Strictly sparkle returns to Woburn Abbey

Posted on August 4, 2015

Sixteen sparkling gowns from Strictly Come Dancing will be on display at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire, from August 15 to November 1.

The new exhibition, entitled Strictly Dresses: Woburn Abbey, promises to be the largest and most comprehensive public display of gowns from the show worn by both the celebrities and professional dancers last year.

Woburn’s magnificent Long Gallery will provide the backdrop for this glittering exhibition created by Strictly Come Dancing‘s dress supplier since 2009, DSI London. Vicky Gill, Strictly Come Dancing‘s current costume designer, said: “The Abbey is a truly wonderful setting to house the 2014 collection of Strictly dresses and I hope the visitors will revel in seeing the dresses up close in the exhibition.

“I’ve been working on designing the Strictly dresses since the second series in 2005, and it never tires. It involves a lot of hard work from both teams at DSI and the BBC but it’s all worth the effort as we begin to prepare for yet another series of fun, fantasy and glamour.”

The line-up of fabulous frocks from this popular TV show includes the Charleston outfit worn by 2014 winner (pictured) and Glitterball trophy holder, Caroline Flack. Other celebrity outfits worn by Pixie Lott, Frankie Bridge, Judy Murray and Sunetra Sarker will add further sparkle amongst the dresses worn by Strictly professionals Ola Jordan, Natalie Lowe, Kristina Rihanoff, Karen Hauer, Joanne Clifton and Janette Manrara. Visitors are invited to see up-close the intricacies and detailed designs of these works of art.

Chris Gravett, curator of Woburn Abbey, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting this popular exhibition of Strictly dresses once again. It is a wonderful celebration of fantastic costumes combined with breathtaking art and architecture in historic surroundings. We hope visitors will score the display a ten.”

Adult tickets are priced at £15; children’s at £7.50. (Ticket includes access to Woburn Abbey, gardens and deer park.) For tickets follow this link. 

Photograph: BBC

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, was published last year in paperback, ebook and audiobook.