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Strictly Come Dancing will be teaming up with ´óÏó´«Ã½ Learning and quick-stepping its way to Blackpool to celebrate all things ballroom dancing with a day of glitz and glamour in an exclusive event for fans of the show.

On Saturday 7 November 2009, former Strictly Come Dancing winner, professional dancer and World Masters Champion Karen Hardy will lead two free mass dancing events at Blackpool's world famous Winter Gardens.

Her challenge is to get hundreds of people dancing together. And when everyone's finished perfecting their moves, they will join other Strictly fans at Blackpool's Opera House Theatre to watch a screening of the special edition of Strictly Come Dancing live from Blackpool's Tower Ballroom.

Special guests will be joining Karen and the fans throughout the day.

Karen Hardy said: "This is what Strictly is all about – inspiring people to learn to dance and try something new. Teaching complete amateurs as well as international dance champions is what I love most so I'm delighted to be leading these Strictly mass dancing events.

"I will be making sure that everyone is on their feet and mastering some of the moves from the show in their own real-life Strictly-come-Blackpool experience."

The event is open to everyone, from those who are fancy on their feet to complete beginners and "'rusty returners". The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Learning event will be a dancing extravaganza and the perfect place to master some "Strictly" moves.

To apply for a place visit bbc.co.uk/tickets or call 0370 901 1227. Places are limited and will be allocated at random.

The closing date for registering is 10am on Tuesday 27 October 2009.

Notes to Editors

´óÏó´«Ã½ Learning campaigns offer opportunities for learning in the broadest sense, with the emphasis on active participation. Building on the interest generated by broadcast programmes, these campaigns encourage and enable people in communities throughout the UK to learn more through taking part in events and activities developed with expert partners.

Blackpool's famous Tower Ballroom will play host to a special edition of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday 7 November, broadcast live on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.

Hosts Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly will be joined by the nine remaining couples in the competition, as well as the judging panel: Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Alesha Dixon.

Blackpool Tower Ballroom played host to the popular ´óÏó´«Ã½ series Come Dancing, which was the predecessor for today's hit show. Strictly Come Dancing has previously broadcast from Blackpool. The last time was the final of series two in 2004, when actress Jill Halfpenny and her dancing partner, Darren Bennett, were crowned Strictly champions.

Strictly Come Dancing is available on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One and ´óÏó´«Ã½ HD. Tune in to the next episode on Saturday 24 October 2009, at 7.00pm.

Don't forget you can get all the up-to-date gossip on Strictly Come Dancing's sister show, It Takes Two, weekdays at 6.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

For more information and gossip, visit bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing or follow us on Twitter: bbcstrictly.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Lancashire Strictly Come Dancing event

For those who can't make the Saturday ´óÏó´«Ã½ Learning event, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Lancashire is also holding a number of dance events throughout the week beginning Monday 2 November in Preston, Chorley, Lancaster, Blackpool and Burnley.

Bringing a touch of glamour to the events will be ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Lancashire presenters John "Gilly" Gillmore and Carole Turner, who will be shimmying their way along to broadcast from the events as well as learning the dance moves themselves.

By registering for one of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Lancashire events, those taking part will automatically be entered into a draw to win a pair of tickets to see Strictly Come Dancing at Blackpool Tower on Saturday 7 November. Terms and conditions apply. See website for more details at bbc.co.uk/lancashire and for more information on when and where the events will take place.

IV/RH/KS3