Competitions
A fun way to stretch your dancing ability.
1. It is a great way to improve your dancing. It is the best short term goal for any level dancer. You are given a finite amount of time to prepare, which tightens your focus.
2. It gives you a measure of your ability, especially for the newcomers.
3. There are two distinct types of competition entries: Championship and Performance. In Championship divisions competitors try for placements, typically 1st through 3rd.These are head to head, usually divided by level and age. Performance categories are scored; and also divided by age level. In these you are competing against a standard, you only try to beat your own scores.
4. Travel. We travel to some wonderful cities to compete. Las Vegas, Chicago, and Orlando for national level competitions. Birmingham, Greensboro, Charleston, and right here in Memphis for our regional events. A great get away, whether near or far.
5. FUN! It's fun to push yourself a little. Try to get a bit further outside your daily box.
Las Vegas Cross Country Dancesport Championships. This photo is the Professional Open Rhythm Dancesport Championship. Click it to see more from CCDC.
Okay, this isn't a comp picture. This is what we do when we are between dances in Las Vegas. Click the picture to see what we did at the Stratosphere, 1149 feet above the planet!
Anyone can be a competitor. Jennifer (below) had only 4 dance lessons prior to this event! She has Down's Syndrome.
Nothing is more elegant than a swirling ball gown.
Sultry and seductive or...
Happy, go lucky. Dancesport Competitions have it all.
From young and unstoppable, to...
Young at heart and unflappable. Everyone is welcome.
Mugging between dances.
Good posture means good dancing.
Pro-Am Bolero
Pro-Am American Smooth
Pro-Am American Rumba
Pro-Am West Coast Swing
Amateur American Foxtrot
Atlanta 2003
Yes, this guy is the student!
Let's hear it for Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Tarrytown, NY!
Danny Pugh and Anna Harwood, professional American Rhythm.
A nameless Open Amateur Latin couple.
The home team: Janet, Benji, Cheryl, Ed, and Beth (in competition slippers!).
One round of Standard for the Ladies B category.
"I'm smiling through the pain." A nameless pro-am couple.
Professional Rhythm competitors never lack passion or intensity.
This couple is from Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Hilton Head (SC).
"Dahling, you look so snooty this evening!"
It's called Smooth for a reason. Ed & Cheryl, Amateur couple.
Ed & Cheryl dancing Cha Cha with an intense judge in the background.
"One more Starbucks and I'll be wide awake." Cheryl in the A.M.
Truly a "Tennessee Waltz."
Ed can no longer say "My foxtrot doesn't look like that."
U.S. 9 Dance winners Andrei and Anastasia Abrashin.
U.S. Professional Rhythm Dancesport Finalists and Fred Astaire National Council of Dance members Tony Dovalani and Inna Ivanenko.
Good frame, good posture, good results. Ed & Beth
Part 2: Good frame, good posture Good results for Ed & Cheryl.
Competitors Ed & Cheryl, Atlanta 2003