Author: Robert & Louise

The Return of the Mystery Blogger

After 2 years of social distancing, wearing masks and the rules of six; it had been a long anticipated wait to spend the day social dancing, wearing sparkly dresses and to see the Festival Hall back filled with eager dancers awaiting their turn to take to the floor for a Dancesteps competition once again. 

Commencing the proceedings was the keenly contested over 50s category, who showcased a beautiful waltz and quickstep, which set the bar for the rest of us fellow competitors. The standard of dancing throughout the whole day was high- clearly everybody had been doing their homework!

Following the ballroom section was the classical sequence and it was wonderful to see so many competitors taking part in this event. The juveniles danced a delightful Waverley Two Step, whilst the juniors and adults took to the floor and demonstrated the Honolulu Waltz- a new dance for many of us- and the Tango Serida (one of my personal favourites)! They were danced beautifully by all; it must have been a very difficult task for the adjudicators to have decided who made it through to the final rounds! 

My favourite dance of the day had to be the event that drew the competition to a close- the 16-35 couples jive! As per tradition, the final jive of the day had to be danced to the infamous 00s classic- “Reach for the Stars”, a song which always reminds me of my childhood! The dancers all gave an electric performance, even after a long day of competing, and it was a refreshing change to be able to sit back and enjoy this competition from the side-lines! 

Of course, the day would not be complete without a barn dance before the final trophies and tokens were given out. The floor was filled with laughter and smiles as dancers, spectators, parents and grandparents all took part in sharing a dance together- something everybody needed after the previous two years! 

It must be said that, what makes these Dancesteps events so special, is the abundance of support and enthusiasm that echoes around the room for each and every event- it truly wouldn’t be the same without it! 

It was a pleasure to be back on the dancefloor with our “dancing family” and I for one, cannot wait until the next event!

We’re Back – At Last

Remember two years ago, early one March morning we all set off to Kirkby in Ashfield to our Dancesteps competition with no more to think about than whether we had our dance clothes and shoes, would we remember our steps, would we be coming back delighted with our performances or thinking should I have smiled more? Who knew what a pandemic was and “social distancing” was something you did at a party when you wanted to avoid someone. Barely three weeks later and we were all in lockdown not knowing when we might be dancing again!

It has been a long haul but finally we were able to step out onto the floor once more and also meet up with friends we haven’t seen, in some cases, for two years. We have lost a few people along the way but the vast majority of you have been steadfastly loyal to dancing and the school, returning to lessons when able and ploughing on regardless of whatever barriers were thrown across our path. We applaud your dedication and were delighted with an almost full turnout in celebration of a return to near normality.

Our mystery blogger will return with their report of the day shortly and there is a prize of course for the first person to guess their identity correctly.

For some today it was their very first outing and for others the first time at a dance event for two years so it was all about getting back into it and enjoying the day. We had seven other schools joining us, with some experienced competitors so the competition was by no means easy, particularly in some events. Everyone was a winner and of course we had many finalists but in the role of honour by taking first places today were Tabatha, Grace S, Emma, Peter, Craig, Neil, Grace P, Karen, Josh & Grace, Paul & Karen, Paul, Grace P & Tabatha, Paul & Chloe, Kaitlyn, Brooke, Allison, Josh and Chloe & Brooke

A huge thank you to all our partners today for coming along to practice at lessons and also for their hard work on the day: Ruth, Liam, Grace, Josh, Craig, Emily, Karen, Emma and Stuart. Also a big thank you to everyone else who helped make the day a success: Auntie Joan, Julie, Andrew, Jean, Rob and Debbie, we couldn’t do it without your assistance.

Boris said you were all amazing and he was so excited to be back and see so many of his chums again. He can’t wait for the next outing.

A Christmas Message

It’s been another difficult year for everyone but as a dance school we have weathered the difficulties and carried on as best we can. The year began in lockdown and it was April before we were able to open once again but all our loyal dancers returned ready and willing to dance on their own as regulations dictated. We managed to complete our first exam session, of the year, with the NATD in July with most people dancing solo and the others dancing as couples. The examiner commented how impressed he was and thought the standard achieved by everyone was remarkable.

September saw the return of our Chesterfield competition and it was great to see so many of our dancers supporting the event either by dancing, helping out or coming along to watch. For most it was their first competition for over a year and it good to get back into things again and blow off the cobwebs. Boris was particularly excited to see his chums once again.

Following this we attended the British Sequence Championships in October and then Grand Finals in November. Both events were well attended by our team and we had some really amazing results. The team spirit, as always, was fabulous and everyone was genuinely pleased to be out and about again.

We also had an NATD qualifier at the end of November for their Medallist Grand Finals in July next year (Covid permitting of course). Everyone managed to qualify, although the event was quite a small one but it did give some the chance to get back onto the competition floor, who had not had the opportunity since our own competition in March 2020. For others it was their first time ever. Fingers crossed we will be able to do it all again in July!

Finally we completed a second NATD exam session in December which was more normal this time as we were able to partner people once more. We did have a power cut which disrupted the exams for some people but all coped admirably with the added difficulties. Once again the examiner was highly complementary about the standard of both the dancing and presentation.  The results will hopefully be with us early in the new year.

It has been a testing year but you have all been very supportive and loyal and as we approach the end of the year we can all look back and be proud of what we have managed to achieve together in the face of adversity.

We now take a break to spend time with family and friends over the festive season, which is more than we managed last year! Of course we are not out of the woods yet and things seem set to get worse but with such an amazing team we are sure to get through it and come out stronger on the other side.

Boris of course can’t yet travel to Bearmuda and so will be spending Christmas at home once again. He wishes you all a very merry Christmas and hopefully a brighter New Year when he is looking forward to seeing you all enjoying yourselves at events once again and of course seeing all his friends once more.

NATD Exam Session

Over Saturday and Sunday we managed to complete our first “nearly normal” exam session with the NATD since Covid began. We had already had a session in July where everyone either danced as a couple or solo but this time we were able to partner everyone as we usually would.

We were still limiting changing and the numbers of people in reception at any one time but in spite of these added complications the weekend went remarkably smoothly. We did have a small hiccup on Saturday when we had three power outages which meant we lost about half an hour. Apologies to those people affected and who had to dance to improvised music. It is the last thing needed when you are already nervous about performing, but you all coped brilliantly and thank you for your co-operation and understanding. Also thank you for your patience to those whose exams were delayed as a result, although we did manage to catch up most of the lost time by the end.

The examiner was Mrs Valerie Laws from Whitby who commented that she had “thoroughly enjoyed the weekend” and thought the standard was “tremendous”. She was also delighted to see so much Classical Sequence.

Boris was of course in attendance throughout and he too thought you were all brilliant in what you have achieved over a very difficult and trying period.

We now have time to relax a little as we approach the festive season before we begin what will hopefully be a much better New Year.

NATD Blackpool Qualifier

Today was another day on the journey back to reality. It was only about a month ago we received notice that the North Midland Area were going to run this qualifying competition for the 2022 Medallist of the Year which is due to take place in July in Blackpool. We had lots of thoughts around; there not being much time to prepare, the event coming very close after one, or for some, two trips to Blackpool, could the team be ready was the question. But, we decided it was too good an opportunity to miss as it was a local event and managing to fit these events into our already busy calendar in previous years had proved rather a challenge. So we put the notice up and the response from everyone was amazing. We were a few short due to prior commitments or concerns about the current situation but, overall the response was amazing.

When we arrived we saw that the response from other dance schools was also amazing, with at least six other dance schools in attendance and a standard which meant we needed to bring our ‘A game’.

This was the first competition back for several people but they were soon put at ease as the atmosphere was really friendly both from within our team and across all dance schools. For some it was their first competition since March 2020, which is a long time for anyone but for the children it must seem an age and many had changed age groups and grown out of shoes and dresses but as always you all rallied around to make sure everyone was beautifully turned out.

One of the features of the NATD Medallist of the Year programme is that they have many age and grade divisions and also Boys and Girls are split, regardless of the number of entries. This led to a few solo performances today. I know dancers go to these events to compete against other dancers but to find you are the only one in your event and required to give a solo demonstration can be equally, if not more nerve racking. Therefore, congratulations to all of you who had to face this challenge today and I believe your trophy is just as well deserved, possibly even more so.

For the record the results were as follows :-

Scarlett came 5th in her Quickstep and was recalled to the final of her Paso Doble, coming 5th again. Not an easy dance for a little person

In the Juvenile sections, Tabatha achieved two 1st places, along with two 2nd places for Kaitlyn and a 4th and a 3rd for Sophie.

In the Junior sections Fearn delivered two 3rd places and new to the Junior ranks were Brooke and Chloe who each achieved a 2nd and 3rd place.

In the Adult sections we had solo demonstrations from Craig, Emily, Karly, Charlotte, Chris, Paul, Karen, Serena, Stephen, Allison K and Andrew. You were a credit to yourselves and the Dance School. I personally thoroughly enjoyed dancing with those of you who I was lucky enough to partner.

In other Adult events Paige won her Waltz and was 2nd in her Cha Cha Cha, Evie achieved two 3rd places, Emma a 1st and a 2nd, Irina a 3rd and a 4th, Sian two 2nd places, Kathryn two 2nd places, Rosalind two 1st places, Alison T a 2nd and a 3rd, Angela a 3rd and a 4th and finally (new to the team) Lisa a 4th and a 2nd.

Thanks, as always must go to those who loaned clothes, helped with hair and make-up, chauffeured, clappped and cheered. Thanks also to Craig, Josh and Grace who assisted with the partnering, Craig for photography, Ruth who kept us all in order on the control sheet and finally a huge thank you to Luke. As I’m sure you noticed, Robert wasn’t with us today, he had received an invitation to adjudicate at Blackpool and at very short notice Luke very kindly gave up his weekend to be with us for practising on Saturday and dancing on Sunday.

We are very proud of you all and it was lovely to have such a large turnout today. Onwards now to medals in a couple of weeks and I hope you all have Sunday 6th March 2022 in your diary for our Dancesteps competition.

Grand Finals 2021

It finally happened. Two years and a few lockdowns later we made it to Grand Finals at last. In some ways it seemed like a long time since we were last there and in others it was no time at all. We had a few of the team who decided not to make the trip this time for various reasons but most of our regulars were there.

Numbers were appreciably down this time, especially on the adult day, but the Winter Gardens was comfortable, rather than packed as normal. This of course meant that numbers competing were down and so a number of events were straight finals. Whilst lacking quantity however, the quality was still in evidence and those who did well still had to prove themselves against some stiff opposition. Regardless of results however everyone did fabulously well to have made it there with all that has been going on and as always there was a tremendous team spirit. Everyone expressed how lovely it was to have the opportunity to catch up with others they had not seen for ages and to be dancing again in the wonderful ballroom. It was also noticeable that there was a genuine appreciation from all attendees and good support for all competitors throughout the ballroom, especially those who were the only ones in their particular events.

We began on Saturday and only had Kaitlyn, Chloe and Paige dancing this time but they set the tone for the weekend. Chloe was competing in her last juvenile event and Paige, her last junior so it was an important moment for them both. All had a great day and Kaitlyn came away with a second in her ballroom event fourth in Latin and fifth in sequence. Chloe was placed sixth in her ballroom event and third in the sequence whilst Paige was placed sixth in both her ballroom and Latin events but was also our first winner of the weekend in her sequence event. A great way to kickstart the weekend and well done to all of you.

There was no evening function this year so we were able to have a more leisurely dinner than usual and a little more relaxed evening.

Sunday saw an early start as usual and the adults began their day with the sequence events. Only the Under 35 year section had a recall but making this final were Grace P, Jack, Emma and Craig with Grace sucessfully defending the title she won last time. Serena won her event with Neil second and Chris fourth and in the Over 50 years section Carla also sucessfully defended her title with Allison and Rosalind filling the next two places and Hazel finishing sixth.

The ballroom events followed and in this section there were wins for Jack, Rosalind, Chris, Serena, Hazel and Neil with creditable second places for Carla and Grace P. Next came the Latin events and this time there were wins for Grace P, Allison, Chris, Hazel and Neil.

After a long day we reached the last two sections which were the couples events which have proved to be highly successful for the school over the years. This year they were a little earlier than usual but, as always, were an enjoyable finale to the weekend. Craig & Emma, Jack & Karly and Chris & Serena had two of the largest events of the day with several recalls before their finals with all three couples achieving this in both their ballroom and Latin events. Craig & Emma won the balloom with Jack & Karly third in the same event whilst Chris & Serena were a close second in their ballroom event and fourth in their Latin. Jack & Karly won their Latin event giving Karly something to smile about on her birthday with Craig & Emma fourth. Charlotte & Emily were our only other couple competing and they were placed a highly respectable fifth in their ballroom event and third in the Latin although they could have been placed higher in the Latin in my opinion.

Of course, as always, we were supported by a fantastic team but special thanks for their contibutions go to: Luke, Liam & Grace P for partnering, Ruth for keeping us in order & transporting luggage and Anita & Debbie for creating many hairstyles. The most appealing feature of our team is how you all turnout to help and support each other even though at times you compete against one another.

Boris was of course very excited to be back and meet all his old chums again. He said he had really missed seeing everyone and thought you all did magnificently. He can’t wait for the next event.

British Sequence Championships – Blackpool

It is two years since we were last in Blackpool, which in some ways seems a long time and in others, no time at all. This year the festival was a little different but it was fantastic to be back in the magnificent Empress Ballroom doing what we all love and have been deprived of, for such a long time.

When the music strikes up and the competitors are announced onto the floor you are instantly transported to another dimension where time has no meaning and the troubles of the world do not exist, at least for those three days. It was magnificent that so many dancers attended, in the present climate, and were able to produce the standards they did considering the lack of practice and competition experience they have had.

In action this week we had Josh & Grace, Stuart & Andrea, Craig & Emma, Neil & Carla and Andrew & Dawn. All performed brilliantly and the results from the team exceeded expectations.

First into action on Sunday evening were Stuart and Andrea in their Classical Sequence Championship who finished in second place although they danced well and could easily have won if a mark or two more had gone in their favour. Josh and Grace were also in action in their Modern Sequence Championship finishing a highly respectable third behind the reigning champions. A good start to the festival.

Monday saw the other three couples in action and again all of them danced well, rising to the occasion. Craig and Emma, and Neil and Carla both won their Classical Sequence events, successfully defending the titles they won here last time. Andrew and Dawn were second in the Over 35 years section beaten only by Neil and Carla making it a one-two in this event.

All too soon we reached the final day of the festival and Tuesday saw all five couples in action. After the successes of the first two days it would be hard to do better but nevertheless the team managed it. In the Amateur Classical Championship Josh and Grace were once again placed third, firmly establishing their credentials at this level. Stuart and Andrea bettered their result from Sunday by securing first place in their Modern Sequence event. This win was a long time coming and was thoroughly deserved, proving that hard work and dedication does pay off. The other three couples were competing in their open Modern Sequence event and against stiff competition, Craig and Emma won with Neil and Carla in runners up spot whilst Andrew and Dawn were placed fourth. Overall then we could not have expected much better from our dancers.

Naturally Boris was on hand to lead the support and he was very excited to be back in action and reunited with his chums. All the support from family and friends was amazing as always and it was lovely to see Luke, Liam and Chris coming along to lend their support as well.

Of course the results are important but what was more important was the opportunity to dance in this magnificent setting once again and meet with friends who we haven’t seen for ages. The saying “you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone” has been very appropriate lately and I think almost everyone, regardless of their result was just glad to be back and appreciated the festival all the more for having had the break.

It won’t be too long before we are back in Blackpool again for Grand Finals and we will have more of the team in action. Sadly some of you will not be attending this time but hopefully those who are will be equally inspired by the team’s performances this week.

Chesterfield 2021


We’re Back!!!

Last year should have been our tenth year of running this event but of course the pandemic put an end to that. Nevertheless we decided to press ahead this year inspite of the ongoing uncertainties.

We knew it would be a smaller event than usual with many dancers having life changes during this period and others still unsure about attending events. However we thought it was important to press ahead to give dancers the opportunity to “test the water” in a smaller environment and brush off the cobwebs. For others, who will hopefully be competing at Blackpool in October and November it was also a good opportunity to gain some match practice after such a long break away from the floor.

Whilst smaller than usual we were pleased to see how many turned out to support and were especially pleased with the response from our own school. Everyone in the team worked so hard to prepare themselves for the event with some having new material to learn and others having to take to the floor in the Solo events which was another new experience. Brooke and Chloe were also competing in their first events as Juniors and looked really lovely in their junior dresses. Everyone put in great performances and were a credit to the team. There were a few shaky starts as you might expect at the first event for such a long time but soon the competitive edge kicked in and it was like we’d never been away.

Results weren’t important today it was all about getting back on the floor rembering how to perform and reminding ourselves why we love dancing so much. Well done to all involved.

Huge thanks also to our team of helpers without whom it wouldn’t be possible to put on such events: Joan, Ruth, Jean, Julie, Chris, Janice and Brian. It was great to see Allison and Hazel come along to support as well and I am sure everyone was pleased to be able to catch up with dancing freinds once more.

Boris was so excited to see everyone back again and enjoyed catching up with his chums once more although he did remark on some notable absences! He hopes to be able to see them again at the next event however.

NATD Exam Session

It was good to be back dancing again and finally we managed to hold our NATD exam session yesterday which we had intended to do in December 2020 but which naturally had to be postponed. Our last exams took place in December 2019 and who knew how the world was about to change when we did that?

The session was not quite the same as normal, those who did not have a partner in the same household had to perform on their own with Louise and I dancing alongside, and those who did have a partner danced together. Nevertheless everyone rose to the occasion, coping extremely well with the situation and doing a fantastic job in spite of the many obstacles that we have encountered along the way.

It also gave everyone an opportunity to put our dance clothes and dresses on again, (which in some cases may have “shrunk” since they last saw the light of day!) do hair and make up and generally remember what it used to be like. It was great to see how everyone responded to the situation and hopefully reminded us all of the joy of dancing.

Of course Boris was on hand to support everyone and he was delighted to see what you had all achieved, he thought you were all amazing. He is hoping it won’t be too much longer now before events are permitted and he can be reunited with his bear chums. Colin too was excited especially with the Latin, to see if his isolation demonstrations had had the desired effect!

The examiner was highly complimentary, remarking how well everyone had done and was impressed by the high standard achieved. We are proud of you all and thank you for your continued support and dedication over this difficult period. Let’s hope the worst is now behind us and we can look forward to a brighter future.