UK Open - Jan. 23-24 2007

[DancingJools]

Time to start a thread on this one.
Anyone going?
Any news, gossip, speculation?
I just bought my tickets. I suppose I could post this in the "gratitude thread". I called the box office and bought the last available ticket for the final night (Thursday).
If I had waited a couple more hours, I would have wasted half my trip because they don't sell standing room only tickets (like they do at Blackpool). The tickets for the other two nights are OK. But for the final, it's up in the balcony (read, Siberia).
If you know someone who doesn't want his/her ticket for the final, and it's a good seat, pm me. The box office doesn't take returns, so the owner of the ticket will need to find someone to buy it, anyway.
I tried to get the tickets online, and found a crappy seat for the final. So I stayed up (it's 5:00 am) to call England when the box office opens and buy a ticket over the phone, hoping to sweet talk the attendant into giving me a better choice of seats.
Hah.
At least I'm glad I called and got my ticket.

[Twilight_Elena]

UK Open. Man. That's so cool... *drool*
Official site? Where is it happening?

T_E

[DancingJools]

There isn't much of an official site. The event is held at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), Windsor Hall.
The box office online is:
www.bic.co.uk/Box%5FOffice/

The official website itself is:
www.dance-news.co.uk/
These are the same people who run the International in October.
The results are done by scrutelle:
www.scrutelle.info

But to get a real good idea of the event, I usually check the results of previous years. This gives an idea of the number and quality of entries, etc. Also, this event usually gets taped and the video sold (like Blackpool).
The results of last year are here:

http://dancesportinfo.net/CompByMonthPlace.aspx?CompID=1936

For this year, I am really curious to see if Arunas Bizokas & Edita Daniute will compete. This is not an IDSF event, and given the current really bad feelings between the IDSF and the WDC, I'd be interested in seeing how this will be handled. The UK Open is sanctioned by the WDC.
I am also curious to see who wins the Latin pro. It's a very tight race between Michael/Joanna and Slavik/Elena.
I want to see Evgenyi Smagin with his new partner.
I want to see how well Val and Valerya will do this time. Their results in Blackpool were a disappointment.
I wonder if I'll get to see Franco Formica and his new partner.
I want to see how far Stefano di Filippo will go in the Amateur Latin.
There are a few others of my favorite amateur couples that I want to see. Hope they all show up.

[dancesportgirl21]

Judging by this video and their recent results, I think Stefano and Anna will do very well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AG4YDQpzt8

[DancingJools]

My money is on him to win the world title before too long. I think he is the best Latin amateur man out there, and he has found the right partner.
(Also, I don't really care for the Stockebroes. They leave me cold).

[GJB]

Are Klaus and Viktoria still dancing?

[DancingJools]

Dunno. Haven't heard anything about that. But then I've been away from the gossip mill for some time.
Do you know something I don't? :-)

[GJB]

No, I haven't heard anything. I just don't remember seeing their names in any comp. results for a while now.

[Nik]

Mauricio(sp) will win the worlds before stephano does, although they are great. In fact he already took paso at the last worlds, and again at international.

Klaus turned pro some time ago and danced the worlds where he got 7th I believe. He is now on dancing with the stars in Europe so maybe thats why theres been no comps.

[swan]

For this year, I am really curious to see if Arunas Bizokas & Edita Daniute will compete. This is not an IDSF event, and given the current really bad feelings between the IDSF and the WDC, I'd be interested in seeing how this will be handled. The UK Open is sanctioned by the WDC.

I think they'll dance it. UK Open is usually like the Golden Globe Award, a precursor to the Oscar (that'll be Blackpool).

I'd think it's imperative for the top dancers to dance in this one & set the stage for the upcoming May comp.

[maximus2uk]

Hi all.
I will be going on the wednesday,for the UK Rising Stars Championships 2007 Daytime Session. And the UK Open Professional Ballroom Championship
(Dances: Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot and Quickstep) Also the UK Open Amateur Latin Championship
(Dances: Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive).

As i am new to ballroom dancing this will be my first championship event.And i am really looking forward to it.

I have a front row balcony seat,so it should be a great view.

If you are going , enjoy !!!

Michael

[Becca]

I am also curious to see who wins the Latin pro. It's a very tight race between Michael/Joanna and Slavik/Elena.

I wonder if I'll get to see Franco Formica and his new partner.

Oooh, yesss! I have a friend who will be there, she's promised to keep me updated throughout . . . I remember last year I was desperately reloading the Dancesportinfo results page every five seconds to find out who had won. I think it's so much closer this time round as well.

And I heard that Franco would wait until Blackpool before taking to the competition floor again, but I don't know for definite.