|
DFR
Medallists Grand Finals
Reports from an exciting day of finals held
on 12th October 2008 in Guildford
Set
Dance Event by Bobbie Chatt
Finally here it was – Grand Finals’ Day
2008. The excitement and anticipation was tangible as
the doors to the Guildford Spectrum opened and hundreds
poured through them. Frazzled teachers, nervous competitors,
two panels of adjudicators and a surprisingly calm committee
holding everything together! The event began with an
addition to the programme – the ‘Banner
Parade’. Representatives
from the 53 schools in attendance marched around the
huge hall to a cheering crowd, raising their banners
proudly aloft. It was a perfect start to a thrilling
day, creating a feeling of school pride and bringing
everyone together in a united sense of achievement for
simply having made it to Grand Finals’ Day in
the first place.
Without
delay the adjudicators were introduced, DFR Faculty
Committee members, Suzanne Hammond, Amanda Hughes, Maria
Howse, Nigel Kirk, Rachel Wadey and Pat Woor. The Set
Dance event began, starting as ever with the ‘little
giants’ of the day – the Under 8s. And what
a way to start! Rhythm, body isolation, clean lines,
personality and a great sense of style characterised
the best dancers in this Street style routine. These
young ones certainly set the bar high for the older
competitors to follow. Most grades started out with
more than 40 competitors in four heats and gradually
the dancers were whittled down one heat at a time to
achieve the final few. At this level I certainly did
not envy the judges their extremely hard task –
the overall standard of Set Dance was so high this year
that some competitors who were on the podium last October
were not even recalled this time around. Such is the
way with competition!
 |
Left:
strong and full of energy dancing to the final |
As
we rose through the ranks and ages it was lovely to
see the varying interpretations of the different styles
of dance. I particularly enjoyed the two Rock ’n’
Roll routines that were new for 2008, lovely footwork,
beautiful smiles and excellent use of arms and hands.
As ever the Slow dances were a pleasure to watch; the
slower tempos mean the competitors cannot hide anything.
Extension, posture, musical interpretation – all
are essential to produce a winning combination in this
style. And finally Fast Freestyle, which seems to get
more competitive every year. I thought the Under 16
Gold Star and Awards was a particularly tough event
with 18 or so extraordinary quarter-finalists, any of
whom could have made the final. Power, strength and
precision were in abundance from these wonderful dancers.
Congratulations to all of you, and indeed to every single
dancer who qualified. You were an absolute credit to
your teachers.
By lunchtime the awards had been presented, photographs
taken and dancers swiftly changed to prepare for the
next section of the day – the Pairs event.
Winners
of Set Dance categories
Under 8 Rosettes:
Beth Drury
Under 10 SDT/Pre-Bronze:
Ashley Arnell
Under 12 SDT/Pre-Bronze:
Amelia Perry
Under 14 SDT/Pre-Bronze:
Amanda Jellis
Over 14 SDT/ Pre-Bronze:
Shane Seal
Under 10 Bronze/Silver:
Oliver Kirk
Under 12 Bronze/Silver:
Alice McCarty
Under 14 Silver/Gold:
Hayley Young
Over 14 Silver/Gold:
Rachel Armstrong
Under 12 Gold & Above:
Nikki McGowan
Under 14 Gold/Awards:
Hayley Totczyk
Under 16 Gold Star/Awards:
Tayler Bush
Over 16 Gold Star/Awards:
Georgina Saxby
Over 25 All Grades:
Donna Hunt
Pairs
Event by Jenny Pendrill
The Pairs section was underway just before 2.00pm with
a new panel of adjudicators for the Pairs and Solos
events, Janet Clark, Derek Green, Moya Jordan, Vernon
Kemp, Jacqui Norton and Julia Spencer. It was obvious
from the buzz of the dancers they were still on a high
from the exciting Set Dance finals, still full of enthusiasm,
which showed in the high standard and energy on display.
 |
Left:
colourful and bright Rock ‘n’ Roll |
The
partner work amongst the younger and lower grades was
exceptionally good overall. It was also great to see
so many boy/girl partners performing well rehearsed
routines with good partner choreography. As the competition
moved on to the older dancers and higher grades, along
with them came an array of colour and sparkle. So many
beautiful costumes together with excellent choreography
were eye catching. The agility and speed of some Pairs
were followed by well controlled spins and kicks that
were inspiring for the younger dancers to see. The Over
16 Gold Star and Awards was a large section with five
heats. The finalists in this section still had the flexibility
and stamina to give their best just one more time for
the final. Well done to all dancers!
Rock ‘n’ Roll Event by Ronnie Walford
Following hot on the heels of the Pairs event was the
Rock ‘n’ Roll. Competitors of all ages had
changed into costumes that were as colourful and bright
as could be, ranging from modern luminous neon tutus
to traditional Rock ‘n’ Roll skirts. Everyone
was eager to dance and the atmosphere came alive from
when the first piece of music was played. The Under
8’s and Under 10’s were first to dance and
already showing very good use of feet and ankles, they
set a high standard for the older age groups to follow.
As each of the first rounds was completed and the young
competitors waited excitedly for their recalls, the
dancers in the higher level events came on to the floor.
The combinations of Syllabus Figures were performed
with strongly controlled legs and well stretched feet.
This, together with well toned body and arm lines clearly
showed how much work had been put in by teachers and
dancers alike. Compound Figures were well crafted into
the Basic and Advanced systems and throughout the recalls
hints of the Alternative styles were also feeding into
the choreography, which gave a different yet exciting
look and styling to the dancers’ routines. Each
of these talented couples had already won their way
through at Area levels and their enthusiasm shone out
as they danced on towards the finals, making the decision
of the adjudicators, all committee members, a very hard
one, I am sure.
The
winners of the Rock ‘n’ Roll category
Under 6/8 Rosettes:
Olivia Young and Eleanor Howard
Under 10 Bronze & Below:
Caitlin Hardaker and Jade Buttle
Under 12 Bronze & Below:
Lucy Stewart and Amy Brown
Under 14 Bronze & Below:
Chelsea Wright and Rebecca Drury
Over 14 Bronze & Below:
Dawn Youngs and Keith Youngs
Under 10/12 Silver/Gold:
Kerri Brennan and Alexandra Russ
Under 14 Silver/Gold:
Jaime Norton and Lauren Turner
Over 14 Silver/Gold:
Melissa Park and Olivia Lim-Holmes
Under 12 Gold Star/Awards:
Betsy Morton and Chloe Barrettt-Blake
Under 14 Gold StarAwards:
Jessica Newton and Hayley Young
Under 16 Gold Star/Awards:
Sienna Hayes and Chester Hayes
Over 16 Gold Star/Awards:
Holly
Nicholson and Georgina Saxby
Solos Event by Claire Blome
Well what a wonderful day had been had by all, the morning
and early afternoon events were well and truly over
and now it was on to the last section of day, the Solos
event. I half expected the hall to empty out as so many
schools had long journeys home and children would have
an early start for school the next day, but even though
the day had been long and tiring for all, the competitors
were still raring to go. Good on them!
The
Compère, Nicky Miles, now joined by Nigel Kirk
for the Solo section, called the adjudicators onto the
floor. A trio of judges marched arm in arm, Wizard of
Oz style, across the purple floor (all they needed now
was Toto, the dog, to join them). It is good to see
that even those who had been on their feet for this
very long day were still having fun.
The Under 8’s were called and suddenly what looked
like an army of colourful ants scurried onto the dance
floor at the speed of lightning. Even before the music
commenced you could see the look of sheer excitement
mixed with concentration on their little faces, they
knew what they had to do. You could see their parents
standing around the edge of the dance floor pulling
shapes and wiggling for them counting 5, 6, 7, 8, and
off they went. (I swear some of those parents just want
to get on the floor and do it for them)
 |
Left:
participants in the Over-14 Silver/Gold Set Dance |
The
standard was unbelievable, the kicks were effortless,
the toes were pointed and the routines were danced with
great enthusiasm and appreciation for the music. It
was good to see so many boys in the Under 8’s
giving the girls a tough competition. The Under 10 and
Under 12 sections got even better with great lines and
varying shapes and movements within the choreography.
The amount of effort put into the Solo routines was
obvious to see. As the age categories got higher in
the Bronze and Below, I expected to see some incorrect
technique, maybe some bad posture, hunched shoulders
or lazy feet perhaps, but these dancers were capable
of competing with much higher grades. The competition
really does get harder each year.
The Silver and Above categories waited so patiently
as the Bronze and Below got whittled down through the
heats, and then suddenly… onto the Silver. The
Under-10 Silver girls, all six of them, took to the
floor for a straight final, again the standard was so
high and just got better with each category. The Gold
Stars were amazing and what is more amazing is how they
managed to see, let alone dance, with those false eyelashes
(the girls obviously!) The costumes were stunning and
I can only wonder if some parents now regretted re-mortgaging
their houses to pay for all those Swarovski diamantes!
All of the categories were outstanding but when a dancer
has to take to the floor by themselves due to the vast
number of categories, sometimes you question whether
it is fair or not that they automatically get first
place. Well not this time! These dancers well deserved
a first place trophy especially the Gold Star sections
and were a credit to their teachers. The strength, stamina,
flexibility and musicality were outstanding and I was
in complete awe of some of these dancers, they had such
rhythm and style it really was unbelievable.
The Solo events ended with the dancers receiving their
well deserved trophies that I am sure would be engraved
to record forever this wonderfully exciting day. The
DFR Faculty Chairman thanked the Committee and all the
helpers for excellent teamwork, which had made the day
flow so smoothly and efficiently, the compères,
all the adjudicators, scrutineers, runners and door
stewards and to DJ, Ian Jordan, for great music to inspire
the dancers through to the end of the day. I do not
think there was anyone in that sports hall that was
not well and truly exhausted. Thank goodness there was
no traffic on the M25 as I headed home. Roll on next
Grand Finals’ Day – 11th October 2009 at
Guildford!
Claire Blome
All Photos: Alec Myers/danceportraits.co.uk
|
