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Strictly costumes go on display in Blackpool

BBC Showtown exhibitions assistant, Emily Langridge wears a black blouse and has long blonde hair. She is standing next to a mannequin which has Anita Rani's tassled sunrise yellow dress, which has topaz crystals. It is a strappy cut out short dress.BBC
A selection of sparkly Strictly Come Dancing dresses including this one worn by TV presenter, Anita Rani, are on display at Showtown in Blackpool

Costumes worn on Strictly Come Dancing have gone on display in Blackpool, as the show is broadcast live from the resort.

The BBC One show is making its annual trip to the resort's Tower Ballroom - home to one of the world's most famous dancefloors.

Glittery costumes worn on the show by celebrities including singer, Alexandra Burke and Coronation Street star, Tina O'Brien, are on display in the dance gallery at the Showtown museum in the town.

Marina Blore, artistic director for the Capital of Dance festival in Blackpool, said "dance has been right the way through our DNA".

Tina O'Brien smiles at the camera, wearing her pink and blue ballroom dress, standing next to her dance partner Jared Murillo, who is wearing a dark tailcoated outfit with grey bow tie.
A dress worn by Coronation Street actor, Tina O'Brien is among those on display in Blackpool

Ms Blore said: "The sparkles, the glamour - it's what we all want to see", adding that the dresses were "great examples of the work of the costume team under the magnificent leadership of Vicky Gill".

She said it was great to welcome "all of the glamorous dancers" from Strictly this weekend and "to raise awareness of what Blackpool is all about".

Ms Blore said Blackpool's dance heritage went back to the Victorian era and it had continued to draw in tourists to the resort.

The Showtown entertainment museum's exhibitions assistant, Emily Langridge said: "We are really lucky to have these amazing dresses in our collection".

Marina Blore has bobbed length silver hair and wears a white blouse and grey jumper. She is smiling and is standing in front of the dance display and mannequins with costumes at Showtown.
Marina Blore from Blackpool's Capital of Dance festival in Blackpool, said dance went right the way through the town's DNA

The costume worn by Coronation Street actor, Tina O'Brien in 2010, a carnation pink and ocean blue ballroom dress, is on the display.

The exhibition also features a navy and black Paso Doble dress featuring sequins, beads and rhinestones worn by actor, Felicity Kendal in 2010 and a sunrise yellow dress with topaz crystals worn by presenter, Anita Rani in 2015.

Alexandra Burke's dress was worn for her Viennese Waltz in the 2017 semi-final.

The dresses are on display at Showtown until 24 November.

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