Peter Maxwell

Overview

Peter Maxwell’s training as a dancer started at the age of five in his native London. By the age of ten, he had formed an enduring partnership with Lynn Harman. During their sixteen years together, they won every award and accolade in what was referred to as Ballroom dancing then. Most prominent was the Professional World Champion title in the Latin American dances won in 1976. Theirs was a truly legendary partnership whose performances fundamentally influenced the development and advancement of competitive dancing.

Since their childhood days together, the couple gathered title after title. Peter and Lynn became Triple Open British Junior Ballroom and Latin American Champions and Youth Ballroom and Latin American Champions. As they progressed into the Amateur arena, they won the British Ballroom and Latin Championships as well as the World Latin Championship.

Having won all other major titles in both disciplines, in 1974, Peter and Lynn turned Professional.

Their professional achievements included representing Great Britain in the British Open Professional Team Match, becoming Champions of the World Cup 10 Dance Championships, becoming finalists in the British Open Professional Ballroom Championship and winning the World and British Open Latin American Championships.

Early Retirement

Retiring at the early age of 26, Peter went on to study other forms of dance in New York City. During this time, he formed a partnership with Vicki Regan. They were the stars of "The American Dance Machine" and performed worldwide on stage with this revered group.

Peter then created "Peter Maxwell's Ballroom Dance Theatre" which toured the U.S. and internationally with great success for six years. The company’s innovative genre of “Ballroom on Stage” received glowing reviews from major newspapers including the New York Times and Boston Globe.

Renowned Coach and DanceSport Official

Returning to England, Peter established the Semley Studio in London, the most popular studio of its kind worldwide, in order to concentrate on teaching competitive dancing.

Peter has been a principal coach to some of the most successful couples in the history of dancing and the only coach who has ever had direct input with World Champions in Standard and Latin simultaneously.

Peter has served as the Chairman of Judges for the Blackpool Dance Festival as well as the WDSF GrandSlam Series. He is also the Honorary Life President of DanceSport England and the WDSF Professional Division.

Accomplishments

• Represented Great Britain in the British Open Professional Team Match
• World Cup Professional 10 Dance Champion
• World Professional Latin American Champion
• British Open Professional Latin American Champion
• British Open Professional Ballroom Finalist
• World Amateur Latin Champion
• British Amateur Ballroom Champion
• British Amateur Latin Champion
• Youth Ballroom Champion
• Youth Latin American Champion
• Triple Open British Junior Ballroom and Latin American Champion
• "The American Dance Machine", Performer
• "Peter Maxwell's Ballroom Dance Theatre", Creator
• Semley Dance Studio, Founder
• Principal coach to some of the most successful couples in the history of dancing
• The only coach who has ever had direct input with World Champions in Standard and Latin simultaneously
• Served as the Chairman of Judges for the Blackpool Dance Festival
• Served as the Chairman of Judges for the WDSF GrandSlam Series

Dance Partners

• Vicki Regan
• Lynn Harman

Entrepreneurship

• Semley Dance Studio, Founder
• Principal coach to some of the most successful couples in the history of dancing
• The only coach who has ever had direct input with World Champions in Standard and Latin simultaneously
• DanceSport England, Honorary Life President
• WDSF Professional Division, Honorary Life President
• Instructor
• Choreographer
• Lecturer
• WDSF "A" Licensed Adjudicator
• Standard
• Latin
• Judging System 2.0
• Absolute Judging System
• WDSF "PD" Licensed Adjudicator
• Standard
• Latin