Whitby

Having moved from its spiritual home of Southport last year to Scarborough, The Easter Sequence Festival this year moved up the east coast to Whitby, a venue well known to our dancers who attend the NATD North Eastern area competitions. The ballroom was the same stunning location, perched on the cliffs overlooking the beach and sea but had a slightly different feel to it this time. It is a lovely spacious room with a good size floor to dance on which would be appreciated by the dancers. After having to scale the cliffs at Scarborough last year with ropes and crampons! it was relatively easy to get from the hotel to the ballroom. Unfortunately the weather was not so kind however and having left in glorious sunshine we arrived to drizzle and rain which Whitby sometimes likes to tease us with.

Happily we had a full turnout for the start of proceedings having lost a few last year (to Covid not the cliffs) before we began and everyone was determined to give a good account of themselves but most importantly, enjoy the weekend. The team this time welcomed Chris & Lisa for their first appearance together at this event alongside regulars, Josh & Grace, Craig & Emma, Stuart & Andrea, Neil & Carla and Andy & Dawn. Of course Boris and co. were in attendance together with our vocal supporters excited by the prospect of three days of competition and social dancing.

It was an early start for some of us having to be in the ballroom for 10am but for the rest it was a more leisurely lunchtime appearance. All couples were in action today with Stuart & Andrea and Neil & Carla opening the batting in the Senior Special Event (a competition not a meal deal!). Stuart & Andrea won the event with Neil & Carla, dancing for the first time at this event in the higher grade, being placed third. The category which Andy & Dawn and Chris & Lisa were dancing in this weekend is not always split by age at this event, as they usually are, so finals were always going to be that much harder to come by. Nevertheless, Andy & Dawn were placed third and Chris & Lisa seventh in their opening event, so a great start to proceedings. 

We then had time for a quick bite before it was back to the ballroom again for the evening session. Once again, Stuart & Andrea took the honours in their event with Neil & Carla third, Josh & Grace had two second places in their events with Craig & Emma placed fourth and fifth in the same events. Andy & Dawn secured another third place but sadly Chris & Lisa did not make the final of this event although they danced with great purpose and are starting to settle down into this level. So ended the first day and with expectations raised how would the rest of the weekend go?

Day two dawned with the sun shining brightly, Whitby keen to show us its other face. With more dances to remember and the successes of yesterday a warm fuzzy memory what would today bring? Once again our dancers were all in action both in the afternoon and evening sessions. With the Amateur and Social Modern Sequence and the Senior Classical Sequence to look forward to as well as a number of other supporting events there would be plenty to keep us occupied.

We began the day with the Senior tango competition in which Stuart & Andrea and Neil & Carla were placed second and third respectively, but Stuart & Andrea then regained the initiative by winning the mixed event. In the Social dance category, Andy and Dawn won the Over 35 years event with Chris & Lisa being placed sixth and then in their mixed open event Chris & Lisa secured a semi final place and Andy & Dawn came third. The two couples repeated this result later in the evening session in their Modern Sequence event. Josh & Grace continued to cement their position in the Amateur field by being placed second in both of their events in the afternoon session.

We then had a few hours (which is rare here) to have a relaxing meal before getting ready for the evening session. Stuart & Andrea and Neil & Carla had their Classical Sequence event in which they placed second and third and again, Josh & Grace were placed second in their Modern Sequence competition, this time with Craig & Emma finishing in fifth place in a strong Amateur field. Another good day overall and improved performances all round. There was just time for a quick drink or two before bedtime to reflect on the events of the last two days and enjoy the company of our dancing family.

All too soon we arrived at the last day and this would prove to be the toughest both mentally and physically with a whole afternoon of competitions, including the eight dance events, followed by the evening grand finale. The Easter Bunny (aka Louise) made her usual appearance to get the day off to a good start and then the couples took to the floor once again and we were away. Andy & Dawn and Chris & Lisa took to the floor in their eight dance event and finished in third and fourth place respectively. In the Over 35 years event Andy & Dawn took the top spot with Chris & Lisa in fifth. Andy & Dawn repeated their success in the Over 50 years event and were also placed second in the Latin.

In the Senior event, Stuart & Andrea came second and Neil & Carla third in their eight dance, a pattern repeated in the other two competitions this afternoon. Meanwhile in the Amateur section Josh & Grace maintained their runner up position with Craig & Emma placed fifth. With just a couple of hours to rest and refuel we came all too soon to the final evening. Andy & Dawn and Chris & Lisa were not dancing this evening having completed all their events earlier but nevertheless came along to add their support to the others.

This evening we had the Amateur Classical and Latin sections and the Senior Modern Sequence. The atmosphere was electric, particularly in our corner of the room, which spurred the dancers on in their performances and no effort was spared. Stuart & Andrea finished in second place in their event with Neil and Carla in fourth. Josh & Grace were placed in their, by now familiar but still well earned, runners up spot in both Classical and Latin whilst Craig & Emma were sixth in Classical and third in Latin.

It was a terrific weekend with amazing performances from all dancers assisted greatly by the team of dedicated supporters who do a good deal more than just turn up and applaud to help all the team to achieve the successes that they do. Boris and the bears clapped their paws off and were quite exhausted by the end. All was concluded with a group Sindy Swing to finish us all off and give some of the supporters a chance to show off their own dancing skills!

And so ended the festival with everyone coming away worn out but with a smile on their faces. Next year we are back at Scarborough and I’m sure it will already be in everyone’s diaries.