Vera Randall-Noyce – Dance Sport Adviser 

Vera started her career in dancing as an Amateur, dancing both Ballroom and Latin American, Vera’s teachers/coaches in Latin American were Walter Laird and Doris Lavelle, Her teachers/coaches in Ballroom were Guy Howard and Liz Romaine.   Together with her partner they danced in many major championships throughout their career and were lucky enough to make many finals and win many Trophies.  On turning Professional she studied and obtained membership into the IDTA, ISTD and UKA dance faculties, and also obtained her Adjudicating licences for both the BDC and WDF which allows Vera to Adjudicate. She has Adjudicated Major Championships in most countries all over the World.  Vera, also, together with her then partner went on to teach and demonstrate both in this country and abroad. On retiring from demonstrating we then opened a very thriving school which went from strength to strength as did her teaching. 

She is now a Teacher, Trainer and Coach to Amateur and Professional dancers who wish to teach and perfect their technique in both Ballroom and Latin American dancing, culminating in taking their exams for membership as an Associate, Licentiate or Fellowship to the IDTA.  Vera is also school Principal, and still Adjudicates both in the UK and abroad.

One of Vera’s other interests is the Dancers’ Forget-Me-Not Fund, which is a registered Charity. 

Dr Amal Hassan – UK Head Classifier 

Dr Amal Hassan is a Sport & Exercise Medicine Registrar and Member of the Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine. She has a specialist interest in Dance Medicine and Science having trained classically herself but moved on to compete in Latin and Ballroom dance whilst at medical school.

Currently, she is undertaking work in Public Health, whilst gaining experience at the Lawn Tennis Association with British Wheelchair Tennis and the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships.

Outside of this she is a mum to a two-and-a-half-year-old boy, with another on the way, and is a passionate advocate of women’s health, particularly with regard to the barriers women face to engaging in physical activity whilst pregnant, and postpartum. She is the co-founder of the campaign Pelvic Floor Patrol and is working with women who wish to return to physical activity after having children.

Amal is very excited about joining the Para Dance UK team as Head Classifier and hopes to see the sport continue to develop its profile at both grassroots and elite level, as well as within the Sports Medicine world.

Martin Bird – UK Head Adjudicator

Martin is a Fellow of the UKA and a British Dance Council Chairman of Adjudicators. He has adjudicated at the British Championships and the UK National Wheelchair Championships.

Before turning professional in 2010, Martin competed in Ballroom, Latin and Classical Sequence since the age of 10. Some of his highlights include winning the Inter Varsity Dance Competition for 3 consecutive years in ballroom, whilst in Classical Sequence, he was twice British Amateur and twice British Professional Champion.

As a professional Martin has been a dance promoter since 2011, running the South of England Championships, and has been recognised for his contribution to dance as a Carl Alan and Le Classique de Danse Award Winner.

Martin is a part time school teacher and examiner in History, but his love is dance and in his spare time he enjoys dance teaching and working at Dancesport events as either adjudicator or scrutineer. He has been working at Para Dance UK events since 2012.