Supadance Finals 2007
Weekend 10th - 11th November 2007 : Prestatyn
Many thanks to Mr Guesses (or 'Three' to his friends) for this excellent report on the Supadance finals in Prestatyn last week.
Match Report
By Three Guesses
The dance calendar has a rhythm, and this year was no exception. Beginning soon after the national competition in Blackpool, the focus of the school moves away from individual dancers to developing teamwork. Supadance runs a league whereby each school enters teams of four couples, all competing under one banner, for the right to be crowned National Supadance Champions. Some schools are fortunate enough to enter more than one team. Wright Rhythm this year decided to challenge the major players and entered a juvenile, a junior, a senior, two adult teams, and an all girl team. This meant representation in every team match. We were no longer chasing points, like minnows stealing scraps from the predators. Each couple that danced this year had one goal; this was to take their team to the finals and dominate the floor. However, these dances were not individual efforts. Each couple that danced was driven by the support of their families and teammates who sat on the sides, waiting their turn to enter the ring.
Throughout the year each team had come as a unit to make a stand, sometimes on cramped, unpleasant dancefloors, to establish a presence in the preliminary rounds. These early rounds provided an opportunity for new competitors and new routines to be tested against the unforgiving determination of other schools. By early November, each couple had polished every aspect of their performance. Dresses had been altered, hairstyles perfected, footwork adjusted and nails painted. All that was left was the walk on and Wright Rhythm was ready to begin its attack. Paula, Gilli and Mark changed their approach to the march on this year, opting for a very simple but slick march-on.
Saturday 10th November and it was Wright Rhythm's turn to march on and present its teams. Amongst a sea of red Trujons and white Diamonds jackets "...and from North London, in Enfield, Wright Rhythm....." the juniors proudly walk onto the floor - alone. Four dancers. Wright Rhythm in a few short bars of music had demonstrated how it wanted this weekend to proceed. With much less dancers than the sheer numbers of the opposing schools, it was going to take those finals positions, with undeniable dancing class. Each team then came onto the floor, as Connor, Gemma, Chris and Charlotte had done, to tell a story of David and Goliath.
Couples competitions were to take place in the morning, team matches in the afternoon, and the day was to be finished off with couples five dance finals. Now if you were getting the impression that Wright Rhythm simply turned up and stole the show, then you would be wrong. The other schools were not going down without a fight, and the couples events were the perfect opportunity for them to try and 'knock some sense' into the misguided 'Wrong Rhythm' dancers.' Needless to say they were unsuccessful. Four particular couples stood out and deserve special mention, as they embodied the spirit of Wright Rhythm.
Holly and Hannah were made, by a technicality, to dance in a higher age group to the one they had danced all year. Not only did they dance against more experienced competition, many of which were the more intimidating boy-girl partnerships, but they made finals on numerous occasions. Between them, they are becoming recognised in the league as a couple not to be taken lightly.
John and Jo, who had barely any preparation time, were thrown in as a last minute couple. Rules stated only restricted steps could be danced, and so they danced accordingly. They were the only couple to do so. Despite being surrounded by the flash of fancy dance moves, John and Jo in true Wright Rhythm fashion, stuck to the rules and made it to finals, coming third in their Cha cha. They are living proof that it is not what you do, but how you do it.
A second couple that was forced by a technicality to dance up an age group was Connor and Gemma. Both these dancers are Blackpool finalists in their own right and together in juniors they were unstoppable. The adults had the fortune of forewarning. We knew these two were like a silent deadly weapon. However, nothing could prepare the Under 35's for what was unleashed on them that weekend. With one sudden blow Connor and Gemma stormed into the adults making finals of both one-dance events, and semi-finals of the five dance latin. The effort and teamwork shown by both these competitors did not end with the solo events, but was continued into the team match, where essentially they performed a demonstration. No other couple could catch them.
The final couple who deserve special mention are Tim and Sophie. Dancing in the first division adult team, these two were not only superb dancers, making finals of every event they entered, but also provided a source of team spirit, which quickly spread throughout the school. Few people are as competitive as Tim and Sophie, and this desire to win through quality dancing shone throughout the weekend.
In the end Wright Rhythm achieved one of its highest overall results ever, firmly establishing itself amongst the major league schools. The team spirit that was developed in the lead up to, and which burned that weekend, will hopefully remain in the school as we return to the rhythm of the calendar and prepare once again for Blackpool.
Results
2nd in Nationwide Junior Division 1
1st in South East Junior Division 1
- Connor McCabe and Jemma Stripling
- Chris Williams and Charlotte Field
- Alexandra Withers and Ashleigh Frost
- Hannah Bonner and Holly Freeman
2nd in Nationwide All Ladies Division 2
1st in South East All Ladies Division 2
- Katia Pazienza and Tania Pazienza
- Alexandra Withers and Ashleigh Frost
- Nichole Wimble and Carys Woods
- Hannah Bonner and Holly Freeman
3rd in Nationwide Adult Division 1
- Kyle Magee and Rebecca Woolnough
- Kieran Smith and Theodora Karavasili
- Pete Normand & Becky Emmott
- Tim Emmott & Sophie Wood
4th in Nationwide Adult Division 2:
- Frazer Magee and Laura Klyz
- Steve Cairnes and Sonia Pazienza
- Steve Paine and Joanna Martin
- Katia Pazienza and Tania Pazienza
5th in Nationwide Senior Division 1
- Steve Elsbury and Carol Elsbury
- Howard Lewis and Gillian Lewis
- John Sneath and Sylvia Magee
- Rob Wimble and Debbie Clarke
Photos