2004 USABDA National's, Aug 13-15

[DanceAm]

Just checking to see of anyone is interested in discussing this years National's. Many Amateur Titles will be competed for and the International Style Champions will represent us around the world.

Victor Fung and Ana have turned pro since last year, that means the Standard title is up for grabs.

Eugene and Maria will surely take the Latin Title as they have for years.

I predict Andrew and Michelle Tate will take the 10 Dance title again. They are both such good dancers and seem to work so hard on all their dances. They compete in both Standard and Latin as well as 10 dance and I don't think they ever made the semi-finals last year in those catagories. I guess that shows there is something to be said for specializing in category.

I think the American Rhythm is up for grabs this year. Jeff and Alison Small from Atlanta are the reigning champs but now only compete 35 and over Latin. The 2nd place couple from last year I don't think are even competing together anymore.

I am not sure about Smooth. Anyone have a guess?

9 dance might just be the Andrew and Janie Nordberg again. I don't know if anyone is able to take that title yet.

I think the Northeast wants to claim all the titles this year. Anyone think differently?

[pygmalion]

Hmm. Never been. Can somebody give a synopsis? :)

[Porfirio Landeros]

USABDA posts a list of those qualified to compete at the nationals on their website... I am surprised at some names that are missing from this list, with respect to smooth. These people are either going to show up to the s/w regionals this weekend, which would be awesome since it would be a good practice run for nationals, or they are not doing nationals since this weekend is their last chance to qualify (I'm hinting that I can't see where the current USABDA champions have qualified yet).

[Porfirio Landeros]

Hmm. Never been. Can somebody give a synopsis? :)

This is THE mecha for amateur dancesport in the USA. It's held in a very large, arena atmosphere, and all the best that want to represent the US abroad will be there, along with any takers on the other titles (smooth, rhythm, bronze/silver/gold, etc.).

My first time was last year, and it was great... the town was a little boring... I guess I'm spoiled by all the west coast comps that are in vegas, the bay, or LA, where you can party afterward ;)

Anyway, I haven't booked my trip yet, since I have some work commitments, but I hope I can make it again, since I gotta hopefully crack the final again, and maybe place a little higher... if not this year, there's always the next.

[SDsalsaguy]

Yup, and next year its in SF where are own DF member Laura is part of the steering committee! :banana:

[Porfirio Landeros]

Yup, and next year its in SF where are own DF member Laura is part of the steering committee! :banana:

I thought we had to wait one more year for San Jose to host, because MN had a 3-year agreement... I hope I'm wrong :?

Laura did a great job with her team at the San Jose regionals last year... they can certainly tackle the national event!

[Laura]

The 2005 Nationals will be in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The 2006 Nationals will be in San Jose, California.

Hope to see many of you in San Jose! I won't be at Nationals this year because I'm going to New Zealand. But I'll be there in 2005, whether I'm dancing or not :-)

[DanceAm]

Were you there last year Laura?

If you were going this year, would you be taking a lot of notes and getting behind the scenes? Are you planning to run your National's like they run their's or are you going from past experience?

[Laura]

Nope, wasn't there last year, either. But I am definitely going in 2005 no matter what, as I really do need to observe one in person before helping to host one.... When I go next year I fully intend to pay a lot of attention to what is going on and how things are run.

NorCal has run Nationals before, plus many other comps, so our goal is to combine what has been working for us with what is working in Minnesota and with what the USABDA GC/EC requires of us. (Not sure how much latitude that actually gives us :-) ) I'm always open to ideas, so if there's something that you particularly like about how things are done in Minnesota, be sure to let me know. Ditto for complaints.

[DanceAm]

The only thing I had trouble with last year was with proficiency point verification. There was a couple with 4 proficiency points that was allowed to compete and it wasn't corrected until after the comp. I had the comps and the points earned written down for them. I had contacted a comp official and he did a very cursory investigation. If I had access to the Internet 45 min before the start of the heat, I could have shown the discrepancy. Instead they simply asked the couple and the couple replied that not all the heats they competed in had semi-finals.

Either have the results of USABDA comps saved on a PC for as many comps as you can or have access to the Internet or be prepared to check this out. The problem with On-line sites is results over a year old are replaced by the next years comp.

I know it is not the comps responsiblity and technically not the responsibility of anyone but the competitors.

[mr bixx]

hey this is like 45 min frmo my house. i'm gonna go check it out. if any of you are up here fro it and would like to go out dancing that weekend, we should meet up. idk if you do that sorta thing on this forum though.

[pygmalion]

Lots of folks do. 8)

[Chris Stratton]

The thing about enforcing proficiency points is that in the absence of official documentation of results, and clear understanding of the what are actual rules and procedures vs. people's personal opininons about what they should be, it's hard for an organizer to know what to do in the instant when a decision must be made. Organizers are actually bound by a rule which enjoins them from preventing anyone from dancing something for which the _are_ elgible - so with competing claims they could land in a pretty tight spot.

[marykomatsu]

I am surprised at some names that are missing from this list, with respect to smooth. (I'm hinting that I can't see where the current USABDA champions have qualified yet).

Must be Jon Medlin/Lauren Rand. I somehow thought I saw their names on one of the Regionals in the south, but could be mistaken. They are awesome smooth dancers, so it is hard to imagine they would miss nationals '04.

This Nationals is going to be a wild event. So many possibilities for the Open Standard that predicting the winner is impossible. Even picking out the final is tough. For 10 dance, the Tates may be challenged by Pasha/Inna. Though a very young couple they are tremendous.

[etchuck]

Since I see Jonathan Medlin, I will ask him about Nationals. I do know that Lauren is getting married in the near future. At least when it comes to getting the "official story" from them, I'll see what I can find out.

[DanceAm]

I saw Jonathan and Lauren compete at the Atlanta Southeast Regional. They are eligible. Whether they go or not is up to them.

Nels Peterson and Theresa Kimmler (sp) are past Rhythm and 9 Dance Champs. Nels got the Smooth title once before with another partner but not with Theresa. It seems they keep coming back to get that title but Jonathan and Lauren jumped above them and kept it.

In a Dancebeat artical about Nationals, the reporter loved Theresa and said she was the best dancer on the floor, but laid into Nels about his weight. If Nels loses a few lbs. and polishes up a bit, they could beat Jonathan and Lauren.

So if Lauren is getting married, I guess J and L are not personally involved. I never would have guessed, they have such good chemistry on the floor. My wife thinks Lauren is a little too expressive, but both are great dancers none-the-less. I might still pick them to win, no matter how much Nels prepares.

[Porfirio Landeros]

You're right... I see Jonathan and Lauren on the list now. I guess I should have used the Adobe search tool :P

But, I didn't find Nels' name. I bring this up, because the top finishers at western regionals took some marks off the 1st and 2nd placers this last year. And at the western regional, there were quite a few exchanges in marks at the top (in smooth), which consisted of Californians, so this could be the time that the smooth title returns to California (since the Sinitsas retired from smooth to focus on standard the year before last).

Thanks for clarifying the eligiblity list...

[DanceAm]

Nels and Theresa were in Atlanta too. They weren't in the program and possibly showed up and competed at the last minute. But that makes them eligible.

I have a picture of them in Atlanta if they need proof. I remember it too because my wife wanted them to win and I was putting my money on J and L.

[Waltz Lover]

Hello all! First time posting here and I thought I'd jump in on the Nationals thread. I attended last year, but had only been dancing 3 months. This year I will be volunteering during the whole event. I'm also excited because now I've got a little (year's worth) dancing experience, and as I started social dancing in February, I know A LOT of the people competing locally.

I would like to nominate Anne Glynn and Tom LaTourelle for the smooth and standard. I didn't know them last year, but they are avid competitors and I'm certain they will place.

Looking forward to meeting any of you there! :D

[Katarzyna]

Who's going to the Nationals this year? What are you dancing?

[Porfirio Landeros]

This year I will be volunteering during the whole event.

Thanks for volunteering, Waltz Lover... We appreciate those that give time to make the event possible.

I will be there for the Smooth Championships... not to rain on anyone's parade, but I think California (San Diego, LA, Bay Area) will really be representing in the smooth A division.
:wink: :wink: :wink:

Good luck and happy dancing to all!

[Sania]

I'm going to watch and to take the workshops and do some social dancing. Hope to meet some of you there!

Sania

[Sania]

Here's the schedule for the workshops at Nationals this year in case anyone is interested:

TIME FRIDAY 8/13/04

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Jennifer McCalla - Fundalmentals of Movement

11:15 - 12:15 p.m. Dan Calloway - ISTD Cert. Exam. Preparation

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Bill Daves - Floorcraft, Musicality and Partnership

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Ron Bennett - Blending the Emotion and the Beat
(Int.Rhumba/Cha Cha)
--------------------------------
TIME SATURDAY 8/14/04

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Olga Foraponova - Musicality in Latin & Ballroom

11:15 - 12:15 p.m Forest Vance - American Rhythm Technique

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Chuck Danza - Partnership in Int. Rumba

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Dan Rutherford - Body Isolations and Body Rhythm
-----------------------------
TIME SUNDAY 8/15/04

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Glenn Weiss - Common Sense & How to Use It

11:15 - 12:15 p.m. Ron Bennett - Shifting the Sways -How to Produce
Beautiful Lines (Int. Standard)

12:30 - 1:30 p.m Olga Foraponova - Developing Balance & Power in
American or International Style

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Forrest Vance - Spins and Turns

[DanceAm]

We are competing:

Champ and Pre-Champ Rhythm A and S1.

Silver Smooth and Novice Smooth A and S1.

[UltraMagnus]

Novice International Latin and Pre-Champ International Latin

[pygmalion]

BEst of luck to the DFers at the USABDA comp. :D Be sure to come back and give us the scoop next week, if you can. And best of luck with your last-minute prep and practice. 8)

[Porfirio Landeros]

I should have taken this week off work, because I can hardly get anything done thinking about this weekend. Too bad they only have a Gym in our buidling and not a ballroom, so I could work out some mid-day frustrations.

[pygmalion]

Good luck. 8)

[mr bixx]

so whos all gonna be there from this forum? i would like to put some faces to the names here, and since your gonna be there it would help. i will be up there all day staurday. i plan to watch some but also to of my favorite coaches are there teaching to i'm going to sit in on a lworkshop. also can anyone tell me when the open rhythm(american) is? is it saturday night?

[Porfirio Landeros]

USABDA NATIONAL DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS 2004
Schedule of Events (First Rounds)

08:30AM Session 1 - Friday Matinee
08:30AM Adult/Senior I/Senior II Syllabus American Rhythm
10:05AM Adult/Senior I/Senior II Novice American Rhythm Events
11:00AM Adult/Senior I/Senior II Syllabus International Latin
12:04PM Adult/Senior I/Senior II Novice International Latin Events
12:31PM Adult/Senior I/Senior II Syllabus American Smooth
02:53PM Adult/Senior I/Senior II Novice American Smooth Events
03:33PM Adult A Championship International Latin
05:18PM End of Session
07:30PM Session 2 - Friday Evening
07:30PM Junior II Championship International Latin
07:52PM Senior II Championship American Rhythm
08:03PM Junior I Championship International Latin
08:15PM Youth Championship International 10-Dance
08:37PM Senior II Championship International Latin
09:34PM Theatre Arts
09:47PM Senior I Championship International Standard
10:09PM Adult A Championship International Latin
10:30PM Adult A Championship American 9-Dance
12:04AM End of Session

09:30AM Session 3 - Saturday Matinee
09:30AM Adult/Senior I/Senior II Syllabus International Standard
09:30AM Youth Syllabus American Smooth
10:57AM Preteen/Junior/Youth Syllabus International Latin Events
11:42AM Preteen/Junior/Youth Novice International Latin Events
12:15PM USABDA GENERAL MEETING
01:45PM Adult/Senior I/Senior II Novice International Standard Events
02:15PM Adult A Championship International Standard
04:25PM End of Session
07:30PM Session 4 - Saturday Evening
07:30PM Junior II Championship International Standard
07:41PM Preteen I/II Championship International Latin
07:52PM Senior II Championship International Standard
08:15PM Adult A Championship American Rhythm
08:37PM Cabaret
09:13PM Senior I Championship American Smooth
09:31PM Youth Championship International Latin
09:56PM Adult A Championship International Standard
11:48PM End of Session

09:30AM Session 5 - Sunday Matinee
09:30AM Adult/Senior I/Senior II PreChamp American Rhythm Events
09:30AM Preteen/Junior/Youth Syllabus International Standard Events
10:26AM Preteen/Junior/Youth Novice International Standard Events
10:48AM Adult/Senior I/Senior II PreChamp International Standard Events
10:48AM Preteen/Junior/Youth Syllabus American Rhythm Events
11:44AM Preteen/Junior/Youth PreChamp International Latin Events
01:20PM Adult/Senior I/Senior II PreChamp International Latin Events
02:14PM Adult/Senior I/Senior II PreChamp American Smooth Events
03:08PM Preteen/Junior/Youth PreChamp International Standard Events
04:20PM Formation Team Events
04:30PM Preteen I/Preteen II/Junior I Championship International Standard Events
04:46PM End of Session
07:30PM Session 6 - Sunday Evening
07:30PM Junior II Championship International 10 Dance
07:41PM Senior II Championship American Smooth
07:50PM Senior I Championship International Latin
08:35PM Adult A Championship International 10 Dance
08:46PM Senior I Championship American Rhythm
09:09PM Adult A Championship American Smooth
10:09PM Youth Championship International Standard
10:50PM End of Session

[mamboqueen]

Those workshops sound great! Wish I could be there.

I'll be in the Big Apple, competing on Thursday and Friday. I've already bitten off my fingernails. The lack of flexibility comes in hand when I start to eye my toenails!

Good luck to you all!

[Joe]

Acrylics?

[pygmalion]

Did some posts from this thread go missing? Hmm... :?

At any rate, best of luck and lots of fun to all the DFers who'll be there. Bring back lots of pix and great stories. 8) :D

[etchuck]

Pictures.... I want to see pictures!

[pygmalion]

Yes. How did it go? Observations? Not just results. 8)

[mamboqueen]

Yes, I should have done acrylics. But, knowing me, I would have bit those off, too!

[Waltz Lover]

*sigh* well, another year of nationals over. It was great. I was there all three days, Sunday the whole time. MN had a pretty good representation there - and we placed well. Janie and Andy Nordberg, Karen and Mark Tepley, David and Jeanie Schmidt, Anne Glynn and Tom LaTourelle, Tom Sheehan and partner . . . Nels Peterson and Theresa Kimmler were there most of the time spectating or volunteering, but didn't compete.

I heard that there weren't too many vendors - I guess the vendors realize the amateurs don't always spend a whole lot while there. Hmm, that's got to figure in a little bit why people do am/am - much cheaper than pro/am. But better business for the vendors - pro/am people tend to spend more.

It was fun meeting a few people from dance-forums there! I loved cheering them on. It makes spectating 100% better when I know the people I'm cheering on and screaming out their numbers.

I only got to one of the workshops - Forrest Vance on spins and turns. That was great. I'm only a bronze student, but I'd never heard yet the idea of settling the hips into the spin, or using the rotation of the hips to help you spin around. It sure made a difference when he spun without rotating the hip and when he did. His mantra was to step, turn, exhale (or relax the hip down).
His other great tip for me, since I'll be competing for the first time soon, was that you aren't dancing just with your partner at a competition, but your judges and audience. It can seem cold if you only spot your partner. Instead, when doing a spin, you don't exactly spot the audience, but on the rotation around, you do look out at them. I'm not sure if I can explain that concept better - I just have a good mental image of what he did.
The social dancing offered was so-so. I was there Saturday night and it was a medium crowd. It was really weird to be social dancing upstairs, when you know the nations best are dancing downstairs.
The ticketing was done better this year. Last year there were two prices, for general seating near the floor and for balcony. This year it was first come first serve for general seating. Much friendlier I'd say. A few people still chose to sit in the balcony, but by far everyone was near the dance floor in the stands with chairs.
And the dancers - wow, glitz, glitter, controlled-frenzy of movement, facial expressions, fabulous footwork . . . the images are great. The kids were so much fun to watch. I can't remember which number, but there was this little boy, about 8 or so with a curly mop of dark hair - he was the best. You hardly noticed his girl partner because he was sooo good. The audience actually boo-ed when he placed 6th or 7th. I'd never heard an audience do that, but everyone just LOVED watching him. That happened later to a pre-teen couple that placed low, but the crowd loved the performance.

I guess that's enough for me to be going on about for now! I handled the score sheets a good part of the event, but never actually wrote any results down or made copies for myself. If you've questions, ask away!

[mr bixx]

waltz lover it was good meeting you. to bad we couldnt get a dance in or something.

[pygmalion]

Yes, I should have done acrylics. But, knowing me, I would have bit those off, too!

Try acrylic overlays, rather than acrylic nails. They look more natural, because it's really your own nails, but they still have the benefits of acrylic -- they're difficult to break and the polish rarely chips. 8) :wink:

[pygmalion]

waltz lover it was good meeting you. to bad we couldnt get a dance in or something.

What were your impressions, mr bixx?

[Porfirio Landeros]

My head hurts :oops:

Anyway, I've only had 3 hours of sleep and the bumpiest plane ride I've ever had, but here you go...

For the American Smooth A Championships, it was:

1. John Selby with Kristin Staszek, CA
2. Christopher Allen with Elona Bets, NY
3. Hans Lim with Keynes Pun, CA
4. Robert Bunnett with Borbola Gergely, CA
5. Andy with Janie Nordberg, MN
6. Porfirio Landeros with Laetitia Santore, CA

West Side! :wink:

Gonna rest now...

[mamboqueen]

Congratulations - good showing! Please pass on my congrats to Laetitia, too!

[TexaSmooth]

My head hurts :oops:

Anyway, I've only had 3 hours of sleep and the bumpiest plane ride I've ever had, but here you go...

For the American Smooth A Championships, it was:

1. John Selby with Kristin Staszek, CA
2. Christopher Allen with Elona Bets, NY
3. Hans Lim with Keynes Pun, CA
4. Robert Bunnett with Borbola Gergely, CA
5. Andy with Janie Nordberg, MN
6. Porfirio Landeros with Laetitia Santore, CA

West Side! :wink:

Gonna rest now...

I was curious - did Quan Vu & Olga Curd competed in the Smooth Championships?

Thx!

TexaSmooth

[pygmalion]

Congrats Porfirio. :D

[Waltz Lover]

Although I didn't write down any results, I do have the book of who danced what with me. So, yes, Hoang Quan Vu and Olga Curd from TX did compete in Adult Smooth Championships

"I was curious - did Quan Vu & Olga Curd competed in the Smooth Championships?

Thx!

TexaSmooth"

Yeah, Mr. Bixx, I think I was kept busy at coat check that evening and the dancing was too good to tear away to get to the other floor for social dancing.

Congratulations again Porfirio! It was great meeting you. One of my MN friends (T.L.) pointed you out to me, and I'm glad he did right away so I knew who to cheer for! That was a big group. I know I was talking to the judge David Hamilton and he told me he hated judging that first part (quarter-final) the most - having to decide who made the cut and who didn't . . . there were so many he wanted to see come back.

[DanceAm]

Porfirio did a great job in one of the most competitive Smooth Finals I had ever seen. All who made the finals did a great job. Many really good couples didn't make the finals, it must have been tough for them.

Too bad Jonathan and Lauren were not there to, it would have been very competitive for first.

[tbrennen]

The results and the judge's marks for the 2004 USABDA Nationals are now available.
You can go to http://usabda.org/dancesport_competitors/latest_comp_results/index.cfm.
There is one pdf file with the results, another pdf file with the marks, and a link to an online list of the results viewable one event at a time.

Note that you will need the results information to see which couple is which in the judge's marks since the couples are only listed by number for the marks.

-Turtle

[pygmalion]

Thanks Turtle! I hope the event was a huge success, from an organizational perspective. Thanks for sharing the info. :D

[Katarzyna]

This was a very well run comp. The results were posted in the back room reght after every event (for the most part...). All the events run on time, except for the changes on Friday. Many great dancers. I've never been to St. Paul before, it's actually a pretty nice city during the day.

[DanceAm]

Not that anything was wrong with the comp itself, I thought it went very smooth.

But the biggest issue that seems to be forming is the infusion of latin couples and latin styling in American Rhythm. From the standpoint of Dancing, these couples deserved their placement, they were better dancers. But many of the couples in the Finals were also also latin competitors. The champs did a bolero that was just an International Rumba. The swings were just jives and the ChaChas of course were Latin. If they had played a slow swing like they sometimes do, I wonder how that would have affected the results. Andrew and Janie were the best "American Rhythm" dancers out there, but the Championship was won by the better dancers. They had all the elements of great dancing in comparison.

I see much of the same stuff in the Professional competitions. I think the judges are looking past the styling differences and marking accordingly. I wouldn't say Latin styling is preferred, but landing on a straight leg might have a better look than the bend to straight in American styling, and that might give them the edge.

[Chris Stratton]

If they had played a slow swing like they sometimes do, I wonder how that would have affected the results.

What tempo did they play? Was it within the allowed range?

[mamboqueen]

Well, that's interesting, Dance Am. I wondered what would happen if my latin "drifted" into my rythym. On crossovers, I've already developed the habit of landing on a straight leg. I just wasn't sure if I'd get penalized for that, or not. I'm afraid if they don't really adhere to the differences in the style and judge accordingly, how can there be 2 styles?? You'll end up with a "bastardized" rythym. (Hope that term doesn't offend; my brain could not thesaurize that word. There, I made up another one, too!)

[Porfirio Landeros]

It was very nice meeting DanceAm, WaltzLover, and more :)

I was also quite the dance-forums ambassador, urging people to check out this forum as opposed to only going to the other one ;)

I really enjoyed watching the Standard A championship. It was like watching angels dancing on clouds, when the final 6 took their turns doing a solo dance-on.

The results were fair, although I wanted to see my favorite CA couple win... at least they'll still get to represent us at world's, having taken 2nd place.

Also congrats to Turtle, and nice to meet you :!:

[mamboqueen]

When are worlds?? And where?

[Chris Stratton]

I really enjoyed watching the Standard A championship. It was like watching angels dancing on clouds, when the final 6 took their turns doing a solo dance-on.

Does anyone have video of the final they could share?

[Katarzyna]

The results were fair, although I wanted to see my favorite CA couple win... at least they'll still get to represent us at world's, having taken 2nd place.
:!:

I also loved the 2nd couple :!: :!: :!:

[Waltz Lover]

Quote "I was also quite the dance-forums ambassador, urging people to check out this forum as opposed to only going to the other one "

Me too - I tell all my dance friends about this and I was certainly spreading the word over the weekend at the comp. By the way, what other dance forum is there? Or is that taboo to ask that here? :wink:

As to the worlds, I remember (I think it was youth) Latin is going to Latvia ???

Standard was definitely Germany, I thought I remember Duisburg being spoken of.

I'm disappointed I missed meeting you DanceAm! I didn't have your number ahead of time to watch out for you. I'm sure you saw me, but probably didn't note me - Sunday evening I was in black and was doing the judges running for the first 2 1/2 hours.

[pygmalion]

By the way, what other dance forum is there? Or is that taboo to ask that here? :wink:



ballroomdancers.com and dancescape.com both have active ballroom dance forums, but there are many, many other dance forums out there, if you don't restrict the topic to ballroom. And, come to think of it, many, many more if you don't restrict the topic to partner dance.

My heart belongs to DF, though. But that's just me. :wink: 8)

[DanceAm]

I wasn't sure who to look for Waltzlover, but if you were there all weekend, I am sure we saw each other.

I would like to thank all the volunteers who made Nationals a great success.

On another note, I think everyone was doing well to keep so many of the "you know who's" in line. The new way to get into the ballroom, announcing that those taking video to please not block those seated in the stands, getting the mothers out of the men's dressing room. Some people will just take over when you let them.

[ratherbdancing]

My heard belongs to DF, though. But that's just me. :wink: 8)

I know this is off topic, but since it was brought up I just thought I would add that I have checked out some other forums and none are like this one. On one of them (which I'm not going to name :wink: ) all everyone does is just argue and critizise each other. Which is why my heart also belongs to DF :wink:

[mamboqueen]

The problem is is that those who cause the trouble over *there* are likely to find this place, too. I sure hope it doesn't go the way of that place over *there*!

[Chris Stratton]

On one of them (which I'm not going to name :wink: ) all everyone does is just argue and critizise each other.

It wasn't always dominated by arguments, but over time the system became less and less useable for real discussions, so they became a greater portion of what was left. At it's peak it had more in the way of in-depth ballroom discussion (ballroom really dominated there) than has yet been achieved here on DF, but these days it seems it only wakes up to argue about things.

[Porfirio Landeros]

On another note, I think everyone was doing well to keep so many of the "you know who's" in line.
CANADIANS :?:

[DanceAm]

On another note, I think everyone was doing well to keep so many of the "you know who's" in line.
CANADIANS :?:

Good guess, but not the "Best" answer.

[marykomatsu]

Nationals was great this year. A change I liked alot was where they did not put you in one heat and have you dance there the whole time. Instead they used a system where you would change heats every dance. This way you got to compete against different dancers all the time. In a catagory like Open A Standard, where there were 5 rounds and 4 heats it did get confusing (for me) but it is a good system and I liked it alot.

They used this system even in the novice events, though I don't know about syllabus.

The floor was also really smooth and great to dance on.

[Chris Stratton]

Mary, congratulations on your placement in pre-champ standard!

[carrielynne]

I just posted some photos of Nationals. I'll put up some more over the next few days.

http://wyncote.net/photos/

Under New Galleries on the right there is a link for USABDA National Championships.

Let me know what everyone thinks, I'm new to digital photography.

[pygmalion]

Hi carrielynne. Welcome. :D Thanks for the photos. I'll check 'em out. 8)

[pygmalion]

At it's peak it had more in the way of in-depth ballroom discussion (ballroom really dominated there) than has yet been achieved here on DF

That's why I (as a person, not a moderator) appreciate the participation of quite a few recent joiners of the ballroom forum. The goal IS to broaden the discussion and make it valuable for DF members at all levels of dance experience, even the highest levels. But the only way we can achieve that is to engage more members like you, Chris.

I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you. You (and a few others I could name) have added so much to DF by your presence and your participation. I appreciate you. 8)

[marykomatsu]

Mary, congratulations on your placement in pre-champ standard!

Thanks Chris! We were happy with that, but the thing that was the best was making the Quarterfinal in Open Am Standard. It was thrilling to come back in the evening and dance with the top dancers. The crowd was huge and really cheering. It was a tremendous experience for us, the most energy I've ever felt at a comp. It was a blast.