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Thread: Breeze 2009- The Aftermath

  1. #81
    Registered User jive-vee's Avatar
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    Re: Breeze 2009- The Aftermath

    Quote Originally Posted by Maxine View Post
    Carl Adams (from Ceroc Swindon) and his partner (sorry don't know her name) were the runners up. They were brilliant - my favourites
    Yep, mine too . It was Susie Minor - she also won DWAS with a guy called Andy, Carl got third in DWAS but I don't know the name of his partner. Kevin Town and partner (Rebecca maybe?) got third in the blues open comp.

    First time I've been to Breeze but the Open seemed to be of a very high standard.

  2. #82
    Registered User frodo's Avatar
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    Re: Breeze 2009- The Aftermath

    Quote Originally Posted by Maxine View Post
    Carl Adams (from Ceroc Swindon) and his partner (sorry don't know her name) were the runners up. They were brilliant - my favourites
    I'm curious why.


    I believe the runners up are the couple in the foreground in this clip.



    Clearly they're very accomplished dancers, but frequently dance at quite a distance. I think it looks rather like Ceroc at times.




    Compare with this clip with the winners (red hat) near the foreground in this clip, who don't seem to get very far from each other.


  3. #83
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    Re: Breeze 2009- The Aftermath

    Quote Originally Posted by jive-vee View Post
    It was Susie Minor - she also won DWAS with a guy called Andy
    Andy dances at Manchester.

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    Re: Breeze 2009- The Aftermath

    Quote Originally Posted by frodo View Post
    I'm curious why.


    I believe the runners up are the couple in the foreground in this clip.



    Clearly they're very accomplished dancers, but frequently dance at quite a distance. I think it looks rather like Ceroc at times.




    Compare with this clip with the winners (red hat) near the foreground in this clip, who don't seem to get very far from each other.

    Dale and partner were both brilliant dancers but just found their dancing a bit repetitive. Carl and partner just excited me a little more. Both were excellent and I have had great dances with both of them I think it is just personal taste

  5. #85
    Registered User Whitebeard's Avatar
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    Re: Breeze 2009- The Aftermath

    My first weekender and I was attending alone. So it really was great after arriving early, and as I emerged from the clutter of fairground machines to what lay beyond after having had a quick gander at the main room, to be greeted by a noisy chorus fit to waken the undead, "Look, there, it's Clive. Hey, Clive, Clive, over here, this way ......." And there, larger than life, a couple of my local girls** sorting out chalet keys at the check-in not yet opened for business. ** Nice thought that, but what I mean is, two girls from my local venues. (More about those two delightful minx's later!)

    Two thoughts (more would be very taxing) emerged from this and subsequent scouting around. One was the sheer scale of the logistical operation required to run such an event and how fortunate that Ceroc is organised in such a way that a little army of willing helpers can be gathered together and moulded into a team. In this instance some from my local area. Second was that such an event is as much about socialising and cementing friendships, old and new, as about the dancing itself. Here, not being a naturally gregarious person and with the added handicap of poor hearing, I find myself definitely on the backfoot and in a disadvantaged position. Fortunately I've been dancing long enough to have made a number of friends, but, apart from this I have to rely largely on my dancing (for good or ill) to speak for me.

    Sometimes it does. Later on Friday afternoon I was sat perusing either the menu or the little program booklet in the cafe area when I was greeted by a young lady leaning over the partition behind me. Somewhat kerfuffled it took me a moment or two to persuade myself that it really was Rachel. The Rachel. She remembered me from our dances at Evesham. Well, that could be be a double edged sword but, no, she'd enjoyed them and suggested we got together for another when her schedule allowed. You could have knocked me over with the proverbial feather. Later, another lady teacher was to remark on my 'lovely smooth' dancing and make a simmilar suggestion. The weekeend off to a good start then.

    Those were some upside confidence building moments, but there were also a few ego sapping times when I felt every one of my august years both physically and emotionally. Turn-downs, of which there were a very small number always leave their mark, even when the reason/s given are reasonable (and can be heard against the musical background). But the positives greatly outweighed the negatives and I fully intend to be there again next year. And I'd love to go to the legendary Southport come Maytime. Could I face that drive though?

    I went to Breeze already fully intending to spend most of the night hours in the blues room. In the event, once I saw the walking distance involved between the two main venues and the necessity to make shoe changes, that intention was reinforced and any thought of my popping between them to sample contrasting delights evaporated. It was bad enough hobbling to and from my chalet twice a day. Once committed to the blues room, that's where I stayed. Consequently, and I only realised the full probable extent of this at the finals of the Blues Competition, I missed seeing and dancing with quite a few from my home locality where there is no continuing blues tradition. Next time I'll make the effort to spend some time in the main room.

    Lager was very reasonably priced in the Queen Vic cum boudoir. A far cry from Cheltenham Pump Room prices. Unfortunately, it wasn't available on draught in the blues room, where I met Fosters' in piddly little 300 mil bottles for the first time. Meant many trips to the bar during those long nights' dancing.

    I only had one dance in the main room over the weekend, and that was of an afternoon on an almost empty floor. As I roamed in it looked as though a lesson had not long finished and I almost literally bumped into local dancer Alex, or should we call her Alexandra to establish gender. She had more wits about her than I did and enquired with a smile, "Shall we dance". Dropping my bag and coat more-or-less on the spot, I hastened to accept with a happy grin. We met and danced and parted in no more than three minutes or so. A chance encounter; a brief encounter.

    Heading back toward the Boudoir, at the foot of the rampway approach, I was brought to a grinding (the arthritic knees you know) halt transfixed by a panto-like scene taking place on the raised promontory formed by the end of the narrow annexe to the bar area. Two of Cheltenham's finest young ladies, the very same who gave me such a rousing welcome, were stood either side of young Tom poking and prodding and tweaking various parts of his body quite mercilessly. All the while singing, shouting, yelling, along to (I presume) the song being played at the time. It was quite hilarious. Only when they started to tug at his belt did Tom's cool resolve buckle (groan) as he broke for cover in some disarray. I'd forgotten just how much of a racket two ever so slighly tipsy girls are capable of generating. Maybe I'll find out quite what that was all about next time I see them.

    On Sunday, after getting up around mid-day I made my way as usual to the Boudoir, curious to see Mr Ceroc himself as he manned the decks. And what a blast it was. 'Swingers' Hour' could I guess have taken several paths, but Mike Ellard's choices were a delight to me. All the rocking stuff of my youthful years, the rythms and cadences of which are still etched in the further reaches of the remaining grey matter. At the time I was a serious young man with responsibilities, lacking the opportunity and means for nights on the town. In a small way I made up for that. Boy, did I overdo it, and did I suffer for it later? How ironic that this uptempo set was the most memorable of the weekend for me, who had come expressly for the blues. Had my one and only dance on the outside decking with a lovely young lady who was enjoying every moment. A fast and furious dance, a heartfelt embrace, a parting of the ways. Ships that pass in the night.

    I'm pretty much a musical ignoramous so far as attaching genre labels and remembering track titles and artists goes. I struggle to define and recognise R&B? I haven't got a mental definition for that unlike, say, Country, which is generally clearly defined and instantly recognisable. However my tastes are rather eclectic (I don't reject Country just because it's Country) and perhaps eccentric. When I hear a piece of music I'm pretty clear as to whether I like it or not, Whether it sets my feet tapping or body swaying. Well there was good music aplenty in the blues room. No, no, after Rocky's intervention I do think this is better described as the chill-out room for I think I can sympathise with Martingolds view that there was a shortage of real bluesy music to get down and dirty to. But perhaps one needs a pokey smokey dimmly-lit dingy den of a place to create the right atmosphere. And some red hot mammas!

    There were several tracks I was hoping to hear and dance to, but if they were played I was elsewhere - in body or in spirit! Nick Cave's 'Red Right Hand', so atmospheric and open to interpretation, who needs 'moves', that dirty gravelly voice .... ; Jace Everret's "Bad Things", he voices desires for us, lending itself to some malarkying around; Big Daddy Wilson with 'Rest of my Life', 'Walk a Mile in my Shoes' or 'Doin' it Right', a version of one of which I did hear, but though it was interesting to listen to it didn't draw me onto the floor as would have Big Daddy; and eccentric, well I have a yen to dance to "Sailors Prayer" by Wild Mountain Thyme, no instruments just voices in close harmony. Not much chance of that I'll wager.

    The Forum meet completely slipped my mind even though I was in the blues room at the time, but on the other side directly opposite. A very major senior moment. So even though I already knew or recognised a number of forumites, and belatedly met a few more on Sunday night/Monday morning, that was an opportunity sadly missed. For I was well and truly almost out on my feet by then and swear I dozed off from time to time. In view of this, I wonder how many forumites I danced with over the weekend without realising their provenance ?

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    Re: Breeze 2009- The Aftermath

    Quote Originally Posted by Whitebeard View Post
    my tastes are rather eclectic (I don't reject Country just because it's Country) and perhaps eccentric. When I hear a piece of music I'm pretty clear as to whether I like it or not, Whether it sets my feet tapping or body swaying.
    My sentiments exactly.

    btw, did anyone see the Rockabilly Rebels, all dressed up as cowboys? They were staying in a different camp, thank goodness.

    The Forum meet completely slipped my mind even though I was in the blues room at the time, but on the other side directly opposite. A very major senior moment. So even though I already knew or recognised a number of forumites, and belatedly met a few more on Sunday night/Monday morning, that was an opportunity sadly missed. For I was well and truly almost out on my feet by then and swear I dozed off from time to time. In view of this, I wonder how many forumites I danced with over the weekend without realising their provenance ?
    I managed to track you down and get a dance on Sunday night before your nap.

  7. #87
    Registered User fandangle's Avatar
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    Re: Breeze 2009- The Aftermath

    UK Blues Championships 2009 at Brean.

    For anyone who is interested, there are some videos of the Semi-finals and Finals of the Blues Competition at http://www.southernjive.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=524

    There's also some links to the DWAS competition.

    Enjoy.

  8. #88
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    Re: Breeze 2009- The Aftermath

    Quote Originally Posted by Astro View Post
    My sentiments exactly.

    btw, did anyone see the Rockabilly Rebels, all dressed up as cowboys? They were staying in a different camp, thank goodness.
    Did you notice my Bolo tie ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Astro View Post
    I managed to track you down and get a dance on Sunday night before your nap.
    Ah yes, I remember it well.

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