Update 30 May - you can find the winners and runner up here on the Ceroc Championships results page
I had never intended to go to this championship event in the late May Bank Holiday weekend, I didn't attend last year and I'd grown weary of it all. That I found myself there was tribute to the persuasive skills of one of my closest friends: I'm very grateful to her.
The overwhelming impression was that this was a very well organised event. It ran professionally, like clockwork, there was a focus on what dancers want and need in terms of facilities, and the result was an event where people were happy and relaxed. There were chunks of freestyle later in the day for spectators and some genuine efforts to make the administration of the various heats slicker, smoother and fairer. Mike Ellard and the judges had a long day - his staff even longer. But as events like this go was impressive.
The Watford venue seemed much better geared up for dancers than previously - and I would like to thank the staff for their exemplary help and support for my friend who dislocated her toe. The whole catering set up had been re-geared since my last visit and the staff were pleasant. Some staff seemed uncertain when questioned about charging for glasses for the free water. A neat but unwelcome dodge of the legislation: when the staff could be bothered to enforce the venue's policy.
The organisation of the day was fantastic with the event proceeding ahead of schedule at times. We had more freestyle than I expected, the heats were rapidly turned around and the prize giving, aside from the tiny point above, moved quickly but with time for every couple or threesome to be acknowledged. All prize givings should group the finalists on the floor in future - seeing their reaction was just fantastic.
I'd change just two minor things:
But these were the only two things I'd change and - thank the Lord - I'm not in charge.
Its time I addressed the question of quality dancing.
The level of dancing in the early rounds was - as you might expect variable. A few heats were of such low standards some far more experienced dancers than me were aghast, by contrast other early heats were intensely competitive. I'm not sure if this was accident or design. It did lead to some good dancers, in amongst very good dancers, being chucked out earlier than more mediocre dancers who got through in weak heats. Twas ever thus but the general ambition of dancers needs to tempered with some notion of a standard. I'm not sure how to solve this but a recommendation of a reference from a teacher might improve matters, or a preheat to allow some to feel the cold light of day on their dancing early doors. Dancing in London is full of hubris - nemesis is bound to follow.
I was really impressed with the quality of dancing in many of the semi-finals and finals - the judges work cannot have been easy. The highlight for me was the aerials category - which has been a curiosity in years past - erupted out of it's sleepy routine in two directions at once. The winners presented an approach which was athletic, the second team one which was gymnastic - both equally compelling and utterly musical: the former reminiscent of early, energetic rock and roll, the latter shapely and balletic. On another day the results might have been the other way round - but anyone with pretensions to win in this category should mark both well. I was staggering to see the potential of this category so thoroughly re-awakened.
In other categories at the final stage it was wonderful to see so many different types of dancer represented - all strong on style, almost uncompromising too. The risk for them is that their style doesn't find favour and they are left looking lesser for sticking to their guns. The triumphant have the certain that the style which is their own is rewarded. This individuality is born, I think, from strong, clear headed views that a safe route to success (and we have seen plenty of that over the years) will no longer do. These are - at least the one's I know - clever, self-assured pairings who know the way they want to dance. The ones who dance for the judges seem in a indistinct minority. Sometimes I think the adventurous pairings get it wrong, some border on the crass - but I have to take my hat off to their bottle. When it works though it is dreamy. Characterful dancing is my preference - I think it's great when the floor of comprised of dancers taking those risks.
The majority of the audience for Champs is London based - but not, I'm guessing, the majority of the competitors. The London contingent fared well but London was blown away by dancers from the North West, Essex and Scotland. No matter - it is a great big dancing community and they cheer for their own and cheer each others success. The muted response for those who have hubristic tendencies says a lot of the intolerance of the wrong sort of arrogance which has been eating away in some quarters with a dizzying self-regard.
My day was crowned with great friends getting great recognition so there is bound to be some bias in my account. It was a superb validation of the assertion that competition brings out the best in some people: so many friends of mine have blossomed in the pursuit of a fun day at the Champs. Some will be disappointed, some will reflect on where they stand, it have proven points to doubters, re-educated the ignorant. Some slipped through the net of the judges, some will have exceeded their own expectations, some will decide to do it again. It's all gravy - as they say.
What's really pleasing is that, even discounting the Championships organised by moribund independents, there are more championships than ever before. This climate will feed the bigger events and give a stepping stone into the Ceroc UK Champs - which has gained a higher respect and organisational prowess.
I had a great time this year. I think a lot of others did too. Congratulations to all that made a fantastic event.
I had never intended to go to this championship event in the late May Bank Holiday weekend, I didn't attend last year and I'd grown weary of it all. That I found myself there was tribute to the persuasive skills of one of my closest friends: I'm very grateful to her.
The overwhelming impression was that this was a very well organised event. It ran professionally, like clockwork, there was a focus on what dancers want and need in terms of facilities, and the result was an event where people were happy and relaxed. There were chunks of freestyle later in the day for spectators and some genuine efforts to make the administration of the various heats slicker, smoother and fairer. Mike Ellard and the judges had a long day - his staff even longer. But as events like this go was impressive.
The Watford venue seemed much better geared up for dancers than previously - and I would like to thank the staff for their exemplary help and support for my friend who dislocated her toe. The whole catering set up had been re-geared since my last visit and the staff were pleasant. Some staff seemed uncertain when questioned about charging for glasses for the free water. A neat but unwelcome dodge of the legislation: when the staff could be bothered to enforce the venue's policy.
I'd change just two minor things:
- The music was perhaps a bit to vanilla and had in my view too many familiar. The real test of the ability to connect and hear the music is with unfamiliar material: its a delicate balance but there could have been a few more testing tracks.
- The call outs at the results stage were done only on numbers - leaving it to facial recognition (impossible from the top tier of seats) to pick up of results one might want to cheer. And this was a rather impersonal at an event where the atmosphere had been very sociable.
But these were the only two things I'd change and - thank the Lord - I'm not in charge.
Its time I addressed the question of quality dancing.
The level of dancing in the early rounds was - as you might expect variable. A few heats were of such low standards some far more experienced dancers than me were aghast, by contrast other early heats were intensely competitive. I'm not sure if this was accident or design. It did lead to some good dancers, in amongst very good dancers, being chucked out earlier than more mediocre dancers who got through in weak heats. Twas ever thus but the general ambition of dancers needs to tempered with some notion of a standard. I'm not sure how to solve this but a recommendation of a reference from a teacher might improve matters, or a preheat to allow some to feel the cold light of day on their dancing early doors. Dancing in London is full of hubris - nemesis is bound to follow.
I was really impressed with the quality of dancing in many of the semi-finals and finals - the judges work cannot have been easy. The highlight for me was the aerials category - which has been a curiosity in years past - erupted out of it's sleepy routine in two directions at once. The winners presented an approach which was athletic, the second team one which was gymnastic - both equally compelling and utterly musical: the former reminiscent of early, energetic rock and roll, the latter shapely and balletic. On another day the results might have been the other way round - but anyone with pretensions to win in this category should mark both well. I was staggering to see the potential of this category so thoroughly re-awakened.
In other categories at the final stage it was wonderful to see so many different types of dancer represented - all strong on style, almost uncompromising too. The risk for them is that their style doesn't find favour and they are left looking lesser for sticking to their guns. The triumphant have the certain that the style which is their own is rewarded. This individuality is born, I think, from strong, clear headed views that a safe route to success (and we have seen plenty of that over the years) will no longer do. These are - at least the one's I know - clever, self-assured pairings who know the way they want to dance. The ones who dance for the judges seem in a indistinct minority. Sometimes I think the adventurous pairings get it wrong, some border on the crass - but I have to take my hat off to their bottle. When it works though it is dreamy. Characterful dancing is my preference - I think it's great when the floor of comprised of dancers taking those risks.The majority of the audience for Champs is London based - but not, I'm guessing, the majority of the competitors. The London contingent fared well but London was blown away by dancers from the North West, Essex and Scotland. No matter - it is a great big dancing community and they cheer for their own and cheer each others success. The muted response for those who have hubristic tendencies says a lot of the intolerance of the wrong sort of arrogance which has been eating away in some quarters with a dizzying self-regard.
My day was crowned with great friends getting great recognition so there is bound to be some bias in my account. It was a superb validation of the assertion that competition brings out the best in some people: so many friends of mine have blossomed in the pursuit of a fun day at the Champs. Some will be disappointed, some will reflect on where they stand, it have proven points to doubters, re-educated the ignorant. Some slipped through the net of the judges, some will have exceeded their own expectations, some will decide to do it again. It's all gravy - as they say.
What's really pleasing is that, even discounting the Championships organised by moribund independents, there are more championships than ever before. This climate will feed the bigger events and give a stepping stone into the Ceroc UK Champs - which has gained a higher respect and organisational prowess.
I had a great time this year. I think a lot of others did too. Congratulations to all that made a fantastic event.
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