Years of training and dedication have paid off for Brightlingsea teenager Isa Islam, who is now the British National Junior Latin champion.
Isa and his Southampton-based partner Cee-Cee Jackson, had only been dancing together for nine months before taking the top spot at the competition in Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom on Saturday, November 18.
The 15-year-old began dancing in Brightlingsea with Carrie’s Street Performers – now Pulse Performers – at the age of six, where his potential was first spotted.
Going on to train with coaches across Essex, Isa, a former Colne school pupil, now attends the Brit School for performing and creative arts in Croydon.
Isa’s dancing involves a lot of travelling – he’d just returned from representing team GB at a a competition in the Netherlands before the Blackpool championships – with weekends and school holidays given over to training.
He came to ballroom and Latin relatively late, and mum Joanna Islam said struggles through lockdown and the lack of the right partner meant he almost gave up.
“I am so proud of Isa and Cee-Cee,” said Isa’s mum, Joanna Islam. “These beautiful young people have shown so much maturity with their respectful attitudes and incredible work ethic. They don’t criticise or blame each other when things go wrong, they act with kindness to work together to find solutions and improve.
“They are very different people but have formed a friendship and support each other, especially through the tough times,” she added.
