Author: Robert & Louise

Yesterday was an outing to Dudley for adult sequence couples competitions. The team consisted of Neil & Carla, Andy & Dawn and Stuart & Andrea.

A slightly less imposing venue than some we visit therefore creating a warm friendly atmosphere. Although of course we always like some challenges and today’s was the shape of the floor. It was ovalish so no straight sides and corners to plan routines around but everyone did very well navigating their way around.

Attendance at these local events is very important as it gives the all important match-practice and ensures results and positions gained at previous events are consolidated. This was certainly achieved.

Neil & Carla won the Classical Improvers, were 2nd in the Latin Sequence and 3rd in the Over 35yrs Classical and Modern Sequence. Andy & Dawn were 1st in the Latin Sequence and Over 35yrs Classical and Modern Sequence. Stuart and Andrea were 3rd in both the Senior Classical and Modern Sequence.

Well done to you all. You all looked as if you were enjoying your dancing and as always were beautifully attired.

 

 

Boris and the Bears were all looking forward with great anticipation to their annual outing to Daventry. Not only are there the usual competitions but also the team match and keenly contested Ragtime Swing competition.

We kicked off with the ballroom events and Luke and Fearn were first into action. There were three heats in the first round and after five rounds, Luke made it to the final finishing 2nd overall. This was a great achievment since he had just moved into the 6-8 year category for the first time. Next came Grace S who won both her ballroom and latin events closely followed by Leila and Miriam who were placed 1st and 3rd respectively in their ballroom events and 2nd and 4th in the Latin. The Juniors continued the winning trend with Molly and Olivia taking 1st and 3rd in their ballroom events and tieing for 4th in the Latin, then Grace P and Emily S took 1st and 3rd in their balloom with Grace P also finishing 6th in the Latin.

The pressure was then on the adults but they didn’t disappoint, Craig, Chris, Carla,  Josh, Andy and Neil all took 1st place in their ballroom events, Andy and Neil adding to this with 1st place in their Latin events also  and Allison completing the hall of fame with 1st place in her Latin.  Karly had 2nd in both her ballroom and Latin events in only her second competition with us, whilst Debbie and Tony were placed 3rd and 4th in ballroom and 4th and 5th in Latin in only their second ever competition. In fact out of the 13 ballroom events we contested the team finished up with 10 first places, a great acheivement.

We then came to the eagerly awaited Ragtime Swing events which are run annually in memory of Jean Johnson, a greatly respected teacher, promoter and ambassador of dance. There is one event in each age division, Juvenile, Junior and Adult and the first time these events were run in 2011 we managed to win all three trophies, would history repeat itself today?

The Juveniles were first up with Leila and Miriam and Luke and Grace S in action along over 30 other couples. After four rounds, both couples made the final which was terrific and Leila and Miriam emerged victorious. The pressure was then on the Juniors with Molly and Emily S and Grace P and Olivia taking up the challenge, again both couples made the final and Grace P and Olivia were placed 1st with Molly and Emily S 3rd. Two down one to go. The pressure was then on the adults and again there were over 30 couples in action. Represeting us this time we had Josh and Lydia, Andy and Dawn, Neil and Carla, Craig and Karly, Chris and Alison, Allison and Serena and Jean and Hazel. Josh was particularly keen to do well as he had won this event with different partners every year since its inception, first as a Junior and then as an adult. After four rounds we reached the final with Chris and Alison having made the second round and Craig and Karly reaching the semi-final. Josh and Lydia were announced the winners with Neil and Carla 4th, Andy and Dawn 6th and Allison and Serena 7th. Fantastic results everyone you made us all very proud.

The Team Match followed and we were represented this time by Leila and Miriam, Molly and Emily S and Josh and Lydia. There is always a great atmosphere during this part of the day with each school cheering on their representatives. Only the winners are announced and unfortunately it was not us on this occassion but nevertheless our team gave a brilliant account of themselves and no doubt ran the winners very close.

The couples events rounded off the day and again we had many successes with Leila and Miriam taking 2nd in the Juvenile All Girls CCC, Grace P and Olivia taking 5th in the Junior All Girls CCC and Serena and Allison taking 4th in the All Ladies CCC. In the Adult Man/Lady Samba Andy and Dawn finished 6th and Josh and Karly, who hadn’t really danced together before came 2nd.

It was quite a long day, as they often are, but your hard work and dedication is appreciated and the rewards were well desreved. Thank you once again to all partners as well as family members and supporters, together we make a great team.

Next up is the ISTD exam session and then we have a busy June in store. Boris will be kept busy but will be ready for the challenges that lie ahead!!

Following the recent spell of warm sunny weather we had high expectations for our trip to Whitby and had thoughts of paddling in the sea! In the end however it turned out to be wet and windy, just as well really since most of the day would be spent inside the lovely Pavillion ballroom. We were only a small contingent, Dawn and Andy, Dennis and Sue and Craig and Lydia for whom it was their first outing together at this event.

The adult events seemed to have the highest entries of the day, unusually, and all of our couples had several rounds in each of their events. Whilst we may have been few in number, it did not diminish our haul of trophies. Craig and Lydia had an exceptional day making all five of their finals, taking three 4th places, one 3rd place and a terrific 2nd place in the the under 35 ballroom event. Dawn and Andy took three 1st places, a 2nd and a 5th in the open Salsa event (a new addition this year). Dennis and Sue had two 2nd places a 3rd and a 4th with some particularly good results in the open events.

Following the days activities we ended with our traditional visit to the Magpie Cafe for fish and chips, some might say the best bit of the day! Well done to everyone involved, we hope Daventry proves to be as sucessful in a couple of weeks time.

It’s Easter so we must be at Southport for the annual Easter Sequence Festival. Over the three days of competitions we had five couples competing this time. For three of them it was only their third time at this event but all knew better what to expect this time and were ready for the challenge both mentally and physically. Friday saw Andy and Dawn, Dennis and Sue and Neil and Carla all in action with all being recalled to the semi finals with Andy and Dawn making the final.

Saturday saw everyone in action with Andy and Dawn again making the final of their event and Dennis and Sue and Carla and Neil reaching the semi final. Stuart and Andrea were placed 3rd in the senior modern sequence event and Liam and Alex came 2nd in the Latin sequence event.

Sunday was the main day of competitions and once again all couples were in action. Andy and Dawn made the finals of all their events, Dennis and Sue made the final of the modern sequence and intermediate events and Carla and Neil also made the intermediate event final. Stuart and Andrea finished 4th in the Senior Classical Sequnce Championship and Liam and Alex completed a great set of results by winning the Amatuer Classical Sequence Championship once again. Congratulations to you all, you all showed great improvements over last year both in technique and performance.

With the serious business out of the way it was time for the annual Team Match. This year’s theme was “Famous Families” and we were the Von Trapps. Our team consisted of Louise and I, Liam and Alex, Stuart and Andrea and Neil and Carla and we were up against the Adams Family and the Royal Family. It is always a fun way to end the festival and of course the entertainment is more important than the winning, but of course we all wanted to win and so we did. Again it was a great performance by everyone in the team who entered into the spirit of the event with great enthusiasm.

As we bask in the afterglow of our successes and contemplate what is next we rest assured that next year we will aim to do even better and look forward eagerly to next Easter.

Yesterday was couples events only at Friesland Leisure Centre in Sandiacre. We were a select team but what we lacked in quantity we certainly made up for in quality.

Madeleine and Emily S led the way in the 12-15years age category by winning all three of their ballroom events, their sequence event and two out of three of their Latin events. What a very impressive set of results achieved in a mix of rhythms. They had to perform all four ballroom dancers – Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango & Quickstep. the Tango Serida and then Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble & Jive in the Latin. Well done not just on your performance and results but also the mental challenge of remembering all of those routines.

The adult team consisted of Dennis & Sue, Neil & Carla and Andy & Dawn. In their age group events they took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place positions in both ballroom and latin. With Dennis & Sue coming out on top in ballroom and Andy & Dawn in Latin, In the Open Adult Sequence Saunter Together all were recalled to the final with 1st, 2nd & 5th places being achieved. Again, in the Open Adult ballroom and Latin events all were recalled to both finals with 1st, 3rd & 5th place positions in ballroom and 3rd, 4th & 5th in Latin.

Thank you to all of you who went yesterday. We were proud of you all, apart from your dancing achievements you were also the best presented and dressed team.

Last Sunday was our own competition at Long Eaton and it turned out to be one of the busiest ever with dancers from 10 different schools both near and far. Whilst this meant that it was a long day there was also plenty of competition particularly in the Starter grades. We had a number of first timers, Frankie, Zak, Emma, Debbie and Tony who all performed well and with most achieving at least one recall. Debbie made the final of her event, a great result on her first outing. Sarah S, also competing in the Starter events won both her ballroom and Latin events as well as making both her finals in the “Bronze and under” events. Although this was her second outing it was still a fantastic achievement.

Alongside our regular team who all performed magnificently, as we have come to expect, were some of our less experienced dancers who also had some great results. Notably Eleanor who made all her finals against some tough competition with a 2nd, 5th and 4th across her ballroom, sequence and Latin events.

There were many great performances by everyone not just in the individual and couples events but also in partnering others for their events. A huge thank you to our regular partners, Luke, Ruth, Karen H and  Emily S who were also  joined at this event by Allison, Josh, Grace P, Molly, Andy, Paul, Dennis, Neil, Sarah D, Lydia, Craig and Olivia. Some having to learn the dances in both roles.

Overall the team took 16 first places and had 72 final places so you can imagine there were too many highlights to list individually. However a couple of achievements stood out:

Molly taking first place in all her events both the individuals and in the couples with Emily S.

Sarah D partnering Serena to a first place in the sequence events as well as teaming up with Josh to take first place in the couples Jive and Ragtime Swing events and second place in the two couples ballroom events.

Congratulations to everyone who took part, whether as competitors, supporters or helpers we couldn’t have done it without your support. You helped to create a magnificent atmosphere in which we compete against each other but still remain freinds and share in the success of others.  Thank you to anyone who helped out in any way but particularly to Paula and Maria on the door, Janet and Paula on the Raffle, Andy Hall for standing in at short notice on the music and Joan for ticket collecting.

Don’t forget our next event is 21st June, make sure it’s in your diary!

P.S.
Sorry no pictures this time, we were a bit busy!! If anyone took any though please feel free to email them to us.

 

This Sunday the competition was to Pudsey in Leeds and for obvious reasons the team mascot bears were very excited about this location. It was also an important day for our dancers as there were opportunities to qualify in Ballroom, Latin American and Sequence.

Overall, it was another hugely successful day for the team and a good atmosphere was generated by some lively music, good audience participation helped along of course by lots of good results.

All the results are too numerous to mention but particular highlights are: Luke came 1st in his Waltz & 2nd in Cha Cha Cha, in only his second competition. Miriam made the final of both her ballroom and Latin events. Grace S made the final of her ballroom and sequence events and Leila the final of her sequence and Latin. Leila also teamed up with a young man called Jack and in their first outing won the couples Jive event.  In the Junior section, Olivia, Grace P, Molly & Emily made all their ballroom & Latin finals. With Emily & Molly gaining two 1st places. Molly & Grace P also made the very hard fought sequence finals.

The day then saw an impromptu threesome Cha Cha Cha competition – one Juvenile, one Junior & one Adult competitor all dancing together (don’t ask!!). So after a rapid one minute reheasal, Luke, Emily & Sue, Grace, Grace & Dennis, Leila, Molly & Craig, Olivia & Miriam took to the floor. Everyone really entered into the spirit of it and Craig, Molly & Leila made it through to the final.

It was then the turn of the Adults and in the ballroom events everyone danced in the final of their event. With 1st places going to Craig, Hazel, Serena, Josh, Karen H, Karen C, Dennis & Sue – well done to you all. In the Latin events 1st places went to Hazel, Serena, Josh, Allison, Karen H and Andy.  The Under 35yrs & Over 50yrs Sequence events were very well supported with four and three rounds respectively therefore any recalls and final placings were well earned. Making the Under 35yrs final was Josh with a 3rd place & in the Over 50yrs, Allison took 1st, Andy 2nd, Dawn 3rd and Sue 5th. Well done to you all.

There is a brief rest this coming Sunday but all batteries will need to be fully recharged for our home event on 8th March.

Today was all about sequence three dance qualification for Blackpool, this time at Whitwick in Leicestershire. It was a large team outing with lots of dancers looking for those all important final placings to enable them to dance at Blackpool later in the year.

The brilliant news being that it was a hugely successful day. In the Juvenile event Leila came 1st, Grace S 3rd and Miriam 5th. This was followed by the Junior results of Molly 2nd, Emily S 3rd, Grace P 4th and Olivia 6th.

The pressure then moved onto the Adults and they managed to keep up the team performance. In the Under 35yrs Paul came 3rd, Josh 4th and Lydia 6th. In the Over 35yrs we covered all places from 1st to 5th with Karen H, Serena, Neil, Carla and Chris. Then finally in the Over 50yrs, Allison won, with Andy 2nd, Dawn 4th, Dennis 5th, Sue 6th and Geraldine 7th

Thanks must also go to those who partnered, Luke, Ruth, Grace P and  Emily S. It  wouldn’t be possible without you.

Overall everyone gave a brilliant team performance (both dancers and supporters alike) we were very proud of you all.

Deep breath, quick recovery and off we go again next weekend, this time to Pudsey. We definitely must remember to take all our bears, Boris is so excited!!!

 

 

 

 

The first Sunday in February means it must be the annual Medal Presentation Dance. Held again this year at George Spencer, a good turn-out ensured an exciting afternoon.

Along with the general social dancing for everyone to join in with there were displays by various members of the school. The ‘children’ produced their much anticipated show. Following on from last year’s montage of ballroom dances they continued the theme this year with a selection of the Latin American rhythms. Ably assisted by Luke and Ruth. Luke, partnered by Louise, also demonstrated his new prize winning dance, the Green Emerald Waltz.

This event also sees the presentation of the annual school award and the recipient for 2014 was Paul Hoskin for his dedication and achievements over the past year.

Thanks to everyone involved in making it a successful afternoon. Also a huge thank you to everyone who bought raffle tickets and donated prizes. Raising an amazing £161 for Treetops.

Final thanks to the FrOGS who provided lovely home baked cakes & refreshments and George Spencer for use of the hall.

The New Year kicked off once again with the first ISTD qualifier at Kettering. Not so snowy this time, although it had been forecast, but the day turned out in fact to be bright and sunny. It was almost a full team outing and Boris enjoyed meeting up again with old friends. It was also nice to see the welcome return of Karen H and Leila to the team.

When we arrived it was clear that there were more competitors than usual and not only was it going to be a busy day but we were going to have our work cut out to qualify. It seemed a long time since we had been to a competition but we were soon back into the swing of things and our newest (and youngest) member of the team, Luke, got things off to a great start by taking first place in his ballroom event and third in the Latin, a fantastic achievement for his first competition. Both Grace S and Leila made their ballroom finals and Leila also made her sequence final. In the Junior section Molly, Grace P, Emily and Olivia all made their ballroom finals and Emily and Molly also made the final of their ballroom couples event. Grace P and Molly made their Latin final and Grace P and Olivia, dancing together, made their Latin couples final. Grace P also completed a hat trick by making her Sequence final. A good showing then by our younger team members, would the adults be able to continue the standard?

We need not have worried of course, they rose to the challenge and achieved 11 first places overall: Chris, Hazel, Sue, Neil, Andy and Christine in ballroom, Chris and Neil in Latin, Neil and Andy in Sequence and Dennis and Sue in the ballroom couples. All our other adults performed magnificently with almost all of them making their finals and whilst their were many high points it was worth noting that our dancers took the top four places in the over 35 years section and the top six places in the over 50 years section of the sequence events.

Overall, we had another very successful day and thanks once again go to our partners Luke, Alex and Emily. We have a busy couple of months ahead but of course look forward to the challenges and hope everyone is inspired towards even greater success.