Heathrow

Is it a bird, is it a plain, no it is the flock of children and adults who have arrived at the Thistle hotel, Heathrow, for the day of competitions. The ballroom in all its splendour and boasting several large chandeliers was packed to the brim with proud parents, friends and children.



We all knew that this was going to be a great day as not only did they have the junior EADA ballroom event but also the EADA junior Latin and the EADA youth 10 dance events on the schedule.

The day started with the Juveniles and Juniors. There were so many that I eventually gave up trying to collate the names and just sat back and enjoyed the extremely high standard of dancing. All of the children were well groomed and certainly done the English dance sport proud. There was the usual running around and playing with friends in between rounds and the occasional near miss of a recall but that is what we have come to expect from such a friendly bunch.




Back to the dancing, it was time for the finals and what fabulous displays of dancing we were to be treated too. There were no painted on smiles only true emotion from these exited youngsters. The Junior EADA ballroom was won by John Giannini and Stevie Jones whilst the Junior EADA Latin was triumphed by Lawrence James and Jasmine Chan.





We were teated to extra special final at this competition and that was the Southern area DPA Junior Latin final. Points had been accumulated during 2006 and six couples had been chosen to compete for this title but two of these couples had to decline as they had both progressed to youth before the event. Ben and Becky Milan-Vega along with David Ellis and Danielle Grover watched and cheered on the remaining 4 couples who were joined by another two couples to make up a six couple final. This very prestigious event was won by Lawrence James and Jasmine Chan, closely followed by John Giannini and Stevie Jones in second place.


As the children were collecting their thoughts from the day and leaving the ballroom it was the turn of the adults to enjoy their competitions. I am sure that they are spurned on by the all the enthusiasm and energy from the younger dancers. Ten couples entered the EADA Youth 10 dance event and what a close competition this was to be. It was energetic, exciting and probably the most exhausting, and that was just to watch and cheer for all the wonderful couples. My apologies to the poor adjudicator who was stood by my chair as he must have gone home with a really bad earache. Winning this event by coming first in all 10 dances were the fantastic Kyle Taylor and Jourdan Stone.



Andrew Escolme and Amy Baker followed by coming second in all 10 dances. Into the third place was Daniel Power and Amy Ward, who have only just moved up into the ranks of youth. The following four couples were so close that there was only .5 of a mark between 4th and 5th couple and with 5th and 6th going to some rule or other and then .5 of a mark between them and the 7th placed couple. I am so glad that I sit this side of the dance floor and can enjoy what I have come to see.

The winner of the Junior Ballroom EADA was John and Stevie


The Winner of the Latin Junior EADA was Lawrence and Jasmine


And the Ballroom and Latin U15s winner was Aarron and Clara

Submitted by Sarah 12/02/07