Leading members of the Midlands’ legal profession will soon be seen jiving, foxtrotting and quickstepping their way across the dance floor.
The No5 Chambers Strictly 9 to 5 fundraiser, in aid of the Child Brain Injury Trust, features representatives of the Bar, the Judiciary, solicitors and clerks who have now been paired with their professional dance partners ready to compete.
Strictly Come Dancing favourite Anton Du Beke will compere the evening of dance and entertainment to be held at Villa Park’s Holte Suite on Friday, June 5.
This week, the 11 nervous competitors discovered which dance they will be performing on the night by drawing slips out of a hat at random.
Jamie Gamble, a barrister at No5 Chamber, will be dancing the foxtrot with his partner Kerry Alebon (pictured).
He said: “I’m quite pleased with the foxtrot. We have practised that quite a lot and it’s not a bad choice.”
While Kerry added: “The ballroom dances are my favourite so I’m thrilled with this! We’ll soon have Jamie gliding and twirling across the dance floor.”
Michael Burrows QC, also from No5 and the only other male competitor, will be shaking his sequins as he takes on the Samba.
“I’ve really enjoyed the training sessions so far,” said Michael, “and I do think we’ve all improved fantastically since we started six weeks ago.
“Jamie and I haven’t yet been seen dancing together in Chambers – that would certainly have raised a few eyebrows – but I have tried to practise steps whenever I can, usually when I’m out walking the dog!”
Their colleague Natasha Beauchamp will be dancing the ballroom tango on finals night, while the other competitors are: Nyree Applegarth, Higgs & Sons – the quickstep; Sarah Huntbach, Anthony Collins – the cha cha cha; Cheryl Palmer-Hughes and Abbi Copson, Irwin Mitchell – the Viennese waltz and the jive; Charlotte Doyle, The Wilkes Parntership – Argentine tango; Eileen Schofield, Schofield & Associates – the waltz; Sophie Taylor, Squire Patton Boggs – pasodoble; and Sarah Dwight, Sarah Dwight Solicitor – the rumba.
The students will now have intense one to one dance sessions with their partners, learning the routines that they are to perform on the night.
The Child Brain Injury Trust was established by a group of health professionals in 1991 to research and provide information regarding the effects of ‘traumatic’ injury on a child’s developing brain. It is the leading voluntary sector organisation providing non-medical services to families affected by childhood acquired brain injury across the UK. It receives no Government or NHS funding. The Trust has a national network of child and family support co-ordinators.
Further details can be found online at www.no5.com/strictly9to5 There are a number of sponsorship and fundraising opportunities available, for more information please contact No5’s marketing team on 0845 210 555 or email marketing@no5.com