John Wells

Overview

Dancing with his sister Elsa Wells, John won London’s most prestigious event of that era, The Star Championship in the Amateur division, an event supported by the Star Newspaper from 1925 to 1931. In 1938, the event was resumed, and the Ballroom Dancers' Federation runs it today. However, it never reached its former level of prestige ever again.

After his partnership with his sister, John danced with Renee Sissons, with whom he had a very successful career run. They won the World Championship in the Amateur Ballroom Dancing division for the 6th time in a row in 1939 when it was held in Munich, Germany on the 5th of February. The couple also won Blackpool 5 times and were second only once in the time period from 1932 to 1937 among their first place wins.

The photo gallery below features a picture of these British Ballroom Dancing Champions being filmed for 'The Romance of Dancing' at Highbury Studios in London on the 29th of July in 1937. The couple has just won the World Amateur Ballroom Dancing Championship. (Photo by Harry Todd/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

The second image in the photo gallery below shows John and Renee during their performance at the European Ballroom Championships in Berlin. These British Amateur Ballroom Champions were again awarded the European title at this competition held in the Ballroom of the Berlin Zoo. The photo shows John and Renee gliding over the floor. (October 18, 1937)

Accomplishments

• British Amateur Champion (1932, 1934 - 1937)
• British Professional Champion (1947) - Tied with Wally Fryer and Violet Barnes
• 6-time World Standard Champion (1931 - 1939)
• 5-time Blackpool Champion and 1-time Blackpool Vice-Champion (1932 - 1937)
• European Ballroom Champion (1937)

Dance Partners

• Elsa Wells (? - early 1930s)
• Renee Sissons (Early 1930s - ?)