Speedwell Rooms Dance Day in Staveley - National League Event
The Speedwell Rooms buzzed with excitement on Sunday, 1st September, as dancers of all ages arrived for the annual Speedwell Rooms Dance Day a National DPA League event. This event, the first of many leading up to the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival in October, featured participants in the Juvenile, Junior, and Adult categories, all eager to showcase their talents.
Known for its welcoming and friendly atmosphere, the Speedwell Rooms Dance Day is a vibrant event that not only showcases seasoned competitors but also supports and encourages new dancers. It offers a fantastic opportunity for emerging talent to perform alongside more experienced solos and pairs. The event has a full day of exciting solo and couple competitions, spanning across all three dance genres: Classical Sequence, Latin, and Ballroom.
Adjudicators for the day included esteemed professionals Maureen Smith, Kathy Thomson-Evans, Luke Shepherd, Lee Dudman, and Howard Cookson, ensuring that all performances were judged with expert eyes. The event was organised by Robert and Louise Aldred, alongside Steven Shaw and Helen Blackburn, who also served as the event’s compères and MC’s.
The event featured a comprehensive programme of juvenile and junior competitions, with numerous solo events alongside the couples competitions, reflecting the current trend. Attendance was strong, aided by the timing of the event just before the children returned to school, which boosted participant numbers. The standard of performance was impressively high across all genres.
In the Junior Solo category, Zoe Patterson dominated the competitions, securing first place in all events throughout the day, while the remaining finalists exchanged positions in the rankings across the various events. The Juvenile category saw strong participation with 25 entries in most sections, presenting a challenging task for the adjudicators. Payton Anderson emerged as the consistent winner, with the other finalists frequently swapping places throughout the day.
The under 12 years couples' events showcased a strong turnout with seven pairs competing. Ffion Cross and Ruby Williams emerged victorious in both the Classical and Modern Sequence competitions. In the Junior Classical and Modern Sequence, Daniel Shuker and Freya Carruthers claimed the top spot, with Rosie Shuker and Nancy Marshal finishing as the runners-up.
A special moment of the day was the children's fun dance competition, where they enjoyed performing the Boston Two Step in couples to the tunes of Ed Sheeran and George Ezra. Alongside the dance competitions, the event also celebrated the birthdays of young dancers Eliza and Daisee. The pair were serenaded with a lively rendition of "Happy Birthday" and treated to a delightful caterpillar cake, adding a warm, personal touch to the event. Unfortunately, I missed out on a slice—maybe next year!
The adult competitions, interwoven with social dancing from 5.15 pm onwards, greatly benefit from the Speedwell Rooms' excellent acoustics, which boost the overall atmosphere. The presence of the social dancers creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, that certainly helps elevate the competitors' performances.
Joshua O'Conchorsley and Grace Phipps claimed first place in both the Amateur Classical and Modern Sequence competitions. Luke Stephenson and Jasmine Stephenson secured the runner-up position, while Craig Topham and Emma Donaldson took third place.
Roger and Annette Griss emerged as the winners in both the Senior Classical and Modern Sequence competitions. Stuart and Andrea Bowkett finished in second place, followed by Neil and Cara Warren in third. Alan and Paula Staniford secured fourth place, while Harry Hilton and Margaret Smith came in fifth.
In the Under-35s Pre Champ Classical and Modern Sequence competitions, Emma Schofield and Lucy Schofield took first place. Charlotte Skinner and Emily Skinner secured second, while Connor Odell and Michelle Brady finished in third. Aaron Wood and Hannah Bowden came in fourth. In the Modern Sequence, the placements were adjusted, with Connor Odell and Michelle Brady moving to fourth place and Aaron Wood and Hannah Bowden advancing to third.
In the Over-35 Pre-Champ Classical Sequence competition, Duncan and Denise Barritt emerged as the winners, with Christopher Haggett and Lisa Reddish finishing in second place. However, in the Modern Sequence competition, the results were reversed, with Christopher and Lisa taking first place and Duncan and Denise finishing second.
It was delightful to see three new beginner couples embark on their competitive journey. Victoria McHarg and Katie Bleidels took first place, followed by Jorge Frutuoso and Su Johnston in second, and Graham and Lesley Davies in third. We look forward to seeing these newcomers continue to progress in future events.
In the adult solo dance events, Bryn Fahy triumphed across all competitions. Sandy Swinehoe, Michele Platts, and Cheryl Bailey in the next three spots.
Robert and Louise, Steven and Helen extended their sincere thanks to all the dancers, trainers, adjudicators, helpers, and spectators who contributed to the success of the event. They also wished the best of luck to all participants heading to Blackpool in October.
Mark your calendars for next year’s event, scheduled for Sunday, September 7th—don't miss it!
Images: U35 Pre Champ Finalists, Amateur Finalists, Senior Finalists, O35 Pr Champ Finalists, Adult Solo Finalists
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