appeldance (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} appeldance) wrote,@ 2006-05-20 00:03:00 |
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Texas Classic
Friday-
The Texas Classic http://www.thetexasclassic.com hosted by new owner Kathi Bittner started on Friday, May 19. I got to the hotel and checked into room around three in the afternoon. The venue was fabulous...it was the Hilton hotel on Post Oak situated in the Uptown Houston area near the Galleria. The hotel and staff were excellent. My only complaint is that the design of the hotel is a little confusing. More than once I made a wrong turn and that was before I started my celebratory drinking:-) My hotel room was very nice and I was glad that my view was of the swimming pool...next time bring swimming suit. Although, night swimming is the only safe way for me...during the daylight the reflection off of my white body could be blinding. "Pale, is the new tan"
Registration check in for the competition was quick and easy. The staff manning the registration area were informative and pleasantly cheerful. I think that this is very important because the very first contact that you have at an event is the registration process and it should be a good first meeting. The ballroom was a good size for the competition and the floor was great...kudos to Gerald Morris for the floor. After a little searching I was able to find the dressing room' s. They were in a separate room off of the ballroom, but still close enough to make quick changes easily. The dressing rooms were very well stocked with clothing racks, mirrors, chairs for those with balance issues. There was also safety pins and all of the other essential items needed to look like a country and western superstar. Big points in this area!
Warm ups...why do they call them warm ups anyway? I mean you go out on the floor, with everybody else that is competing that evening and try to dance your routine on the floor that has no room on it whatsoever. You get bumped and cut off from the line dance and then if you get warm, you will be cold by the time you finally get to that dance in the competition. Really, the only true purpose of the quick run time that you have on the floor is to get a feel of the floor and the music...with a slight possibility of anxiety thrown in for no charge.
Friday night competition ran on time and my student Carolyn Wilburn danced wonderfully. Then immediately following the country event was the swing, hustle and salsa competition. After the C&W there is always a mad rush from the ballroom to to quickly change for the swing. Those of us dancing C&W with hats on have to take time to do something about...HAT HAIR!
The swing competition was well attended and had many competitors. I had four students that danced; Carolyn Wilburn, Mary Dee Harris, Becky MacCorkle and Lynn Macy. All of the girls were awesome!! I have truly found the secret to good dancing...pick beautiful talented ladies and then I look great. (good taste goes a long way)
I left before the end of the swing competition because I had to be up early the next morning.
Saturday-
I had to teach at 9:00-11:00 and then practice with Susan. A short nap and it was already time for Novice. I danced with Lynn Macy and Becky MacCorkle. The afternoon went smoothly with only a couple of creative moments on my part:-) After the session I quickly went up and changed for show rehearsal. We started the rehearsal with the tribute to Trini DeSilva. The run thru was quick and efficient . Then Susan and I ran our routine to music. I left the ballroom as others were about to come in and take their seats for the evenings competition and show. I went back and showered, ironed clothes and headed back down to the ballroom. I just missed Chad Guidy and Shelley James Masters waltz...*&%@#.
The tribute to Trini went very well. I have been professional throughout the whole period of time that the routine was being put together. I thought only about the mechanics of the routine and video presentation. It was when I entered the floor to dance that the emotion of the moment struck my face red and watered my eyes. I could not and did not want to contain the emotion that I felt...so I let it go.
Immediately afterwords, I had to change and pull myself together so I could dance the swing with Susan. She had perfect understanding as she let me compose myself and then focus on our task together. We danced and had one major problem, but it is still fixable and I am looking forward to Grand National's this coming weekend. The show itself was not too long, but still very entertaining. There was lots of time between the Masters Competition and the show that gave spectators a chance to social dance.
After the show I did swing award's and my girls rocked...more on placement's later:-)
A new friend at the swing awards!
I changed and opened a bottle of Chateau Nuf De Pap...yeah baby!
A quick visit to the staff room for a party. This is also where I think Kathi had done a great job. She made the staff and the attendee's feel special and important. Way to go Kathi. Staff room was great. Good food, good selection(healthy-not healthy) and drinks, COOL! Nice touches.
Sunday-
An early morning again, more choreo and then watched the competition. On a side note, one of the competitor's Donnie Stewart fell to the floor clutching his right knee during Nite Club 2. I feel bad for him and hope that he is going to be alright. Hopes of a speedy recovery to Donnie.
All the couples danced great and there was a lot of improvement for the competitors. I had multiple couples dancing that I coach. It was nice to see them dance live instead of watching just the video. But unfortunately there were several uncontested divisions.
Overall, I think the Texas Classic was a very well ran event, with a great new venue and lot's of nice special touches. Also, there was a good gathering of upper level dancer's, which makes coaching more available to competitors that want help with their dancing.
I always try to support the local country event's, but I would recommend this event to everyone.
My girls placed very well and I am happy that they all were pleased with the way that they danced this weekend.
The Swing Placements-
Mary Dee Harris - Silver
Lynn Macy - 2nd Newcomer
Becky MacCorkle - 2nd in Intermediate
Carolyn Wilburn - 1st in Advanced
The Country Placements-
Lynn Macy - 2nd Overall Diamond Novice
Carolyn Wilburn - 2nd Overall Silver Advanced
Becky MacCorkle - 1st Overall Crystal Novice
Great job ladies and I am very proud of you!
Friday-
The Texas Classic http://www.thetexasclassic.com hosted by new owner Kathi Bittner started on Friday, May 19. I got to the hotel and checked into room around three in the afternoon. The venue was fabulous...it was the Hilton hotel on Post Oak situated in the Uptown Houston area near the Galleria. The hotel and staff were excellent. My only complaint is that the design of the hotel is a little confusing. More than once I made a wrong turn and that was before I started my celebratory drinking:-) My hotel room was very nice and I was glad that my view was of the swimming pool...next time bring swimming suit. Although, night swimming is the only safe way for me...during the daylight the reflection off of my white body could be blinding. "Pale, is the new tan"
Registration check in for the competition was quick and easy. The staff manning the registration area were informative and pleasantly cheerful. I think that this is very important because the very first contact that you have at an event is the registration process and it should be a good first meeting. The ballroom was a good size for the competition and the floor was great...kudos to Gerald Morris for the floor. After a little searching I was able to find the dressing room' s. They were in a separate room off of the ballroom, but still close enough to make quick changes easily. The dressing rooms were very well stocked with clothing racks, mirrors, chairs for those with balance issues. There was also safety pins and all of the other essential items needed to look like a country and western superstar. Big points in this area!
Warm ups...why do they call them warm ups anyway? I mean you go out on the floor, with everybody else that is competing that evening and try to dance your routine on the floor that has no room on it whatsoever. You get bumped and cut off from the line dance and then if you get warm, you will be cold by the time you finally get to that dance in the competition. Really, the only true purpose of the quick run time that you have on the floor is to get a feel of the floor and the music...with a slight possibility of anxiety thrown in for no charge.
Friday night competition ran on time and my student Carolyn Wilburn danced wonderfully. Then immediately following the country event was the swing, hustle and salsa competition. After the C&W there is always a mad rush from the ballroom to to quickly change for the swing. Those of us dancing C&W with hats on have to take time to do something about...HAT HAIR!
The swing competition was well attended and had many competitors. I had four students that danced; Carolyn Wilburn, Mary Dee Harris, Becky MacCorkle and Lynn Macy. All of the girls were awesome!! I have truly found the secret to good dancing...pick beautiful talented ladies and then I look great. (good taste goes a long way)
I left before the end of the swing competition because I had to be up early the next morning.
Saturday-
I had to teach at 9:00-11:00 and then practice with Susan. A short nap and it was already time for Novice. I danced with Lynn Macy and Becky MacCorkle. The afternoon went smoothly with only a couple of creative moments on my part:-) After the session I quickly went up and changed for show rehearsal. We started the rehearsal with the tribute to Trini DeSilva. The run thru was quick and efficient . Then Susan and I ran our routine to music. I left the ballroom as others were about to come in and take their seats for the evenings competition and show. I went back and showered, ironed clothes and headed back down to the ballroom. I just missed Chad Guidy and Shelley James Masters waltz...*&%@#.
The tribute to Trini went very well. I have been professional throughout the whole period of time that the routine was being put together. I thought only about the mechanics of the routine and video presentation. It was when I entered the floor to dance that the emotion of the moment struck my face red and watered my eyes. I could not and did not want to contain the emotion that I felt...so I let it go.
Immediately afterwords, I had to change and pull myself together so I could dance the swing with Susan. She had perfect understanding as she let me compose myself and then focus on our task together. We danced and had one major problem, but it is still fixable and I am looking forward to Grand National's this coming weekend. The show itself was not too long, but still very entertaining. There was lots of time between the Masters Competition and the show that gave spectators a chance to social dance.
After the show I did swing award's and my girls rocked...more on placement's later:-)
A new friend at the swing awards!
I changed and opened a bottle of Chateau Nuf De Pap...yeah baby!
A quick visit to the staff room for a party. This is also where I think Kathi had done a great job. She made the staff and the attendee's feel special and important. Way to go Kathi. Staff room was great. Good food, good selection(healthy-not healthy) and drinks, COOL! Nice touches.
Sunday-
An early morning again, more choreo and then watched the competition. On a side note, one of the competitor's Donnie Stewart fell to the floor clutching his right knee during Nite Club 2. I feel bad for him and hope that he is going to be alright. Hopes of a speedy recovery to Donnie.
All the couples danced great and there was a lot of improvement for the competitors. I had multiple couples dancing that I coach. It was nice to see them dance live instead of watching just the video. But unfortunately there were several uncontested divisions.
Overall, I think the Texas Classic was a very well ran event, with a great new venue and lot's of nice special touches. Also, there was a good gathering of upper level dancer's, which makes coaching more available to competitors that want help with their dancing.
I always try to support the local country event's, but I would recommend this event to everyone.
My girls placed very well and I am happy that they all were pleased with the way that they danced this weekend.
The Swing Placements-
Mary Dee Harris - Silver
Lynn Macy - 2nd Newcomer
Becky MacCorkle - 2nd in Intermediate
Carolyn Wilburn - 1st in Advanced
The Country Placements-
Lynn Macy - 2nd Overall Diamond Novice
Carolyn Wilburn - 2nd Overall Silver Advanced
Becky MacCorkle - 1st Overall Crystal Novice
Great job ladies and I am very proud of you!
