The weeks following our selection at the Nationals were hectic to say the least. It was hard to focus on training - it seemed that so much of our time was spent trying to get funding assistance and organising our finances (we took out a large bank loan to cover our bases). In that first week it certainly felt like we were very much on our own to get ourselves there and organise everything.
** this was a very difficult time as competitors preparing for the largest competition of our lives. Where was so march to find out. A huge proportion of our time was spent approaching organisations for funding. One of the most difficult aspects of this exercise was the time wasted trying to understand the structures of each funding organization and their criteria.
Recommendation: Create a short guide to funding organisations that competitors can follow in future. This should include who to approach and what the funding criteria are for each entity
**Talking with Oavid Yeates was very helpful as he had competed in the World Professional Standard at the same venue only a few years before. He advised us that the US Open was held at the same venue the week before the advantages of staying at the venue from the time we arrived, cost of food, practise floor etc.
Recommendation: Utilise the people who have been to the same or similar venue. The ID5F World Standard Championships will be held at Miami in 2001- we offer our services to the representative couples competing at that Championship to help them in their planning
We decided to arrive on the Thursday, staying at the venue until the Sunday of the competition. The IDSF paid for two nights so we paid Sor the extra two ourselves by converting travel points.
**This was very worthwhile, but it would be possible to arrive earlier in the week and stay nearby without loosing too much in comparison.
Thank you UNITED AIRLINES ! in return for some exposure on television (you may have seen us on the Good Morning Show on TV I ) they helped us out by upgrading us on both legs of the flight to Miami (total flying time 17 hours plus a 2 hour stop-over at LA) so that we would arrive in better shape to compete. We can't say enough about the wonderful way we were treated and the service in-flight.
**We pursued upgrades after purchasing tickets with United. We chose our airline based on the flight arrival times and waiting times. at LA Airport. Make sure that couples understand Ihe impact of jet lag! While we were looking to pursue an upgrade with United it was Ross Jolly who advised us of a contact number for Sponsorship at United A irlines. This was exactly the sort of information that we needed just another example of information that we found out late in the piece, rather than in the week after we were selected, when it is needed the most.
Arrived exhausted, never having travelled further than Australia before. We should have had sleeping tablets as we left Auckland (made a mental note for any further travelling).
Our accommodation was interesting. Those who arrived late in the week (us for instance) were housed next door to the main Hilton hz lodgings taken over by Hilton at some stage. The walls and window glass were paper-thin and people were on all manner of time zones. At 3 am you could hear plumbing noises, televisions and conversations from other rooms in any direction. The lack of double-glazing meant a cheerful wakening to the sound of motorized cleaning equipment 5 stories below Somehow the brochure looked a bit better than this ! Still, we were right at the venue, which was the whole purpose of paying for the extra nights.
Walking around the hotel to get our bearings, the pool was very impressive. . .(so were the European guy's....see ya Peter). Dancers everywhere you looked, most being there for the United States Open held for the 6 days leading up to the Worlds. (We had checked before leaving home, and there were no events that we were able to dance in. Youth Latin was the closest and we just missed out on the age cut off, I Joke) Other dancers were a bit intimidating with their European look. I suppose that that was the intention i.e. many were groomed for competition with immaculate tracksuits on. So many stunning women and very Latin-looking guys (either very European or South American in appearance). As for those Italian guys in immaculately-tailored Armani suits ! No expense was spared on dancing outfits.
Food prices were okay (if you are paid in US dollars) but typically came without vegetables - we had to request these specially. Hot chocolate was also not one of their strong points ! With the exchange rate breakfast could cost NZD $100 for two people, so we were glad of the two days worth of dinner and breakfast vouchers provided by the IDSF.
Sleeping tablets and earplugs helped us sleep - 13 hours the first night but felt like we could have slept a lot longer. Very jet-lagged the next day.
The practice hall was good - good floor and size. Official practice times were quite limited, and most afternoons were blocked out as the US Open organisers were running the preliminary rounds for their events there. Shock, horror, we may not actually get to dance in the ballroom. A sigh of relief when it was confirmed that all rounds for the Worlds were to be held in the ballroom. What was eye-opening were the groups of juniors from Italy and other European countries. These kids were exceptionally good. Their coaching on the practice floor was also exceptional. Their confidence was very high - and justifiably so - it didn't look like they had ever been taught an ounce of bad technique and their quality of movement was therefore superb.
Prior to leaving NZ we had purchased tickets for the US Open Pro Latin, which was good planning as when we arrived they were sold out. There were however plenty of good tickets left for the Worlds that's America for you. The Pro Latin was an excellent event to attend - we got to experience the atmosphere and surroundings that we would be dancing in, got some inspiration and even had a brief social dance on the floor. Alan Tornsberg, Paul Killick and Louis Van Amstel were competing (sorry, but I always refer to couples by the guy's name) and put on an excellent display of technique, body rhythrn, quality of movement and maturity of dancing, finishing in the order that I have listed them. The quality of movement of these top couples was wonderful to watch - Paul began his Samba with Samba rolls for the first half of the large floor (and looked great) while Alan Tornsberg made use of basics (e.g. Cha locks) to reposition himself wherever on the floor he chose. Amusing / detracting was the willingness of Killick and Van Amstel to take the competition to each other, often dancing with less than a comfortable distance between them.
Had a bit of drama with my shirt - we had carefully researched the new IDSF dress rules and I had chosen to go with a newly-allowed white shirt. After comments f om a couple of people that this wasn't going to be legal, I chased up an IDSF representative (not an easy task) who confirmed that it was. (His wording was exactly per our versions of the rules. ) Big relief ! (Thank you Ray Laurie for getting it right !)
* thanks Ray for advising us of the changes prior to the selection event. It is important that this sort of information is available to potential representatives as soon as possible.
On the question of dress:
Jo: I made an amazing dress (for the Nationals), put a lot of money and hard work into it, only to find that due to the new IDSF Rules I could not wear it at the Worlds. So I made a new dress (more hard work and more money and feeling limited in design). But more frustration when 80 % of the competitors' (male and female) gear did not meet the rules. As couples changed outfits throughout the rounds, the rules went right out the door. Very frustrated that I did not wear what I wanted and more frustrated that no one was enforcing the rules. And yes Donna you did tell me to take my other dress.
PW: The new rules were obviously known to people, as guys were in coloured shirts, which were not allowed under the old rules. I was particularly annoyed that I did not wear my cross due to the ban on any religious symbols or religious jewelry It transpired later that many of the top competitors were wearing them.
Having had so much support and well wishes from home, we had not imagined how alone we would feel Very disappointed that no other couples were making an effort to talk to anyone outside their own circle, and not willing to participate in any sort of conversation. However. . it was an amazing feeling being past of this competition, warming up with all these very talented people, dancing on a fantastic floor, and having so many people from home sending us faxes and messages. A real buzz on the floor, the music pumping - it certainly got the atmosphere going. There were huge groups of supporters all around us. Karen RuEus had warned us that at this venue the crowd would feel dead and not to expect any 'lift' from them - this sort of advice was exactly what we needed in many areas as we could then mentally prepare ourselves.
**Recommendation: As mentioned above make use of people who have already competed at the same or a similar venue.
**The receiving of support was a great boost to us.
Recommendation: Find out the fax number of the hotel where the competitors are staying. Circulate this to anyone who shows any interest in the couple and encourage them to fax a message of support.
It felt incredible when some people did respond when we were dancing in front of them. Also afterwards some people commented on our dancing and how beautiful Jo looked. We had made the call to absolutely enjoy ourselves out on the floor (rather than get intimidated) and I guess that showed.
Came 58/59th equal. Disappointed to some extent in that the dancing felt competitive in the repecharge round. I guess this was a reality check for us. We are undefeated this year in New Zealand, but internationally you are small fry.
The party afterwards was a sit-down buffet and it seemed that everyone knew each other- it was more for professionals who knew each other or people who had large groups of competitors/supporters from their countries. We left very frustrated and disappointed that there were no opportunities to meet people or to talk about Dancesport.
A lasting impression of the competition was the immense power and standing of the IDSF in the world of Dancesport. As the only Dancesport organisation recognised by the International Olympic Committee and with an 1 I-year contract with the immensely powerful International Management Group (IMG) this European-founded organisation must be the major player in world Dancesport in future.
We learnt a lot from this competition and are very sad that we will not be experiencing this as competitors again.
Knowledge is a powerful thing - where would be today if we had these experiences 5 years ago. A lot of people have been asking us whether it is worth traveling overseas to compete/train. YES, YES, YES. . . . but be prepaid to work very hard, and pay a lot of money.
Important points to note:
Technique is king - learn it correctly from day one - don't waste your time letting coaches use new choreography as the means to keep you in the sport - your efforts would be better spent learning good technique. Without quality of movement you are wasting your time and money on expensive costumes and flashy routines.
Planning and support play major roles in achieving in Dancesport - ensure that you have step by step plans building towards your goals, and that you have the right people willing and able to assist you in making your goals reality
**As in any sport, Dancesport competitors can only learn as well as they are coached. Every effort should be made to facilitate coaching by overseas teachers we know how milch we benefited from our limited time spent training on Australia and with Karen Hardy here in New Zealand. In order to provide New Zealand competitors with the skill base that they require to compete internationally, considerable effort must be made to bring top-class coaches to New Zealand and to encourage and support travel overseas to train and compete.
Thank you to the following for their assistance:
NZDA
AADA
United Airlines Lion
Foundation (through the Brownzie Sports Bar Browns Bay)
Those wonderful people who privately gave us assistance
The Handlebar Bar and Grill Browns Bay (who attempted to assist us but were thwarted by the rules of their grants organization)
Rebecca and the Breakfast Show crew, who were wonderful to deal with (and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves) - thank you TVNZ for this opportunity to promote Dancesport.
We have had a tremendous amount of support and encouragement nationwide. So being a part of this has been a huge experience, one that we certainly will not forget.