appeldance (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} appeldance) wrote,@ 2007-02-02 21:31:00 |
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UCWDC Worlds 2007
When you think of Nashville, you think of country music. That makes it the perfect town to host the UCWDC World competition. Especially this year, with the excellent music selection for the competitions and social dancing by the DJs all week long.
OK so a general overview of the good and the not so good. Overall UCWDC Worlds was very well run this year. They kept the schedule very well for a comp of this size. The social dancing in the swing room was a good time and lasted into the wee hours. The Gaylord Opryland is beginning to show signs of being behind the times, especially in the very un-healthconscious food court area. At the same time it is a unique place to hold a competition with unusual details like the Godiva chocolate shop and the 12 foot tall plant lady walking around the atriums. The DJing and music selection this year was great. All my students remarked on how they liked the songs they danced to. More highlights: quick belt buckle delivery this year, complimentary boarding pass printing at the concierge desk, free internet access in the rooms, impromptu Chrisanne dress modeling show by Brandi Tobias. That last one wasn't in the program. The only major debacle we noticed was with the trophies being held up in customs and then arriving with about a quarter of them broken. That should be an easy fix for next year though.
My week very relaxing after Thursday morning. I had three country proam students: Carolyn Wilburn (Silver Advanced), Becky MacCorkle (Open Novice), and Lynn Macy (Diamond Novice) who competed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Worlds is a little different than other comps: the divisions are very large, the floor is larger, and you don't do the music previews on the competitions floor. The music previews are held in smaller ballroom nearby. All this can make Worlds a little intimidating for students, but Carolyn, Becky, and Lynn stepped up and performed very very well. I was especially pleased with the new Cha-Cha routine I had just choreographed in November, and which all three students performed beautifully for the first time at Worlds. They received many compliments on this particular dance, including a very enthusiastic one from Carolyn's husband, Harlyn :)
Thursday morning we got the results and my students cleaned up:
Carolyn is the 2007 ProAm Female Classic Silver & Gold Advanced World Champion!
Becky is the 2007 ProAm Female Classic Open Novice 2nd place winner!
Lynn is the 2007 ProAm Female Diamond Novice 4th place winner!
Thursday evening was a great show of Line dancing (Crown & Superstars) with our very own Mona Arvidson performing her Solo medley. We had cheering section in the bleachers just for her. After this there was a the Bombshel Stomp Off street line dance competition which get the energy going. After awards we retired to the swing room again and set up a home base on one of the oversized divans and socialized with the other dancers from all over the world.
Friday I had to get up early for the ProAm swing competition, which ended up being very small. I danced with Carolyn, Becky, and MaryDee. My students were very pleased with the cool swing trophies they gave this year. Becky in particular was very relived that she won, seeing as she was the only one in the Open Advanced division. Later on the I had a break before the Swing Invitational show and yet another awards ceremony. UCWDC brought lots of swing pros in this year so there were some great performances to watch from: Jordan & Tatiana, Ronnie & Brandi, Parker & Jessica, Miles & Tessa, Kyle & Sarah. Having all the swing comps on Friday made for a great party in the swing room that evening. Special thanks to John Lindo, Louie St.George, and Phil Adams for DJing the swing room all week.
Saturday was the last day of the competition with Couples Classic Open, Crown, Masters, and Showcase competition. Kudos to Sam and Denise Miller who danced away with 1st place in both the Masters Classic and Showcase divisions. I was also so proud of Chad Guidry & Shelley James for their 5th place in the Masters Showcase, and Bobby Pritchard & Kimberly Hromcik for 1st place in Division II Couple Classic. Fabulous dancing everyone! See you next year.
When you think of Nashville, you think of country music. That makes it the perfect town to host the UCWDC World competition. Especially this year, with the excellent music selection for the competitions and social dancing by the DJs all week long.OK so a general overview of the good and the not so good. Overall UCWDC Worlds was very well run this year. They kept the schedule very well for a comp of this size. The social dancing in the swing room was a good time and lasted into the wee hours. The Gaylord Opryland is beginning to show signs of being behind the times, especially in the very un-healthconscious food court area. At the same time it is a unique place to hold a competition with unusual details like the Godiva chocolate shop and the 12 foot tall plant lady walking around the atriums. The DJing and music selection this year was great. All my students remarked on how they liked the songs they danced to. More highlights: quick belt buckle delivery this year, complimentary boarding pass printing at the concierge desk, free internet access in the rooms, impromptu Chrisanne dress modeling show by Brandi Tobias. That last one wasn't in the program. The only major debacle we noticed was with the trophies being held up in customs and then arriving with about a quarter of them broken. That should be an easy fix for next year though.
My week very relaxing after Thursday morning. I had three country proam students: Carolyn Wilburn (Silver Advanced), Becky MacCorkle (Open Novice), and Lynn Macy (Diamond Novice) who competed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Worlds is a little different than other comps: the divisions are very large, the floor is larger, and you don't do the music previews on the competitions floor. The music previews are held in smaller ballroom nearby. All this can make Worlds a little intimidating for students, but Carolyn, Becky, and Lynn stepped up and performed very very well. I was especially pleased with the new Cha-Cha routine I had just choreographed in November, and which all three students performed beautifully for the first time at Worlds. They received many compliments on this particular dance, including a very enthusiastic one from Carolyn's husband, Harlyn :)
Thursday morning we got the results and my students cleaned up:
Carolyn is the 2007 ProAm Female Classic Silver & Gold Advanced World Champion!
Becky is the 2007 ProAm Female Classic Open Novice 2nd place winner!
Lynn is the 2007 ProAm Female Diamond Novice 4th place winner!
Thursday evening was a great show of Line dancing (Crown & Superstars) with our very own Mona Arvidson performing her Solo medley. We had cheering section in the bleachers just for her. After this there was a the Bombshel Stomp Off street line dance competition which get the energy going. After awards we retired to the swing room again and set up a home base on one of the oversized divans and socialized with the other dancers from all over the world.
Friday I had to get up early for the ProAm swing competition, which ended up being very small. I danced with Carolyn, Becky, and MaryDee. My students were very pleased with the cool swing trophies they gave this year. Becky in particular was very relived that she won, seeing as she was the only one in the Open Advanced division. Later on the I had a break before the Swing Invitational show and yet another awards ceremony. UCWDC brought lots of swing pros in this year so there were some great performances to watch from: Jordan & Tatiana, Ronnie & Brandi, Parker & Jessica, Miles & Tessa, Kyle & Sarah. Having all the swing comps on Friday made for a great party in the swing room that evening. Special thanks to John Lindo, Louie St.George, and Phil Adams for DJing the swing room all week.
Saturday was the last day of the competition with Couples Classic Open, Crown, Masters, and Showcase competition. Kudos to Sam and Denise Miller who danced away with 1st place in both the Masters Classic and Showcase divisions. I was also so proud of Chad Guidry & Shelley James for their 5th place in the Masters Showcase, and Bobby Pritchard & Kimberly Hromcik for 1st place in Division II Couple Classic. Fabulous dancing everyone! See you next year.
