Having started dancing at the age of 7, he had won through the grades and in the year was winning major championships. The next three years Dean won every title possible on numerous occasions. There was no title left to win! At the age of 12 Dean was Great Britain Champion,

British National Champion, All Scotland Champion, All Ireland Champion, North American Champion and finally the World Champion, winning with a perfect score of 900 out of a possible 900! 12 years of age and Dean decided he wanted to have new challenges, so decided to retire from the competitive Irish Dancing scene. He had decided he wanted to be a musician. Having a love for Irish music he went on to play the piano accordion, piano and keyboards. By the time Dean had his 16th birthday, he had won the World Irish Piano Accordion Championships and the All Ireland Fleadh. At 16 Dean was the World and All Ireland Champion in Irish Dancing and also All Ireland champion in music.