Belfast Dance Studio Launches with Dancing With The Stars Champions
Dancing With The Stars pros open – A dedicated ballroom and Latin dance venue has officially opened its doors in Belfast, bringing together two industry professionals who have made significant contributions to the popular television programme Dancing With The Stars. The newly established House of Motion, situated along the Lisburn Road, represents a concerted effort to breathe fresh life into Northern Ireland’s ballroom scene, which has experienced considerable decline in recent years.
A Couple’s Vision for Dance Revival
Stephen Vincent, originally from Manchester, and his wife Kylee Vincent, who hails from South Africa, have transformed their shared passion into a community-focused enterprise. Both professionals have built impressive careers on the RTÉ broadcast of Dancing With The Stars, and together they have established roots in Killinchy, County Down, where they have welcomed children into their family.
The couple’s ambitious plan encompasses multiple objectives. They aim to resurrect the cherished Irish tradition of tea dances—a cultural phenomenon that flourished during the early twentieth century—while simultaneously making ballroom and Latin dance styles more approachable to wider audiences across the region.
Addressing a Long-Standing Gap
For Stephen Vincent, the absence of purpose-built ballroom training facilities in Northern Ireland has represented a persistent source of disappointment. He noted that while Irish audiences enjoy substantial television exposure through programmes like Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing With The Stars—providing approximately six months of ballroom content annually—educational opportunities and formal classes remain comparatively limited.
“Shows like Strictly and Dancing With The Stars remain incredibly popular. We get the viewing figures every week and they are regularly through the roof, consistently reaching half a million people each episode. That’s about 47% market share of viewership, which is huge.”
The studio’s programming philosophy emphasizes inclusivity, catering equally to adult learners seeking structured instruction and social dancers looking for community engagement. Vincent emphasized that ballroom Latin dance transcends age boundaries, offering something meaningful for everyone regardless of their life stage.
Rebuilding Community Connections
One of the Vincents’ central aspirations involves restoring the communal dimension of dance that characterized earlier eras. They believe that the traditional dance hall experience—where socialising and movement intertwined—has gradually faded from public life and deserves revival.
“Back in the olden days, people used to go to dance halls and that was a big part of our social fabric. We’re hoping to bring that back a little bit because it has been sadly lost.”
Historical records indicate that Northern Ireland once produced exceptional ballroom Latin dancers, yet the industry subsequently contracted significantly. The couple intends to assemble a comprehensive team comprising instructors with substantial knowledge, professional credentials, and practical experience to rebuild this foundation.
Comprehensive Dance Offerings
House of Motion will present an extensive range of dance styles, encompassing traditional ballroom forms including the waltz, tango, and foxtrot, alongside vibrant Latin dances such as cha-cha, samba, and jive. The Vincents also plan to maintain active involvement with Dancing With The Stars, ensuring that additional accomplished teachers will contribute to the studio’s programme.
Their extensive experience working with celebrities on the television show has demonstrated the transformative potential of dance instruction, even for individuals with absolutely no prior experience. Vincent explained that the show’s format involves pairing instructors with celebrities who have never danced before, requiring them to perform confidently on national television.
“Niamh came into it thinking, ‘I can’t do this’, there was real trepidation but by the end of week four she couldn’t get enough. I hear the same old saying over and over again, ‘Oh, I’ve got two left feet’. And yet, once people get into dancing, they can’t get enough of it.”
During the 2026 series, Stephen Vincent partnered with Niamh Kavanagh, who won the Irish Eurovision contest in 1993. Her journey from initial hesitation to enthusiastic engagement exemplifies the progress that dedicated instruction can achieve.
A Community Hub for the Future
Beyond its immediate function as a dance studio, the Vincents envision a broader role within the local community. They hope to create an environment where participants feel genuinely connected, fostering relationships that extend beyond the dance floor.
“We see a vision for the business, not just being a dance studio, but that it one day might lend itself to other things within the community. We’re hoping to bring people together. We want to create a space where people feel like they’re part of a family.”
The development of House of Motion received financial support through the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme, a government-backed initiative designed to assist entrepreneurs in launching new ventures. This funding has enabled the couple to establish their studio and pursue their ambitious plans for revitalizing Northern Ireland’s ballroom dance community.
