and Zac, who are coached by Kay and Sean Perry, have already competed in five competitions together, reaching the final each time.

Zac, who began dancing in February, follows in the footsteps of his mother, Bethan Ryland, who was also a dancer at Shappelles and was coached by Mr Perry.

Brooke, who has been dancing for longer than her partner, has already competed on her own in seven competitions.

Together, the young duo will dance the cha-cha-cha, samba, rumba and jive.

Zac and Brooke practice at Shappelles Dance Studio in Ystrad Mynach

Coach Mr Perry said: “Brooke has been dancing for longer than Zac, but we decided that they would make a very useful couple together.

“We have got great hopes for them. They are both going to be very very good as they get older.

“Blackpool is a British national championship, so the best 35 British couples will be dancing.

“I think that a lot of couples in Brooke and Zac’s category will be 11-years-old – so a lot older than them.

Mr Perry added: “It is their first time and it’s a hard competition, so we’re basically sending them up to see how they will do and it will give use an idea of how they’ve got to improve.

“It is going to be very high standard competition.

“We just want them to have a feel from it and then move on and hopefully in two years time, maybe three years, they will go win it. That’s the idea.”

Brooke’s father, Paul Smith, is already looking to forward to seeing his daughter and her dance partner compete on the world stage.

“She’s an incredible talent. It’s unbelievable for a seven-year-old to compete at Blackpool.

“I keep pushing for the world competition next year in Dublin.

Paul Smith
Paul Smith
Paul Smith

Latest News

  • Former Caerphilly Council chief who received £209k pay-off, gets new £120k public sector roleWednesday, February 25, 2026
  • Senedd stock image
    Assisted dying motion gets support from Senedd MembersWednesday, February 25, 2026
  • Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Labour councillor for the Morgan Jones ward
    Council leader promises road resurfacing and pothole repairsWednesday, February 25, 2026
  • Teen ‘lucky to alive’ demands safety action on Wyllie BendsWednesday, February 25, 2026
  • Stuart Williams scoring for Wales against the UK Armed Forces in November
    Wales wheelchair rugby league squads named ahead of UK Armed Forces gamesWednesday, February 25, 2026
  • CAMPAIGN: WASPI members outside Caerphilly Castle
    Council backs WASPI calls for ‘fair’ women’s pension compensationWednesday, February 25, 2026

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesFriday, February 6, 2026
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesFriday, January 23, 2026
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: Morgan Jones Bowling ClubThursday, January 15, 2026
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, January 8, 2026
© 2009-2026 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.