US Dancesport Championships

[pygmalion]

Is anybody in DF going? Have you been to USDSC before? If so, please help clue in the newbies. How does one dress, act, prepare, to get the most out of the experience? Is it worth the airfare or drive ? (I assume so, I just figured I should ask :oops: :lol: ) How does the whole thing work?

[Laura]

I went two years ago to dance in some Pro/Am events and also to spectate. The year I went, the Pro/Am fields were medium-sized -- I was dancing in the Gold Standard syllabus events and in the Open Pro/Am Over-35 ("B") Scholarship. There were only semi-finals in my single-dance events, and a quarter-final in my scholarship.

The most exciting thing for me about going was watching the US Open Professional, US Open Amateur, and World Professional Championships. They were dancing the World Professional Latin Championship the year I went, and I swear the roof was going to blow off the place with all the excitement. Bryan & Carmen won that year.

It's rather an expensive trip if you're coming from California like I did. The year I went was the last year that they held it at the Fountainbleau in Miami Beach. Miami Beach itself is a ton of fun, and there were very inexpensive hotels in walking distance from the Fountainbleau, so I was able to save some money that way. However, they have moved the competition to the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood. I don't know that that place is like but some people say the set up there is even better than at the Fountainbleau.

Unless you are used to Florida's climate, the weather in Miami during the USDSC is horrid. It's very hot, very humid, and rains every day. It was so hot and humid that all the windows of the Fountainbleau's lobby were continually steamed up. Hollywood is only a bit up the coast, so the weather will be the same. Also, the year I went, the USDSC was during the high Jewish holidays, so many businesses (including the restaurant in the Days Inn I was staying in) were closed and the whole town seemed kind of dead. Don't know if that's true this year or not, or even if it's true at the new location.

In sum, I think everyone who curious should go once. I went and have decided that I really have no reason ever to go back. I'd rather spend my time and money checking out other major competitions before 'repeating' at the USDSC, such as by going to the Yankee Classic, Heritage, the MAC (Manhatten Amateur Classic) and the USABDA Nationals. It's not that there's anything wrong with USDSC, it's just that if I only go to one major comp a year aside from Emerald Ball, I'd rather try different comps.

Since you already live in Florida you should definitely go. The daytime sessions are for Pro/Am and initial heats of the Amateur and Professional events. These are very sparsely attended, and you can wear decent casual wear (no jeans or shorts, although I can't imagine anyone really cares). The evening sessions, except for Tuesday and Wednesday night the year I went, seem to sell out. People dress nicely -- men in suits or at least sports jackets, women in cocktail dresses or evening suits, some even in evening gowns. There's some social dancing, but only if the schedule allows. Because the crowd in the evening is quite large, the atmosphere is very festive, making it more fun for everyone with all the cheering.

[Warren J. Dew]

I usually go. It's certainly the best ballroom dancing you will see in the U.S. Often the events that are not world championships will be as good or even better than the events that are, as they are not restricted to the 'two couples per country' rule.

This year, the World Latin and the Open Standard are both on the same day - Saturday - so one doesn't have to take an entire week off. But I'll probably also want to see the World Classic Show Dance on Thursday, where you often get to see the top American Smooth couples competing against some of the top Standard couples from around the world.

There are fewer inexpensive hotels near the new location, but we were able to find one last year. Air fares are also lower if you book early.

[pygmalion]

Sounds like THE place to be ... at least that weekend. 8) :D