Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival 2014

YDance is looking for 20 youth dance groups from counties in the UK to take part in a 3-day festival of workshops and performances at the first ever Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival in Glasgow.

The festival will celebrate the best of youth dance from across the Commonwealth, and be part of an exciting cultural programme surrounding the sporting events at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Festival will take place over three days and nights from 10–12 July 2014, and involve around 30 groups from across Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and other Commonwealth countries at Glasgow’s Tramway.

As well as performances by up to 400 young people from across the Commonwealth, the festival will feature choreographic workshops and classes led by internationally-renowned dance artists and companies.

Groups can enter a maximum of 15 dancers aged 12 to 21 years (or up to 24 years old for companies with disabled dancers). To enter, send a DVD or YouTube link of a recent performance.  Pieces should be no more than 7 minutes in length.

If you have a youth dance group and would like to apply visit their website for more details, send them an email or call the CYD office on 0141 552 7712.

Torvill and Dean swap the ice for the ballroom

In a stunning move, guaranteed to send dance audiences into a frenzy of excitement (or is it just me?) the Children in Need Strictly Come Dancing special will feature Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

Competing against a host of other stars as well as each other, Jayne will partner James Jordan while Chris will be guided by Aliona Vilani on the show when it airs on Friday, November 15th.

With the creative flair T&D have for interpreting music on the ice, I cannot wait to see what they can do in stilettos and Cuban heels!

And what a great excuse to share my favourite routine ...

Gothic theatricality

Everyone on the floor for the Time Warp, including the Judges, before Dress of the Night makes an entrance - Tess! Don't often get the chance to bestow that honour upon her, do we? And so begins our Halloween special ...

The Gothic splendour of the opener is carried on by Patya, whose quickstep I absolutely loved. A stuttery start became a fabulous romp of theatricality with energy, personality and terrific timing. A great comeback after last week. Having to follow was Antiona with their Charleston, more "Halloween at Doris Day's house" according to Bruno, but a delightful effort - Fiona's got the swivel and Anton was enjoying himself immensely.

My first vote of the series - since I've not seen it live till this week (I refused to go out this time) - and it went to Bentina for a totally owned Paso Doble (and not because he was topless, really, I'm not that shallow *ahem* But nice to see the Powers That Be decided that a couple of complaints weren't worth the fuss) Loved the strong, aggressive nature, and his partnering with regard to the arm work was fantastic, so fluid and didn't miss a beat.

Sadly, Brenphie's jive didn't work for me at all. Great characterisation but lacking bounce, flicks and kicks. Artalie's Viennese Waltz was a gorgeous concoction of lyrical wafting arms and floating whirliness - but there simply wasn't enough in hold to actually be a VW, so scoring tens seems a little naughty - especially considering later remarks, which I'll come to shortly.

When I say shortly, I mean now, and Marketa's Paso Doble. Personally, I loved it, there was fun and a good stab at the attitude and I felt there was plenty of Paso content to allow for the super disco break near the end. So Bruno's comment about not enough Paso to be a Paso, after a 10 for Artalie's VW that actually wasn't, hacked me off a bit, and resulted in a vote for Marketa from me. So there.

Pashel's American Smooth I thought was a little bit limp? No? I didn't really get into at all, although a second watch convinced me it was Ok to do a Viennese Waltz Smooth, which is why, presumably, on the SCD website, they called it an American Waltz.

And then to a bloody fantastic interpretation of an awesome song choice, with Asha's tango. Taut, electric, menacing. Beautiful, monster! My third vote. Another unusual but effective performance in the rumba for Abjaz, she really seems to get it and I'm beginning to like them a lot. Kave had more hand jive than leg work but it did actually resemble a routine, in that he seemed to know where he had to be at any given moment. Scariest thing about it was his panda eyes.

Kevanna ended the show with their charleston, letting us have the full benefit of SmileySusanna again, tons of proper charleston content, really well done and "freedom on expression" according to Craig, I just think it deserved a more traditional song to really capture the feel. Still got my fourth vote though - it's too close to call not to.

The leaderboard:

Those draws are not doing the mid table peeps any favours - best prepare ourselves for another shock tonight. See you later x

And so we return with another inventive and pulsating performance, with Claudia and Tess dropping in, literally. And then for the shock - Abjaz into the dance off! I was praying it wouldn't be versus one of my other favourites, but still a bit peeved when it turned out to be Pashel.

Elsewhere, before the Big Decision, Madness showcased their new single - I've always wanted to see Suggs on Strictly, but next time please let it be in tails. In Len's Lens, Dress of Sunday Night is Darcey's, and loving Craig's glittery crutch; Len enjoys the Time Warp but warns about the plethora of illegal lifts; Darcey's scared face at Brendan, and Sophie's knees; high fives between Bruno and Darcey for the 10s; Claudia's descent into hell, you'd have thought, with the air lift in!

I thought the Dance Off might come down to nerves; on balance, with both at their best, it would always be Abjaz, but she's a wreck - her and Rachel are best friends on the show and she's setting me right off with her sobbing. As it happens, she focused the emotion into the performance and it was even better than last night. Rachel also much better but it was a unanimous judging decision. But so, so sad for Pashel :(

How can a show that brings so much joy cause so much pain? I'll leave you with a little Frankie Beverley and Maze to think about it. Well, why not, you dig? Go ahead, get down y'all, till next week anyhow.

Always sunny in Susanna-Land

So says Bruno, and who are we to disagree?

Once again, Kevanna topped the lot for me, with another animated performance. It's not just about putting your feet in the right place, it's about the emotion a dancer elicits from its audience: Kevanna make me happy.

Natalie is a fantastic rhythmic dancer and I should've been into Artalie's samba a lot more than I was. Likewise, I thought Brenphie's cha cha could've been more cheeky, and Antiona's quickstep I didn't find that interesting, it didn't pick out any highlights in the music. Anton, you're supposed to be King of this stuff!

A good effort but more still to do from Pashel, Rachel needed more attack, while Kave are beginning to bore me a little now. In the 'lovely' camp were Abjaz, with an unusual but flowing foxtrot, and Marketa, a rather delightful waltz. Another great effort by Bentina in their quickstep, he's mastered smiling-while-dancing, anyhow. Asha's jive was lively and toe tapping, although prompting a "be aware that you do have feet, darling, at the end of those legs" from Craig. Nice sparkly chair, by the way! And Booooo to those bastard complainers, stopping us getting an eyeful of Ben and Ashley, making them wear vests. I think the rest of us should all complain about that. Who's with me?

And so to Patya and our desperately-sad-to-go Robrah. Get used to the shocks every week now, unless this result gives a bit of a jolt to the voters. Deborah was one of those who came into the competition and totally fell in love with dancing, and they usually get a decent journey as a result. Patya did a very groovy salsa, considering his injury, a damn fine job. And Robrah's Viennese Waltz was their best dance yet, a nice flow and elegance. Tiny consolation - dress of the night. Gorgeous.

Elsewhere in the results show, the professionals brought us a captivating Japanese inspired lyrical hip hop mix to 'Halo', Earth Wind and Fire are still throwing the same shapes they did all those years ago. Len's Lens highlighted Natalie clocking Artem's fractured nose with her elbow; Anton's face; Ashley's leap frog; Patrick's one handed lift and Dave's hairography. And Claudia came to the party wearing an amniotic sac. Why would she do that?

It's Halloween next! Wooooooooohooooooo ...

Whipsnappy and wafty; groovy and fearless

A three way tie at the top for Brenphie, Abjaz and Artalie, with Juliette's sparkle-fest finally over. But a shock for sure, seeing Pashel in the dance off! They definitely improved though and the judges voted unanimously to save them.

My favourites of the night: Abjaz, for their superb, very tight tango, great musicality and yes, whipsnappy a perfect description. And Patya, his whole routine was so groovy, really nailed the cheeky cha cha - would like to see him bring his chin up like Darcey said, definitely makes it look a bit odd at times! Moments of pure joy though, loved it.

Dress of the night belonged to Karen, if not dance of the night. Needing more movement in the waltz, Kave did probably the best they could but Karen will start having to challenge him soon. Brenphie danced a gorgeous foxtrot, cheek to cheek, while Antiona worked a rumba with nerves getting her again. Marketa had a ball with the Cha Cha to U Can't Touch This, pure fun.

I loved Asha's armwork, thought them gorgeous - I like wafty too, Bruno. Just wish Ashley would smile more, but he's making it look effortless, this time in the Viennese Waltz. Juliette worked hard as usual  but we all knew his salsa wasn't going to be enough. Pashel still losing focus, this time in quickstep and it cost her - clearly not getting away with it, whatever Bruno says. And then falling off his chair: I LOVE THIS SHOW! Bentina showing some good arm work and impressive, fearless throwing around of Kristina, although I would've liked to see a lot more basic salsa steps.

Robrah's jive footwork and bounce looked so much better in training, it's a shame it didn't translate to the live show but, hey, it was a Eurovision flashback so who cares? Artalie were fantastic and snazzy but I agree with Len - far too much out of hold for a quickstep. And finally, Kevanna, full of gusto again but just needed to be a touch more fluid.

So what do we deduce then, following the dance off? Well, clearly Mark, Dave, Fiona and Deborah were more popular than Rachel. So, Mr. Bookie, what do you make of that then? Seven points for bottom couple, out of a maximum 13? We're going to see a lot more shocks I think, as the remaining couples are all capable of being in the mid-late 20s.

The tightest series yet? See all the dances again to make up your mind. Until 6.30pm on Saturday, ttfn x

Sweating like a dumpling in a stock pot

Quote of the week up there, courtesy of Dave. Spared the dance off as People's Champion, it was Janessa we said farewell to, in what was a very close week. Fourteen couples but the one at the bottom on six points!

Kevanna again a favourite this week, just that shoulder needing a nudge downwards but otherwise simply lovely movement and flow in their waltz. Asha also impressed, the samba can be a real wreck but his was full of bounce and rhythm, likewise Brenphie, although we could've seen a little more abandon, maybe. Loved Bentina's rumba - great partnering, steady and secure, fluid and connected. Artalie were again magnificent in the rumba, she certainly knows how to work it. Patya rocking the Nat King Cole foxtrot but could've done with more movement around the floor and a little more swing and sway - and oh, Craig - almost word for word. My brother from another mother! Lovely quickstep from Robrah, full of joy.

Kave had great Paso attitude all the way through; Karen is becoming one of my favourite pros. Abjaz with great energy in the jive although Abbey needs to get on the balls of her feet. Antiona's charming waltz - she has lovely arms, and Pashel have clearly been studying cha cha technique, although I still think her hips looked a bit forced. A delightful yet liftless American Smooth for Marketa.

So it was Juliette in the dance off once again, this time with Janessa and both improved on their jive and tango respectively, technique may be lacking but there's no denying they get stuck into the spirit of the dance. I think Julien's more natural feel for dance is what got him the nod over Vanessa.

The pro dance choreographers - I think they take it in turns - are really on it. Another fantastic routine with high flying Iveta, so moving to Whitney's I Have Nothing. Andrea's vocals too, stunning.

All the gossip and the clips can be found on the website. In the meantime, I'll apologize for the lateness of this year's blog. I'm working on some writing for a charity book and have just finished co-ordinating a literature festival, so my focus isn't fully on it this year and - fair warning being given - I may have to take a break with it to focus on developing the Litfest next year. But for now, we'll always have the custard pies.
TTFN x

Awesome Artalie, Bravo Brenphie, Amazing Asha - and Ta-ra Toniona

Firstly, wishing Brucie all the best for a speedy recovery. I'd say I want to see him back but the thing is, Clauds and Tess together are brilliant. If and when Brucie does go, there's no need to look any further.

So, from the best dresses awards (Kristina and Vanessa) to could-Julien-wear-any-more-crystals-is-it-possible, we move onto the top three of the night.

I adored Artalie's waltz and take back my earlier comments about chemistry, her musicality and the headography were gorgeous, a sumptuous performance - I love the song, which always helps - and everyone clearly moved. Beautiful routine.

"Dance is a performing art: Every move is like a word for an actor" - Bruno Tonioli

Brenphie's Charleston, in Week 2?! Astounding, brilliantly executed. Maybe a few more silly faces and/or smiles but no, I'm really not complaining. Love them.

And Asha, proving the girls aren't going to have it all their own way. A groovy American Smooth, lots of swing and sway - he was so relaxed, loved the effortless leap down the steps. Lots of panache. What a week for him - congrats on the new bub :)

Good follow ups on last week from Kevanna (Tango, great attitude, fast and sharp) Kave (American Smooth, loving the chest bump; they're so lovely together) Patya (Tango, looked like he was holding his breath all through) Robrah (Cha Cha, you can't teach zuzz, she enjoyed, so did we) Pashel (Salsa, basic salsa steps a bit suspect, hips too forced but she's so sweet) Janessa (Waltz, Run To Me gets me every time, lovely emotion. A moment here to congratulate the singer (Andrea?) for this and Artalie's waltz, wonderfully done). Antiona (Cha Cha, going so well until near the end) Marketa (Salsa, although not so much with the salsa step, the character and rhythm is all there) Bentina (Waltz, Kristina's dress has more fluidity but still improving - smile please!) Abjaz (Cha Cha, occasional lapses in focus but not a bad effort. Although I had to watch Ramps cha cha to Let's Get Loud straight after). Ok, so now I'm back after watching it again. And the Argentine Tango and samba .. Ahem

And so it was a dance off between Juliette and Toniona, neither of whom got to grips with the nature of each dance; Tony too relaxed, Julien down to orange smarties but still has potential, he gave it some attitude but I thought I was watching a Paso attempt. The judges were unanimous as Tony failed to engage both them and the public.

Paso of the results night was of course the urban street Paso by the pro dancers to Crazy in Love! Crazy, but it worked. Len's Lens is back talking Susanna's Viennese Crosses, Natalie's swan neck and deep back, Bruno's counting and Mark's many faces.

Strictly Love Week next - the songs and dances are all released, the teasers ... see you then.