Desert Classic

[bailarín]

A couple of us mentioned the Desert Classic comp in another thread by Callen and then realized it should have it's own thread with the holiday nearing and all. The judging panel alone looks interesting. Anyone know about the talent showing up for it? In the past the Desert Classic hosted an IDSF event that attracted talent from overseas. Is anyone from DF going who can give us reports?

[bailarín]

Of course since the VA State thread, I've got the scholarship question in my head and figured I should look at this since I started this thread. What I don’t get is that there is great prize money for all 4 styles for the pros and for pro/am, but only Standard and Latin for the amateurs. If I read this right - here’s a summary from their website:

2 styles –

Open Amateur (Standard and Latin) $500 for first, top 6 places, plus Masters, Senior, and Youth

4 styles -

Open Pro (4 styles) $1800 for first, top 6 places
Rising Star Pro (4 styles) $600 for first, top 6 places
Pro/Am Open Global (Latin and Standard) $750 for first, top 6 places
Pro/Am (Smooth and Rhythm) $500 for first, top 6 places
Pro/Am Closed Bronze/Silver (4 styles, 3 age groups) $200 for first, top 6 places, plus top solo

I might have missed a few. This post would be too long if I posted all the prize money, but it still looks very good in general.

[chocolatchica]

Since this is a Desert Classic thread, does anyone know of anyone big going?

[jenndora]

Maxim Kozhevnikov and Yulia Zagorouitchenko will be there. They're the biggest that I've heard about.

[DanceMentor]

I added this one to our comp list as well:
http://www.dance-forums.com/competitions/details.php?id=38

[SDsalsaguy]

Any other DF people going to be there?

[DancerForLife]

We'll be going; for Ama Rhythm, Standard and Smooth.

I think Yaniv will be there as well, and if I'm correct then Threestep is registered as well.

We'll be there Friday night onwards, so will try to give updates when possible. Not sure we'll spend the entire weekend inside the ballroom though ;-), but will keep track of whatever I can.

The heatlists are up...

Pro standard:
- Christian Clayton with Kathryn Clayton
- Slava Sergiev with Katya Sergiev
- Eddie Stutts with Viktoria Belova
- Jonathan Wilkins with Katusha Demidova
- Igor Litvinov with Julia Ivleva
- Youriy Pavlov with Anna Shahbazyan
- Bill Bisko with Kaori Asano
- Vitaliy Vdovichenko with Lyudmila Borodulina
- Peter Walker with Mariko Cantley
- Vladimir Popov with Darya Sushko
- Francesco Flumiani with Diana Surkis
- Ikaika Dowsett with Jula Walker
- Roman Mirkin with Natalia Biedniagina

Pro latin:
- Jonathan Roberts with Anna Trebunskaya
- Eddie Stutts with Viktoria Belova
- Thomasz Lewandowski with Izabela Lewandowska
- Brian Coyne with Deborah Coyne
- Jason Daly with Tarn Daly
- Vaidotas Skimelis with Jurga Pupelyte
- Jiri Kosydar with Monika Dubovska
- Marcus Johnson with Yuki Haraguchi
- Billy King with Katerina Kuznetsova
- Maxim Kozhevnikov with Yulia Zagoruychenko
- Sergey Korshunov with Michelle Hafle
- Stefan Vogel with Tatiana Banko
- Pasha Barsuk with Olga Ginzburg
- Slavik Kriklivi with Elena Hvorova
- Andrey Gavriline with Elena Kruchkova
- Roman Mirkin with Natalia Biedniagina
NOTICE SLAVIK WITH ELENA!!!!!

Pro smooth:
- Christian Clayton with Kathryn Clayton
- Hunter Johnson with Maria Johnson
- Youriy Pavlov with Anna Shahbazyan
- Eddie Alba with Susannah Cuesta

Pro rhythm:
- Michael Neil with Danielle Wilson
- Octavio Morales with Katrina Mahoney
- Tony Dovolani with Elena Grinenko
- Sean Tamashiro with Jennifer Suzuki
- Evengy Dyachenko with Inna Ivanenko
- Pierre-Antoine Emmanuel with Joanna Zacharewicz
- Sebastion Westfall with Jennifer Atlas

So the pro events look promising, especially latin and rhythm; and standard has several big names as well :-)

[yaniv]

I'll be dancing in the Amateur Standard. I remember back when the open int'l amateur events used to be much bigger, and used to attract international talent back when it was an IDSF event. Although it no longer attracts the number of couples, I've always enjoyed going to this competition because the hotel is great, and the competition itself is very well run. Actually my picture on the left is from last year's event :)

Am Standard:
- Max Sinitsa with Lela Weinert
- Robert Bunnett with Borbala Bunnet
- Yaniv Inbar with Adriana Pacheco
- Chris Moffat with Sandra Mandawe
- Andrea Faraci with Erica Ridgeway
- Ira Pollock with Abby Pollock
Am Latin:
- Klim Sinelnikov with Laura Kveladze
- Marlon Enriquez with Crystal Chin
- Henry Lankin with Alla Kocherga
- Richard Le with Amanda Coursey
- Ethan Lin with Jennifer Kanchukova
Am Smooth:
- Robert Bunnett with Borbala Bunnet
- Edward Rogers with Trisha Rogers
- Greg Brittain with Carolyn Hays
Am Rhythm:
- Robert Bunnett with Borbala Bunnet
- Edward Rogers with Trisha Rogers
- Bill Myers with Denise Otterbein
- Lester Espinoza with Shawn Nichole
- Jonathan Marion with Janelle Bouey

[dressgirl]

Go Go Sdsalsaguy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

[bailarín]

Yaniv - good pic - and you're famous!
This is great!
SD, cool! Do you do many competitions?

[Katarzyna]

Yay for SdSalsaguy, wish I could watch him dance (wish I could dance at this comp too ) good luck !

[SDsalsaguy]

Go Go Sdsalsaguy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
Hopefully... :lol:

[SDsalsaguy]

SD, cool! Do you do many competitions?
No, not many at all. Earlier on there was an issue regarding the possability of perceived conflits of interest given the access to top coaches/judges I had through my research, so I only competed very locally in CA.

That said, my main partner gave uo competing 4 years ago, and the last time we were on the floor together was 2.5 years ago at our old college's comp for a "for old time's sake" rehash of our old routines.

Just having completed my Ph.D. there was the possability thatI'd be moving away as early as August and as far as the East Coast, so we decided to do one last comp, again for old time's sake, in case that happened. (As things stand now, I will be here at least through the fall.)

We're not expecting much since she got married while I was in Blackpool ad was then on her Honeymoon while I was finishing up and then defending my dissertation so, overall, we've had just over three weeks to put back together routines that we've only used onece in the past 4 years and haven't even touched in the past 2.5 years.

Ironically enough (I guess) this is the largest Open Am. Rhythm* field we've ever been in, so we're not hoping for too much given everything else.



* [Note: we also did some Latin and a tiny bit of Standard way bck when, but since Rhythm is the first style we started with together it is always the style we choose to return to sicne it is the most "us" -- i.e. neither of us has ever competed in Rhythm with anyone else.]

[SDsalsaguy]

Yay for SdSalsaguy, wish I could watch him dance (wish I could dance at this comp too ) good luck ! Thanks Katarzyna, but believe me, you're not missing much by not seeing me dance... heck this way you can still delude yourself into thinking I can! :lol:

Seriously though, and as noted in my post above, this is only the second time we're revisiting the comp floor in four years, and with under a month of prep time at that (unavoidable based on her wedding/honeymoon on her end and Blackpool /finishing my Ph.D. on mine), although we've been working very hard to get everything back together and "floor worthy."

[Katarzyna]

Still, would love to watch you, it's only fair, you've seen me ....

But good luck, and all the best

[ThreeStep]

Here right now. Love this hotel. When're you dancing SalsaGuy?

[SDsalsaguy]

Here right now. Love this hotel. When're you dancing SalsaGuy?
Yep, that is a great hotel, isn't it? Eaisly among my very, very fvorite comp hotels!

Driving up this afternoon (hopefully get there before 5pm) but not dancing until tomorrow night in the Open Amateur Rhythm.

[star_gazer]

Does anyone know who is dancing in the Professional Team Match that is scheduled for Sunday night?

[DancerForLife]

Results from tonight:

Pro Smooth:
1. Hunter and Maria Johnson
2. Christian and Kathryn Clayton
3. Youriy Pavlov and Anna Shahbazyan

Pro Latin:
1. Andrei Gavriline and Elena Kruchkova (1,2,1,1,1)
2. Max Kozhevnikov and Yulia (2,1,2,2,2)
3. Vaidotas Skimelis and Jurga Pupelyte (4,3,4,3,4)
4. Jonathan Roberts and Anna Trebunskaya
5. Thomasz and Isabela Lewandowski
6. Stefan Vogel and Tatiana Banko

Semifinal (10 couple semi; in no particular order):
Eddie Stutts and Vika Belova
Jason and Tarn Daly
Marcus Johnson and Yuki Haraguchi
Roman Mirkin and Natalia Biedniagina

There was a quarter-final as well.

The ballroom is beautiful, the ligthing is awesome. The hotel lobby is being renovated but it doesn't really impact much.

There is a video from last year's competition that is looping on the hotel video. It is good 45 minutes long (or more), shows pros, pro-ams, amateurs, dancing all styles - it is really good to have up. I wish there was scrolling messge telling folks that they can watch the comp in this hotel, now - there is one note at the very end that the comp is under way, but not everyone may be looking at that...

[DancerForLife]

Team match (will be danced Sunday night):

Blue team:
Hunter and Maria Johnson
Slavik Kriklivi and Elena Hvorova (haven't seen them, didn't compete tonight)
Eddie Stutts and Vika Belova
Emmanuel Pierre and Joanna

Red team:
David and Valentina Weise
Pavlo Barsuk and Olga Ginzburg
Evgeniy Dyachenko and Inna Ivanenko
Vitaliy Vdovichenko and Ludmila Borodulina

Green team:
Nick and Elena Kosovich
Jonathan Roberts and Anna Trebunskaya
Michael Neil and Danielle Wilson
Igor Litvinov and Julia Ivleva

Yellow team:
Christian and Kathryn Clayton
Andrei Gavrliline and Elena Kruchkova
Tony Dovolani and Elena Grinenko
Roman Mirkin and Natalia Biedniagina

[DancerForLife]

Results from Saturday night:

Pro Standard (from QF round):
1. Igor and Julia (1,1,1,1,1)
2. Eddie and Vika (2,2,3,2,2)
3. Vitaliy and Lyudmila (3,3,2,3,4)
4. Slava and Katya
5. Francesco and Diana
6. Roman and Natalia (Ukraine)

Pro Rhythm (from SF round):
1. Tony and Elena (1,1,1,1,1)
2. Emmanuelle and Joanna (2,3,2,3,2)
3. Evgeniy and Inna (3,2,3,2,3)
4. Michael and Danielle
5. Decho and Bree
6. Juan and Carrie Jo

Over 35 Standard:
1. Angus and Dara
2. Glenn and Anne
Not sure about the rest...

Amateur Latin:
1. Grigoriy and Lilit
2. Michael and Alice
3. Klim and Laura
4. Henry and Alla
5. Marlon and Crystal
6. Sinelnikov and Partner
7. Ethan and Jennifer

Amateur Rhythm:
1. Lester and Chandra (1,1,1,1,1)
2. Robert and Borbala (2,2,2,2,2)
3. Jonathan and Janelle (3,3,3,3,3)
4. Ed and Trisha
5. Bill and Denise

Jukka and Siirpa's show was absolutely amazing. It was soooo good to see some good, old fashioned dancing - no gimmicks, just lot of beautiful and good, strong dancing... Very nice.

BTW, last night, the DJ's laptop was stolen, so he was working with what he could find all day today. There were quite a few problems with the music, but it all worked out in the end...

[Laura]

Thanks for the results! Do you happen to know how the Rising Star Standard worked out? It was yesterday afternoon.

I had the good fortune to see Jukka & Siirpa in a competition once, and also in a show just after they retired. They were awesome, and am glad that they were back showing their great style and technique.

P.S. Lester's partner's name is difficult to spell, it's Shawnd'rae.

[Katarzyna]

Also, do you know the amateur results?

[DancerForLife]

Hi Kat - what ama result are you looking for? Latin and Rhythm are above, Standard and Smooth will be danced tonight.

[Katarzyna]

standard.. sorry didn't specify :) didn't know the competition wasn't finished yet :)

[SDsalsaguy]

standard.. sorry didn't specify :) didn't know the competition wasn't finished yet :)
Unlike most E.C. comps, W.C. comps tend to finish Sunday night! ;)

I'll have *plenty* more to report on later....

[Katarzyna]

Unlike most E.C. comps, W.C. comps tend to finish Sunday night! ;)

I'll have *plenty* more to report on later....I see :) can't wait to hear about it :)

[alemana]

[QUOTE=DancerForLife]Results from Saturday night:



Pro Rhythm (from SF round):
1. Tony and Elena (1,1,1,1,1)
2. Emmanuelle and Joanna (2,3,2,3,2)
3. Evgeniy and Inna (3,2,3,2,3)
4. Michael and Danielle
5. Decho and Bree
6. Juan and Carrie Jo


Amateur Rhythm:
1. Lester and Chandra (1,1,1,1,1)
2. Robert and Borbala (2,2,2,2,2)
3. Jonathan and Janelle (3,3,3,3,3)
4. Ed and Trisha
5. Bill and Denise

[QUOTE]


way to go Salsaguy - placing your first time back!!!

oh, and i'm not sure why, but many folks incorrectly identify "emmanuel" as "emmanuelle." the former is the male version and correct - emmanuelle is the female version.

[Katarzyna]

way to go Salsaguy - placing your first time back!!!
Didn't notice the name, SdSalsaguy.. Great comeback!

[ThreeStep]

I saw SDSalsaGuy rockin the house. Who'd have thought?
Damn boy.

ThreeStep
(fan)

[Musique]

slavic and elena again didn't dance?

[latingal]

Hey SD congrats! Wish I had been there to watch...next time hopefully? Again - congrats Dr. dude....

[DancerForLife]

OK... from Sunday night:

Amateur Standard:
1. Andrea Faraci and Erica Ridgeway
2. Max Sinitsa and Leila Weinert
3. Ira and Abby Pollock
4. Michael and Alice Cho
5. Yaniv Inbar and Adriana Pacheco
6. Robert and Borbala Bunnett
7. Chris Moffat and Sandra Mandawe

Amateur Smooth:
1. Robert and Borbala Bunnett
2. Ed and Trisha Rodgers
3. Greg Brittain and Carolyn Hayes

The pro-am global scholarship was won by Corky Ballas and student. Wasn't watching for the other results, sorry...

The pro team match was still going on when I left the ballroom - have a 5 am cab 'appointment' I must keep, so came up to pack, get some work done and get to sleep.

Pro team match: 4 couples in each team, dancing one dance at a time - Standard, Rhythm, Smooth, Latin. The three judges are to place a flower in each team's vase for each winning couple, and the team with the most flowers wins. The green team seemed ahead when I left.

Overall I thought it was a great comp, Igor and Irinia were wonderful hosts. I strongly recommend the event for anyone interested in coming out this way -the hotel price was reasonable, so were the entries - both to the ballroom and dance entries, and there was some good competition.

[DancerForLife]

Yes, Slavik and Elena did not dance. The other notable absence - entered but didn't show - were Jonathan and Katusha.

Rhythm was the best attended field in terms of top competitors (Tony&Elena, Emmanuel&Joanna and Evgeniy&Inna were here), latin had some of the top (Andrei&Elena, Max&Yulia), smooth/standard wasn't that well represented.

[star_gazer]

OMG...the team match was funny. I think it was the green team's opener that was cross-dressed and very...enthusiastic. By the end of the match everyone was dancing with everyone. DancerForLife...you should have stayed; I laughed til I cried.

[DancerForLife]

I did see the dance on and the first few dances.... Seeing Jonathan Roberts and Igor Litvinov in little black skirts with a bra top, as well as pink straw hats, was priceless. I have to tell you, Jonathan knows how to work it ;-).

It was nice to see the pros in a bit more relaxed setting :-)

[dancesportgirl21]

i want to see pictures! :D

[mamboqueen]

Congrats SD! Didn't even know you were competing!

[SDsalsaguy]

Have to go teach my summer class now (1st day of class for 5 hours/day, 5 days/week, 3 week intensive class) which is what i was up all night finalizing and getting ready for.

Still, for those interested, I 've posted a few photos of janelle in I in the Ballroom Album which will have to suffice until I can give my full write up (tomorrow?). Enjoy (i.e. please don't laugh too hard!)! :wink:

[gracie]

Could someone post the Pro Rising Star American Smooth results? Thanks!

[alemana]

you guys look great in the photos, salsaguy :)

[guille_bdancer]

you guys look great in the photos, salsaguy :)

I totally agree...

[DancerForLife]

Pro Rising Star Smooth results:

1. Youriy Pavlov and Anna
2. not sure (write-in)

[alemana]

wait, the team match was still going on at like 3 in the morning?

[DancerForLife]

No... it ended around 11 or so. There is something funky with the time setting :-)

[alemana]

if anyone knows of any pro shots froM desert, i'd love a pointer. thanks.

[SDsalsaguy]

Just posted a few shots from the Pro Rhythm and From Jukka & Siirpa's show in the DF ballroom album... sorry I didn't get more, but I since I had just finished dancing myself, I only had my most basic gear with me (which I'd handed off to Janelle's husband to get photos of us dancing too!).