Our Team
CUDT is formed by three sub-teams selected at the start of the academic year through trials. Whether you are a seasoned competitor or have never laced up a pair of dance shoes, there is a place for you.
First Team
The First Team consists of roughly 16 couples who are selected via trials at the beginning of the academic year.
Second Team
Our Second Team focuses on the continued development of dancers with a wide range of experience levels.
Beginners Team
The Beginners Team offers quality coaching and a supportive environment to absolute beginners.
To qualify as a beginner in competitions, you cannot have had any ballroom or Latin lessons before 1st March, 2026.
Our 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 Amateur Championship titles. He started coaching CUDT in 2005, becoming the head coach in 2010.
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.
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.
