Warren James Bullock (born 12 January 1965) is an English professional ballroom dancer and dance teacher, most widely known for the TV series Baby Ballroom and as the founder of Zig Zag Dance Factory in Lower Penn, Wolverhampton.
Warren Bullock | |
|---|---|
 Warren Bullock in 2015 | |
| Born | Warren James Bullock 12 January 1965 Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England |
| Occupation | Professional dancer |
| Spouse | Jane Phillips |
Early life edit
Warren James Bullock was born on 12 January 1965 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire to Maurice Bullock and Jean Bullock (née Beaumont), owners of a local pub.[citation needed]
At the age of 19, he met his last partner (and now wife) Jane (née Phillips) at a studio in Birmingham run by competitive coaches Robin Short and Rita Last, who introduced them. Still financed by his parents, Bullock had a string of jobs; of note was work as an airbrush artist.[1]
Career edit
Competitive dancing and early teaching edit
Bullock and his wife Jane reached high levels of success in competitive dancing, including becoming British Champions in ballroom dancing.[2] The couple were also featured on the TV series Come Dancing from 1988 to 1994, as well as a variety of other roles throughout film and television. Bullock retired from competitive dancing in 1997 to focus on teaching.
From the 90s to the mid-2010s, Bullock became known for teaching Latin and ballroom dancing onboard cruise ships.
Zig Zag Dance Factory edit
In 1994, Warren and his wife Jane started Zig Zag Dance Factory, a Latin and ballroom dance school. This was started initially as a way of earning an income to continue competing.[3] The school is located in Lower Penn, Wolverhampton, and has notably trained with a wide number of professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing. Since 2014, Bullock has hosted an annual awards event; The Galaxy Classique awards.[4]
Together with his wife Jane, Bullock taught Ballroom and Latin American dancing in schools (including King Edward VI High School for Girls in Edgbaston) and Glebefields Primary School in Tipton where they pioneered the teaching of ballroom dancing in schools, before launching the concept to the Ballroom Dancers Federation which initiated dance being included into the curriculum.[5]
Baby Ballroom edit
Bullock and Zig Zag Dance Factory became internationally known with the TV series Baby Ballroom, which showcased the school's training of younger children and the world of children's competitive Latin and ballroom dancing. Baby Ballroom ran for 2 seasons and a Christmas special from 2017 on the British TV channel 5star, as well as through the online streaming service Netflix.
Family edit
Warren is married to Jane Phillips Bullock (née Phillips), his professional dancing partner; they married in 1995. He lives in Lower Penn, Wolverhampton with Jane and their triplet children Savannah, India and Alicia, born 29 February 2000.[6]
Philanthropy and community work edit
Warren Bullock supports and raises money for Starlight Children's Foundation.[7] Through his Zig Zag Dance school, in 2019 Warren created "Strictly Ability" the first open competition for children with disabilities.
Bullock created and organised the Global Internet Dance Championships to unite dancers from around the world during the coronavirus pandemic. This free to enter competition drew over 200 entries from around the world with competitors submitting their entry on either Facebook or YouTube.
Awards and achievements edit
Warren Bullock and his wife Jane have received two Carl Alan Awards in both amateur dancing and professional teaching. The first Carl Alan Award was in 1993 for Amateur Ballroom, and the second was in the category of "Ballroom, Latin and Sequence Teacher"[8] and was presented to Warren and Jane on 10 February 2009. They are winners of the Le Classique du Dance Awards 2008.[9]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Weather in the Streets | 1983
|
Dancer/Actor | Danced with Joanna Lumley |
Television edit
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Ballroom (5 Star) (Netflix) | 2017–2018
|
Himself | 15 episodes |
| Come Dancing (BBC) | 1988–1994
|
Professional Dancer | Approximately 20 episodes |
| Doctors (BBC) | 2004
|
Extra and Dance Choreographer | 1 episode |
| United Kingdom Dance Championships | 1992–1994
|
Himself | 3 episodes |
| How to Live with Women (BBC3)[10] | 2011
|
Himself | Episode 4: "Paul and Nisaa" |
| Rumba in the Jungle[11] | 1997
|
Himself | This is the last professional event Bullock competed in. |
References edit
- ^ "Subscribers Only".
- ^ "What it's like to be a father of triplets".
- ^ "Home". zigzagdance.co.uk.
- ^ "Galaxy Classique Dress Designer of the Year Award | DSI London". Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- ^ "Warren bullock".
- ^ "What it's like to be a father of triplets".
- ^ "Wolverhampton West Magazine - November 2016 - Christmas Edition". Issuu.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Past Winners : Dance Festivals 4 You".
- ^ "BBC Three - How to Live with Women, Paul and Nisaa, Paul Learns How to Dance".
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Warren Bullock&Jane Phillips - Tango Competition South Africa 19?. YouTube.