Bryan Watson (born 18 April 1969) was nine times Professional

World Latin Dance Champion This page lists the official World Champions – Professional Latin of the World Dance Council (WDC). The championships are authorized and organized under the auspices of the WDC, and held annually in the last quarter of each year. The competiti ...

and won the International Latin American Championship five times. Watson was born in

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

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. He became the UK Open Amateur champion with Claudia Leonie in 1991 and the runner-up in the International Latin Professional World Championships with

Karen Hardy Karen Hardy (born 14 July 1970) is a British professional ballroom dancer, coach, teacher and adjudicator. In 1998 she won the professional International Latin American Dance Championship with Bryan Watson. She also won the United Kingdom Open ...

in 1996. He then won his first International Latin Professional World Championships with

Carmen Vincelj Carmen Vincelj (born 1972 in Stuttgart) is a German professional dancer. Together with her partner Bryan Watson she has won the WDC World Latin Dance Championships in the professional category nine times (1999–2007), as well as 7 Britis ...

in 1999. Watson and Vincelj proceeded to win every major International Latin Professional Championships that they entered until their retirement from competition in 2007. The couple continue to run a dance teaching studio in

Wimbledon, London Wimbledon () is a district and town of Southwest London, England, southwest of the centre of London at Charing Cross; it is the main commercial centre of the London Borough of Merton. Wimbledon had a population of 68,187 in 2011 which includes ...

and gave an interesting interview on the subject of retiring from competition.

Career

World championships

Bryan Watson and Carmen Vincelj won the

World Dance Council The World Dance Council Ltd (WDC), is a registered limited company, the legal successor to the ''International Council of Ballroom Dancing'', and was established at a meeting organized by Phillip J. S. Richardson on 22 September 1950 in Edinburgh, ...

's World Professional Latin Championship for nine years running, from 1999–2007.

International Latin American Championship

Watson won the Professional Latin American title at the International Championships at the

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, London, five times. These are the oldest recognised Latin championships in

ballroom dance Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world, mostly because of its performance and entertainment aspects. Ballroom dancing is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television. ...

.Details from the programme of the 57th International Championships 2009, which lists all previous prizewinners. * 1998 with

as partner. * 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004 with Carmen Vincelj as partner.

Other international titles

Watson also won the British Open Latin Championship seven times (details not to hand.) * 2005

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Professional Latin 1st * 2005 WDC European Professional Latin 2005 Russia 1st * 2005 German Professional Latin 2005 Germany 1st * 2004 Moscow Kremlin Cup 2004 Latin 1st * 2004 British Professional Latin 1st * 2004 Professional Latin Cup 2004. Germany 1st * 2004 German Professional Latin 2004 Germany 1st * 2004 WDC German Masters Latin 2004. Germany 1st * 2003 WDC World Masters 2003 Professional LA Austria 1st * 2003 GP von Deutschland (Grand Prix) Closed Professional LA 1st * 2003 WDC US Open Professional LA USA 1st * 2003 WDC German Open GOC 2003 Professional LA Germany 1st *

International Latin American Dance Champions The International Latin American Dance Championships were created after the Second World War in England by Elsa Wells, and are now organised by ''Dance News'' special events. The current full title is the ''Elsa Wells International Dance Champion ...

World Latin Dance Champions This page lists the official World Champions – Professional Latin of the World Dance Council (WDC). The championships are authorized and organized under the auspices of the WDC, and held annually in the last quarter of each year. The competiti ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Bryan 1969 births Living people People from Durban South African ballroom dancers