DanceRite

• By Fredric Frennessen

• Photo: Mark Herriot

November is the time of the year when days are short and cold weather hits us. It can be depressing in many ways, but this is by no means any reflection on what happened in Blackpool!

The ISTD celebrated its 10th anniversary at Blackpool this year. With a record amount of competitors attending the event, this is quickly becoming the biggest event in the dancing calendar. Phylis Miles had a massive task on her hands, organising the distribution of entry tickets, competitor’s numbers along with other administrative tasks associated with arranging a competition.

Nicky Miles and Richard Hunt have made this event a very successful one and it is growing by the year. Many congratulations to Nicky and Richard with team for making it 10 years.

The show

As a special treat for all the dancers and public, this year’s show was not one, but two shows. Christopher Short & Elisa Chanaa and Alex Ivanets & Lisa Bellinger-Ivanets took it in turn to showcase their professionalism in their respective fields.

With much flair and costume changes between each dance, we were treated to a smorgas board served to us in terms of entertainment and dancing. This was a perfect start to what would become a very successful event for DanceRite.

Youth

Keeran & Georgie

This year was a first for DanceRite in that we had youngsters amongst us competing at the famous Tower Ballroom. Georgie and Keeran started the preparation back in August, when it was agreed Fredric & Vicki would attend the Saturday event with its youths.

This is the second competition these youngsters have done. What a baptism of fire! With the historic Tower ballroom building and its sprung floor, chandeliers on the ceiling, two balcony levels and literally a full house, Georgie and Keeran managed notable well.

Up to Bronze

Keeran had been entered in the up to bronze field. Having only taken up dancing in the last couple of months, he was remarkably calm on the day.

With quickstep on the menu Keeran took to the floor like a seasoned pro and showed us the way.

The competition was off to a good start. Keeran made two recalls in ballroom and ended up in the quarter final. This was true for latin as well where he also managed a quarter final. Vicki who partnered him was delighted in his performance and praised him for his achievement.

Silver

Georgie was entered in the silver section. She had Tango and Samba as her dances. Once her competition had finished, it was clear she had managed to notch up a 5th place in Tango and a respectable 2nd in Samba.

It wasn’t without emotions from family and teachers we saw her enter the floor to collect the trophies.

Click here for photos of the Saturday event.

Adults

The school had this year 27 adult competitors participating. With a big entourage, DanceRite is fast becoming a well established and growing school to be reckoned with.

When the doors opened at the crack of dawn on Sunday morning, the queue of people was already stretching a long way from the entrance. This was the beginning of what would become a long but very successful day of competing for the school.

Fredric & Camilla

Fabulous four

In the Under 35 Social Dance Test, DanceRite had five pupils entered, all in with the ambition to make the final. After four rounds of stiff competition, Camilla had swayed the judges and was crowned the champion in quickstep. She was beaming like sunshine when the sash she so much longed for was handed to her. Runner up was Paul closely followed by Vicki H. Tory was awarded a fifth place. This was a fantastic result for DanceRite, having four finalists in such a tough competition.

The competition was off to a good start and it wasn’t to end here.

Over 35’s

In Over 35 Bronze, Kay had during the build up to Blackpool only had one thing in mind. That was to win her event. Previous year, which had been a disappointment to her, was still fresh in her mind. This year she wasn’t going to leave anything to chance. Wise from that experience she had been very methodical in her preparation in the build up to this event. This paid dividends on the day. The performance she showed in her Samba was leaving no one any doubt she was the winner. When her name was called to collect the first prize, she was euphoric.

One of Jo’s ambitions since joining DanceRite was to win a prize. This ambition was achieved at the Bracknell competition earlier in the year and it was now time to raise the bar a bit. The preparation for Jo hadn’t been optimal. Having being unwell for a long time during the summer, this was going to be a very emotional event for her. Entering the Tower was a breathtaking experience for her which turned out to be a good one.

If she was nervous during the competition, it didn’t show. Her Jive was fantastic and having fought off 35 other hopefuls in Social Dance Test, she stood unchallenged at the end with a sash draped over her. The tears of joy was contagious to watch. Well done.

Gorgeous Rumba

The Chinese whisper at DanceRite had been in full swing informing everyone about the vast improvement Amanda G had managed to achieve in recent months. Rumba by its nature is not an easy dance on many levels. The story telling of a man and a woman, the musical interpretation and use of body and legs has to be right for the dance to come alive. Throw in a bit of – ‘Chicago The Musical’ and you have the idea of what was to come.

Vicki & Ron

Amanda took the pressure like a duck to water and left all her 35 fellow competitors standing still. All eyes were on her and she delivered a fantastic dance. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind as to who the winner of this event was. When her name was announced, there were loud cheers from the DanceRite corner as she went to collect her first prize and trophy.

Mixed competitions

Instead of having separate events for men and women, they were competing against each other. Was it not for this case, DanceRite would have had more winners. In many events we had the last men standing and notably worth mentioning was Ben’s Ballroom. He came 2nd in his Waltz. The same was for Paul P who came 5th in ballroom. Paul P and Morgan were also the last men in their latin semi finals.

Once the dust had settled and the tally of trophies counted, it was clear the school had yet again had a fantastic day. To mention the improvements in everybody’s dancing would take us in to next week. It would take that long.

Fredric & Vicki were extremely proud and pleased for everyone and the success was celebrated in to the early hours on Monday morning.

Click here for photos of the Sunday event.

 

Result

The Blackpool results can be found below. Results with * are Non qualifiers competition.

Junior
	To Bronze	Name	Bal	Lat
		Keeran	QF*	QF*
	Silver
		Georgie	5*	2*
Under 35
	Social Dance Test
		Camilla	1	6
		John	SF	SF
		Martella	QF*	QF*
		Paul	2	7
		Vicki	3	SF
		Victoria	5	SF
	Pre Bronze
		Morgan	SF	SF
		Paul	5	SF
	Bronze
		Dan	5*	SF
		Joanna	QF	SF
		Polly	SF*	QF*
		Rachel	SF*	SF
	Silver
		Christine	QF	QF
Over 35
	Social Dance Test
		Jo	2	1
		Julie	SF	SF
		Mike	QF	QF
	Pre Bronze
		Amanda	4	1
		Ben	2	SF
		Eleanor		QF
	Bronze
		Andrea	4	3
		Kay	3	1
	Silver
		Sandy	4	2
Over 50
	Social Dance Test
		Teresa	QF	3
	Bronze
		Janet	7	SF
	Gold
		Ronald	7	SF
	Gold Star
		Maureen	SF	SF
		Sheila	4	3
Under 35
	To Bronze
		Ben/Camilla	1	5
		John/Vicki
		Jo/Tory
		John/Polly
		Eleanor/Martella
		Paul/Rachel
		Paul/Joanna	4	4
		Dan/Amanda	2	3
Over 35
	To Bronze	Ian/Julie
		Mike/Teresa		4
Under 35
	Silver/Gold
		Morgan/Christine
Over 35
	Silver/Gold
		Sandy/Kay	4	5
Over 35
	Gold Star
		Maureen/Andrea
Over 50
	Gold Star
		Ron/Sheila		2