This was not my first
time competing but was my first time at the Ceroc Champs. I found
this to be extremely fun. I really enjoyed watching the Great Escapee
and the Aerials categories as they were interesting to watch. I
competed in the Lucky Dip and Top Cat categories.
The day started as it
does at every competition with the pairing of the partners for the
lucky dip. I liked that before hand they had put a list up of men's
numbers and which heat they will be in. This made it easier to
partner people up. This bit was fun. Seeing who I was going to get
and who I was missing out on having as my partner. I thought I was
partnered up with the right person. By right I mean someone who can
lead me well but doesn't make me feel like I’m being thrown around.
I could also add my own style to it. They started with the first
round of Lucky Dip. This seemed to go well.
They did some first
rounds of the other categories which looked good. I soon realised
that the standard of dancing was very high. One of the categories was
called All Stars and was done in three different age groups. Under
25, 25 – 35 and 36+. I thought this category was unfair as at the
other competitions I've been to there has been an intermediate and an
advance category. This one was like the two combined and split into
age groups. This would mean that those who are of an intermediate
standard had no chance of winning.
The last in a group of
the first rounds to do was the top cats. I liked the fact that we had
already been put into heats and that was put up on the results board.
This made it run smoothly. This category is about you as an
individual dancer rather than as a couple. Each song you do you
change your partner. At the competitions I've been to there has only
been one song per round. For this category at the Ceroc Champs there
was two songs per round. I thought that was good as you can't really
judge an individual dancer on one song. The first guy I got to dance
with was really good but I was thrown about doing what he wanted to
do. I didn't get a chance to really hear the music. All I could do
was find the beat and add some wiggle in. The second guy I got was
easier to follow and I could add a lot more style and musicality.
It was then on to the
second rounds of most of the categories. The only ones left to do the first
round was Aerials and Double Trouble. They weren't even first rounds
as they only consisted of two rounds.
I had made it through
to the second round in both Lucky Dip and Top Cats. I thought I would
of at least made it through round one of Lucky dip and was really
surprised to make it to the second round of Top Cats.
Lucky dip I felt went
all right. I did make it to the third round but unfortunately that
was as far as I went. I really enjoyed doing this one and will be
entering more Lucky Dip competitions. I wasn't hoping to win. I feel
I've done well if I get passed the first round. The rest is a bonus.
With the second round
of Top Cats I should have been in the second heat but was put into
the last heat as the realised that there was either two many in each
heat or time to do an extra one. This was not good for me as I got to
watch nearly everyone go before me. The standard in the category was
really high. Being in the second round was a extremely good
achievement. Watching the others I felt I shouldn't have been there.
This was as far as I went. I did have a really good time competing
and would defiantly do the Top Cat category again. I got a chance to
dance with lots of good dancers and I now consider myself a good
dancer.
As for the rest of the
day it consisted of some of the categories having a third round
before a semi – final and a final. Two of my friends made it to the
semi – final of Rocvets (over 45's) and another two made it to the final of All
Stars 25 – 35.
I enjoyed watching the
semis and the finals as I can now see the standard that I am trying
to achieve some day. I am some way off from being that good. The
category that really impressed me was the Aerials as some of the
lifts looked really hard to do.
The fun category was the final of the
Great Escapee. The heats of this category are done at the Ceroc
weekenders and the final is held here at the Ceroc Champs. The fun
element is that the audience determines who wins that one. At the
weekenders a set of three judges are chosen at random to chose three
couple to dance again. The audience then chose a winner. The one that
gets the loudest applause wins. The winners then compete at the
champs. At the champs it was the same as the weekender except the
competitors dressed up. They dressed up as superheroes. This category
is purely for fun.
Overall I had a good
day and will be coming back to compete in the future at
the Ceroc Champs. The next time I will be competing will be at the
very first Northern Champs which is held in Manchester on 21st
June 2014. I will be competing for the first time with a fixed
partner in the intermediate category.
Like this on Facebook at Elizabeth's dancing blog.
Follow me on twitter @elizabethrules
Find me on Google+ at +Elizabeth McAndrew
Comments
Post a Comment