Donnie Burns MBE was born on the 22nd of November 1957, in Hamilton, Scotland, not far from Glasgow.

His mother, Maria, and father, Ronnie, were both schoolteachers and also dance teachers who represented Scotland in national and international competitions. Dance was not just a hobby in the Burns household—it was a way of life, rooted in discipline and Donnie's strong bond with his mother.

He began learning dance at around age six, taught by his mother Maria, who recognized his natural rhythm and drive from early on. From a very young age, Donnie was sent to dance lessons in Glasgow’s Gorbals area—he would commute by bus three times a week. This early dedication laid the foundation for his incredible stamina and perfectionism.

At age ten, he danced with Sylvia Cameron; by age twelve, they had already won the Scottish Open Junior Championship in both Standard and Latin categories. These early successes hinted at the brilliance to come and placed Donnie firmly on the radar of the British dance world.

While attending Holy Cross High School in Hamilton, Donnie faced persistent bullying and teasing from classmates, who mockingly nicknamed him “Twinkle Toes” or claimed he had “fairy feet” because of his dancing passion.

He feared playgrounds and sometimes got into fights to prove his strength and masculinity. These experiences forged in him a determination to succeed, a refusal to give in to criticism and a desire to show that dance was a discipline of power, precision and courage.

Partnering Gaynor Fairweather

Donnie’s teacher, Sammy Stopford—a former World Champion and one of the great names in Latin dancing—introduced him to Gaynor Fairweather, a talented dancer from Stockport, in the Greater Manchester area. Gaynor was making remarkable progress under Sammy’s guidance and the pairing seemed natural and promising.

The introduction led to the official formation of their partnership in 1976. Almost immediately, their chemistry and synchronization were obvious to everyone who saw them dance. In 1977, just a year after teaming up, they reached the finals in major competitions, including an impressive 4th-place finish at the European Amateur Latin Championship—a meteoric rise by any standard.

When Donnie was 19 years old, he and Gaynor decided to move to London to immerse themselves in the epicenter of ballroom dancing.

Their first teacher was Nina Hunt. However, Donnie also wanted a male teacher, so he suggested to Nina that Alan Fletcher—who was both her student at the time and the World Professional Latin Champion—might be a good choice. Nina disagreed and instead recommended Michael Stylianos. Donnie and Gaynor enjoyed working with him, as he was an excellent choreographer. Later, they studied with Espen Salberg and began taking lessons with Walter Laird. Walter Laird remained their main coach throughout their career.

In London, they trained relentlessly, honing their technique and refining their artistry. Their commitment paid off: by 1979, they had become British Amateur Latin Champions, and they successfully defended the title in 1980.

After a series of amateur triumphs across Europe, they officially turned professional in 1984. That same year, they won their first World Professional Latin Championship—an event that marked not only a victory, but the beginning of an era of unprecedented dominance in the dance world.

Donnie and Gaynor went on to become 14-time World Professional Latin Champions, a record that still stands today. They also earned 7 UK Professional Latin titles and 11 International Professional Latin titles—also records.

Their reign included a remarkable 13-year undefeated streak at the World Championships (1984–1996), followed by a brief retirement and a comeback victory in 1998.

Over a period of nearly 20 years, they remained unbeaten in any competitive dance event—a feat recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.

Their career, which spanned twenty-three years—most of it at the very peak of global competition—rewrote the history of Latin dance and inspired generations of dancers worldwide.

Awards

In 1979, Donnie and Gaynor received the prestigious Carl Alan Award for outstanding services to dance. Often referred to as the “Oscars of Dance,” the Carl Alan Award recognized their early contributions and anticipated the impact they would soon have on the dance world.

In 1991, both were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

The award acknowledged not only their competitive accomplishments but also their dedication to the performing arts and their influence in elevating Latin dance to new artistic and athletic heights.

Teacher, Coach, Adjudicator and Lecturer

As a young teacher, I often took my students to learn from the best in London. Donnie generously allowed me to observe two private lessons he gave to Matej Krajcer and Janja Lesar and Roki Cesen and Jasna Gradisar. At the time, Matej and Janja were British Open Under 21 Latin Champions and Roki and Jasna were World Youth Latin Champions.

I vividly recall those sessions in a studio in Purley—Donnie’s laser-sharp focus, the intensity of his corrections and his deep respect for each dancer’s individuality. He worked on partnering skills with such detail that every movement became more than just choreography, it became communication.

Donnie is today a world-renowned coach, still active and in high demand. He continues to work with numerous World and International Champions, offering both technical mastery and deep artistic insight.

His style emphasizes musicality, character, timing and clarity of movement. Known for his unique approach to pedagogy, he has mentored top professionals as well as promising amateurs and juniors. His reach spans the globe, especially influencing dancers in England, Russia, the USA, China and Japan.

He remains an elite adjudicator at the world’s most prestigious competitions, including the Blackpool Dance Festival, International Championships, UK Open, Asian Open Championships and the United States Dance Championships.

Donnie is also a frequent keynote speaker at international dance congresses, a master instructor at workshops and training camps and a sought-after commentator on competitive dance events across media platforms. His insight is trusted and valued throughout the dance world.

Author

In 2021, Donnie Burns MBE, together with his wife Heidi Burns, released the Burns Latin Tek series—official technique books commissioned by the World Dance Council (WDC).

Each book focuses on a single Latin dance—Samba, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive—and includes precise breakdowns of movement mechanics, rhythm, body alignment and partnering.

These books are now essential study materials for dancers preparing for WDC examinations and used by competitors, teachers and judges alike.

Donnie is well known for his often-quoted teaching philosophy:

“Technique is the language. Emotion is the message.”

He strongly believes that true dance artistry is born from a fusion of athletic discipline and emotional honesty—where technical excellence becomes a vehicle for human expression.

Organiser

Donnie and his wife Heidi Burns are organizers, together with Serge Kolmykov, of the Empire Open Dance Festival, held annually in New Jersey, USA.

This prestigious event, affiliated with the WDC, brings together elite competitors, top coaches and dance enthusiasts from around the world. It features high-level competition circuits, master workshops and gala showcases that celebrate both excellence and community in the dance world.

Celebrity

Donnie’s charisma and global influence have made him a pop-culture figure as well. He was the real-life inspiration behind the character Mr. Aoki in the acclaimed 1996 Japanese film Shall We Dance, which helped spark a social dance boom in Japan.

He also made a guest appearance on Week 7 of Season 12 of Dancing with the Stars in the United States, where his presence was celebrated by both contestants and judges.

Politician

Since 2005, Donnie Burns has served as President of the World Dance Council (WDC). Under his leadership, the WDC has undergone modernization and expanded its international reach, especially across Asia and Eastern Europe.

He is credited with building bridges between cultures through dance and enhancing the visibility and professionalism of Latin and Ballroom dancing worldwide.

Private Life

Donnie has been married to Heidi Groskreutz-Burns since 2008.

Heidi is a celebrated American swing and Latin dancer, best known for winning multiple U.S. Open Swing Dance Championship titles. Heidi is respected coach herself and also Donnie's professional and creative partner.

On the 29th of September, 2012, they welcomed their son Domenico into the world. Donnie has said that fatherhood profoundly changed his outlook on life, shifting his priorities from personal ambition to family.

Donnie Burns is, without doubt, an icon in Latin dancing. Although often seen as a controversial figure for his views and standards, he continues to inspire and shape the global dance community—as a dancer, teacher and leader.

His career has been defined by relentless work ethic, deep passion and a commitment to elevating the art of Latin dance. Whether on the competition floor or in the studio, his impact is immeasurable and enduring.

To learn more about Donnie's incredible life story, you are welcome to listen to our podcast on Spotify - Barbara's Dance Room.