Soc: USABDA Nationals

Bruce Leasure (bruce@KAI.COM)
Wed, 13 Aug 1997 09:42:05 -0500

Last weekend, several people associated in various ways with the Dancing
Illini
participated in the United States Amateur DanceSport Championships. Yeah,
it
is a funny name, but it is the national championship of amateur ballroom
dancing. Here is a brief, though incomplete, report on how everyone did.
If you want to know what the various "levels" mean, look at the bottom of
this note.

Lara Yates was there with her new partner. They danced in both the both the
silver and gold levels of Adult-A standard. Looked pretty good for only a
couple of months together, and the judges liked them too. They got 1st's at
the silver level, and 2-4's at the gold. Lara says that by next year
they'll be doing Latin too.

Monica and Alex continue to improve. While I don't know how they placed in
Latin, they did WIN the Adult-A PreChampionship standard!!! They also made
at least the top 20 in Adult-A Championship.

Tom and Daira continue to improve too. They placed 5th in the Adult-B
PreChampionship standard, made the top 12 in Adult-A PreChampionship
Standard,
and made the top 12 in Adult-B Championship!

Tom Keller (OK, so I am the only one old enough to remember him) placed 4th
in Adult-A Championship standard.

Bruce & Hilary placed 2nd in Adult-B PreChampionship. They also made the
top
24 in Adult-B Championship standard and Adult-A PreChampionship.

Tom Nugent was there, with his new fiance!

Next year, the USABDA Nationals will be held in Indianapolis. Perhaps some
of you will want to drop over and take a look at some really good people.

-- bruce

====== Information on the "Levels" of dancing =====

Latin -- international style: rumba, cha cha, jive, samba, paso
Standard - international style: waltz, foxtrot, tango, quickstep,
and in (championship only) Viennese waltz

Adult-A -- open age -- almost anyone can participate -- the hardest
competition
Adult-B -- both people must be 35 or older

Championship -- the highest skill level -- the Varsity
PreChampionship -- the next highest skill level -- the Junior Varsity
Novice -- the lowest skill level with unrestricted steps
Gold -- Steps limited to those in the "book" -- the highest restricted
level
Silver -- Steps limited to those in the first 2 chapters
Bronze -- Steps limited to those in the first chapter -- the lowest level