Ohio Star Ball.. Sunday Sunday Sunday!

Oh wow... ok if I could have gotten the whole weekend to feel like the competition on Sunday felt... I probably would have died with glee!

Sunday was the day I absolutely wanted to be at Ohio for the professionals that I know, because Sunday is when the Rising Star events happen, and at the time of my reservation last year it was going to look like Largo/TNT and TSD/FAF were going to be in it to win it...so to speak.... Wellll... this past year has been very kind to "my" pros and their competition results where Largo/TNT actually qualified out of Rising Star by becoming National Champions of Rising Star Rhythm at USDC back in September. So.. that meant that Sunday was all about supporting TSD/FAF. Which I love to do...because I have always believed that their dancing has moments of being absolute poetry in motion and I already had a good feeling about this competition for them.

BUT.. before all that was to happen at 5:00pm I had another engagement to attend in the ballroom at 9:15am. :-) The founder of PartnerDanceOnline.com EliseDance was dancing with her partner in World Senior Pre-Champ Standard and I wanted to cheer them on. I arrived in the ballroom at approximately 9am but couldn't find Elise, so I grabbed a muffin and some water from the in ballroom breakfast set up, found a seat and watched the Standard dancers before me. I am endlessly curious about Standard and how the mechanics of dancing in that style works.... perhaps Largo and I will have to give it a try sometime.

EliseDance showing 'em how it's done (in Blue)

Suddenly as time approaches, I hear the announcer call for couple 695 to check in! Well for heaven's sake that's EliseDance and her partner!! Just as the heat is standing on the floor Elise and her partner come running in! Woo! Just in the nick of time! Turns out this very first heat was more of a warm up for them anyway, but I'm glad they made it! A little later the Pre-Champ heat semi-final was called, and thankfully ETP and Spicy joined me for the fun. It was a three dance multi (meaning the couples dance three dances as opposed to the usual 5 for professionals) and EliseDance + partner looked fantastic! It was such a joy to watch! Also as a professional spectator, and often the one that starts the room cheering for their favorite couple, it was such an treat to be thanked by EliseDance for being there! Bonus they placed 2nd! Woo hoo! Congratulations EliseDance and partner!!!

After the morning events we decided as a group to grab lunch and wander the convention center. Turns out there was a whole other side to the building where a huge youth cheerleading competition was being held, along with the collegate ballroom portion of OSB. We ran into FAF and TSD wished them luck and I told FAF they were going to do well tonight, and I wouldn't leave until she agreed. The idea being that regardless of how she felt about how they were going to do, I had at least firmly planted the seed that they were going to do well in her mind too.

Endearing is a bit of a late riser and joined up with us for lunch, shortly after lunch Endearing and I decided to wander amongst the vendors and see in greater detail what wares were to be had. We then relaxed with some much needed caffeine and waited until the agreed upon time where we would all collect in the ballroom to cheer on our favorite couple.

 Real men wear pink..and then WIN Rising Star Latin :-)

4pm... Endearing proving that she is a bit more observant than me, noticed outside the ballroom that table 51 had been reserved for our studio during the comp so we promptly found "our" table and set up camp to cheer for the Rising Stars. During the Rising Star Smooth there was also Rising Star Latin. So we promptly began discussing costumes and dancers from Dance Forums etc. We cheered for FAF and TSD couple 212 during their events, and found a Latin couple where he was from Dance Forums, and wearing a fuchsia Latin outfit WITH matching Fuchsia shoes! We knew without a doubt just based on observing alone that TSD and FAF made it into the Semis so we focused a bit more on the Latin couple. At one point the announcer said "Who's your favorite couple!" and I couldn't help but say (not nearly as loudly as I would for a real cheer) "The Pink One!" Well it was a bit louder than I thought because spectators in the immediate vicinity heard me, and cracked up, ETP and Endearing ended up laughing... and I promptly made a note to mention the interaction in this post. :-)

GO! TWO-ONE-TWO!!!

Semi Finals for American Smooth were danced... and we cheered!!! TSD and FAF were clearly in their element, floor craft was excellent, form was spot on, and the energy in the room began to build for us at table 51. We made it through the Latin semis, trying not to get too excited. TSD and FAF had not yet made the finals in Rising Star here at Ohio, and we knew they had made it... but we didn't want to talk about it too loudly...we watched the rest of the in-between events, I kept up my texting of about 8 people back at home to report results. Then... the finals were called... in no particular order..but...but... the first couple called back tot he floor was 212!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!! Already....already you could feel the positive energy... The three of us cheered and cheered like I don't think we had cheered before.... and I was thinking we had to... we had to cheer for the HUGE support system TSD and FAF have back at home, but no one was able to stay and see Rising Star... we had to cheer for their families and students waiting on pins and needles for their results! They danced... oh did they dance... like Cinderella and Prince Charming they floated across the floor in waltz.. they channeled Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers directly for the Tango and Fox Trot and their Viennese Waltz was a dream. ETP and I couldn't take it... as soon as the Finals were over we needed a break from the tension... Already we knew that our couple had made it further than ever before in this particular event, then we KNEW of the 7 couple final that they were not 7th!!!! On our way out of the ballroom ETP and I did a quick knock on the wood doors so that we wouldn't jinx anything we had thought or said at the table..and quickly agreed to not tempt fate and say anything else!!

"I've got a good feeling about this [ETP]!"

"Shut up! Don't say it!"

"I won't I promise, I won't even text it I promise!" ....ooooooo..but I was excited!

ETP and I met up on the way back to the ballroom about ten minutes later...and again I couldn't contain my excitement!

"ETP!...I'm excited!"

ETP then shook his finger at me as an exaddurated shut up gesture.

"I know I know! Ok.. but I have to say this... We're in the finals!!! and We're NOT SEVENTH!!!!"

I got an excited "I know!!!" kind of look from ETP...this is a feeling we have felt before....and boy did we hope we were right....

Endearing who had stayed in the ballroom to watch the other events shot me a text that the Latin Rising Star final had begun.... we left Spicy at the bar where she had decided to wait us out.... this was her first comp and being a tad burned out is understandable especially at THIS comp!

We ran in and resumed our positions at table 51.

The awards started and every couple in the final for smooth lined up...


The announcer started.....

"And in 7th place.... " Woo! Not from Illinois!

"In 6th Place".... YAY!!!! (see the thing is people aplaud at these results just as much for the couple that gets it as for the couple that's still waiting for their names to be called)

Congrats! (pay attention to the camera next time! sheesh!) Photo: Creative Portraiture

"In 5th Place"... OMG! NO WAY!!! We're still in it!!! YAYAYAYAY!!!

"In 4th Place....From Illinios...Couple 212...." WAH HOOO! FOURTH PLACE BABY!!!! Table 51 was on their feet and cheering!

THAT was amazing.. the best placement they've ever had... at the biggest comp ever!

L-R Endearing, FAF, TSD, ETP, Me Photo: Creative Portraiture

And now I'm off to catch my plane...Amazing comp, amazing weekend, amazing friends and dance professionals... can we do it again next weekend?!?!

Sunday at OSB...coming to a blog near you!

This afternoon and evening was the most fun I've had at a competition in a long time... it was so nice to get into it like the old days... TSD and FAF (that's Tall Smooth Dancer, and Floats Across Floor for my new readers) placed FOURTH in a field of 25 couples... BEST PLACEMENT at Ohio to date!!! SO HAPPY AND PROUD OF THEM!
Details of the events as they unfolded to come VERY soon! (like when I wake up in the morning) :-)

Good night Ohio... Thank you for a wonderful weekend!

Ohio Star Ball Saturday and America's Ballroom Challenge!

FAF's new dress... Photo courtesy of FADS Chicago North

Well today was a great day! I can tell you I am just about too tired to see straight, but it was all worth it. We got a bit of a late start, dining on breakfast at early lunch time... so we'll just call that brunch. :-) Then wandered around with Bonnie, Michael, and Endearing. We watched some Amature Standard, which is actually now called International Ballroom. It was so cool. After studying our program (aka phone book size $30 program) we realized the evening session where TSD and FAF were competing in World Open Smooth straight off started at 7... not the 8pm we had planned on. Minor oversight on my part as the "Cruise Director" for this little voyage. So I rearranged our dinner plans with the crew (who have referred to themselves as my "entorage" in the past) and we headed off to the Elevator Brewery as refered to ETP by Megan and Vincente, they were totally right... our kind of place!

Elevator Brewing Co. Photo: M. Sprague

As we were wrapping up what felt very much like a family dinner we realized we'd have to hustle to get back and changed into our formal wear for the evening. We called our hotel to arrange a ride back (it was a short jaunt, but we didn't have jackets). Somehow the hotel didn't come through after 15-20 min so ETP his wife Spicy (She fits the moniker quite well!) Endearing and I hiked the short distance back as quick as we could. Bonnie and Michael made it shortly after by calling a cab.

We did unfortunately miss Round 1 of the World Open Smooth... the World Latin was underway.. but we did get to see TSD and FAF dance in the quarter finals! They looked AMAZING I can not wait til we see them in Rising Star tomorrow! Not only that but FAF's new dress.... OMG... awesome!

Being that I was unable to prepare as I had planned for the evening, (who knew this girl could go from jeans to black tie in 20 min flat?) I was getting very tired very early... usually when I travel and I'm out and about I like to take another shower before I head out for the evening...it's like my recharge time...without a recharge time, I flunk out at about 10pm... BUT.. this was the night of America's Ballroom Challenge! NO WAY I could miss that!

TSD and FAF Photo Courtesy of FADS Chicago North

After Endearing and I realized our favorite pros of the night hadn't made it to the semi's we left the ballroom to find some caffeine and recharge. 1 red bull, 1 cherry coke, and one bathroom break later we were back in the ballroom for the rest of the night (the evening, by the way, began at 7pm and went non stop until 1am).

Endearing and I were the only two to make it through the whole night, but we came to see ballroom and ballroom we did see! America's Ballroom Challenge is when the top pro couples in each style (International Ballroom, Latin, American Smooth, American Rhythm) then compete in two show dances, a long program and a short... kind of like figure skating. The top rated couple of those two show dances win America's Ballroom Challenge. It's pretty cool, and totally what the PBS show I mentioned earlier was about. This year the winner was decided by a remarkable Rule 11 (I'll tell you what that is another time) basically it's a tie breaking rule, between the International Ballroom pair of Katusha Demidova/Arunas Bizokas and the American Rhythm pair Bree Watson/Decho Kraev. It was very very cool... If I can find video of their show dances I will post the link.

One more day! One more day in this beautiful ballroom world... Tomorrow brings us to the Rising Star portion of the competition which is a category that allows newer professionals compete against each other without having to worry about the "uber" pros in World Open (once you win Rising Star, you can't compete in it again at that comp, or competition type).

Everyone have your fingers crossed for TSD and FAF! :-)

Ohio Star Ball 2010 Friday Night, Rhythm, Standard, and a Good 'ol Time!

This is IT! The Ohio Star Ball!!!

Hey gang! As promised... Ohio Star Ball updates from my darkened hotel room where my roommates sleep and/or prepare for bed.

Today was a ton of fun! My new to the blog friend who I shall call Endearing, because she is quite the endearing soul when you get to know her, met at O'hare International Airport at 11:15am where we endured security (no full body scan for us, or pat down thank you!), and the wait for our 45 min flight to Columbus Ohio. From there we grabbed a quick 10 min cab ride to our hotel, and met up with Bonnie and Michael who had already arrived.

A quick jaunt over the street in a covered walkway landed us smack dab in the middle of the largest number of ballroom vendors I have ever seen gathered in one place! It was amazing! Endearing and I meandered around getting turned around more than once, looking at the wares of ballroom gowns, accessories, shoes, photography booths etc. Oh what a sight! (no photography allowed but I may try to sneak some pics later...) We then promptly found the food court and had a late afternoon snack. Then moseyed on back to our hotel room where ETP and his bride had arrived. We discussed dinner plans.

Megan Murphy and Vincente Martinez Photo Courtesy of Creative Portraiture

ETP, his spouse, and I decided we would go to the "2nd Floor Bar" appropriately named "The Bar on the 2nd Floor" or some such to meet up with an online friend from Partner Dance Online. What a lovely time that turned out to be! We grabbed some dinner while there and then met up with the rest of the entourage in the large ballroom shortly after the evening began. We then sat, mostly riveted, for the next 5 hours watching world class International Ballroom (formerly Standard Ballroom) and American Rhythm heats. Later in the evening, Theatre Arts category commenced where our own Megan and Vincente (formerly known as the couple from Michigan Ave) proudly took 2nd place! Congratulations to them!!! So proud and happy to have seen that! (Yes as they are now a household name in the Ballroom community...they get to be named for real on the blog. :-) )

LadyGaGa Showdance (Endearing's favorite number)

The evening ended with the show dances that all the finalists get to do... wow there were some fantastic numbers! I just kept remembering that this is what I used to watch on TV LOOOOONG before I ever took ballroom into my heart as a passion... I couldn't believe I was seeing it first hand!! Endearing and I met up with ETP and his spouse in the bar for some lovely chatting and chilling out amungst the other Ballroom elite. It was a very comfortable place to be... :-)

Megan Murphy and Vincente Martinez 2nd Place! Photo Courtesy of Creative Portraiture

And now... here I sit telling you all about it, because it's impossible to be here and not desperately want everyone to be here and experience it with me!

Pictures to come...but for now... a well earned rest!

Until tomorrow!

Ohio Star Ball 2010 Spectating the Ballroom Elite!

Hello to all my precious loyal friends and readers. This year, as you can tell by my lack of posting, has been rough at best. I did about three weeks ago FINALLY get clearance to dance! But, that's not what I'm writing about just now... you'll get all those updates later. THIS post is about a trip that has been in the works since November 24th 2009.

Ohio Star Ball is the United States most foremost ballroom competition. Nearly the entire ballroom year revolves around this competition that started 33 years ago in Columbus Ohio. The day after last year's competition ended I booked my hotel room for this year. At the time I was unemployed, but knew no matter what was to happen I'd attend this year. I've been aiming to do this since I started dancing nearly 4 years ago.

Many US residents may know a ballroom show that used to be aired every February on their Local PBS station called "America's Ballroom Challenge" this was in fact the Saturday evening of Ohio Star Ball. I used to watch this show every year... long before "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance?" ever hit the airwaves we were introduced to elite ballroom dancing through this once a year program.

I am so excited I can't even tell you that on Friday November 19th I will be on my way to Ohio Star Ball with a small entourage of friends for some of the most exciting ballroom competition we may ever see! I am coming out of my skin excited! I'll be meeting friends from Dance Forums and Partner Dance Online discussion forums as well as catching up with old friends and meeting all new people!

With me will be Bonnie and Michael of Bonnie's Belle Gowns, ETP777 and his new bride (yeah, a lot has happened this year!) as well as a new to the blog friend as yet to be named.Together we will spectate, dance, dine and laugh the weekend away!

I am also bringing the good 'ol laptop with me! So I hope to find a bit of time each day to post this experience..it's going to be memorable for sure! If it's one thing my job has taught me it's that I'm capable of stringing together a sentence on a keyboard even when bone weary tired. :-)

Now that I'm working my way back to the dance floor and attending this new comp.... it's time to blow the dust off this forum of expression in dance and get moving again! It can't ever be what it was...but who knows.. maybe the next chapter is better than the last several???