Competition newbie

[Andy McGregor]

Finally, breathe and smile

These are the most important things - especially the breathing ...

[Baruch]

Thanks, everyone. Lots of helpful hints here.

[Cornish Pixie]

Actually, it is. Friday 26th August to be precise. Are you entering?

Was but so far two partners have let me down itching to do it too

[Baruch]

Was but so far two partners have let me down itching to do it too

Are you inflatable, then?

(Sorry - that pun was just crying out to be used.... I'll shut up now!)

[Lynn]

I've only done one competition and my main aim was simply not to actually fall over And I managed it

And I had a fabulous time, it is such great fun!

[Lynn]

Ah, competitions clothes, my specialist subject

And I've been competion outfit shopping with Andy...

[Baruch]

And I've been competion outfit shopping with Andy...

We have that joy to come. On Wednesday, in fact. In terms of how much I enjoy activities, shopping probably ranks somewhere alongside major dentistry or mucking out a cow shed, but my wife enjoys it much more. It's a good job one of us does!

[Andy McGregor]

And I've been competion outfit shopping with Andy...

I'm afraid I trained her too well. There is a good chance that Lynn has bought more dance shoes in one year than I have since I started partner dancing in the 1970s! Maybe I should run a shoes and shopping workshop at Camber

[Baruch]

I'm pleased to report that our first competition went really well. Puresunrays (my better half) and I had an absolutely fantastic time, and we'll definitely be doing it again. We were pretty nervous before the competition, but when we actually got up on the floor and got into the swing of things, it was really exhilarating. I was expecting to enjoy it, but nowhere near as much as I actually did.

Thanks to ElaineB and Simon for all the encouragement and helpful feedback - you're both stars! And your showcase was even better than when we saw it in Cardiff. Fantastic.

Cheers to Lou as well - it was great to put a face to the name (and to see that you are indeed "not a spoon"!). Nice to meet Clevedonboy too, albeit fleetingly (probably because I didn't dance with him!).

I did manage to elbow my wife in the face during a dance but thankfully that was after the competition and it didn't do much damage. Otherwise I'd really be in the dog house. Sorry, PSR!

[Lou]

I did manage to elbow my wife in the face during a dance but thankfully that was after the competition and it didn't do much damage. Otherwise I'd really be in the dog house. Sorry, PSR!

Maybe she should get her revenge in your next competition - after all, Marty_baby_honeybunch got a excellent smack in the nose during the DWAS final, but it didn't stop them winning....

It was really nice to meet you both, too, and to put faces to names, and to have a dance - it's a shame Mack the Knife was so late in the evening, and we couldn't do it justice.

It was an excellent night - well done to Justine for organising it so well.

[clevedonboy]

And here's a picture of the couple in action

[ElaineB]

And didn't Baruch and Puresunrays do well!!!! Come the second track, you could see the nerves melt away and they went for it - well done Guys!

The event raised £389.93 for the Rhys Daniels Trust which was the aim and we were also treated to watch Bristol, Cardiff and Gloucester dancers strut their stuff!

The winners of the advanced were some bods called Simon Bowker and Keelie! The takers of the intermediates were Mark and Gee and Marty Baby and Lizzie were the winners of the DWAS.

Excellent event and well done and to Baruch and Puresunrays!!




Elaine

[puresunrays]

Well my husband has basically said it all, but I just want to add my own thankyou to everyone. The encouragement and welcoming atmosphere really helped!!

[Donna]

My wife and I are going to do our first competition at the end of next month. As neither of us has ever been to a dance competition before, let alone entered one, we're going in blind, so to speak. With that in mind, does anyone have any tips they'd be willing to pass on to two competition newbies?

In particular, any ideas on how to dress on a fairly tight budget would be appreciated.

Ta!

I say for anybody who is competing for their first time.... watch loads of videos, take ballroom lessons, wear something bright (red, blue, green and yellow are the best colours). Smile a lot very very important!!! Enjoy yourselves. Listen to and feel the music. Don't get too nervous because that can just spoil your performance and make your energy levels drop almost immediately. Errrr....anything else...OH YES! Drink plenty of redbull!! Give you wings!!