Not just becoming a world champion but helping shape world champions is the ultimate ambition for Finley.
It looks like the 16-year-old could well be on his way to achieving just that, as for him, and his dance partner Poppy, competing on the dancefloor at national level is rapidly becoming a regular occurrence.
Most recently back from the Under 21s British National Championships in Blackpool – a competition displaying the best in British ballroom and Latin dancing, Finley and Poppy placed an impressive sixth.
The next big date is already fixed on the calendar as the pair prepare for the UK Closed Championships in Bournemouth, competing in both the under 19s and under 21s categories.
Ballroom dancing since he was five, Bede student Finley admits, if there’s a space, even down the supermarket aisle, “chances are I’m dancing”, or at least struggling not to!
“I really do enjoy it,” he said, and it shows as he travels up and down the country for training and competitions.
Regularly competing and winning locally and nationally at amateur level, it was during lockdown that he decided to step up and see just how far dancing could take him.
Experimenting with specialist teachers further afield, ballroom dancing turned from a fun hobby into a potential future career.
“I am glad I started so young, as if I had been a bit older it might not have been something I wanted to try,” said Finley.
With the skills, strength and athleticism that comes with the discipline, he is glad he stuck with it.
Finley is now studying maths, further maths and physics A levels at Bede, in his spare time he teaches ballroom dancing at Smith Jaques Dance Studio in Billingham.
After a competitive career, building on the teaching would probably be his next step.
He said: “I want to be a champion, but I also want to create champions. I already get a buzz from seeing my students get the results they want.”
Right now, despite the travel, training and undeniable expense, dancing remains his passion.
“I love dancing and want to be successful at it,” he said, that hopefully means being among the best on the world stage.
“The hardest thing about competitions is controlling how you feel on the day,” he said, that’s not to mention all the training and learning the choreography.
With so many trophies and rosettes at home, he has resorted to giving them away.
While winning means the world and marks the pinnacle of his ambitions, he said: “It’s not about the trophies, it is what you have done to get there.”
