These two humans of Mallorca live a lovely life here in the delights of the Royal Savoy apartments in Cala Vinyas. This is the place they step off from their international jet set life in the world of dance.
Mallorca was their honeymoon destination in 1966 where they stayed in one of the three hotels of Magaluf at the time – The Flamboyant Hotel.
These Humans of Mallorca met through the ballroom dancing which dominated their young lives. The UK in the 1950’s was full of dance schools and training. Everyone wanted to be able to ballroom dance and meet other young people this way.
Vivienne’s parents owned a dance school in Birmingham – the Hawley School of Dance. Her parents loved to dance, and Dad soon gave up his side of the family bakery business to devote himself to the dance world. Vivienne danced as a hobby and worked as a Fashion Model by day. An altogether glamorous life …
The day came when she was competing in the British Open Championships in Blackpool when she met Len. He was looking for a new dance partner and they were introduced. Len had been dancing from the age of 11. His parents were keen dancers, and it was obviously in his blood. A few years of non-stop dancing and he was the British International Champion Dancer when he was just 15.
Len, as an amateur, won the World European, British Open, International and United Kingdom Championships. At that time, the first and youngest ever to do so. As a professional he competed in many Latin Grand finals including the British Open in Blackpool. He was honoured to be the British professional Team Captain for 13 consecutive years, during this period the team was undefeated.
Meeting and dancing with Vivienne, a former British Open amateur Grand finalist and fashion model, they became Grand finalists in all the major professional Ballroom Championships winning many titles both at home and abroad.
In great demand to Demonstrate and Adjudicate they travelled the World until deciding to put all their energies into the family dance studio. Hawley Dancing Birmingham. It became very successful and indeed, was one of the largest in the country. Viv and Len loved the fact they were introducing a new generation to the world which had given them such a great life.
Len enjoys and is proud to work with most of the World’s leading Professional and Amateur competitors today, as he done for many years. Many of the professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing have been, and still are, his pupils. He teaches every day of the week from Dance Options Cheam, one of the most renowned dance studios in the World.
The great life of dance and Mallorca make the Viv and Len great Humans of Mallorca. They love their lives in both worlds and are great ambassadors for this island.
