Blackpool May Festival



To try to give you a complete portrait of the May festival is impossible. The only way to experience this festival is to take part - not just spectate, but to get on the floor and have a go. These are some of my observations from the time we spent there.

To start with, I have to say, the numbers felt down on last year. Where normally we would have to fight off people with a stick just to get to sit in the seats we paid for, this year, it wasn't needed as much. Could this be because the festival was over one more day? Who knows?

The exhibition area seemed a little lower on numbers too, but having spoken to some of the businesses that were there, they reported pretty healthy sales. Apparently, CD sales for some were down, but that could be because downloads are now on the rise.

Numbers of competitors from the far east were as healthy as ever, if not higher than in previous years, The standard of dancing improves and the number of far eastern competitors to make it into the later rounds is steadily rising.

I'm sure we are only a few years away from having a Chinese Ballroom and / or latin Champion.


The Team Match
Every year, the team match is one of the highlights of the festival. Not just for the dance competition, but for the walk on by the teams. Four teams took part this year, Britain, America, Italy and Japan.

Although Japan didn't fair so well in the competition proper, for me, they won the walk on.



Dressed in Karate Suits, and demonstrating some pretty convincing Karate techniques (!) , the men took on the women in a tournament. One by one they were outwitted and defeated by the ladies. (Art reflecting life!)

The Italians had three people in masks teaching the competitors. Unfortunately I don't know who they were supposed to be. One was Walter Laird, but the other two I have no idea. I'm sure if you knew who they were supposed to be it was probably jolly funny! They then paraded round with big letters spelling the word Thank you. Not their most entertaining moment.


The Italian team holdin very big letters

The British team brought on a succession of Lady Champions from the past. It was impressive to see how many past champions Britain was able to boast, and in what fine shape they were all in. However this was very similar to last year where past champions danced one more time. It would be nice to see the British looking forward next time. I overheard someone behind me say "we wont be able to do that in a few years!". The following day I saw a film with the dismissive line "all they have going for them is the past" , lets hope the same can'y be said for us in the future!

Last word on the walk on has to be about the US team.

Oh dear!

When they thought this idea, they really needed to say in a Sergeant Wilson like manner - "Do you really thinks that's awfully wise?"

They all dressed as Native Americans (good politically correct start that) and then the story seemed to be about getting men to - er - "get to know the ladies"



I think it best to draw a discrete veil over that , but I have been informed that a complaint has been made about this one.

The match itself was a great prelude to the professional competitions later in
the week.


Chris supports Tim and Jo in the Quickstep

Tim and Jo were in fine form. The rumour that was absolutely everywhere before the comp that they were going to retire after the match didn't materialize and we were all looking forward to see them compete in the pro ballroom at the end of the week.



Chris and Justina also seemed to be dancing with a great deal of confidence and flair. Neither of these couples showed any sign of the injuries that would prevent them from taking part on the Friday.

The eventual winners of the team match were the USA. They won through strength in depth being able to boast both a great ballroom and latin team. England came second, but for my money Italy deserved that position.

Fashion
Oh right. - I know so much about this!



There was a lot more of the sequin fabric - or "Bacofoil " as I would call it. Now available in far more colours, this is a fabric that can be cut without all the sequins flying off which apparently is a new development. It is also supposed to be softer on the reverse side so making it more comfortable to wear. I can't really comment on that, but it does look effective from a distance.

My second observation is the introduction of more hooped skirts in the ballroom. Some of these dresses seem very heavy and lumbering, cutting out the free flowing movement. Yes, you may have guessed I'm not keen.

They remind me of something that used to sit on my grandmothers cistern in the 70s


This made the semi in the under 21cm


A slight costume failure

For the men
I love the adverts on telly that sport fabulous scientific sounding ingredients. Who can have a face cream without "pentapeptides", or "dermagenisis" "pro-retinal A" "Ceramide R" and so on - all marvelous stuff! Well now I am happy to report, the same is happening to tailsuits! One stand at the Imperial Hotel boasted a new tailsuit with nanotechnology featuring "mµcronspheres".

Why should I want nanotechnology in my trousers? Because I'm worth it!

Shirts
I feel we are approaching the demise of the traditional ballroom shirt. All were now selling the stretch shirts, and traditional shirts were being sold off in some case for just £10 each. Now is a great time to buy the old style shirt!


The new LED lights,

Lighting.
New LED lights have been introduced that change colour. When they are blue, blue dresses shine out, and red ones become darker, a change of colour and its the other way around. This makes the only "safe" choice for Blackpool white, and a majority of finals featured white dresses. One colour that simply does not work for me is beige. Wearing costumes the same colour as the floor is surely a very good camoflage?


The audience camp-out between rounds

i have not much to add to the following two pictures apart from congratulations to those in them, I managed to get a pic of Marco and Jo and the Encore latin team who both did very well this year.








Pro Ballroom



This comp was the one everyone was looking forward to. It promised to be the showdown event of the festival. The 84 year old lady who sat next to me missed Thursday night because she was ill, but made a special effort to get there for the big event.



it was therefore very disappointing when Tim and Jo, and Chris and Justina pulled out of the event through injury. How serious I can not tell, but I can only assume career threatening to miss such an important event, so I wish them both a speedy recovery.

Part way through the first round Warren And Kristie also had to withdraw which is another great pity. Again, get well soon.



At this point a quick little aside: If there is ever a prize for the nicest person in Dance, please accept my nomination of the absolutely fantastic Hazel Newberry. Between rounds of this really important comp, she still had time to talk to everybody.





And that was Blackpool 08. Although numbers may have been a bit down, the standard of dancing was phenominal. Roll on next year!