2011 Florida Superstars

The event had started days before, but I only was able to attend the Saturday events.  As I flew over  cautiously drove the speed limit over the Skyway Bridge I looked at the water and thought what a beautiful day for an indoor competition.  Ha!  With a late start getting on the road I hoped for light traffic and for once in a long while my wish came true.  I was approaching the Howard Frankiln Bridge in no time flat!  As the skyscrapers of downtown Tampa rose up from the fast approaching horizon my stomach did a flip in excitement over attending another competition that I was sure was going to be the highlight of my week.  The short trip from 275 to the Tampa Hyatt Regency (new location this year by the way) was easily navigated thanks to the wonderfully easy directions given by a Hyatt staff member I spoke with while enroute.  To be totally honest, it didn’t take a whole lot of guessing to figure out just which building was holding the competition.  Cars were quickly running through the valet lines while very stylish men and woman stood on the sidewalk waiting for their luggage (feathers and fringe peeking through bag bottoms) were loaded onto the carts in preperation for the long haul to the dancers/guest’s awaiting rooms.  There was much too much going on through that line so in a change from the norm, I decided to park my car myself.  (novel idea, if I do say so myself).  One block down was a small (and by small I mean sardine can sized) parking lot with an attendant station in the middle.  I handed him my cash to park and was just lucky enought to get the ONLY spot left.  Good thing I drive a car the size of a pin-pong ball or I would have never made it into the parking spot.  Time to grab my things and run along inside……..

It was almost 1:00 and warm up had started for the youth couples.  I quickly made my way through the hotel and soon found familiar faces as I neared the ballroom.  Ballgowns and Latin costumes, expertly tailored, stoned and feathered greeted me on the right,  jewelry of every color in the rainbow on the left.  Feels like home, lol.

I spent the afternoon with some of the dance family.  We cheered on the youth dancers at the top of our lungs.  (I dont think it was too hard to tell where the fan club sat and how proud of them we were and are).  Everyone was more than pleased with how the afternoon went. 

Now that the day events are over it is time to eat!  Some stayed to enjoy the meal in the hotel, whether it was catered in the next door ballroom, in the hotel returaunt or in hotel lounge.  Others of us decided to explore the local options instead.  So after walking about two or three blocks we founds Hattricks.  Overall, even though they were absolutely packed, you had to grab a table as soon as someone looked like they were about to leave (trust me, a tricky thing to accomplish when up against veteran patrons) and after a few recommendations from our server, the food was actually better than we expected.  It was kind of fun to switch gears from glitz and glam dancing to hockey on big screens, even if for only an hour or so.  But now it was time to make the trip back, walking off calories along the way.  Our youth competitors needed to get ready for the night event dancing the Open International Latin Scholarship. 

Unbeleivable.  That is the word that comes to mind watching the kids.  They all did an amazing job! 

After all the day time excitement it was on to the pro competition.  Caberet, Smooth and International Latin.  I was actually floored by the caberet performances.  They were remarkable. I couldnt see everything from where I sat so I when I lost sight of what was happening on the floor I switched to the ballroom big screen and then I finally just got up and walked to the other side of the room where I could stand and see everything crystal clear.    I wish I could have taken some pictures that did these incredible dancers justice….. 

Florida Superstars Rising Star and Open Professional Results

Needless to say, it was a fabulous time!   You will never truly appreciate the atmosphere created until you completely submerge yourself in it. 

Until next time, Happy Dancing!

It’s Showcase Time!

       

 Most all dancers spend some quality time in a studio taking lessons,  focusing deeply and of course counting.  Some enjoy the social aspect attending a few parties a month, some hope to compete someday or for others to compete more often throughout the year. 

        

Every so often a studio, studios, a group of professional dance instructors, coaches and/or trainers will host a showcase.  This is a wonderful thing on many levels.  For some it is a day to dress up and show off some newly developed skills for friends and family who may not know about their double dance life, some a chance to test out new routines  in front of an audience without the pressure of adjudication and for others a great practice run event before any competition.  No matter how you look at it, everyone from beginners and amateurs, to  social dancers and yes, even seasoned competitors not only benefit from a change of scenery but a change in perspective. Even the curious spectator benefits by exposing themselves to this wonderful world of dancing.  Whether its just the thing to encourage themselves to take a chance at something they’ve always wanted to try, or the opportunity to witness in person something they’ve only seen on tv.   

Every year we as dancers try to push ourselves farther, accomplish more and find a way to exceed our own expectations.  It’s not always an easy journey but it is certainly a rewarding one.  Showcase time is a perfect time for the new dancers to push themselves into a deserving spotlight and for the more experienced, an opportunity to be an example of the accomplishments to come.

Today I Will Be Master Of My Emotions (Something I am Still Learning)

I thanked the person who first read this out loud to me from his well-worn book copy. Thank you sir for sharing this incredible piece with me, I hope to share it with someone who also may need to read this and may just not know it yet.

It was at a time when I needed to hear it most. I don’t think it might have had the same impact had I just been handed a copy of the book it is from. After hearing it I drove my long drive home
and mulled these words over and over in my head. There is never a day that passes that I am unable to find some inspiration or solace in them.

Thank you mister Mandino for your most amazing gift to all of us:

An excerpt of The Scroll Marked VI -

Today I Will Be Master Of My Emotions

Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he forces his actions to control his thoughts. Each day, when I awaken, I will follow this plan of battle before I am captured by the forces of sadness, self-pity and failure—

If I feel depressed I will sing
If I feel sad I will laugh
If I feel ill I will double my labor
If I feel fear I will plunge ahead
If I feel inferior I will wear new garments
If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice
If feel incompetent I will remember past success
If I feel insignificant, I will remember my goals
Today I will be master of my emotions
“henceforth, I will know that only those with inferior ability can always be at their best, and I am not inferior. There will be days when I must constantly struggle against force which would tear me down. Those such as despair and sadness are simple to recognize but there are others which approach with a smile and the hand of friendship and they can also destroy me.”
There are others that approach with a smile and the hand of friendship and they can also destroy me. Against them, too, I must never relinquish control.
If I become overconfident I will recall my failures
If I overindulge I will think of past hungers
If I feel complacency I will remember my competition
If I enjoy moments of greatness I will remember moments of shame
If I feel all-powerful I will try to stop the wind
If I attain great wealth I will remember one unfed mouth
If I become overly proud I will remember of moment of weaknesses
If I feel my skill is unmatched I will look at the stars
Today I will be master of my emotions
I will become master of myself, I will become great. 

~ “Og” Augustine Mandino

2010 United States Dance Championships – Day

 

USDC – Courtyard

 

 

 

WOW!  That is what I kept hearing in my head over and over as I drove home after this years competition.  To be honest it’s difficult to find the best place to start.  (We will cover just the arrival and days activities for now. )  Minus a few little bumps in the road, this had to be the best year yet.  (Had I actually been able to compete…..the best of the best.  Oh well, next year.)

    

From the moment of arrival I knew it was time to buckle my seatbelt for a whirlwind of activities over the next day and a half.  Many of the competitors were there a few days earlier, however due to circumstances beyond my control, I would only get to spend a fraction of the time I normally would, soaking up all that is this unbelieveable event.  Never the less, once the cars were parked or taken by valet, we were on a mission.  That night’s mission….drop our bags and meet for dinner.    

 

USDC – My Room

As a whole, our group had been running full steam ahead from the moment we got up until this very moment.  Day jobs and school and what seemed like endless planning and driving had finally ended and we had only energy enough left  to choose a meal.  As we ate, we started to get re-energized.  Everyone had started discussing the plans for the next day and how excited they were to finally get to step on the floor they had been preparing for.   

 Afer our meal, there was a short practice session for our competitors.  We then said our goodnights and headed back to our rooms, for what I am sure was not the most restful of nights.  This was not because our accomodations by any stretch of the imagination.  This was due to pure anticipation.  None of us slept like babies.  Infact someone in our group was wide awake (hint: me) and another even more wide awake and texting me (the notorious “sleeper inner”) before 6:00am even came!   I have to admit, I remember my first competition of this scale.  I was so excited, I hardly slept and I could NOT wait for the day to begin.  

 Off to breakfast we went.  By we, I mean the whole dance family.  Competitors, coaches, moms, dads, etc.  We were treated like royalty by the dining room staff as always. We wrapped up the unbeleivable breakfast, and our table was buzzing with the days plans.  For the competitors, a walk through, then to thier rooms to get ready to dance.  The parents had a much different plan and pace for themselves and were ready to hit the pool area and relax (I certainly don’t blame them!  It was a beautiful day and they could use a mini vacation.)  before heading to the ballroom to cheer on their kids.      

USDC - Lobby

Practice time and preperation behind us it was time to head down the ballroom.  The energy was off the chart.  There were kids and adults of all ages ready to hit the floor and show the judges just what they are made of.  As we got a little closer to our dancer’s  heat numbers being called they went over to the on deck area and waited to be called onto the floor.  Having been able to witness how hard they worked and knowing they were about to open a new chapter in thier competitive careers in just a matter of moments, I felt a lump in my throat.  There they were, all groomed up and what looked like maybe 5 years older and prepared as best as they could be.  These were  different dancers then when they first started and it was such an amazing feeling to know how much they had accomplished.  Their heat number was called and they walked on the floor hand in hand and they danced thier legs off.    Everyone of the couples from the ity-bity little ones to the adult amateurs were amazing.  so polished and precise.  I was extremely impressed with what I was watching.          

USDC - Ballroom

 

 

 

 

 

After a full afternoon of cheering on all the couples from the area and studios we had shared a lot of floor time with, we were all certainly ready to get dazzled up and enjoy what would be presented as the evening events.       

USDC

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Next on the agenda………the evening pro competition and show.             

United States Dance Championships (Defined)

“The annual United States Dance Championships (USDC), previously called the United States Ballroom Championships (USBC) and the United States DanceSport Championships (USDSC), is recognized by the National Dance Council of America (NDCA) and the World Dance & DanceSport Council (WD&DSC) as determining the majority of the United States national professional ballroom dance champions. The competition was held annually from 1971 to 1974 in New York City at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. It was held in Washington, DC, in 1975, and then returned to the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City from 1976 to 1981. In 1982, it was held at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden, returning to the Waldorf-Astoria in 1983, and was shared by the two venues in 1984. The competition moved to the Miami (Florida) area in 1985. The competition, now held since 2007 in Orlando, Florida, will celebrate its 37th year in 2008 (September 2nd through 6th). Although the NDCA and WD&DSC recognize the United States Dance Championships as determining the professional United States Champions, the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF), the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), and the Amateur Sports Act of the United States Congress recognize USA Dance, formerly known as the United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association (USABDA), as the National Governing Body in the United States for DanceSport (i.e., competitive ballroom dancing). USA Dance holds the annual USA Dance National DanceSport Championships where top dance couples are awarded the opportunity to represent the United States at IDSF World Championships.”

(Source: Wikipedia  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Dance_Championships )

Wikipedia page was last modified on 9 October 2009 at 23:35

2010 United States Dance Championships at Universal Studios,(Orlando, FL) Sept 6-12. I will be there, will you?

For most any competitive Latin and Ballroom dancer in America, the United States Dance Championships (Orlando, FL) seems to be one of the biggest competitions of the year.  Professional, Amateur and Pro/AM dancers from all over the US congregate to Orlando Florida after months and months of preparation to compete not only among their fellow US competitors, but also have an opportunity to compete among some of the best from all over the world on a floor lined with the world’s most accomplished and well-respected adjudicators. 

By this point in the year, the routines are complete and undergoing last-minute tweaks for just the right delivery.  The timing has been perfected to accent the respective rhythms of each dance.  Practice time has been booked to the max and being used wisely in most local studios.  Coaches are watching as rounds are danced.  The costuming has been chosen and is down to minor alterations, taking in and up in the spots that need it (thanks to the extra calorie burning ) and adding that extra element of sparkle here and there to optimize the light reflection.  Shoes have been broken in to just the right comfort and flexibility and are ready for the last brush and polish before finally hitting the competition dance floor. 

Over the next week it will be a matter of breaking out the checklist and making all the final travel arrangements necessary, choosing what clothing to pack (and what to leave in order to actually have the ability to close the suitcase ) and to really stand out under the bright lights, gathering the right tan,  makeup and sparkling accessories needed to bring out the desired look.  

For all the dancers this is a very exciting time.  It is only a few more days before hitting the floor.

For more information on this event please visit: http://www.unitedstatesdancechampionships.com/

Florida State DanceSport Championships 2010

August 7, 2010

 

Florida State DanceSport Championships 2010 held at

the Ritz Carlton Sarasota Fl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Night Events as follows:

6:30 PM to 8:15 PM Deluxe Dinner in Ballroom With Special Guest

7:45 PM to 8:15 PM Florida State Top Awards Presentation

8:30 PM to 8:45 PM General Dancing

8:45 PM Session 13

 - Professional Events – Vernon Brock Open International Latin Championships – Open American Smooth Championships

- The David Key Professional Grand Championship Showdown

-  Very Special 38th AnniversaryShow By:

 

Canadian Latin Dance & World Showdance Champions    

“Andre & Natalie Paramonov”

and

Three Times World Exhibition Champions 

“Victor DaSilva & Hanna Karttunen”

 

There wasn’t a moment of this years’ evening events that went by when we weren’t thoroughly entertained and enjoying every aspect of the glitz and glamour of a night of dinner and dancing and world-class entertainment. 

Dinner was fantastic, not only did we have wonderful table company, but the meal itself was lovely.  As we dined we were entertained by very talented Opera performers that added a nice touch to the elgant ambiance without being overpowering.   

I know everyone enjoyed the multiple opportunities to get up from our chairs and take a few spins around the floor with  a few welcomed general dancing opportunities.  It was great to catch up with familiar faces and make a few new aquantances.  Afterall, I beleive the dance community is just one huge extended family. 

Watching the Professional International Latin and America Smooth competitors was mesmerizing.  Choosing the best of the best in the Showdance challenge could not have been an easy task this year.

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Dean were once again out doing themselves in making this year an event to remember.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Results and Event Information Please Visit: http://www.flstatedance.com/

 

Awestruck

Having completed a day of pro-am competition, I was exhausted.  It was the best I had felt in a long time.

Now, I was dressed in my best and ready for the formal dinner with competition and show dances.

It was such an incredible night.  The dance hall was packed with people. There was hardly enough room to move about.  We all found our seats for dinner and of course the food was amazing, but I couldn’t wait for everyone to hurry up and finish eating.  I was hardly able to sit still with the anticipation of the upcoming evening dance events.  I was even more excited to find out I was running score sheets from the floor judges.  This would put me in the best possible seat of the house.  Really, how much better could you get than ON THE FLOOR!?

The music started and the rhythm was both exotic and infectious.  No one in the building was sitting still.  The MC called the competing couples onto the floor and the evening  competition had officially begun!  Well tanned, men and women were strutting onto the floor in pairs one after the other.  Each with costuming that sparkled with meticulously placed rhinestone, sequins and glitter.  As they started the first dance of the heat you could feel the thump of the base in your chest and hear the precision of foot work coupled with the swooshing of fringed skirts.  They were so close, I could feel a breeze as they passed by me.  To be that close was very intense.  I LOVED IT!  People were clapping and cheering and screaming out the names of their favorite couples.  I even saw men in the back of the room standing on chairs to get a better view!  

As we watched the Pro Latin show, I couldn’t help but think of how many times I would sit on the living room floor and watch them on television and here I was sitting only feet away.  How amazing it must feel for them to travel the world demonstrating their gift for thousands of people.  To have that level of talent and determination. 

As we drove home I thought………..”What if I made that my goal?  What if I actually made it to the Professional rankings?  Wouldn’t that just be something.”

We are hitting the floor!

I remember the first competition I ever attended.  It was different from anything I had ever seen before in my entire life.  It was different from open social, in studio demos, certainly much different from showcases and more amazing than watching the pros on television.

Let me start from the beginning………..

I woke up earlier this day than any day before.  I could barely sleep I was so excited.  After coffee I jumped in the shower and got ready to go.  With my hair tied in a tighter then probably necessary bun and every hair smoothly shellacked into place and nails superglued and painted brightly I packed everything I could need to get through the day and be ready for the night events. 

Hauling my overstuffed suitcase to the car I realized I would probably not need 30 colors of eye shadow or 10 colors of lip stain or 5 million hair pins.  I probably could have left 1 or 2 of the 5 pairs of shoes home. (Surely I wouldn’t get stuck with a broken shoe without replacement).  I was definitely doing a great boy scout impression when it came to being prepared.    So off to the comp we go.

After registering I walked into the main event area where I was overcome by sound sight and smell.  Dancers were already warming up!  I could hear the suede bottom shoes brushing across the floor and exotic rhythms from the background sound system check. I watched paired dancers whirl around the floor stretching and perfecting every movement from head to toe in these last few moments before the first heats of the day would be danced.  I could smell the odd mix of coffee, hairspray, tan and glue wafting through the air and strangely I loved the pungent odor combination.

Nudged by my dance teacher at the time, I realized it was go time.  I needed to find a spot to change in the crowded ladies changing room and get ready for our quick warm up before hitting the floor as a full-fledged Pro-Am competitor.

As we walked onto the floor when our number was called, I lost all feeling in my legs and arms.  I was so excited and nervous I could hardly move……..and then it happened………

Over the music, miscellaneous chatter, people yelling out for their favorites and my nervouse thoughts  I heard the best  sound in the world.  “SMILE JENNIFER! ”, “OH! THATS MY GIRL!”.  My grandmother and two of  her very best friends, Naomi and Carol had come and had set themselvs up at a table right on the floors edge.  These ladies could have been heard from the parking lot they were so excited.  It was exactly what I needed to stop thinking so much, start dancing and just have fun. 

In fact, it was exactly the boost in confidence I needed to win. 

Amazement and Realization

It was finally happening.  I never thought I would be ready.  I had participated in showcases and had been consistently in the studio taking kids classes and private lessons and it happened. My teacher called me over and asked if I would like to compete Pro-Am in a local competition. I was so excited, the “YES!” just burst out of my mouth.  It would be a few hours later before I thought about where would I get a dress, what shoes were in good enough shape and not worn out completely. How would I do my hair and makeup? Then it really hit……what will we dance? How many people will be there? How will I do? What if I truly am not ready yet? Will I remember all the things I had been studying?

Then I realized………………none of this mattered.   Afterall, without stepping off the porch I would never get to play in the yard.