From Dancesport Education Master Anthony Hurley

TO BE AN ADJUDICATOR

The experienced judge will access the first heat and select say six couples and on a separate card keep a further two or three numbers as reserves you may also consider the same format for the second heat. This allows you to keep space for a strong third heat in the event you recall 10 couples. Therefore at the conclusion of the third heat your recalls will be 6 + 8 +10=24.

Another important point to consider in first or second rounds is the situation where couples with a reputation of normally being semi-finalists or finalists in major events take part. Do not take a long look at these couples at this early stage, put their number down and give the lesser known couples more of your limited time. You may be surprised that in past events you have overlooked a couples standard and potential. You may also be instrumental in giving a couple a well-deserved break.

The time to start scrutinising in detail the top couples is perhaps around the last 48 for example. I then mentally dance the competition with them monitoring their strengths or weaknesses always comparing them to each other over the last four rounds. However there are many couples to evaluate and often I pick up couples who grew on me during the competition. This I find is my way of coming to a personal and satisfactory selection of the final six and ultimately the final placing’s.

MY DISLIKES;

• Bad floor craft. Couples who have little or no regard for their fellow competitors with a do or die approach to fitting in their choreography.
• Overloaded choreography usually used to camouflage the fact they cannot produce the elements of the dance.
• When I see the man lips moving to count he cannot not possibly have any musical or emotional feelings and for sure not listening to the music.

MY LIKES;

• When a couple earns a break into a semi or final irrespective of my marks or that of my fellow adjudicators.
• When a couples dancing embraces me musically.
• When the grace and sophistication are maintained within a performance that reaches out to both judges and the audience.

FINAL THOUGHTS,

To have been a competitor has advantages when judging, you know what is going through the minds of the majority you appreciate their years of practice in trying to reach their ultimate goal, knowing that at the stroke of your pen you can make or break someone’s dreams.

THAT IS WHY TO BE AN ADJUDICATOR IS A VERY RESPONSIBLE AND DEMANDING PART OF COMPETITION DANCING.

Anthony Hurley

11th BDFI Malaysian Open Dancesport Championship 2012 (8th January 2012)

This was the first Malaysian championship of the year, organized by Ms Amy Lee of Amy Dancesport Center (ADC) and the first to be held in a newly discovered venue - SJK(C) Naam Keong in Cheras. I must say that after having some trouble finding the place and appearing to travel thru the older part of Cheras I was dubious about the facilities we would have. I was pleasantly surprised upon arriving at the school gates and as I drove thru the grounds. It was a very well laid out, neat, tidy school with a more then decent enclosed hall. It's design was modern and ideal for stage productions with good lighting and excellent air conditioning. I must commend the organizer, who had a tough time confirming a venue earlier, for making an excellent choice.

For the first comp of the year, there was a surprisingly large number of entries - 160 ! The majority of the entries took part in the solo and beginner events. Interestingly, the organizers decided to adopt a new method of judging the juveniles that they had observed in comps in Hong Kong. With this method, the juveniles (within the same category) are divided into groups of 6 (not heats) and each group dances a final. The judges then place the finalist accordingly. This way, every child is guaranteed a certificate to take home with a 'finalist' placing. The purpose of this is to reinforce the children's enthusiasm and to make them feel that all that practicing was worth it. Its a novel idea to encourage younger children and though we all had to adjust to this system, it was well worth it as both the child and its parents were happy. I do think though, to make it a little more competitive, that the champions of each group should then compete against each other in order to have an overall champion crowned. I wonder if I could convince the next organizer to try this out.

Being the first comp of the year, it also brought to light several new partnerships as well as visual confirmation of breakups. The most obvious being that the latin amateur partnership of CCS & Emy Farrah has ended. Standard amateur couple Samuel Sum & Valarie Lim were also a no show at the comp despite being registered and one wonders about their status now as they had a roller coaster ride last year. Several other couples who had a good run last year moved up a rank in this comp - in the Standard, couples Harry Oon & Dionne Leong together with Shaun Chew & Raena Low moved into the Rising Star & Amateur Closed categories. The same two couples plus Yong Chun Leong & Kang Woan Yi and Tye Jian Jin & Cindy Law moved up in the Latin divisions too. Also stepping up to the Latin Rising Star category were David & Samantha Lim, Alvin Hoh & Riena Aisya, Kelvin Mok & Louise Cheow and Siew Wei Lok & Joey Wong. I'm sure there were several other 'risers' but I was not able to pay that much attention to the couples I'm not already familiar with.

Several of the couples/dancers who struggled to settle into their new partnerships/choreography last year had made noticeable improvements. Veroy Ng & Lo Wengche (amateur latin) had had a tough time last year attempting to harness Veroy's raw strength as they adjusted to the new partnership, new choreography and the rather large difference in height. Wengche can certainly hold her own on the floor with great expression and good lines but with the physically larger and stronger Veroy as her partner, she was often overpowered and swamped. This year, they managed to find some neutral ground as Veroy attempted to put a leash on his strength and direct it more calmly. A much welcomed relief for the petite Wengche no doubt. I'll be watching the new partnership of Yong Chun Leong & Kang Woan Yi over the year. Chun Leong is the supreme performer with great audience interaction and expression and I hope Woan Yi will be able to match his larger then life persona. The partnership of Alvin Hoh & Riena Aisya became a little unbalanced this year with Riena markedly improving, leaving Alvin a little lagging. Lets hope this will balance out as the year progresses. 10 dance couple Shaun Chew & Raena Low showed some progress in 'thawing' out more and showing more expression during their dancing. They really need to work on this as they already have everything else working in their favour to make them SEA champions. I hope to see more animated facial expression thru the year. There was a surprise win from Tye Jian Jin & Cindy Law in the Latin Rising Star as they had obviously used their earlier round in the Pre-Am as a warm up and really came out with their guns blazing for the Rising Star. Cindy is looking really comfortable on the floor now but Jian Jin need to soften his body language and facial expression a whole lot more in order to compete with the big boys later this year.

We had a total of 21 judges lead by Chief Adjudicator, Mr Chong Kim Yee. Our scrutineers for the event was Nixon Ong & Co. The judges were as follows : (they are listed according to their official tags)

A  Chong Kim Yee - KL
B  Walter Luk - Hong Kong
C  Alonggod Nutsati - Thailand
D  Nontachai Meksawad - Thailand
E  Iwan Ichwan - Indonesia
F  Denny A. Gurmawan - Indonesia
G  John Lim - Selangor
H  Josephine Seow - Selangor
I  Lee Yip Seng - Selangor
J  Sumiko Lim - Selangor
K  Yeoh Gim Hua - Selangor
L  Yukiko Hori - KL
M  Jovy Wong - KL
N  Judy Ong - KL
O  Andy Wong - KL
P  Yeap Yen Chin - Perak
Q  Irene Au - Perak
R  Wong Chooi Yee - Perak
S  James Ooi - Penang
T  Reena Leong - Ng. Sembilan
U  Siow Boon Wah - Johor

Here are the results according to the order of events :

• Std. Beginners Waltz - Jason Tan & Suzanne Thong, KL
• Std. Beginners Tango - Leon Low & Melissa Lim, Selangor
• Std. Novice - Pitchayen Ueamongkonkam & Nutthapanee Tangthoung, Thailand
• Std. Beginners Foxtrot - Benjamin Ho & Chong Jia Wen, Selangor
• Std. Beginners Quickstep - Benjamin Ho & Chong Jia Wen, Selangor
• Std. Masters II - Colin Lim & Tan Suan Chu, Selangor
• Std. Solo Open - Owen Lee, KL
• Std. Pre Amateur - Adrian Tan & Gan Kar Mern, Selangor
• Std. Masters I - Roberto Masanque & Joey Wong, Singapore
• Std. Solo U 12 - Owen Lee, KL
• Std. Junior U 16 - Shaun Chew & Reana Low, Selangor
• Latin Beginnners Cha Cha - Justin Teh & Rachael Leong, Selangor
• Latin Masters I - Lee Yew Tuck & Susan Ting, Ipoh
• Latin Beginners Jive - Nang Yu Lee & Heah Jun Yu, Ipoh
• Latin Beginners Rumba - Nang Yu Lee & Heah Jun Yu, Ipoh
• Latin Beginners Samba - Justin Teh & Rachael Leong, Selangor
• Latin Masters II - Ian Tan & Christine Eng, Penang
• Latin Ladies - Pinky Chung & Gillian Huang, KL
• Latin Beginners Paso Doble - Nang Yu Lee & Heah Jun Yu, Ipoh
• Latin Beginners U 12 - Kenneth Kwan & Beatrice Loo, Ipoh
• Latin Girls U 12 - Pinky Chung & Gillian Huang, KL
• Latin Novice - Bryan Fong & Yong Mei Fong, KL
• Latin Solo U 8 - Miyaki, KL
• Latin Pre Amateur - Siew Wei Lok & Joey Wong
• Latin Solo U 12 - Gillian Huang, KL
• Latin Juvenile U 8 - Khoo Wai Yuan & Wong Jia Wei, Ipoh
• Latin Junior U 16 - Siew Wei Lok & Joey Wong
• Latin ADC Solo U 8 (Group 1) - Miyaki, KL
• Latin ADC Solo U 8 (Group 2) - Miyumi, KL
• Std. Rising Star - Adriel Tan & Aw Sim Li
• Latin ADC U 6 - See Boo Yee, KL
• Std. Juvenile U 12 - Muhammad Daniel & Zenny Chee, Selangor
• Std. Amateur Closed - Bernard Lim & Natalie Tan, Selangor
• Latin ADC Solo U 12 (Group 1) - Pinky Chung, KL
• Latin ADC Solo U 12 (Group 2) - Melanie Khoo, KL
• Latin ADC Solo U 12 (Group 3) - Gillian Huang, KL
• Std. Amateur Open - Johnston Lim & Nicole Tan, Selangor
• Latin ADC Juvenile U 12 - Chin Hao Yen & Dorcas Isabelle Lian, KL
• Latin Rising Star - Tye Jian Jin & Cindy Law, Ipoh
• Latin Juvenile U 12 - Eric Foong & Ice Kwan, Ipoh
• Latin Amateur Closed - Bernard Lim & Natalie Tan, Selangor
• Latin Solo Open - Lee Wei Tsing, KL
• Latin Amateur Open - Johnston Lim & Nicole Tan, Selangor

Congratulations to all our champions and well done to all competitors. The majority of you all started off the year with a bang in this comp. I trust the coming CNY celebrations won't make you too soft for the next comp coming up soon. Enjoy your break but get back on the training floor as soon as you can. I'm looking forward to some great dancing from our Malaysian couples as some great opportunities are coming up for several of them. 

Remember, it is the mind that makes the body. As we progress into this new year of 2012, please focus on the dancing and not the politics. Dance because you want to, because you need to, because you love to. Do not use words of hurt & cruelty to destroy a dancers soul and dancers do not allow such hurt & cruelty to destroy your passion and purpose. Focus.

Note : the opinions expressed in this article are the authors own and are based on her own observations.

Happy Lunar New Year !

I'd like to wish all my clients and all competitors, a very happy, prosperous, safe & joyous Gong Xi Fa Chai. May we all have great opportunities in the year of the dragon. And may we all be wise enough to recognize the opportunities and grasp them. Have a great time everyone !

2012 - COMPETITIONS & EVENTS (updated 14th April 2012)

7th January 2012, Saturday

EVENT : World Dance Academy (WDA) Anniversary Dinner & Dance
VENUE : Royal Selangor Club, Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
ORGANIZER : John Lim (012-212.0326)

8th January 2012, Sunday

EVENT : 11th BDFI Kuala Lumpur Open Dance Championship 2012
VENUE : SJK (C) Naam Keong, Kuala Lumpur
ORGANIZER : Amy Dancesport Center (Mr Lee 016-302.6677 / Ms Amy 012-301.8668)

17-19th January 2012 (from WDC website)

EVENT : United Kingdom Open To the World Championships 2012
VENUE : Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England

19th February 2012, Sunday

EVENT : 1st Hong Kong BDFI Open Dance Championship
VENUE :
ORGANIZER : Hong Kong Ballroom Dance International (HKBDI)
LINK : https://www.facebook.com/hkbdi

26th February 2012, Sunday

EVENT : Asian Open Championships 2012, Japan Leg
VENUE : Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
ORGANIZER : Japan Dance Council (JDC)

28th February 2012, Tuesday

EVENT : Asian Open Championship 2012, Taiwan Leg
VENUE : Taipei Stadium
ORGANIZER : Sammy & Jane

3rd & 4th March 2012, Saturday & Sunday

EVENT : Asian Open Championship 2012, Malaysian Leg
VENUE : The Royale Chulan Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ORGANIZER : A & C Dance Dynamix (Contact Hotline : 012-206 6093 / 012-339 8016 /
                         012-6886108
Email : acddsmy@yahoo.co.uk) www.alexncarmen-my.blogspot.com (for entry forms)


4th March 2012, Sunday

EVENT : World Star Finalist Workshop (Waltz & Tango)
VENUE : Sunny Low Dance Studio @ River Walk
ORGANIZER : Aleena Tan  (65)98267015  Email: worldstardance@gmail.com
LINK : https://www.facebook.com/events/349480991736485/?notif_t=event_invite


10th March 2012, Saturday

EVENT : Asian Open Championship 2012, Macau Leg
VENUE : Venetian Resort & Hotel, Macau
ORGANIZER :

7th April 2012, Saturday

EVENT : Belly Dance Asia - Gala Show featuring Mr. Wael Mansour (Italy)
VENUE : P.J Live Art center (7-9 pm)
ORGANIZER : Brancy Nekvapil

8th April 2012, Sunday

EVENT : 4th Star of Tomorrow Ballroom Dancing Championship
               Endorsed by Singapore Ballroom Dance Teachers' Association (member of WDC, APDDSC &ADC)
VENUE : Orchid Country Club, Singapore
ORGANIZER : Allan Tan
LINK : https://www.facebook.com/events/283656435029161/

14 & 15th April 2012, Saturday & Sunday

EVENT : Penang Times Square Dance Competition
VENUE : Ground Floor, Penang Times Square
ORGANIZER : Penang Times Square Shopping Center

28th April 2012, Saturday

EVENT : 3rd Seremban Superstar Dancesport Championship 2012
VENUE : Restoran Min Kok Sdn Bhd, Seremban, No.7645, Lot 5990, Jalan Labu Lama, 70200 Seremban
ORGANIZER : Amy Dancesport Center
LINK : https://www.facebook.com/events/111788672276905/

29th April 2012, Sunday

EVENT : Johor International Dance Championships
VENUE : Cathay Restaurant (JB) Sdn Bhd, Lot PTD 85473, Jalan Molek 2/4, Taman Molek
                81100, Johor Bahru
ORGANIZER : Mr Sammy Soo (+65.9656.7890) & Ms Aleena Tan (+65.9826.7015)
                         Email : dancing@singnet.com.sg

4th May 2012, Friday

EVENT : Dancers National Association (DNA) Fund Raising Dinner & Dance
VENUE : Grand Dorsett Hotel, Subang, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
ORGANIZER : D.N.A. (Ms Josephine Seow, President)

24th May - 1st June 2012 (from WDC website)

EVENT : British Open to the World Dance Festival 2012
VENUE :Wintergardens, Blackpool, England

9th June 2012, Saturday

EVENT : 9th National Ballroom Dancing Championships 2012
VENUE : Bayview Beach Resort, Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang, Malaysia
ORGANIZER : United Dance Teachers Bhd & JDC Dancehouse (james_ooi28@hotmail.com)

16th June 2012 (from WDC website)

EVENT : m)))motion International Dance Masters Mannheim 2012
VENUE : Rosengarten, Mannheim , Germany

29-30th June 2012, Friday - Saturday

EVENT : Lombok International Dance Festival 2012
               Asian Open Championship Series Indonesia
VENUE : Lombok Island, Indonesia
ORGANIZER :  Mr Marcel De Rijk & WDC-AAL
NOTE : For entry forms and details go to  www.purimas-lombok.com

7th - 8th July 2012, Saturday-Sunday

EVENT : 2012 World Dance Open Competition
VENUE : Hong Kong
ORGANIZER : International (HK) Dance Association
                         Tel : 852 93451479 (Miss Lee Lin Lynie)
                         Email : leelinlynie@gmail.com
                         Web : www.chinadancers.org

12th - 15th July 2012, Thursday-Sunday

EVENT : 10th Shenzhen China Open Championships 2012
VENUE : tbc
ORGANIZER : Ganglong Dance Culture Company
                         TEL: 86-755-82286031
                         FAX: 86-755-82198583
                         Email Address: shenzhenganglong@yahoo.com.cn
                         Company Website: http://www.ganglongwudao.com

28th July 2012, Saturday

EVENT : Merlion International Dancesport Championships 2012
VENUE : Orchid Country Club, Grand Ballroom, Singapore
ORGANIZER : Dancesport de Allan (dancesport_allan@yahoo.com)

29th July 2012, Sunday

EVENT : Johor Stars of Tomorrow 2012 (International Ballroom Dancing Championship)
VENUE : Restoran Pekin Sutera Sdn Bhd
ORGANIZER : Dancer's Home Dancing Center (dancesport_allan@yahoo.com)

30th & 31st July 2012, Monday & Tuesday

EVENT : New Zealand Open Dancesport Championship
VENUE : Auckland, New Zealand
ORGANIZER : New Zealand Federation of Dance Teachers

5th August 2012, Sunday

EVENT : 2nd Singapore Open Dance Championships 2012
VENUE : Fairmont Ballroom @ Raffles City Convention Centre, Singapore
ORGANIZER : singaporeopen@hotmail.com ; admin@johnjosephinedance.com.sg
Website: www.johnjosephinedance.com.sg

25th August 2012, Saturday

EVENT : 4th Malaysian Open Dance Fest 2012
VENUE : Manhattan Grand Ballroom, Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ORGANIZER : Ms Lane Lee (012-655.3187)

26th August 2012, Sunday

EVENT : 10th Crystal Dancesport Championship 2012
VENUE : Mahattan Grand Ballroom, Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ORGANIZER :  World Dance Academy, Mr John Lim (012-212.0326) Ms Joanne Leong (012-217.1376)

31st August - 2nd September 2012, Friday-Sunday

EVENT : 2012 New Zealand Dancesport Championships
VENUE : CBS Canterbury Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand
ORGANIZER : http://www.dancesport.org.nz/events.php

4-8th September 2012 (from WDC website)

EVENT : United States Dance Championships 2012
VENUE : Swan Hotel, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida, USA

15th September 2012, Saturday

EVENT : 3rd Bellare Singapore Open Dance Championship
VENUE : tbc
ORGANIZER : Melvyn Low Dance Studio (melvynlowdancestudio@yahoo.co.sg)

16th September 2012, Sunday

EVENT : 3rd Taiping Open Dance Championships 2012
VENUE : Persatuan Ong Si Thye Guan Tong, Taiping, Perak, Malaysia
ORGANIZER : P H Lim Dance Studio (Mr Lim : 012-523.9366 / Ms Shirley : 012-231.9366)

22nd & 23rd September 2012

EVENT : The Swiss Open WDC-AL
VENUE : Switzerland
ORGANIZER : www.theswissopen.com

9-11th October 2012 (from WDC website)

EVENT : The International Open to the World Championships 2012
VENUE : Brentwood & Royal Albert Hall, London, England

20th & 21st October 2012, Saturday & Sunday

EVENT : The 62nd New Zealand National Open and Closed Championships

VENUE : ASB Stadium, Kohimarama Road, Kohimarama, Auckland, New Zealand

ORGANIZER : Kingsley Gainsford (gainsford-gotta@xtra.co.nz)

INFO : http://www.dancesportnzchampionships.co.nz/

8-11th November 2012 (from WDC website)

EVENT : The Dutch Open Championships 2012
VENUE : De Bonte Wever, Assen, Holland

24th November 2012, Saturday

EVENT : 19th Penang International Ballroom Dancing Championship 2012
VENUE : Bayview Beach Resort, Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang, Malaysia
ORGANIZER : Malaysian Dancers' Association (mdamy@streamyx.com / mda-my@hotmail.com)

7-9the December 2012 (from WDC website)

EVENT : Disney Cup Professional Ballroom & Latin
VENUE : Disneyland Paris Resort, Paris, France