By Lancashire Evening Telegraph Reporter Chris Hopper.
Strictly Come Dancing contestants get footwear from
Starlight Dancewear, Mill Hill, Blackburn, Lancs
AN East Lancashire company has danced its way on to the national stage after its ballet shoes were featured on Strictly Come Dancing. The footwear, provided by Starlight Dancewear, have been worn by contestants on the hit show including former boxer Joe Calzaghe, ex-jockey Richard Dunwoody and actress Zoe Lucker. The stars have been using the shoes during rehearsals with ballerina Darcey Bussell, who will be helping the judging during the later stages of the BBC show. Footage of the stars using the shoes and being put through their paces has already been featured on the show. Now, after buying 15 pairs of ballet shoes, programme bosses have asked for a Starlight account to be set up so they can buy more equipment during the course of the show. Owner Elaine Gregory said: “They emailed me to ask if it was something we could provide for them for the rehearsals. “They asked for prices and then they ended up placing an order for 15 pairs of ballet shoes which were used in rehearsal footage.” Elaine now hopes the order will boost her business, based in St Aidan’s Avenue, Mill Hill, Blackburn, which she runs with daughters Claire, 28, and 22-year-old Zoe. “It was a proud moment for us and now we have set them up an account, they will hopefully use us again in the future.” Elaine, Claire and Zoe formed Starlight five years ago and now sell shoes for all types of dance ranging from ballet, tap and salsa to Latin and ballroom. Picture Right: Owner Elaine Gregory "Stepping Out" with a pair of the Ballet Shoes she sold to the BBC.
