Gary Edwards

Overview

A dancer since the age of 7, Gary Robert Edwards has performed all over the world, earning more than 30 international titles including British Open Ballroom,British Open Latin and UK Open 10 Dance titles. In addition, he has taken top honors at the Innsbruck Gold Cup, the Bulgarian Open, the Russian Open, and the Hong Kong 10 Dance Championships, among others. After being ranked #1 in the World 10 Dance, Gary received a coveted appointment to the Royal Family of Brunei.

In his 30-year career as a dancer, coach and adjudicator, Gary has reached the pinnacle of success and exceeded even his own dreams. He has trained world champions, organized major dance events, served as music and dance adviser for top-tier international competitions and co-hosted celebrity dance-offs. He has judged more than a dozen World Championships and scores of prestigious National and regional competitions.

The 6’4” British-born Champion has danced professionally in 60 countries, and has appeared on several TV productions, including "BBC Dirty Dancing" and "BBC Come Dancing". He has coached and/or danced alongside superstars and world leaders, including the prime minister of India and several Malaysian sultans. A highlight of his career was the privilege of serving a six-year commission as private adviser to the Royal Family of Brunei. He once danced the Cha Cha Cha with Michael Jackson, and enjoys memories of dancing with Janet Jackson, Barry White, Whitney Houston, MC Hammer, and many other music stars.

Gary Edwards is a World Class Adjudicator in the Ballroom, Latin American, and American Styles, as well as for Salsa, Freestyle and Rock and Roll.

While he continues to adjudicate top-level National and International competitions, Gary has chosen to dedicate more of his focus on television and film. Currently he serves on the advisory panel of the upcoming Pro-Am reality TV show, "Ballroom Blitz", created by Simon Fuller and Linda Pope.

Born in Essex, United Kingdom, Gary divides his time between homes in Miami Beach, Florida and the UK.

Personal Interests

An accomplished amateur polo player, Gary was privileged to learn from Argentine players who are among the best in the world. He has coached several world-class professional polo players, and he himself earned a 2 handicap rating as a member of the Brunei Bandits polo team while on commission to the Royal Family.

Gary supports local causes in his home town's in South Florida and the UK. Most recently, he has accepted the role as 2014 Patron of the WDSA/UK Wheelchair DanceSport Association (Para Dance UK), because he believes that the joy of dance should be available to all.

Gary enjoys his unofficial “standing” as the only 6’4” ballroom judge in America.

Accomplishments

• Performed all over the world, in over 60 countries, earning more than 30 international titles
• British Open Ballroom Champion
• British Open Latin Champion
• UK Open 10 Dance Champion
• Taken top honors at the:
• Innsbruck Gold Cup
• Bulgarian Open Championship
• Russian Open Championship
• Hong Kong 10 Dance Championship
• Ranked #1 in the World 10 Dance Championship
• Received a coveted appointment to the Royal Family of Brunei, serving a six-year commission as private adviser
• Organized major dance events
• Served as music and dance adviser for top-tier international competitions
• 2014 Patron of the WDSA/UK Wheelchair DanceSport Association (Para Dance UK)
• Co-Organizer, The Bill and Bobbie Irvine Awards, a Grand Slam event at the London Hilton Park Lane, 2006

Adjudicator

• World Class Adjudicator in:
• International Style Standard
• International Style Latin
• American Rhythm
• American Smooth
• Salsa
• Freestyle
• Rock and Roll
• Judged more than 38 World Championships, and counting
• Judged scores of prestigious National and regional competitions including
• Multiple-Times USDC (United States Dance Championships)
• World Salsa Championships, The Winter Gardens, Blackpool
• World American Rhythm and Smooth Championships, The Embassy Ball, LA
• National Freestyle Championships
• The Emerald Ball, LA
• The Millennium DanceSport Championships, Tampa, FL
• The Hollywood DanceSport Championships, LA
• Killick Klassik, Miami, FL
• The Embassy Ball
• Festival Danza

Coach, Choreographer, & Advisor

As a top-level adjudicator, as well as a Professional dance champion, Gary’s success as a coach is due to his ability to counsel competitors from a judge’s perspective.

• Has trained World Champions
• Dance and Music Advisor for No.5 Cavendish Square Hotel, Monroes, London
• Brunei Royal Family: In 1992, Gary was invited to Singapore to meet confidentially with a high profile client on assignment as a private dance teacher. While he thought it would be a perfect opportunity for a month-long working vacation, he was not told until arrival that his student would be the brother of His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei, HRH Prince Jefri, and his children. The prince was expecting visits from Princess Diana and Prince Edward of the British Royal Family, and as there would be events, he wanted to learn to dance. Gary’s immediate connection and success with his student led to lessons with other members of the Royal Family and their VIP guests, including Hollywood A-listers. This resulted in a commission that continued for the next six years. During that time, he traveled extensively with the family and lived briefly with them in Bel-Air, where he taught Princess Faridah and many of her celebrity guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
• Prince Albert Patronage, Monaco: After proving his stellar credentials with the Royal Family of Brunei, Gary was commissioned by the Monaco Dance Club under the patronage of Prince Albert, along with Peter Maxwell and Cherry Kingston, former dance partner of Len Goodman.

Television and Special Performance

• Has appeared on several TV productions including:
• "BBC Dirty Dancing"
• "BBC Come Dancing"
• "BBC Bodymatters"
• Co-Host, DWTS 'Style' Dance-Off between Channel 10 weatherman Scott Padgett and sports reporter Johanna Gomez: Miami
• Has coached and/or danced alongside superstars and world leaders including:
• The prime minister of India
• Several Malaysian sultans.
• Once danced the Cha Cha Cha with Michael Jackson
• Danced with:
• Janet Jackson
• Barry White
• Whitney Houston
• MC Hammer
• Serves on the advisory panel of the upcoming Pro-Am reality TV show, "Ballroom Blitz", created by Simon Fuller and Linda Pope
• Co-Presenter, World Dance Awards, Monaco, 2011
• Host, DanceSport, Monaco Sportel, 2010
• International Ambassador/Coordinator, Monaco DanceSport, 2011
• Represented DanceSport at Fox Sports Pan American Awards, 2010

Entrepreneurship

• Instructor
• World Class Adjudicator
• Choreographer
• Entrepreneur
• Competition Organizer
• TV Personality

Qualifications & Boards

• United Kingdom Alliance (UKA), UK
• The United States Terpsichore Association
• Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), UK
• National Dance Council of America (NDCA)