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Diva Divo 2009 A new beginning
It seems ironic that The Walkers first festival should be held at The Spa Theatre and Opera House, Bridlington, a building designed and erected in 1907 by W S Walker.
In 1907 the building was to be the home of that new invention Cinematography and its new occupants used the art of video to its finest during Diva Divo 2009.
For many years we have had the big five, with The Tower re emerging we got the super six and Diva Divo takes it to the magnificent seven! The weekend was class from start to finish, the venue was reminiscent of Killarney, with the added grace of the high dome above the dance floor, the seating allowed for ease of movement around the venue and classic viewing from all areas and the sun smiled relentlessly as if witnessing the birth of something special.
For once the magnificence of the dancers was equalled by the performance played out by the competition, the splendour of the surroundings and power of the weekend sun. Video is here to stay, watching the reaction of the dancers as they were called to the final from the impromptu green room was priceless, a scene normally acted out in the dark depths of the audience and for the winners, winning a first festival is a triumph, winning the first appearance of a festival lives on forever.
Congratulations to the Walkers and hello Bridlington!
Disco Kid King & Queen 2008
This year DKKQ spread its wings over three days and developed into a full weekender, the greatest Freestyle show on earth was rolling and technology was about to help it on its way!
For 2008 Hollywood had come to the Tower Ballroom Blackpool, the fanfares, arias, walk ons and massive crowds were all present to witness the best of British, Irish, Scottish, Norwegian and South African talent as they entertained for the three days.
The Friday night extension did nothing for the length of the competition on Saturday and the finals were still being fought out in the wee hours of Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings. It seems that if you remove one ingredient, the others just expand to fill the empty space left behind?
For the Grand Finals winners, a trip to Disneyland Paris awaits and for the Pro Pairs winners, a trip to the Moulin Rouge along with their trainers?
Dancelines have again proved that you can take the biggest and greatest Freestyle competition and make it even greater and bigger, where will it all stop, youll have to come along next year to find out, in the meantime Eurodance continues to grow ensure you dont miss out on the best of British?
The Tower
If Sunday 21st September had been followed by 1975 instead of 2008, we would have had Jimmy Saville raving on Radio one, Straight in at Number one we have Kemi and Donna with, The Tower so was the magnitude and quality of this competition, queues were a match for the Next sale by 8.30am stretching out towards the Birmingham Bullring as dancers from England, Northern and Southern Ireland, Scotland and Wales converged on the re-birth of the Tower competition.
From the off, the day never failed to amaze there were stilt walkers to entertain both outside and in, a revolving stage hiding both the podium and the trophies, fantastic prizes, Miss Birmingham to present, an Easyjet type of clear up, all set in the finest of surroundings and even the sun shone, the day was billed as the big bang and quickly turned into a controlled nuclear explosion!
The preparation that must have gone into this fiesta of entertainment and dance to ensure the name of Tower lived up to its historic past all came to a silky smooth fruition in quite possibly the most enjoyable and exciting day competition most of the dancers will ever witness!
The Tower will be back with us in January 2009, can this one be matched?
A fantastic entrance from K & D Promotions and other than dancing elephants in January this will take some topping.
Trabolgan 2009
Trabolgan had an Electric atmosphere, ear splitting noise, fantastic music and a bigger crowd than a Harry Potter release could attract over a weekend.
Friday night kicked off with a Grand Prix that had the under twelves in so many lines that we had three birthdays during their heats and they ended up dancing in the youth competition! The dances went on thick and fast with all the winners crowned as the clock struck eleven and then it was off to the party and then bed in our three bedroom house complete with conservatory and two bathrooms, is this really a holiday camp?
Saturday, and we all wake to beautiful Irish sun, a stroll to the beach is quickly follow by a canter to the competition through the prettiest of holiday camps?
With a teachers presentation and two life time achievement awards for Sabrina Byrne and Marisha Cartillion, Battle commenced just on 7.30pm and by 10pm we were in a position to evaluate the top three as they split from the madding crowd, following the dance ons and with so much at stake the dancers were joined on the floor by their teachers, before Tommy could complete the nameAmy Carhill she had hit the floor in tears, closely followed by a Wimbledon type climb over everyone in the way to reach Mam. Having danced for Thomas Gately for five years this was her greatest moment and a memory that will live with her forever, as she climbed the stairs to the podium still sobbing, the judges were awaiting her arrival brandishing the prizes, a Sony stereo system, a television, a bag of Janine goodies, trip for two to Disney, giant trophy, sash, a winners medal, a bike and just to ensure she could buy a bag big enough to carry them all home in a €1,000 cheque, both me and Nick have decided we will enter the adult boy next year and Nick is also contemplating bringing the rugby boys over to do Street Teams as that also attracts a €500 6 x 4 friend!
Whoever decided to line up all 16 of the under sixes and present them all with a trophy to make them feel special, you made us all feel special, it worked!
If youve never entered one of the Spectrum/Energy promotions, then you have two to choose from with Killarney and Trabolgan offering a feast of dance and extremely differing locations, book it now you know it makes sense.
