Utopia reviews

[jivecat]

Wasn't that the whole idea ? Faint praise indeed.

Guess I won't be seeing you at Evesham then; if I brave the intimidating 17 mile journey in the dark, that is.

Sorry WB, I can't resist doing faint when everyone else is doing fulsome!

The venue - lovely, lots of atmosphere, lots of room, lots of parking, affordable water considering everything, not too hot, easy to find.

The welcome - great, smiley, friendly faces on the reception desk, nice emails, v. helpful about the Ceroc card.

The lighting - nice and gloomy, I noticed the UV lights but missed out on the green teeth so they couldn't have been that obvious.

The music - I really did find it a bit slow. I know that was the idea, but there's no point in having any feedback at all if people can't actually say what they really thought. It seemed to me that there was a big bias towards WCS tracks, and much less latin and tango was played. As I have not done much WCS I was inevitably going to struggle. I assumed that because I generally love blues room music I would love Utopia but I did not get energised and really inspired to dance by the music, although I enjoyed it to listen to. That affected my confidence to go up and ask people to dance, as well. But I'd been up since 6:30 and had had a long journey to get there so that was a big factor to overcome for me. I'd really prefer to go to dance events on a Saturday or Sunday for this reason.

Still, it wouldn't put me off attending another Utopia event as I think I will find the music easier to dance to the more I hear it. I've also got access to WCS classes at Corby, now. And if the Ceroc offerings are the alternative then there's no contest. I had such high expectations of the event that it was not likely that they would all be fulfilled, anyway.

17 miles? For me it's 58.4 miles to Evesham - on the doorstep by comparison!

[fletch]

17 miles? For me it's 58.4 miles to Evesham - on the doorstep by comparison!

so are you coming?

[TheTramp]

17 miles? For me it's 58.4 miles to Evesham - on the doorstep by comparison!

390 miles. But I am thinking about it!

[Cruella]

390 miles. But I am thinking about it!

I promise to turn up this time if you do.

[TheTramp]

I promise to turn up this time if you do.

Yeah. You're only saying that because you were going anyhow.....

[WittyBird]

But I am thinking about it!

Be lovely to have you there! I'm travelling 120 Miles to get there!

[Lory]

The lighting - nice and gloomy,

You really do have a way with words!

[Sparkles]

I had probably one of my best dance nights ever at Utopia last Friday - and that's saying something!

From the instant I walked through the door it was obvious how much time, thought and effort had been put into making the punters enjoy the night. I particularly liked the entrance procedure, slick, being ticked off on the list and swiped in within a matter of about 2mins! The free cloak room was also a huge bonus, especially as there was not very much seating and coats etc would have just made for extra clutter in the dance hall.

The location was good (though I might try and get there a little earlier next time to make parking a little easier), floor excellent and music - to die for! I heard some people complaining that the music was a bit 'relentless' in terms of complexity, but I say 'bring it on' - never before have I had the music, space and excellent partners with which to experiment and try new things. I think the DJs did extremely well.

The company definitely made my night - fab dancers from all over, including the Scots . It was like being a kid in a candy shop - everywhere you looked more people you wanted to dance with and fab music to make the most of them . It was as much fun socialising as dancing, mainly done during the 'fast tracks', when I went to get a drink. I don't know whether those fast tracks are strictly necessary, but I also didn't feel them ruin the atmosphere, as had previosly been my concern.

I heard that you will be allowing more people in next time, I can understand that, but I beg, please not too many more! If it turns into a crowded kickfest you can count me out!

Well done to Dave, Val and Vince on a job well done. I look forward to a repeat performance next time .

[frodo]

The Elitist/hotshot crap is just that, crap. People need to remember this kind of thing is niche, special interest not mass appeal, that doesnt mean better.
...

I'd wouldn't mind knowing specifically what you mean by 'this kind of thing'.


If the niche being referred to is catering to a pre-existing highly intertwined elite and social dance group, then clearly there isn't much reason to comment .

On the other hand if you're talking about a potentially much bigger (but still much smaller than standard Ceroc) niche that prefer this kind of music.
- Then there is certainly reasonable grounds for comment if it turns out the main defining characteristic is the elite dancers / existing highly intertwined social group, rather than the different music.


Based on having a class, having some fast tracks, being mentioned/linked to outside elitist channels, the association with Ceroc, there were some grounds pointing towards the second niche.

Even if the intention was the second niche, if it ends up taking the first niche, it probably may make commercial sense to instead target the first niche, and focus on keeping that you have (unless you have bigger ambitions).


Well done though it may be there probably isn't much new about the doing so though.
The comments here sound awfully similar to previous threads where a select group of dancers have gathered in an environment which caters for them.

[Miguel]

I'd wouldn't mind knowing specifically what you mean by 'this kind of thing'.

If the niche being referred to is catering to a pre-existing highly intertwined elite and social dance group, then clearly there isn't much reason to comment .

On the other hand if you're talking about a potentially much bigger (but still much smaller than standard Ceroc) niche that prefer this kind of music. - Then there is certainly reasonable grounds for comment if it turns out the main defining characteristic is the elite dancers / existing highly intertwined social group, rather than the different music.

Based on having a class, having some fast tracks, being mentioned/linked to outside elitist channels, the association with Ceroc, there were some grounds pointing towards the second niche.

Even if the intention was the second niche, if it ends up taking the first niche, it probably may make commercial sense to instead target the first niche, and focus on keeping that you have (unless you have bigger ambitions).

Well done though it may be there probably isn't much new about the doing so though. The comments here sound awfully similar to previous threads where a select group of dancers have gathered in an environment which caters for them.

Could someone open a window in here? Thanks.

[Andy McGregor]

Could someone open a window in here? Thanks.

The window was open, something blew in

[WittyBird]

The comments here sound awfully similar to previous threads where a select group of dancers have gathered in an environment which caters for them.

Sorry to be so blunt but....
What a load of absolute B0ll0cks.... there I've said it.

It's people like you that make it sound elitist.

Go get a life and stop demoralising what good people are trying to do. Infact it's people like you that make rumours start and make cliques and elitism what they are.

*strops off to bury head in sand*

[frodo]

Sorry to be so blunt but....
What a load of absolute B0ll0cks.... there I've said it....

You could make amends by making a bit more of an effort to explain why.

....It's people like you that make it sound elitist.

You could explain why you think it isn't. I'm very interested.

Go get a life and stop demoralising what good people are trying to do. Infact it's people like you that make rumours start and make cliques and elitism what they are....

I'm even more interested how you reach these conclusions. (Managed to work out the life bit for myself ).

[Chef]

snip---the rest of your post------snip

The comments here sound awfully similar to previous threads where a select group of dancers have gathered in an environment which caters for them.

Nobody has "selected" the people that have attended Utopia and excluded all others. If you want to go all you have to do is phone up and reserve a ticket (it is done in that way so the place doesn't get overcrowded). If you are going to the one in Evesham you don't even have to reserve a ticket because the venue is large enough for it to be unlikely that it will become overcrowded - considering that blues dancing is a minority interest.

If we were talking about morris dancing (another minority interest dance) then I am sure that there are gatherings for them then being another small group then most people would know most others. It is much easier to know everybody in a small group.

I don't believe blues dance events are elitist. If they were then they would not be publicised and only thse people that are wanted there would be told about them. So you know about these events and you know what EVERYONE that wants to do needs to do to get a ticket. Your choice then is to either go or not to go but there is no one telling you that you are not allowed to go.

So you think it might be cliquey? You know all those people that you think are in the clique - do you think they were born there? They all started out the same way - they wanted to dance blues and they went to lessons and learnt and then they went out dancing blues with other people that wanted to dance blues. In the course of that activity they got to know the other people that shared their interest. That will not guarantee that those people will like you as a person however.

So if you like dancing to the sort of music at Utopia or weekender blues rooms (go to the Utopia website if you want to hear examples) go to lessons (just dancing Ceroc at ultra low speed looks bizzare) and learn how to dance in this style. Then phone up and buy a ticket, turn up at he event and dance.

In the course of the dancing you will meet loads of people and some of them will like you and a few may not (so just like ordinary life then). Before you know it you will find yourself turning up at places all around the country and people will greet you by name and ask you how things are going for you.

Then people can point at you as you greet old friends and remark how cliquey the people in the blues room are.

[Lory]

My Answer to Frodo's questions ...

Every Ceroc night in the UK (and there must be hundreds of them), all cater brilliantly for the beginner and intermediate dancers.

The music on those nights, is specifically chosen to appeal to the widest possible audience, the aim being, to keep it simple, familiar and easy, so as not to intimidate anyone. And generally speaking, Ceroc does a great job!

Now, over the past few years, some of the hard-core enthusiasts, the likes of who, dance more than 3 times a week and probably do more than one or two weekenders a year, have developed a taste for something slightly more challenging.

Recently, we've started to see an upsurge of 'add on' Blues rooms, which have proved to be very popular and so clearly there is a market for this kind of music.... And that's all it is really, its just slightly slower, more chilled, and blusier music, which just happens to be more challenging! Nothing more, nothing less!

No, it won't appeal to 'everyone' but then again, neither did punk and no one could accuse punk rockers and pogo dancing clubs as being elitist.

If the niche being referred to is catering to a pre-existing highly intertwined elite and social dance group, then clearly there isn't much reason to comment.

When i first joined Ceroc, I went to a local hall and got to know everyone there, then I discovered a few other venues and got to know more and more people, then gradually, I realised I kept bumping into the same people at lots of different venues and again at weekenders and these maybe the group your referring to as

'the pre-existing highly intertwined elite and social dance group?

In reality we're just a bunch of ordinary people who love dancing and will travel about a lot more than the average punter to find places that play the kind of music we like!

The fact that a lot (but not all) of them happen to be fabulous dances, I believe is secondary.

Anyway, I can't see fabulous dancers coming just to mix with other fabulous dancers, if they hated R&B, soft latin and Rich Blues (DavidB immediately springs to mind )


Yes, it takes a degree more skill to interpret the music with confidence but its only one's own ego that will be doing the judging. No where has anyone said, you have to have reached a certain standard or social standing to attend

Even if the intention was the second niche, if it ends up taking the first niche, it probably may make commercial sense to instead target the first niche, and focus on keeping that you have (unless you have bigger ambitions).

I think all ventures have to start out with a bunch of people who are enthusiastic about a venture and just hope the enthusiasm catches on. It would be daft to drag a bunch of people who didn't 'like' that kind of music and force them to endure it, just for equalities sake!

[Trousers]

{BigSnip}

Ooooh Lorraine

Brilliantly put!

[mikeyr]

If the niche being referred to is catering to a pre-existing highly intertwined elite and social dance group, then clearly there isn't much reason to comment .

WooHOO...... Hey, theres finally someone other than myself that considers me elite ......... Now theres dangerous, I am sure I have never met you Frodo But I am not gonna let that get in the way of a wonderful friendship

[HelenB]

I went to Utopia Friday on my own. Slightly apprehensive because a) it was away from my local area, b) I knew I would hardly know anyone there, and c) I'm a relative newbie to blues (number of times in a blues room can be counted on one hand)

So why did I go? Because I love the music and dancin' the blues and this night catered for that on a more regular basis then the weekenders.

Did I find it cliquey? Not at all, just a group of people having a fab time

IMO cliques are groups of people that exclude us mere mortals that they feel don't fit into their entry criteria.

I came away knowing more fellow blues'ites (and forumites) and having had a fantastic time in the process with not one refusal. That's not cliqueness to me

[fletch]

IMO cliques are groups of people that exclude us mere mortals that they feel don't fit into their entry criteria.

I came away knowing more fellow blues'ites (and forumites) and having had a fantastic time in the process with not one refusal. That's not cliqueness to me

and it was nice to meet you babes

[Simon r]

I went to Utopia Friday on my own. Slightly apprehensive because a) it was away from my local area, b) I knew I would hardly know anyone there, and c) I'm a relative newbie to blues (number of times in a blues room can be counted on one hand)

So why did I go? Because I love the music and dancin' the blues and this night catered for that on a more regular basis then the weekenders.

Did I find it cliquey? Not at all, just a group of people having a fab time

IMO cliques are groups of people that exclude us mere mortals that they feel don't fit into their entry criteria.

I came away knowing more fellow blues'ites (and forumites) and having had a fantastic time in the process with not one refusal. That's not cliqueness to me

I am really glad you had a good time

I think the whole ethos of the venture is to get more people involved in this slower smoother type of dancing

Well done to you for giving such an honest reply,

LOL simon