The Coaches
David Mallabone
David started his competitive dancing career as an undergraduate student of Churchill College. While at university, he captained the CUDT to a Varsity match victory and, with his partner, won the Open Latin competition at the IVDC. After graduating with a first class honours degree, David became a mathematics teacher, continuing to compete as an Amateur competitor and placing in the top ten English couples at the British Open Amateur Latin Championship. Upon turning professional in 2004, David and his partner made the final of the UK Closed Professional Latin Championship. Since then, he has passed his Licentiate qualifications with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) in both ballroom and latin, has lectured for both the ISTD and the Associated Board of Dance (ABD), was awarded the ISTD’s prestigious Phyllis Haylor Scholarship in 2012 and has coached the XS Latin Team to a record breaking eight British National Formation Championship titles. He started coaching CUDT in 2005, becoming the head coach in 2010.
Paul Walker
Paul danced for CUDT as a post-graduate student at Queens’ College in 1993. Paul went onto Captain the team and in his time at Cambridge made many advanced ballroom finals. After completing his PhD, Paul continued to compete on the open circuit in both ballroom and latin before going on to specialise in ballroom.
Paul has been coaching for CUDT since 2002.
Crystal Main
Crystal has devoted her life to the world of dance and is continuously inspired by Ballroom & Latin Dancing from stage to teaching. Born and bred an Ipswich girl, Crystal was brought up through the branches of the ISTD medalist scene, continuing on to a highly successful competitive career at all levels from Junior through to a Professional, representing the UK Worldwide. She has been UK Closed Champion, Open British Finalist and regular National finalist in both Ballroom & Latin. Crystal is a qualified teaching professional, and has been coaching Cambridge for the past 10 years. In January 2019 she launched her own Dance Academy in East Anglia, and is an adjudicator and Latin American Faculty committee member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, wanting to share her love, knowledge and enthusiasm of dance to others.
Jemma Girling
Jemma progressed through the ranks to dance competitively on the British Open circuit for many years and represented England in many parts of the world. She was ranked, with her partner, 4th in England in the Amateur Latin American rankings, 3rd in 10 dance (Latin & Ballroom) and together they were the top all English couple. She has travelled extensively in Europe and to the Far East and Canada representing England, and benefits from being coached by some of the top coaches in the world. Major international successes for Jemma include winning Amateur Latin at both the French International Open Championships (televised on Sky TV) and Canadian International Open Championships. Jemma has also appeared in various demonstrations and shows throughout the UK and into Europe and China including dancing in series on both French and UK television. She has successfully competed against and performed alongside some of the “Strictly” stars.
Jemma has taught Latin and ballroom for several years in Ipswich. She is a qualified professional ISTD dance teacher, has also taught at a dance school in California and on a 3 month tour of South America, and assisted with specialist teaching and choreography to professionals from the Far East. She is currently ballroom and latin coach at Cambridge University and has taught at various public and private schools in Suffolk. She is also a qualified instructor for Zumba and DD Mix (as started by Darcy Bussell).
