I first met Alan and Hazel Fletcher over three decades ago when I visited their studio in Cobham with a group of my young students. Among them were future champions Andrej Škufca and Katarina Venturini, as well as Jurij Batagelj and Jagoda Štrukelj, for whom Alan and Hazel became long-term teachers and mentors until the very end of their competitive careers.
Hazel was widely known for her insightful competition reports in Dance News, eagerly awaited in Slovenia, where her column, Hazel’s Hang-Ups, became a must-read. Later, I encountered them at various workshops and training camps, including a memorable lecture in Italy about 15 years ago. I invited Alan to demonstrate a “kicks and flicks” Jive routine with me. He graciously accepted, and his performance—full of skill, musicality and unmatched energy—brought the audience to their feet, filling the ballroom with awe and admiration.
Alan Fletcher was born on March 28, 1947, in London, and began ballroom dancing at age ten, training under Ken Bateman and Blanche Ingle for Standard and Bill and Rose Phillips for Latin. Despite his budding football career, Alan’s talent in dancing, evident from his junior success in Blackpool finals, became his main focus.
Gillian Tarling partnered with Alan from their junior days through to the amateur level, but they parted ways a few months after moving into the amateur category. At the time, Hazel was Alan’s girlfriend. Alan, meanwhile, was without a dance partner and searching for someone experienced. It was Bill Phillips who proposed to Alan’s father the idea of a try-out with a young, talented dancer named Hazel Simpson—a meeting that sparked not only a legendary dance partnership but also a lifelong romance.
Hazel Fletcher (née Simpson) was born on October 20, 1948, in Middlesex. Before meeting Alan, Hazel thought she would become a ballet teacher. She began learning ballet at a very young age and continued with all her examinations until her teenage years. In high school, she was first introduced to ballroom dancing as part of the curriculum. She took classes at a small local dance school in Beaconsfield, run by Joan Milner. Hazel became the Imperial Society Bronze Medalist of the Year and from that point on, there was no turning back—she fell in love with ballroom dancing.
One day, she and her friends attended a dance class in Slough, led by Bill and Rose Phillips. It was there, in 1965, at the age of seventeen, that she began dancing with Alan. After dancing together for just a couple of months, Bill sent them to Walter Laird for their first lesson. In September of the same year, they reached their first final at the West of England Latin Championship in Minehead.
They soon added several top teachers to their team, including Sydney Francis, Doris Lavelle and later Nina Hunt. Nina proved to be the perfect coach for them, and after a few years, they decided to work exclusively with her. They became known as “Nina’s couple,” and for thirteen years, she remained their sole teacher and mentor until the end of their competitive career.
They married in 1968 and spent their honeymoon in Mallorca, enjoying the Mediterranean charm. To this day, Spain remains their second home.
Competitive Achievements
Alan and Hazel are undoubtedly one of the most successful dance couples in history, having triumphed in many of the most prestigious dance competitions. Below is a list of their major titles:
International Amateur Latin Champions: 1969, 1971, 1972
World Amateur Latin Champions: 1972, 1973
British Open Amateur Latin Champions: 1972, 1973
European Professional Latin Champions: 1976–1980
World Professional Latin Champions: 1977–1981
British Open Professional Latin Champions: 1977, 1979, 1980
UK Open Professional Latin Champions: 1976, 1978–1981
International Professional Latin Champions: 1975–1977, 1979, 1980
Their extraordinary achievements cement their legacy as icons in the world of competitive dance.
Latin Fantasy
After retiring from competition, Alan and Hazel began a groundbreaking chapter as performers. Collaborating with Espen and Kirsten Salberg, they created Latin Fantasy, a cabaret show that captivated audiences worldwide from 1985 to 1992. This unique production remains one of the most successful and enduring showcases in ballroom dance history.
Teaching and Mentorship
From 1992 onward, Alan and Hazel dedicated themselves to teaching, coaching and adjudicating, mentoring numerous dancers to World, British Open, International and UK titles.
Alan and Hazel also spent several years training the World Formation Champions, first from Gunter Dresden in Düsseldorf and later from Horst Beer in Bremerhaven.
Their training emphasized technical excellence alongside the glamour and artistry that define ballroom dancing.
They also contributed to the dance community through leadership roles—Alan as part of an organising sub-committee of the BDF Congress in Blackpool and Hazel as a member of the WDC Committee for Artistic Standards and Excellence.
Honors and Awards
Their unparalleled contributions were recognized through numerous awards, including the prestigious Carl Alan Awards (1972, 1977, 1981, 2004) and the BDF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. Alan also received the BDF Committee Award for Special Services in 2004.
A Legacy of Excellence
Alan and Hazel Fletcher’s journey is one of passion, artistry and dedication. From their groundbreaking competitive achievements to their transformative performances in Latin Fantasy and their influential role as educators, they have shaped the world of ballroom dancing in profound and lasting ways.
Their story continues to inspire generations of dancers, reminding us that true greatness lies not only in technical mastery but in the ability to elevate the art of dance and touch the hearts of audiences worldwide. Their legacy will forever be celebrated in the history of ballroom dancing.
Source of information
Brigitt Mayer-Karakis, U.H. Mayer - "Ballroom Icons"
Ballroom Dancing Times, December 1973, article by Graham Perkins
Enjoy the inspiring podcast with Alan and Hazel on Spotify - Barbara's Dance Room.
