Though they didn’t win the top spot on national television, the young ballroom dancing duo of Erik Linder and Rickie Taylor hope to succeed on a worldwide scale.
Erik of Lake Stevens, and Rickie of Everett, both 9 years old, will be competing for Team USA at a world competition in April.
Erik and Rickie competed in 2009 as the youngest members on the U.S. team. In 2009, the U.S. team placed third behind Iceland and Denmark. This year Erik and Rickie return as the youngest couple.
The world competition is known as The Blackpool Junior Dance Festival and has been running since 1947 with young dancers from all over the world visiting Blackpool, England, to compete. In 2009 there were more than 31 countries represented at the festival with 448 couples.
The two-time defending national champions competed last year on “America’s Got Talent,” where they finished among the top 20 semifinalists.
Two benefit shows are planned March 21 to raise money to help send the couple to the Blackpool competition. The two shows are 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Oly’s Dance Studio, 2931 Bond St., Everett. Adult tickets are $20; children get in free. Refreshments will be provided.
Call 425-876-5849 or go to www.erikandrickie.com.
Herald staff
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