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View Full Version : WCS Brean Sands Feb08 - Aftermath



Minnie M
25th-February-2008, 03:40 AM
Just got home - Very tired

I didn't arrive till Saturday lunchtime - but managed to do Robert & Deborah's workshops :respect:

Most of the people in the 'Swing' room (Lunars - where the Blues room/Wedding was in October) came from the newbie Westies from the MJ scene. Paul Warden was there :worthy: socialising and dancing with all, the fab Rob Glover too.

The Jack & Jill comp was good, judged by Paul Warden, Robert & Deborah (not sure if Sydney & Lee were judging too)

J&J Novice
1st Place - Nayomi & G? (I think he is Twickenham dancer)
2nd Place - Robd & Spikey Blond (thought they would win)
3rd Place - Caro & Paul Buckley

Can't remember the Newcomer people - didn't know any of them

I spent most of Sunday watching the Country/Line Dance Competitions - they were amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing - such fab dancers and some of them were so young too.

Overall a very good weekend - I will definitely book for 2009

Thanks to Lee Easton for organising it - and to Robert & Deborah for making Saturday night so much fun and to their fab teaching and to Deborah for dancing with nearly everyone (following and leading) and a personal thank you to Deborah for letting me share her wine after the bar had closed but not for the hangover Sunday morning and the Robert for letting be a police person for one of his dancing games :clap:

PS: was a little strange not to have one MJ dance the whole time there :what:

Cruella
25th-February-2008, 09:50 AM
I'm very jealous, all weekend I kept wishing I was there. Maybe next year. :wink: Glad it went well.:flower:

Minnie M
25th-February-2008, 10:41 AM
I'm very jealous, all weekend I kept wishing I was there. Maybe next year. :wink: Glad it went well.:flower:

You were definitely missed - I thought you were coming :confused:

There were a few faces missing and missed, I do hope they make it next year. I believe the dates are 27th Feb to 1st March (put it in your diary)

Unfortunately Brandi & Ronnie didn't make it, Ronnie was ill or had an accident (I am sure one of the others will explain) and Brandi is pregnant

Robert & Deborah therefore DJing on Saturday (and the dancing party games :rofl:)

Lee did a fab NC2 step workshop as well as a line dancing one and the fab Rob Glover did a Salsa line dancing workshop

And the chip shop was fab !!!!

I wanted to buy a pair of dancing boots, but the price started at £150 :eek: and the dresses were £300 plus, and the headbands and arm cuffs started at £40 - so pleased I don't have dancing girls, plus the girls made about 2 or 3 changes during the weekend

Fletch you have to get young Joe into this dancing - he would be sooooooooooo fab, line dancing is not what I imagined it to be.

AND well done to our very own Carren (Angel Blue ??) who reached the finals in the County 2step I - not sure how she did in the end as I didn't hear the results.

AND ..... all those amazing youngsters dance WCS :worthy: (in fact most of them do) wish I had spent more time dancing in the main hall, definitely going to change that for next year.

Limpy Tink
25th-February-2008, 03:19 PM
I'm very jealous, all weekend I kept wishing I was there...

Me too!! :tears: sadly I could not get some to have my boys for me to be able to get there - but I was thinking of you all and I was suitably grumpy on Sat night & all day on Sunday, as I wanted to go out and play with my friends :mad:.

It sounds like it was fab - well done Lee (and the rest of you that did so well in the comp's). I will be booking my mum well in advance (thanks for the dates Minnie) - so will be there next year :clap:

Cruella
25th-February-2008, 03:25 PM
You were definitely missed - I thought you were coming :confused:.

No, I recieved lots of texts asking if I was, but I daren't ask for another weekender pass with Southport only a few weeks ago and Weston in April. :wink:

mikeyr
25th-February-2008, 03:35 PM
I take it under advisement, but I would say this was really the first real WCS weekender we've had in England, so maybe a little history in the making:clap:. Lets hope there will be plenty more.

[Luvvy Gush Mode]I would say its one of the best weekenders I have done and I personally would like to say thank you to everybody who went along to support this event. You made it special[/Luvvy Gush Mode]


I spent most of Sunday watching the Country/Line Dance Competitions - they were amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing - such fab dancers and some of them were so young too.

Werent they just fantastic! part of the reason this weekend was so good for me was that it got rid of a couple of long held predujices. Now I can kinda manage to do(just) couple really cool funky Linedance routines and and a little country 2 step, not quite up for the hat & boots yet though.

Now I will make a statement that likely to cause some alarm!
[Soapbox Mode] It is my personal opinion that if future WCS weekenders are to be organised in tandem with another events, which is likely until WCS acheives a real critical mass. They should consider the C & W weekenders, They are by far more complimentary than the MJ/WCS split. [/Soapbox Mode]


Overall a very good weekend - I will definitely book for 2009

I am Hoping we dont have to wait a whole year for another:sad:


Thanks to Lee Easton for organising it - and to Robert & Deborah for making Saturday night so much fun and to their fab teaching and to Deborah for dancing with nearly everyone (following and leading)

I think Lee Easton, took a huge personal risk and I dont mean financially cos I dont know those kind of details. Until we all got down there I dont think he really knew how many of us there was gonna be! Faith is a powerful thing!

But its people like this, with vision that have allowed the rest of us to find the otherwise unlooked pleasure we get from the dance, whatever dance that maybe:worthy::respect:

In particular for WCS the real unsung heroes who have put a lot of years of hard work into getting to take off in the UK, this was as much your success!! Thank You! WestCoast Angie and Minnie Mouse :awe::flower:

Gerry
25th-February-2008, 03:53 PM
Gutted I couldn't go.:tears:

Looking forward to hearing all about the weekend at Lee's class to night and Cat & Pauls on Wednesday

Roll on April and the WCS champs at W-S-M:yeah:

Smiley Sue
25th-February-2008, 04:17 PM
Lets hope there will be plenty more.

Yes please!



[Soapbox Mode] It is my personal opinion that if future WCS weekenders are to be organised in tandem with another events, which is likely until WCS acheives a real critical mass. They should consider the C & W weekenders, They are by far more complimentary than the MJ/WCS split. [/Soapbox Mode]
:yeah:


I am Hoping we dont have to wait a whole year for another
Me too



I think Lee Easton, took a huge personal risk and I dont mean financially cos I dont know those kind of details. Until we all got down there I dont think he really knew how many of us there was gonna be! Faith is a powerful thing!
:respect:



In particular for WCS the real unsung heroes who have put a lot of years of hard work into getting to take off in the UK, this was as much your success!! Thank You! WestCoast Angie and Minnie Mouse
:hug:


I had an awesome time:clap:

The line dancers have great skills, & are quite hypnotic to watch -I really want to learn more.

Gareth Mole's dancing:drool:

NC2S - what a romantic dance....sigh!

Thank you to everyone for all my fantastic dances, esp Paul W (hilarious!), AlmostAnAngel (body ripple queen!), Simon Bowker (body ripple king!) & RobD, not for the multiple-spin marathons (!?), but for your subtlety & most notably for how successful we were in our last closed-eyed WCS:waycool:

Sad it's over....
Sx

Paul F
25th-February-2008, 05:38 PM
Yep, agree. Great weekend. I really enjoyed it.

Ok, it didnt start out very well as I left my car and house keys in central London. Only found out when I got back to Woking!!!!! It meant I was 2 hours late picking up Caro, Jennifer and Balca from Heathrow :blush::blush:

I apologised.....many times!

I really hope this weekend keeps going. As MikeyR said it was a real joy to see the two/three/four disciplines happening side by side. There was two-step, line dancing and so much more. With a seperate, dedicated WCS room too we were spoiled.
Not only that but the floor in the WCS room was great to dance on.

Robert and Deborah were great as always. Such amazing supporters of WCS in the UK. Huge thanks to those guys.

Congrats to all those who placed in the comps and to Glen and Naomi (not sure on spelling) for winning the Novice category. :cheers:

Massive, massive congrats to Lee though. Its fair to say that I have not had chance to speak with him very much as North London is too difficult for me to get to so to be able to say hi and to chat (albeit briefly) was a real pleasure. I cant begin to imagine how many miles he must have walked to and from the various areas but it was worth it. Thanks mate.

Here's to next year. :cheers:

DavidY
25th-February-2008, 07:08 PM
[Soapbox Mode] It is my personal opinion that if future WCS weekenders are to be organised in tandem with another events, which is likely until WCS acheives a real critical mass. They should consider the C & W weekenders, They are by far more complimentary than the MJ/WCS split. [/Soapbox Mode]The first time I went to Brean Sands, for the Ceroc Breeze weekend in 2006, if I remember rightly there was a C&W weekend going on at the same time.

But we were segregated (although at least one C&W person infiltrated the Ceroc dancefloors - she was a brilliant follower too...).

robd
26th-February-2008, 10:54 AM
Most of the people in the 'Swing' room (Lunars - where the Blues room/Wedding was in October) came from the newbie Westies from the MJ scene. Paul Warden was there :worthy: socialising and dancing with all, the fab Rob Glover too.

I actually thought there was a good mix of experience levels. there were some familiar faces missing for sure but there were also a lot of the more experienced UK WCS dancers there as well as the more recent learners (says I after a year or so of doing it :rolleyes: )



Can't remember the Newcomer people - didn't know any of them

1st - Leo & Stephanie
2nd - Ricky (Bedford) & partner
3rd - Antony (Peterborough) & partner


and to Deborah for dancing with nearly everyone (following and leading)

:yeah:

I was really disappointed to find that they had to leave on Sunday early evening as I hadn't found the courage to ask Deborah to dance by that stage - another pro slips by....:sad:



Now I will make a statement that likely to cause some alarm!
[Soapbox Mode] It is my personal opinion that if future WCS weekenders are to be organised in tandem with another events, which is likely until WCS acheives a real critical mass. They should consider the C & W weekenders, They are by far more complimentary than the MJ/WCS split. [/Soapbox Mode]


Whilst I think that this weekend did work well in this regard Mikey I wouldn't necessarily say that an MJ/WCS split (or alliance depending how you perceive it) would be less succesful. This major issue I find if there is a mixed WCS/MJ floor is the differing spatial needs of people doing each dance - this was an issue at Utopia the last couple of times and at Southport at peak times. Brean had just the right numbers to avoid this but still maintain a good atmosphere within the room.


I think Lee Easton, took a huge personal risk and I dont mean financially cos I dont know those kind of details. Until we all got down there I dont think he really knew how many of us there was gonna be! Faith is a powerful thing!

:yeah:

Well done to Lee. I think he may have panicked a bit early Fri evening as many folks didn't arrive until quite late after being at work (likewise Sunday night suffered a little due to people going back so they could work on Monday) but it came good for him.



RobD, not for the multiple-spin marathons (!?), but for your subtlety & most notably for how successful we were in our last closed-eyed WCS:waycool:

That was a great way to finish the weekend :-) Apologies to the ladies made dizzy by my penchant for multiple assisted spins on Sunday night (assisted by Kronenbourg and Shiraz-Cabernet that is...)

I had a great time at Brean

Robert Cordoba taught a fantastic class on the Saturday, covering slot length adjustment, focus on your partner, light leading among other things. Possibly the most useful single WCS class I have ever taken. Sadly some of the participants still hadn't taken on board what he had covered for their social dancing later that night but I know that's not always easy.

I was very pleased to get Spikey Blond for the JnJ final and even more pleased that we placed. Just as the Blues Comp added an extra dimension to Breeze so I feel that the Jack n Jill gave this weekend that little something extra too. Well done to West Coast Angie for her hard work in organising it.

Some of the line dance talent on display was spectacular (and the costumes looked great). I was rubbish in one of the line dance classes I took and adequate in the other but just watching some of these people is an education in how you can use your own body to accent ther music. I really need to find the initiative to practice some of the line patterns at home so that I would feel confident joining in the floor for some social line dancing next time.

Nightclub Two Step - I missed the class but managed a couple of social dances albeit with only three moves. It feels great and hopefully the growing interest in it may feed demand for a couple of workshops - I know Cat ran some a couple of years ago but don't know what the turnout was like.

It was good to meet up with existing friends and also to make some new ones too and I will certainly be keen to get along to the next one.

mikeyr
26th-February-2008, 03:16 PM
1st - Leo & Stephanie
2nd - Ricky (Bedford) & partner
3rd - Antony (Peterborough) & partner


1st - Leo & Stephanie
2nd - Ricky & Sue (Bristol)
3rd - Antony & Lesley (Bristol)

It was great to see the newbies celebrated with a J & J comp of their own.
Well done to all of them!! I know it took a lot of gentle persuasion from Angie to get a lot of the newcomers to enter, I bet they are all glad they did now though! :waycool:

Minnie M
26th-February-2008, 04:40 PM
I actually thought there was a good mix of experience levels. there were some familiar faces missing for sure but there were also a lot of the more experienced UK WCS dancers there as well as the more recent learners (says I after a year or so of doing it )

whooops - when I say "Newbie Westies" I am separating them from those who learnt when I did 10 years ago

In fact those I call 'newbies' - are in fact are much better dancers than the likes of me and others who learnt BC (Before Cat) as we had to rely on the likes of Robert & Deborah coming over here or us going to the States (which wasn't very often) and we didn't have great role models like Paul Warden, Cat, Sally and Glen Ball in those days

Our UK teachers were David & Lily, Fred & Becky, Roger Chin, Roi Forbes, Graham Fox and a handful scattered over the UK

(David & Lily were already experienced Westies - I believe they learnt from their many overseas visits)

Minnie M
26th-February-2008, 04:59 PM
........and we didn't have great role models like Paul Warden, Cat, Sally and Glen Ball in those days........(David & Lily were already experienced Westies - I believe they learnt from their many overseas visits)

Before I get myself into trouble (again)

David & Lily were great role models (and still are) I still enjoy just watching them dance WCS - however, we didn't associate them purely with this dance and they were heavily on the MJ scene.

Caro
26th-February-2008, 09:53 PM
ok here's my review...


Ok, it didnt start out very well as I left my car and house keys in central London. Only found out when I got back to Woking!!!!! It meant I was 2 hours late picking up Caro, Jennifer and Balca from Heathrow


I guess it was my bad for not being clear enough :rolleyes:
when I wrote this:


So, just to sum up in case you, you know, forget or something, it's TONIGHT, 7.15, Heathrow, Terminal 1.

Jennifer is blonde with really long hair and I'll be the one with a big sign saying 'PAULF WHERE THE H*LL ARE YOU'


I probably should have added: 'please take your car keys with you and do not turn up 2 hours late' :eek:

Anyway - we made it by midnight and had a good few hours of dancing after that - helps make you forget you have really really stupid friends. :wink:
(although when you made it to heathrow you were in such a state that I almost felt bad for you!)



the first real WCS weekender we've had in England, so maybe a little history in the making:clap:. Lets hope there will be plenty more.


I had a fantastic time too - really danced my socks off :D

It was great to dance with the regular on the MJ/WCS scene (including most of my favourite UK leads) as well as new (to me) peeps.

I really enjoyed watching some line dance comps - god those guys can move ! It really changed my perception of what line dance was about, and I'm looking forward to checking out regular classes when I move down.

Loved the NC2S and country 2 step workshops - really impressed with Lee's teaching.


Robert Cordoba taught a fantastic class on the Saturday, covering slot length adjustment, focus on your partner, light leading among other things. Possibly the most useful single WCS class I have ever taken.

:yeah: seconded. The kind of things teachers normally cover in privates.

I also agree that the JnJ competition added something to the weekend, that was fun to do and watch (and thanks to Sunny for my funniest ever comp dances - and delighted we placed to!).

The freestyle were extremely good, I particularly enjoyed the music that was played and the huge floors which meant we had plenty of space and weren't restricted to strict tiny slots... adds another dimension to dancing WCS IMO, quite literally.

There were fewer people on the sunday night, but some great dancing nonetheless - Lee was on fire behind the DJ desk and having the line dance folks invading the room at the end just brought back so much energy into the room that it was impossible to go to bed !

The whole atmosphere of the weekend was extremely friendly and social, which was another big plus.
Just hope we don't have to wait another year for the next one !

Thanks to Lee and all who organised, played music etc. It was really worth the travel down from Aberdeen, I had a blast !

Cornish Pixie
27th-February-2008, 01:10 AM
i loved the weekend, had a lot more of a laid back feel than some weekenders and i despite being a beginner westie i didnt feel intimidated at all, everyone was real friendly, what time did the freestyle continue till on sun btw? xx

Smiley Sue
27th-February-2008, 01:36 AM
Yes, it did have a great feel:waycool:

Don't think we danced:sad:

5.15am in the end:clap:
There was such an injection of energy when the linedancers came in at about 3am (?), that the 4am curfew was never going to be stuck to:devil:

Sx

Cornish Pixie
27th-February-2008, 01:50 AM
Yes, it did have a great feel:waycool:

Don't think we danced:sad:

5.15am in the end:clap:
There was such an injection of energy when the linedancers came in at about 3am (?), that the 4am curfew was never going to be stuck to:devil:

Sx


Aw, wish id stayed now!we danced briefly, when they did the bus stop thing, young guy with blonde highlights,we danced at southport too,xx

Smiley Sue
27th-February-2008, 01:56 AM
Yeah, I know you....Nick, isn't it??
We danced at Utopia too, when you told me you're a student.
Thought you might have avoided me in order to escape getting any advice....I am known for my dance geekiness & ability to go on a bit:blush::whistle::rofl:
Sx

Little Miss
27th-February-2008, 04:57 PM
1st - Leo & Stephanie
2nd - Ricky & Sue (Bristol)
3rd - Antony & Lesley (Bristol)

It was great to see the newbies celebrated with a J & J comp of their own.
Well done to all of them!! I know it took a lot of gentle persuasion from Angie to get a lot of the newcomers to enter, I bet they are all glad they did now though! :waycool:


I'm confused by the newbie category - Leo is what I would call a newbie having only been doing this since about October (also his first dancing experience I believe) and such a lovely lead I am not surprised he won. However, Ricky and Antony having been dancing West Coast for over a year - longer than you Mikey (??). Was this just a category for those who have not competed before? Just curious.

So gutted to have missed this - have it marked in the calendar for next year though - roll on WSM.

Minnie M
27th-February-2008, 05:53 PM
I'm confused by the newbie category - Leo is what I would call a newbie having only been doing this since about October (also his first dancing experience I believe) and such a lovely lead I am not surprised he won. However, Ricky and Antony having been dancing West Coast for over a year - longer than you Mikey (??). Was this just a category for those who have not competed before? Just curious.

So gutted to have missed this - he have it marked in the calendar for next year though - roll on WSM.

The category is NEWCOMERS and should be IMO for dancers who are actually new to the dance. If Ricky & Antony have been dancing that long they shouldn't have really entered that section.

However, as this is a new experience to us, it is difficult to separate Newcomers from Novice to the amount of time danced. I am classed as Novice, even though I learnt 10 years ago, AND in America I enter the Newcomers category as I feel I am at their level. Also, you are supposed to work your way up the categories (ie if you win/place you can move up)

BTW Leo was a very very worthy winner :worthy: I danced with him in the class and he was great.

Where are the Barkers when you need them - (they know how it works)

robd
27th-February-2008, 06:12 PM
Ricky was at the very first WCS class I ever took back in Sept 2006 with Paul Harris. Antony's experience level I do not know for certain but I think he's been doing WCS for a year or so. Nonetheless I don't think either of them were pot-hunting as neither has competition experience (AFAIK) in MJ (both have an MJ background) or WCS. Mikey, to use LM's example, is IMO a significantly better dancer than either Antony or Ricky and also has a sizeable amount of competition experience. I think Mikey was in the right category for sure. I believe that at least one of the two ladies who got 2nd and 3rd in Newcomer has been doing WCS for a year or so but I could be mistaken.

I guess there will always be arguments over who should be in which category but none of the leaders at Brean looked out of place in their chosen category and crucially Ricky and Antony choosing to enter newcomer did allow some extra followers a chance to compete in that category.

Rhythm King
27th-February-2008, 06:14 PM
I'm not jealous about missing it at all, no sirree bob, not me...

:tears:

westcoastangie
27th-February-2008, 06:20 PM
OK it was me who persuaded Ricky to enter and some of the others. This was the right level for him and the others in the Newcomer division. Most of the Novice entrants had been dancing WCS for at least 3 years and had also competed before. Some people have done the occasional workshop at Southport or elsewhere but until they do regular weekly classes they can't really get to grips with it or progress that far unless they take privates or a few trips to the US.

I also seem to think that it wasn't Anthony who came third?? I think it was Paul Webb who has certainly been dancing for less than a year, although I confess I may be wrong, I was very tired, lost my voice and still haven't found it yet!:blush:

I totally agree with the comments made about spatial awareness when you are trying to establish a WCS slot on the same floor as Modern Jive. It just doesn't work very well when the floor is busy. Modern Jivers are used to doing what they do to almost any music moving into any space they see as suddenly available. In the US at a WCS convention the DJ will play mainly WCS music most of the time. However he will also occasionally play a 2 step, or Night Club 2 step or even a salsa track. At that point dancers will choose to dance only the particular dance which suits that particular track. Anyone who doesn't know how to dance those other dances sits out.

At a country convention (I've only attended 2 of these) there will invariably be a separate WCS room with line dance and other country partner dances in the main ballroom. I've also seen main ballrooms in the US where half the floor is line dancing and the other half is westcoasting, and some where the line dancers are in the middle and some dancers are country 2-stepping or walzing around the outside. I even went to one where there was a rope across the middle of the ballroom with line dancers on one side and westcoasters on the other!

Gerry
27th-February-2008, 06:22 PM
I must admit I have been learning WCS for almost a year and a half and I would have wanted to go into the New comers competition.

In the two J&J comps that I have competed in I have felt that I have frozen even though i had fun dances before and after the competitions.

It would be amusing to here peoples thoughts on this

Lory
27th-February-2008, 06:25 PM
I also seem to think that it wasn't Anthony who came third?? I think it was Paul Webb who has certainly been dancing for less than a year, although I confess I may be wrong,

No, your right!

I saw Paul last night, he came to Kev's class and he was absolutely thrilled to bits! :grin:

robd
27th-February-2008, 06:27 PM
It was Paul Webb actually. I should have known that as we were at the same dinner on Sun evening - apologies Paul! :blush:

Minnie M
27th-February-2008, 06:50 PM
.......... did allow some extra followers a chance to compete in that category.

There was actually one female short - Lee had to make two requests for an extra follower in the Newcomers category :what: (that must be a first)

However, regardless of how long the entrants had been dancing, I have to agree that the split between the two categories did look correct to me.

The standard of the Novice entrants was really great and very encouraging to the UK WCS scene :respect:

Well done to all of you :clap:

Little Miss
27th-February-2008, 07:35 PM
Gosh, hope I haven't started anything contentious. I dance regularly with Leo, Ricky and Anthony ( I am very lucky! :flower:) and was merely curious as I started at about the same time as Leo (about October 2007) and thus consider us both newbies and class Ricky and Anthony as far ahead of me due to their more advanced experience. However, I appreciate that length of time dancing is not a good indicator as to someones 'level' as two people may have been dancing for a year, one of them doing one class a week and another doing four classes a week, monthly workshops and various weekenders - fairly incomparable.

I am just trying to get my head around categories and levels of experience and levels of expectation for competing as it is very unclear. I guess the message I am getting is that it is still very early days in the UK and thus difficult to assess and ultimately it comes down to an individuals comfort zone when first competing.

I have immense respect for all those trying their hand at J&J whatever their level - they are very brave :nice:

Thanks to those who tried to clarify my question :flower:

mikeyr
28th-February-2008, 12:26 AM
Gosh, hope I haven't started anything contentious.

I dont think it's all down how long youve been doing a dance, competition dancing is a whole other mindset, your dancing is being scrutinised you are under pressure to perform it can be very intimidating.

I know Ricky and Anthony and I think this was the right category for them at this time.

The Novice section at brean might look similar to the the open j&j in weston later this year...... depends where the WSDC points are:what: