'World Dad Dancing Champion' to defend his title

Monday 05 February 2018

A Channel Islander who says he learned to boogie at former St. Ouen nightclub Sands is vowing to defend his title at the 'World Dad Dancing Championships' later this year.

Guernsey-born Conrad Gillespie was crowned the winner in 2017. He shared his moves on the One Show last week in a dance-off with presenter Matt Allwight and more than 70 other competitors, who challenged the title-holder.

Since being crowned 'World Champion' in September, Mr Gillespie says he has been putting the Channel Islands on the map as he has become somewhat of a media celebrity: "I have been overwhelmed by the interest in 'DadFest' and the 'World Dad Dancing Championships'. I have been on Sky News, the Chris Evans breakfast show and The One Show to name just a few. I am really proud of my heritage and always mention that I come from Guernsey and that is where I first developed my dancing skills!"

The championships have been running for four years as part of 'Dad Fest', which is a three-day festival exclusively for dads and their kids to enjoy time together - the highlight each year being the 'World Dad Dancing Championship'.

Pictured: One of Mr Gillespie's signature moves - The Rusty Robot.

Mr Gillespie said: "I won in 2015 with a move called 'the confused swan', but was pipped at the post by another grooving guy in 2016, so I was determined to gain the trophy in 2017. Last year I returned like a phoenix from the flames. I did a few moves like 'the lawnmower' and the 'rusty robot', but I think it was my 'caterpillar' that won it for me."

The winner is decided by a panel of children, but Mr Gillespie says his own children cringe: "I have two daughters; Lara aged 7 and Jody aged 5, who really enjoy the festival and spending time with me, but when it comes to the dancing they are a little embarrassed! Last year they were uncomfortable watching my moves and slightly sheepish when I won, however when they saw all the attention I got from the other children and how kind of awe-inspired they were, the girls were happy to get involved and revel in the glory. At the end of the day there are a lot of dark things going on in the world so this is a really nice bit of light relief."

Pictured: Conrad Gillespie with daughters; Lara aged seven (holding the trophy) and Jody aged five.

43-year-old Mr Gillespie grew up in Guernsey and went to Castel primary and the Grammar schools. He returned to the island after University where he worked at Specsavers before going travelling and eventually settling in Devon with his wife and two daughters.

"I lived down the west coast and enjoyed surfing, so on a summers day you would see me walking to the beach in just my shorts with my board under my arm. I am sure many of my current 'dad moves' were cultivated on the island with the 'dungeon disco' at Beau Sejour a firm favourite in my teens!” he explained.

But he also attributes some of his award-winning moves to his time in Jersey: “As a member of the Guernsey surf club I also went on regular trips to Jersey and loved surfing at St Ouen's and perhaps some moves were also developed dancing at Sands."

Mr Gillespie regularly returns to the island to catch up with friends and will be coming over later this year for a bit of a school reunion: "Given the attention the 'World Championships' are getting I was thinking that we could come up with some locally named dance moves! So maybe in my next performance you may see me bust the 'chancre' or do the 'ormer'!"

With entrants from the UK and Europe, Mr Gillespie says the competition is like 'Eurovision' for dad dancing, which he would also like to lead onto a Channel Island inter-insular within the event: "We welcome anyone from the world and as the organisation has copyright on the name anyone wishing to be world champion at dad dancing would have to attend our event. I would love it if dads from Guernsey and Jersey entered. Can you image if the final was against the two islands! It would be great to see that island rivalry in dad dancing!"

Details of DadFest and the 'World Dad Dancing Championships', can be found here.

Mr Gillespie said: "In order to defend my title in September, I’m currently working on a top-secret ‘Golden Phoenix’ dad dancing move - a manoeuvre so complicated and dangerous, that it has never been attempted by any human before."