Louise Missen
SN: How was it for you?
LM: Bloody amazing! I don't even know where to start - a week on and I'm still in awe not just of the organisation that went in but the fantastic atmosphere everyone brought with them - it was just wonderful. My partners David, Chris and Heather were brilliant and it was great to have so much fun on the dance floor
SN: How was it different from London based comps?
LM: This has been commented on before but bears repeating - the organisers have just clearly taken everything negative from the competition circuit that they've experienced and found a way to eliminate those issues. The net result is a much more intimate, relaxed and friendly champs than I've experienced (though my disclaimer is I haven't been to many other champs!)
Particular highlights - reasonably priced food on site, flexibility when the timings got a bit muddled (quickly inserting freestyle between rounds so top cats could check their results) and the fantastic Jamie Stormer's compering which kept spirits up all day.
SN: Anything they could improve for next time?
LM: Not that I can think of - I think it's going to be an extremely hard year to beat but if anyone can do it...
SN: How come the bar didn't sell out of Amaretto?
SN: How come the bar didn't sell out of Amaretto?
LM: SO HAPPY the bar stocked amaretto! I like to think we made a reasonable dent into their stocks as well as provoking a bit of debate (some crazy people out there don't rate it as sugar-replenishing, soul-warming sustenance). Will try harder next year.
SN: Will you be back next year?
LM: With glitter on!
SN: Will you be back next year?
LM: With glitter on!
Chris Uren
CU: Well here we are two weeks after the Northern Champs and Mr North asking me to reflect on the weekend. Pretty amazing!!!. The whole event had a “Vibe” Having attended and Djed at at quite a few champs, I.like many, had reservations on how successful Jamie and his team could make the first event but it was more than successful. It was a triumph of organisation and teamwork and I was proud to be part of it.
The standard of of dancing was higher than I had expected with all competitors from all over the UK getting quickly into the spirit of the whole event And for me the opportunity to choose the Competition music and challenge those dancers helped me to fulfill a long held ambition.Then the audience . Those supporters who spend the whole day watching and cheering on their family and friends.
CU: Well here we are two weeks after the Northern Champs and Mr North asking me to reflect on the weekend. Pretty amazing!!!. The whole event had a “Vibe” Having attended and Djed at at quite a few champs, I.like many, had reservations on how successful Jamie and his team could make the first event but it was more than successful. It was a triumph of organisation and teamwork and I was proud to be part of it.
The standard of of dancing was higher than I had expected with all competitors from all over the UK getting quickly into the spirit of the whole event And for me the opportunity to choose the Competition music and challenge those dancers helped me to fulfill a long held ambition.Then the audience . Those supporters who spend the whole day watching and cheering on their family and friends.
Fantastic. One of the best elements of the day.
But the real winner was Northern dancing. Ordinary club members embracing the event and able to mix it with quality dancers from all over the UK. That for me is the real bonus of the day and long may it go on. I look forward to all future Northern Champs with a smile.
LETS TALK MUSIC
When I was first asked to do the competition music there was no hesitation on my part.”Yes” .I have been fortunate to work at all of the Welsh Champs and the last four London and Scottish champs.So I had heard some of the best DJs select and play competition music. “I wanna have a go at that” .
But the real winner was Northern dancing. Ordinary club members embracing the event and able to mix it with quality dancers from all over the UK. That for me is the real bonus of the day and long may it go on. I look forward to all future Northern Champs with a smile.
LETS TALK MUSIC
When I was first asked to do the competition music there was no hesitation on my part.”Yes” .I have been fortunate to work at all of the Welsh Champs and the last four London and Scottish champs.So I had heard some of the best DJs select and play competition music. “I wanna have a go at that” .
I adopted a philosophy of making the music interesting, varied and progressive in difficulty depending on the standard of the dancers . So increasing in difficulty from Intermediates, through advanced, to Opens and Top Cats. But throwing in an occasional “curve ball” to hopefully make life interesting. I was also conscious that the audience needs entertaining as well. I think it worked. But like anybody in hindsight I would have changed some. Most comments on the day and since have been positive, but I had some comments on the day saying a few tunes were too hard and others saying too easy. About right then.
Hannah Lonsdale
SN: Highlight of the day?
HL: Wow it’s really hard to pick just one, it was such a great day! I think the most unexpected and welcome highlight was the ice-cream van that appeared perfectly in the interlude before the finals. It was a lovely warm and sunny day, the ice cream cooled everyone down and gave us that extra sugar boost we needed before the competition reached its climax. I think it is a great example of how every detail of the day was thought through by a team of dancers who are competition veterans and who placed the attendees at the forefront of all their plans.
Another lasting memory of the day is the line of people in beautiful sequinned costumes stood at the bar and outside the venue with drinks after the last competitive dance of the day, testament to the hard work and concentration competitors put into their dancing, and the well-earned need to relax and celebrate afterwards.
Hannah Lonsdale
SN: Highlight of the day?
HL: Wow it’s really hard to pick just one, it was such a great day! I think the most unexpected and welcome highlight was the ice-cream van that appeared perfectly in the interlude before the finals. It was a lovely warm and sunny day, the ice cream cooled everyone down and gave us that extra sugar boost we needed before the competition reached its climax. I think it is a great example of how every detail of the day was thought through by a team of dancers who are competition veterans and who placed the attendees at the forefront of all their plans.
Another lasting memory of the day is the line of people in beautiful sequinned costumes stood at the bar and outside the venue with drinks after the last competitive dance of the day, testament to the hard work and concentration competitors put into their dancing, and the well-earned need to relax and celebrate afterwards.
SN: How does it compare to other comps?
HL: There was such a high standard of dancing on display but I think the overriding atmosphere was one of friendliness and mutual encouragement, rather than the elitist hard competitive edge that some other competitions foster. Everyone cheered for everyone from across the country and took pride in their successes. There was a picnic bench in the sunshine outside the venue where everyone seemed to sit and take a breather between rounds and the chat –even between couples in direct competition with each other- was relaxed, fun and encouraging. It also ran very smoothly, a credit to Jamie and the crew.
HL: There was such a high standard of dancing on display but I think the overriding atmosphere was one of friendliness and mutual encouragement, rather than the elitist hard competitive edge that some other competitions foster. Everyone cheered for everyone from across the country and took pride in their successes. There was a picnic bench in the sunshine outside the venue where everyone seemed to sit and take a breather between rounds and the chat –even between couples in direct competition with each other- was relaxed, fun and encouraging. It also ran very smoothly, a credit to Jamie and the crew.
SN: What did local dancers make of it/take from it?
HL: It was great to see so many Northern dancers out there showing the judges what they could do, and taking home medals and trophies for their hard work and top class performances. The spectators really made the day as well, I’ve chatted to people since who were extremely impressed and surprised with the standard of dancing and what can be achieved with the dance that they know and love. Many local dancers were also part of the hard-working crew and I hope took away with them the knowledge that they were part of a successful team that helped to bring an amazing event into being.
HL: It was great to see so many Northern dancers out there showing the judges what they could do, and taking home medals and trophies for their hard work and top class performances. The spectators really made the day as well, I’ve chatted to people since who were extremely impressed and surprised with the standard of dancing and what can be achieved with the dance that they know and love. Many local dancers were also part of the hard-working crew and I hope took away with them the knowledge that they were part of a successful team that helped to bring an amazing event into being.
SN: What would you change?
HL: That’s a hard one too! I honestly can’t think of anything- the competition ran smoothly, the judging was fair, the medals and trophies look awesome (especially sat on my mantelpiece!) dancers were placed at the forefront of arrangements, the food was really good and the drinks were reasonably priced. There’s been such a good feeling about the event that next year even more people are sure to come so the venue is going to have to get bigger, and I can’t wait to see what Jamie and the team have in store for us after another year of creative ideas. I think anyone who enjoys competing or watching a high standard of dancing would be crazy to not already have the event firmly on their calendar, I know I have!
HL: That’s a hard one too! I honestly can’t think of anything- the competition ran smoothly, the judging was fair, the medals and trophies look awesome (especially sat on my mantelpiece!) dancers were placed at the forefront of arrangements, the food was really good and the drinks were reasonably priced. There’s been such a good feeling about the event that next year even more people are sure to come so the venue is going to have to get bigger, and I can’t wait to see what Jamie and the team have in store for us after another year of creative ideas. I think anyone who enjoys competing or watching a high standard of dancing would be crazy to not already have the event firmly on their calendar, I know I have!
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