Early Life and Beginnings

John Richard Wood was born on 25 June 1957 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire — the land of the potteries. The region is world-renowned for its fine china production and is home to famous brands such as Wedgwood.

The historical area, encompassing six towns in Staffordshire, became a major centre for ceramic production at the beginning of the 18th century. It developed into a global leader in pottery thanks to its rich local deposits of clay, salt and coal.

It is therefore no surprise that John began his first job at Twyford Bathroom Manufacturers, with ambitions of becoming a manager. He trained across several departments — export, design and pricing — gaining a solid foundation for his professional future.

Early Dancing Days

John began dancing at the age of six at the Syd Perkin and Edna Duffield School of Dancing, where he met his first partner, Julie Sohl. Together they competed through the juvenile, junior, youth and amateur ranks.

They became Ballroom and Latin Juvenile finalists, British and North of England Junior Ballroom Champions and Latin American finalists.

A highlight came in 1973, when they were honoured with a civic reception in their hometown of Newcastle-under-Lyme. The celebration — attended by the Lord Mayor, Syd Perkin, Edna Duffield and their parents — followed their victories in the British Junior Ballroom Championship and the North of England Championship in Blackpool.

Later, they became Blackpool Ballroom Youth Champions and by the early 1980s they were finalists in all major championships.

When their partnership ended, John decided to move to London. By that time, he was already a manager in his profession, selling bathrooms to architects for both residential and commercial developments — a career he continued alongside his competitive dancing.

Partnership with Heather Stuart

After a few partnerships, John eventually teamed up with Heather Stuart. Together they became British Open Amateur Champions, among many other titles.

In 1983 and 1984, they achieved the extraordinary feat of winning every major amateur title, including the British Open, International, UK, World and European Championships. Their partnership concluded at the peak of their amateur success.

Partnership with Anne Lewis

In 1984, John partnered with Anne Lewis (now Anne Gleave). Their collaboration blossomed into one of the most successful and respected partnerships in ballroom dancing history.

They developed a unique champion style — strong, grounded footwork paired with lightness, freedom, and musicality in the upper body. John’s stability and strength perfectly complemented Anne’s sensuality and flexibility. He was the competitor; she, the performer — the perfect match.

Major Titles

• International Professional Ballroom Champions – 1989

• British Open Professional Ballroom Champions – 1989, 1991, 1993

• World Professional Ballroom Champions – 1989

• UK Professional Ballroom Champions – 1990

• European Professional Ballroom Champions – 1989, 1991, 1992

Japan became a “second home” for John and Anne, where they performed some of their most memorable demonstrations. They had the honour of appearing at the very first World Superstars event organised by Mickey and Momo Kezuka, sharing the stage with legends such as Donnie Burns MBE & Gaynor Fairweather MBE, Corky & Shirley Ballas, Jukka Haapalainen & Sirpa Suutari, David Sycamore & Denise Weavers and their close friends Johan & Nadia Eftedal.

John and Anne trained under an extraordinary team of mentors, including Richard Gleave CBE, Janet Gleave, Anthony Hurley, Peter Eggleton, Monica Needham, the late Sonny Binick and John Del-Roy..

They retired from competition at the Blackpool Team Match in 1994.

Teaching, Lecturing and Adjudicating

John is renowned for his profound teaching methods, simplicity, deep devotion to his students, and great sense of humour. His lessons go beyond the fundamentals, focusing on musicality, artistry and the subtle nuances that elevate dance to an art form.

One of John’s favorite quotes is from Leonardo da Vinci:“Success lies in the relentless execution of the basics."

John’s recipe for becoming a great dancer and champion includes the following: passion and purpose, a learning mindset, a strong support system (teachers and coaches you trust), hard work and continuous effort (pushing beyond your comfort zone and sharpening your skills), mental toughness, resilience and discipline.

He believes that we dance to make music visible. We go to bed with a dream and wake up with a purpose. We must find our natural balance and then luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.

For John, success is not the key to happiness — happiness is the key to success.

John doesn’t see himself as merely teaching his students; rather, he strives to create the conditions in which they can learn. A student, in his view, is not a container to be filled, but a torch to be lit.

He also believes that preservation and creativity are not enemies — they can walk side by side, hand in hand.

He continues to lecture and teach worldwide, inspiring generations of dancers.

John’s knowledge, experience and integrity have earned him invitations to adjudicate many of the world’s most prestigious dance competitions.

Awards and Recognition

In 2024, John received the Imperial Highness Prince Mikasa Award, graciously presented by Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko of Mikasa in Tokyo.

When Anne Gleave received the same award several years earlier, she publicly expressed her respect and gratitude for John with the following words:

“I would like to say that I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to dance with not only one of the greatest male dancers ever, but Mr. John Wood — you were, and are, the perfect ‘Gentle’man. Your great and incomparable free spirit made you the most unique dancer of feel, timing, and artistry, and the dance memories you gave me are truly unforgettable."

Personal Life

In his free time, John enjoys gardening, walking his dog and spending time with his daughter, Caroline.

Personal Note

I had the privilege of meeting John shortly after his retirement as a professional champion, when he was teaching at Dance Zone Studio at Pinewood Centre in Woldingham. As a young teacher, I brought my students to London to learn from the very best.

I still remember John’s enthusiasm, commitment, and kindness in teaching. Everything felt natural and effortless after learning from him. Without a doubt, he was the one who gave wings to many young Slovenian dancers.

Later, we met several times while attending competitions. In his company, I always felt at ease, enjoying his insightful conversations. As Anne said so beautifully — the perfect “Gentle”man.

To learn more about John, you are invited to listen to our podcast on Spotify - Barbara's Dance room.