1989: Beethoven's Fifth

The World Pro Championships: this was a performance I was truly proud of. I spent a lot of time and effort on choreography specifically for this exclusive event, which had four competitors in each category. It was a huge honour to be invited by Dick Button. I will never forget Dick's beaming face as he congratulated me for my performance. I placed third in a field that included two Olympic Champions and one World Champion - I was never even a national champion.

One thing I did to prepare for this performance was to research the biographies of composers. Beethoven - famously described as a "rugged individualist" - was the one I could relate to the most. This classic symphony inspired me on many levels.