Videos from the Crown Competition at The ASDAC in Canberra.
Smooth Crown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYvm5EeDG9E (black and white dress starting in the top right corner)
Rhythm Crown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K002z-AQrIU (red and black dress starting in front right corner)
As already mentioned many times on this blog, I love ballroom dancing. After I got my full time job, I started looking for a dance studio and found Firefly. A few months after I started there, they mentioned there was an American/Social style competition coming up. My hand was in the air before they even said when or where it was. At that time, I couldn't sign up because I didn't know if I would even be in the country as it was after my initial visa would expire. As soon as I got my visa I talked to my instructor and signed up.
I have never trained so hard for a dance competition. I was at the studio 5-9 hours a week in group classes and lessons . Like my other dance competitions, I signed up to compete at a higher level than where I was comfortable, saying I would rather lose at a higher than win at something I knew I could do. As it got closer to the competition, my inner competitive nature came out and I realized that is a lie... I want to win at the challenging level not just compete.
The trip was a full weekend and I went with 4 other students, our 2 dance instructors, and another instructor from our studio who would be judging. It was nice to have a team. When I went to the competitions in the States, my family and freinds where able to see me and it would have been sad to go alone.
Our poor dance instructors not only have to teach us, cover for our mistakes during the comp, but also become therapists, helping each person cope with the stress and excitement of competition in our own unique ways. I need to know I have a chance before, have fun during, and debrief immediately afterwards. I initially can only see the mistakes I made and either tear up or full out cry as the adrenaline wears off. On the first day of competition, I ended up in tears after the tango which upon later review that night was my strongest dance. All a part of the process. Ash, Emily, and Lauren were all wonderful training and supporting us throughout the competition. Plus just pure fun to dance with.
Friday night was a party where the different dance studios came to size up the competition. I mean, dance with other social style dancers from all over Australia. It was a lot of fun to dance with other students with slight differences in moves.
Saturday were the single dance rounds. I danced at Level 3 which involved Bronze 3 and 4 and Silver steps. I went into it slightly flustered as my hair was not behaving and I found out as soon as I walked in that I would be dancing my most challenging dance in the first heat with less then a half hour to collect myself. I made quite a few mistakes and still had a wonderful time and performed well. When all the dance couples ended up in the same corner I reminded myself to keep smiling and trust that my instructor could get us out of the mess. I danced in six: Foxtrot (which is in my opinion my weakest dance but I won first place), Waltz (2nd), Tango (where I cried afterwards but won 1st), Cha Cha (2nd), Rumba (2nd), and East Coast Swing (2nd). The whole team did amazingly well placing in almost every level we competed in. 
Saturday night was a ball, a chance to get/stay dressed up and socially dance. Again dancing with people with styles and leads different than how we were taught. I danced with one of the judges and was scared the whole time because I didn't want him to remember all the mistakes and lack of technique the next day. Far from it, he was complimentary, a lot of fun, and an exceptional lead. A few other couples from Firefly came down for the ball and to support us. 
Sunday were the Crown competitions where I danced at level 4. Three dances one right after another in the rhythm and smooth categories. Scoring is based on the overall total. I went in with the hope of just holding my own and doing my best and walked away with a first place in the smooth crown (waltz, foxtrot, tango) and second place in the rhythm crown (cha cha rumba, swing). At the comp they did not announce that I placed second. I was initially disappointed but upon reflection, knew that I had had so much fun and did my best that I wouldn't have changed anything in order to win. Then it turned out I got second so even better. Easily my best performances and results from the three comps I've been in, and also the hardest I've worked it. 
There were only a few differences I found competing in Australia. 1) People were nicer. When near collisions happened, the instructors would look at each other and mouth "sorry". There were far fewer (ie none) full body "mean girl" scans from the ladies. 2) Competitors dressed appropriately for body type and age. Well all except for one lady at the ball. 3) More closed work for all the smooth dances even at level 6. 
