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Blackpool
Grand Finals 2001 Report
The
weekend was Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th November 2001. Blackpool Tower,
home of arguably the finest and most prestigious ballrooms in the world,
welcomed hundreds and hundreds of eager dancers and spectators to experience
the magic of its atmosphere as it hosted the Ballroom and Latin American
Grand Finals of the ISTD for the second consecutive year.
At
approximately 8.00am on Saturday morning as you walked into the spacious
and elegant ballroom you came face to face with those dazzling balloon
arrangements - which tantalise the children (and adults) all weekend,
and a spectacular display of trophies just waiting to be won. The music
was already playing and the floor soon filled with dancers wanting to
get acquainted with this magnificent floor.
The
weekend commenced officially at 9.00am when compere and one of the two
principal organisers, namely Nicky Miles welcomed everyone to the Blackpool
Tower and the ISTD Ballroom & Latin American Grand Finals. Nicky continued
by introducing Lorna Lee, Chairman of the Latin American Faculty and
Peggy Spencer MBE, Vice President of the ISTD who were sharing the arduous
(although I am sure very enjoyable) task of compering the day's events.
The distinguished panel of adjudicators for the Saturday were introduced
as: Barbara Grover, Alison Lamb, Carol Macraild, Carole Smythe, Julie
Tomkins, Nigel Horrocks, Robert Grover (Chairman of the ISTD) and Michael
Stylianos, a nice blend of judges from both within and outside of the
ISTD.
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The
competitions on the Saturday were all for children, namely the Juvenile
and Junior events, with the Ballroom non-qualifiers section starting
the day's proceedings. During the first hour we witnessed an excellent
display of Waltzes and Quicksteps, such was the standard that it was
hard to believe that these were the non-qualifiers, the Junior Gold
Star and above event in particular containing several superb dancers.
The Ballroom qualifiers started their competitions promptly at 9.58am
after which we were treated to an hour and a half of first class dancing
from the youngest Under 6's to the most advanced Gold Star. Like last
year all four Ballroom dances were utilised across the medal grades,
it's just a shame that time only permits each section to use one dance.
Selecting competitors for the next round and ultimately for the final
must have been a very difficult task for the judges as the standard
provided by all of the qualifiers was excellent. The Ballroom Couples
followed, this time compered by Margaret Connon and Richard Hunt, Vice
Chairman of the Dance Sport Faculties (and the other principal organiser,
who together with Nicky make an excellent and very hardworking team!)
The Ballroom Couples saw the inclusion of Viennese Waltz for the Junior
Gold Star dancers, a beautiful dance to be performed in such a wonderful
venue and how nice to see that the winning couple were dancing Fleckerls!
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Robert
Grover, Chairman of the ISTD, presented prizes for the Ballroom Solos,
together with Gillian Mackenzie, organiser of the most prestigious Dance
Sport Championships in the world, which are all held here in Blackpool.
At each of the presentations the finalists walked onto the floor amid
spotlights, making them the centre of attention. The winners of each
of the qualifier competitions received a beautiful blue ISTD Winners
sash; all finalists received a celebratory trumpet (which the children
love as it allows them to be very noisy) and one of the dazzling selections
of trophies. Keith Hoyle, representing Dancesport International, our
very generous sponsors for the weekend, presented prizes for the Couples.
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At
2.10pm the Juvenile and Junior Latin competitions commenced, starting
again with the non-qualifiers section, this time dancing Cha Cha Cha
and Paso Doble. This section was promptly followed by the qualifiers
section, which consisted of Rumba, Samba, Cha Cha Cha and Jive. It was
nice to see the Rumba being danced at Bronze, as it is so often left
until the higher grade competitions. During the afternoon we had some
'ad hoc' entertainment provided for us by members of the Star Dance Club
as we waited for one of the competitions to be re-run. I am sure that
this memory will be one of those that lasts in your mind, it was wonderful
and certainly got the entire audience rejuvenated. Competitions on Saturday
concluded with the Latin Couples. After hours of dancing it was so wonderful
to see that the standard was still as strong at the end of the day as
it was at the beginning, the end being many hours later at 7.10pm, the
whole day having run like clockwork.
Throughout
the day it was interesting to observe the choice of attire that was
being worn, not so much by the competitors but by the young female teachers
- some of them looked so elegant and sophisticated and yet they were
actually wearing very 'plain' clothes, all one colour, no added decoration
and clothes that young people relate to, in other words 'trendy'. Some
of the clothes were very similar to the type of attire that young girls
wear all day every day, a pair of trousers with a long tunic type top
that almost looks like a skirt over the trousers. It just goes to prove
that good dancing really doesn't need outfits that have 'broken the
bank' - better dancing can be witnessed when we can actually see the
figure of the dancer and the full movement that they are performing.
Well done also to all those competitors who were able to dance on their
own when there was a shortage of partners, this not only gives you a
better chance because you are dancing for the full heat, but it also
makes the task of the adjudicators much easier because they have got
all of the dancers on the floor for the full round.
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At
the end of the day the responsibility was then left with the staff of
Blackpool Tower to prepare the room for the evening dance in just over
half an hour - what a task, but it was accomplished and the ballroom
was ready to welcome its guests for the evening. It is such a fabulous
sight to see, this magnificent ballroom heaving with people from all
over the country enjoying an evening out dancing and in probably the
best dance venue in the world. Every level from ground floor through
to the top balcony was filled with enthusiastic dancers, friends, relatives
and members of the general public, all determined to have a really good
time. Compere for the evening was the inimitable Nicky Miles. From the
very first dance the floor was packed with young and old alike. During
the evening we had a couple of sessions of entertainment provided by
the Wurlitzer, a magnificent organ arising out of the stage, with resident
organist Chris Hopkins providing some popular melodies to dance to.
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Then
to one of the highlights of the weekend, cabaret time with Mark Lunn
and Louise Lidbury. For approximately 30 minutes they stunned the audience
with some wonderful displays of Latin American dancing - Rumba, Cha
Cha Cha, Samba, Paso Doble and Jive. A spectacular array of outfits,
lots of energy and plenty of flexibility as they danced some stunning
movements including many lifts. A wonderful cabaret by some young English
dancers.
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During
the course of the weekend I found it quite interesting listening to
the choice of music that was being played. For the Latin competitions
quite a lot of the music is currently in the Charts, use was made both
in the competitions and on the Saturday night of the new Robbie Williams
CD and 1 found it quite incredible that having attended an Area Disco/Freestyle
Medallist Competition the weekend before a lot of the music that was
being played, and proving very popular, was the same. Surely this tells
us something about what the public want? The general public no longer
want to dance to 'old fashioned' music. Whilst it is all very nice for
us as dancers to dance and listen to, the paying audience want something
fashionable that they can relate to, and this was demonstrated very
successfully over the weekend, especially in the Latin events.
Sunday,
as last year, was purely for the Adult competitors, with both the young
and the slightly more mature competing, with competitions being split
into three age groups: Under 35, Over 35 and Over 50. Due to the volume
of competitors we had an earlier start than last year, with the first
competitions, namely the Adult Solo Ballroom non-qualifier events, starting
proceedings at 9.30am. The day then followed the same format of competitions
as the Juvenile/Junior events on the Saturday, although 1 must say the
children were far more organised at getting onto the floor in time to
start their events! Adjudicators for the day were Jill Bush, Janet Clark,
Alison Lamb, Yvonne Taylor-Hill, Robert Grover and Michael Stylianos.
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Comperes
for the Sunday were the two organisers Nicky Miles and Richard Hunt,
with Peggy Spencer MBE adding a nice feminine touch to the proceedings.
Throughout the day Robert Grover, and Richard Hunt, presented the prizes.
Winners of the Adult Qualifiers competitions received a red rose together
with their prize and Winners sash, very tasteful finishing touches.
A
new addition this year on the Sunday was an additional cabaret, this
time performed by another top British Professional Latin couple, John
Byrnes and Jane Lyttleton. They too provided us with a spectacular display
of Latin American dancing, again encompassing all of the Latin American
dances of Rumba, Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Paso Doble and Jive with a beautiful
selection of costumes being worn by Jane. Both of the couples performing
cabarets for us had been successful in reaching the finals of the British
National Dance Championships, which had recently been held in Blackpool.
The inclusion of a cabaret on the Sunday afternoon was a very welcome
addition and 1 am sure helped to attract a bigger audience for the day's
events.
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At
the end of such a long and hectic weekend it is important to thank all
of those people who were busy working in the background. Paul Fielding
provided the music, the Scrutineers were Estelle Grassby & Gwen Grovesnor,
the stewards Jill Bush, Margaret Connon, Dawn Hunt, Phyllis Miles, Pat
Mitchell and Mavis Mitchell all put in so much hard work to help make
this weekend such a tremendous success.
Once
again, Nicky, Richard (and their very supportive partners and assistants
who keep them going throughout the year) and the Ballroom and Latin
Competition Committee must be congratulated for organising a very successful,
entertaining and full programme, catering for over 900 solo children's
entries and over 650 solo adult entries, which all contributed to another
absolutely fantastic weekend. Please make a note of this year's date
in your diaries and remember the date is actually earlier than had previously
been advertised - it is on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th November 2002.
Debbie
Mitchell
All photos by Ron Self
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