Strictly pushed out! (From Daily Echo)

Eastleigh civic chiefs to force closure of Leigh Ballroom

8:12am Tuesday 29th December 2009 in Eastleigh By Simon Carr, Eastleigh Chief Reporter

“A LITTLE piece of history has just gone down the drain.”

That’s the view of the couple who run the Leigh Ballroom destined to be turned into a youth centre by council bosses.

Husband and wife team Robert and Linda Bellinger have been dancing together since they were infants and between them have 100 years of experience.

In their younger days the duo competed in competitions, winning countless accolades before concentrating on teaching at the Eastleigh venue.

Under their watchful eye many champions and talented dancers honed their craft, notably Karen Hardy, who won Strictly Come Dancing with her then partner cricketer Mark Ramprakash, and Hampshire dancers James Prouton and Claire Taplin.

However, the proud parents believe one of their best students is daughter Lisa Ivanets who, with her husband Alexi, are Latin American champions for the UK.

Linda, 56, says she believes the couple’s success is the reason the historic ballroom draws people in from all over the country.

She said: “I think a lot of people come here just to see them dance and then get involved from there.

“There will never be another place like this, that’s for sure.

“Lots of people have been writing letters to the council but it seems they have made up their minds.”

She added more than 300 people pass through their doors each week.

Robert, 57, echoed these sentiments and added: “We have been pushed out.

“It is very sad, it is a family place and we hold all kinds of events here.”

He went on to say how they attract people of all ages having diverse events from street dance and kids’ parties to traditional ballroom and tea dances.

The couple have been using the centre for years before leasing it from Eastleigh Borough Council for more than 20 years.

Over the decades the building has had many roles – from a roller skating ring, a drill hall, a medical base and a dance venue.

The hall has been used for dancing in some form for at least 99 years.

The council said its new role of youth centre will start in January and will involve a £680,000 revamp as well as setting up pool tables, Internet services and laying on counselling and careers advice.

Council bosses say the town has been crying out for a youth centre for years.

The Southampton couple vow to keep running dance classes even if the have to rent a hall or buy somewhere new.