About Michael & Martina Burton
We met at Semley Ballroom in London after Martina advertised, looking for a partner. We tried out together for one week, and soon realised that we had many things and ideas in common and wanted to achieve the same goals from our dancing. Michael is from Perth, Australia, while Martina is from Berlin, Germany.
We have been dancing together in the Professional Ballroom field since 1999 and are currently representing Germany; but also have represented Australia from 1999-2004 and have been World Representatives for Australia.
We are based in London, UK, which enabled us to learn from the best and most famous Ballroom Dance teachers in the world. This includes teachers such as Andrew Sinkinson, Marcus and Karen Hilton, Richard and Anne Gleave, Janet Gleave, Anthony Hurley and many more. Also it enabled us to participate in traditional British dancing events such as the British Open Championship in Blackpool, the United Kingdom Championship in Bournemouth and the International Championship in London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Staying in London also enables us to travel the world for competitions, demonstrations and teaching. Over the past six years we have been spending significant time in Asia. We were incredibly fortunate to have competed, taught and performed in wonderful places such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Brunei, Jakarta, Tokyo, South Korea and Kuala Lumpur.
We also have been guest teachers for the Oxford University and Warwick University dance teams; currently we are teaching the team of the London University and at the Royal Veterinarian College. Also we do run classes on P&O Cruise liners; for more information please check out our travel dates.
In London we are running regular classes and are teaching private lessons to dancers of all levels and ages. We are also doing show dance performances in London as well as around the world; most recently, in March 2009 we performed in Jakarta, Indonesia and in July 2009, we performed at the traditional ‘Tea Dance’ at the famous Waldorf Hotel in London.
After ten years of successfully working together as a team, having experienced ups and downs, we got married in January 2009.
Our competitive achievements together include:
- International Professional Rising Star Standard Championship – Semi Finalist
- Irish Celtic Open Professional Standard – Finalist (5th place)
- The Midland Championship Professional Standard – Finalist (3rd place)
- Professional World Standard Championship – 29th place
- Winner of the Cinderella Cup Professional Standard – Belgium
- 6eme Grand Prix De Danse Professional Standard – Finalist (6th place)
- London Championships Professional Standard – Semi Finalist
- Open To The World Fashion & Dance Professional Ballroom – Finalist (2nd place)
- The Midland Championship Professional Standard – Finalist (4th place)
- Australian Championships Professional Standard – Finalist (6th place)
- Winner of French Masters Professional Standard
- German Open Professional Standard Championship – 13th place
- Singapore International Professional Standard Championship – 1st Runners-up
- Shanghai International Professional Standard Championship – Finalist (5th place)
- Ulsan Mayor Cup International Professional Standard Championship – South Korea, Finalist (3rd place)
- Malaysian International Professional Standard Championship – Kuala Lumpur, 1st Runners-up.
- Winner of Singapore International Professional Standard Championship
- The English Professional Ballroom Championship – Watford – Semi Final
