2026 World Finals Judge
Colin Stanier
Colin began taking tap dancing lessons at the age of 10, however, at the Rambert School of Ballet, London, he added the studies of ballet, contemporary, pas de deux, divertissement, mime, improvisation, and national dance. Later, Colin continued to teach pas de deux to Rambert students and contemporary dance to the school’s outreach programme.
Colin also trained at the Royal Academy of Dance under the guidance of Alan Hooper, and, while still a student of 18 years of age, he danced Les Sylphide at the Royal Academy of Dance and Warwick University, England, and appeared in Margot Fonteyn’s book “A Dancer’s World”.
Colin’s professional dance career began at the Linz State Theatre, Austria, under the ballet directorship of Anna Vaughan, performing in a programme of various operettas, community projects and musical productions.
Upon his return to London, as a soloist with Harold King’s London City Ballet, he performed in Bournonville’s Flower Festival/Dances from Napoli, Beauty and the Beast, and ‘Bluebird’ from Sleeping Beauty.
Joining London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet), under the directorship of John Field, Colin danced as soloist in company repertoire and the company’s education outreach programme, including: Romeo & Juliet and The Sleeping Beauty (Rudolf Nureyev), La Sylphide and Dances from Napoli (Peter Schaufuss), The Nutcracker, Rosalinda and Coppelia (Ronald Hind), Swan Lake (John Field), Giselle and Les Sylphides (Mary Skeeping), Cinderella (Ben Stevenson), Petrushka, Etudes and Graduation Ball.
An opportunity to dance in London’s West End with Wayne Sleep led to meeting Princess Diana and performing in the Royal Variety Show. He partnered ballerinas Natalia Makarova and Galina Panova, and Doreen Wells at London’s Palace Theatre, in the George Abbot musical On Your Toes and made his acting debut alongside Honour Blackman, John Bennett and Tim Flavin.
Later, Colin joined Miller-Reich Productions on board Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines ships in the Caribbean as a dancer, which resulted in promotion to Cruise Director for Royal Caribbean, in charge of entertainment, passenger social and sports programmes.
Colin has worked for the Government of Jersey in event management and marketing for the island’s sport and leisure facilities, and indirectly through his work in Jersey, in 2008 he became involved with the Dance World Cup. He has represented the organisation, judging qualifiers in Europe, South Africa, South America and Asia. As Team Leader, he coordinates and appoints judges for qualifier organisers, and project manages and coordinates the DWC Parade and Opening Ceremony at the Finals.
Colin continues to teach adult ballet classes and Latin and Salsa Rhythms classes in Jersey, as well as social dance classes for couples with his wife Julie. He has four children and two granddaughters, all of whom he adores.
Colin also trained at the Royal Academy of Dance under the guidance of Alan Hooper, and, while still a student of 18 years of age, he danced Les Sylphide at the Royal Academy of Dance and Warwick University, England, and appeared in Margot Fonteyn’s book “A Dancer’s World”.
Colin’s professional dance career began at the Linz State Theatre, Austria, under the ballet directorship of Anna Vaughan, performing in a programme of various operettas, community projects and musical productions.
Upon his return to London, as a soloist with Harold King’s London City Ballet, he performed in Bournonville’s Flower Festival/Dances from Napoli, Beauty and the Beast, and ‘Bluebird’ from Sleeping Beauty.
Joining London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet), under the directorship of John Field, Colin danced as soloist in company repertoire and the company’s education outreach programme, including: Romeo & Juliet and The Sleeping Beauty (Rudolf Nureyev), La Sylphide and Dances from Napoli (Peter Schaufuss), The Nutcracker, Rosalinda and Coppelia (Ronald Hind), Swan Lake (John Field), Giselle and Les Sylphides (Mary Skeeping), Cinderella (Ben Stevenson), Petrushka, Etudes and Graduation Ball.
An opportunity to dance in London’s West End with Wayne Sleep led to meeting Princess Diana and performing in the Royal Variety Show. He partnered ballerinas Natalia Makarova and Galina Panova, and Doreen Wells at London’s Palace Theatre, in the George Abbot musical On Your Toes and made his acting debut alongside Honour Blackman, John Bennett and Tim Flavin.
Later, Colin joined Miller-Reich Productions on board Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines ships in the Caribbean as a dancer, which resulted in promotion to Cruise Director for Royal Caribbean, in charge of entertainment, passenger social and sports programmes.
Colin has worked for the Government of Jersey in event management and marketing for the island’s sport and leisure facilities, and indirectly through his work in Jersey, in 2008 he became involved with the Dance World Cup. He has represented the organisation, judging qualifiers in Europe, South Africa, South America and Asia. As Team Leader, he coordinates and appoints judges for qualifier organisers, and project manages and coordinates the DWC Parade and Opening Ceremony at the Finals.
Colin continues to teach adult ballet classes and Latin and Salsa Rhythms classes in Jersey, as well as social dance classes for couples with his wife Julie. He has four children and two granddaughters, all of whom he adores.