"I am proud to be the first president of a dance organisation that has values and opportunity at the core of its ethos.."
Marcus Hilton MBE
President
Marcus Hilton is a highly respected and renowned dance teacher, adjudicator, Master of Ceremonies, and Chairperson in the UK and across the World. He, along with his wife, Karen Hilton MBE, became World, European, British, US Open, UK, and International Professional Ballroom champions, and Amateur Latin American champions. They also won the World & European Amateur and Professional 10 dance Championships (known as the decathlon of the dance world). Furthermore, they won the World Professional Showdance title three times.
During his competitive career, Marcus held the position of Chairman of the World Competitors DanceSport Organisation (WCDC) and the British Competitors DanceSport Organisation (BCDC).
In 1986 Marcus and Karen got married, and they are still enjoying married life together today, over 37 years later!
In 1995 Marcus became the Man of the Year in his hometown Rochdale, something he and his family were very proud of, and in 1997, both Marcus and Karen where honoured by Queen Elizabeth II with an MBE for services to dance and charity.
In 1999 Marcus retired from competitive dancing and in 2007 he became the Chairman of the British Open & British National Dance Festivals, a position he held for 14 years. In March 2020, Marcus was elected President and Chairman of the British Dance Council (BDC), a position he held until June 2022.
Marcus is the current Managing Director of the world-famous Starlight Dance Centre and is also a Patron of the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA).