Sri Lanka makes history at 100th Blackpool Dance Festival with landmark championship victory

Sri Lankan dancers Tarja De Silva and Gihan Umesh achieve a historic first, bringing home championship honours from the world’s most prestigious Latin dance competition.

Sri Lanka has etched its name into the history books of international dance as Tarja De Silva and Gihan Umesh secured a landmark championship victory at the 100th Anniversary Blackpool Dance Festival, held on 19 May 2026 at the iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool, United Kingdom.

Widely regarded as the pinnacle of competitive ballroom and Latin dance, the Blackpool Dance Festival is often referred to as the “Olympics of Latin Dance.” For over a century, it has brought together the world’s finest dancers to compete at the highest level of excellence, making it one of the most respected and prestigious dance events globally.

The Latin competition features five disciplines: Cha-Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive, with competitors judged on technical precision, musicality, artistry, partnership, and overall performance. Each year, more than one hundred of the world’s leading dance couples compete for the coveted Blackpool titles, making every victory an extraordinary accomplishment.

Against this elite international field, Tarja De Silva and Gihan Umesh delivered a remarkable performance in the highly competitive Professional-Amateur (Pro-Am) category, becoming the first Sri Lankan dance couple in history to compete at the Blackpool Dance Festival Pro-Am division and, more significantly, the first Sri Lankans ever to win championship honours at the festival.

Their victory marks a defining moment not only for the two dancers but also for Sri Lanka’s performing arts community, demonstrating that Sri Lankan talent can compete alongside, and triumph over, the very best in the world.

Tarja De Silva is an internationally acclaimed professional Latin dancer, performer, and respected dance educator based in the United Kingdom. She is the Founder of Colombo Dance Studio in London and teaches at the renowned Pineapple Dance Studios. Beyond her achievements in dance, she is also an accomplished fashion designer, holding a Master’s Degree in Fashion Design.

Her dance partner, Gihan Umesh, is one of Sri Lanka’s leading dance champions, choreographers, and performers. He serves as Principal Dancer and Co-Choreographer of Muddrika Dance Studio and is the Co-Founder of KG Twins School of Dance. In addition to his accomplishments in dance, he is a professional fitness trainer and was crowned First Runner-Up at Mr. Sri Lanka 2025 for the Mr. Global competition.

This historic accomplishment was made possible through the collaboration between Muddrika Dance Studio, Sri Lanka, and Colombo Dance Studio, United Kingdom. The partnership brought together international expertise, shared vision, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, culminating in a milestone that has elevated Sri Lanka’s presence on the global dance stage.

More than a personal triumph, this achievement represents a breakthrough for Sri Lankan dance as a whole. It demonstrates that with dedication, world-class training, and international collaboration, Sri Lankan dancers can successfully compete at the highest levels of global competition.

Their success is expected to inspire a new generation of dancers across the country, encouraging young performers to pursue excellence and aspire to international stages that once seemed beyond reach.