The 2016 Competition Music

On the Three days of the Championships you will have some Amazing DJs looking after you. And they will play during the frequent freestyle and night sessions. But apart from one category (Swinging the Blues, which is Lisa's and Dave's baby) I will pick the Competition music. It's a task that I take very seriously and the process began not long after last years competitions. In the photograph you can see three vital USB sticks. Yes, difficult to believe, but I have a system!!!

 

As I listen to music and hear an old or new potential track it will get put onto the small green stick. This lives in my car and is listened to as I drive to and from gigs. It currently holds around 840 possible tunes. If I deem it as a real possible then it goes onto the middle purple stick and I go through that from time to time. Currently this holds around 60 tracks. The big Green stick is track's that will get played. Currently 5 tracks. But tracks do get deleted.



Chris Uren



 However, I am constantly hearing and reviewing new music, a track could make it on as late as the Friday Night; So a long way to go yet. And what makes a competition track. Well maybe I will try to explain that next time. How a track is good for one category and not another etc. Until then a link to my Spotify List to give you a flavour of what could be on the cards for you.

Just A Few Blues Tunes

Now if you are still sitting on the fence. Get off and book. It's going to be a great weekend. Book by going to the Website http://curlywurlyevents.com/blues-.php or you can contact myself or Lisa via our Facebook Pages
Lisa Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lisa.c.graydon?fref=ts
Chris Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dj.chrisuren

And if your desperate to speak to a REAL human then Lisa on 07763 134026

 

2016 Here we go!!

2016 Champs coming very soon.

Here we are. Starting to post about the 2016 Blues and Smooth Champs. Entries are already coming in and preparations are well under way for another great weekend of music, competition and dancing. Over the next few weeks I will be giving more details of the weekend including the great line up of Judges and DJ's and giving you some hints and tips to get the best from the weekend.

Lisa, Myself and the rest of the team can't wait to welcome you to another great event

To get you started I am going to list what categories are on what day to help you plan your weekend.

Saturday 13th February

Lucky Dip
Fresh Fundamentals
Smooth Blues Fusion - Juke Joint Trophy
Young Fun and Feisty
In The Zone
Valentines Trophy

Sunday 14th February

Polished and Professional
Raw and Ready
Swingin' The Blues - The Curlywurly Trophy
Smooth Sassy Sophisticated
Jack and Jill

Check out the website for more Information or call. Details below

More Information www.curlywurlyevents.com
Facebook Event https://www.facebook.com/events/1573372316239595/

More info
Email info@curlywurlyevents.com
Tel Lisa on01484 317895 or 07763 134026

Your organisers are
 Lisa Graydon - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lisa.c.graydon?fref=ts
Chris Uren - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dj.chrisuren

More coming soon.

Music Plus++++

Lets talk a little about some of the music that I chose to play for the Competition categories on the Saturday. Throughout I hope I managed to pick music that was suitable for the standard of dancer in any particular category. Did I get it right?. Well feedback generally would say yes. But there are still a small number of tracks I would have changed around. Now, it would be impossible to list and talk about all of the tracks so here I am going to give you some links to tunes that I played and hopefully give you a chance to get a feel for what you are likely to encounter in future Competitions.

It may be worth a listen to my Blues Spotify List as well "Just a few Blues Tunes"
But remember this is a BLUES AND SMOOTH competition so don't get toooooo hung up on blues tracks. Once again the aim is to play tracks appropriate to the standard / experience of dancers who may take part in any particular category. These are a small selection from Saturday Comps.

Mary Jane by the Mannish Boys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLofUzxLBCU
A Blues room classic and played by me as part of Lucky Dip. A great driving beat that would allow dancers of all abilities to have a go.

Finest Lovin' Man by Bonnie Raitt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irC1dKEpa00
Another Classic played for the "In The Zone" category (Effectively Intermediate Dancers). A little bit more of a challenge.

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight by Curtis Stigers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzMAb6XaAFM
One of the Tunes I chose for the Juke Joint Trophy. Unashamedly Smooth, it's part of what the Juke Joint is about. Going from Blues through all sorts of music that you can dance to and perhaps ending up here..

Blues 2.0 by Fruitland Jackson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wno2v17XhfI
Picked as the last Competition track of the day. Played for the Polished and Pro. It did what it was meant to do. A REAL CHALLENGE. And in my humble opinion it prompted some of the most amazing dancing of the day. I am not sure some of the competitors thought so.

In a future Blog I will talk about some of the Sunday Music and pretty soon more information about next years line up.

 

Catching the Blues and Smooth Bug

Now I know many of you who came along to the Champs "Caught The Blues and Smooth Bug". We have already announced that our next Champs will be on the 12th to the 14th of February 2016. But that's a long way away. So here are a couple of suggestions for Blues Comps and Events that you should consider looking at. In Date order.

European Blues Invasion runs from the 19th and 21st June https://www.facebook.com/events/344748909058412/ You will find a considerable number of your fellow competitors attending plus a large smattering of your Judges

Ceroc Brean Sands is a weekender from 9th to the 11th October that features the European Neo Blues Champs. A full weekender for you. https://www.facebook.com/events/330276097157469/

Crystal Blues https://www.facebook.com/events/331420280372303/ takes place at the end of October and is Run by Sara White. An annual event you will almost certainly find people you know attending.

I look forward to seeing you at some of these. So go out and enjoy your Blues and as I find more events and Classes for you to think about I will post them here.

The Valentines Trophy

Let's be honest. When Lisa first suggested that we get a load of clubs to host a qualifying round of a competition I was sceptical. The concept of a group of club organisers actually cooperating was alien to what I know from experience. BUT. Once again I was proved wrong. Well a lot of the time proved wrong, as there were some who said "Yes" and then did not take part. Sad really, as it turned out to be one of the most successful things we did. And we now have clubs approaching us. Result I would say.

The concept is quite simple really. You hold a competition for your dancers, with the audience deciding who goes through. The winning couple get a full weekend pass and free entry into the final of the Valentines Trophy. As part of the deal you help promote the various rounds that are going on. In return other clubs promote yours.

Clubs that took part this time ..

Supper Dance (Dawn Gennery)

Jive Junction (Lynn Smith)

Want 2 Dance (Andy and Lin Jobin)

Northern Jive (Ken ByWater)

Jive Infusion (Janice Kenyon)

Oxford Blues (Coralie Green / Robert and Anna Jeffries)

Juke Joint

CurlyWurly

 

So 8 clubs this year and after discussion we will be increasing places available

 

If you want to know any more about getting your club involved then contact us. Me via facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dj.chrisuren 

or |Lisa Via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.c.graydon

Good, Bad, Ugly part 1. Great Goalkeeping by the team.

This was going to be part one of the 'Good , Bad and Ugly' of the Champs weekend after our review meeting today. But that's been overtaken by the decision to do it all again. So first put 12th to the 14th February 2016 in your diary as a provisional date for next year. That's all I am saying about next year at the moment, because there are things to be said about this years first.

We always said that we would run the event to the best of our ability and then review to see how we did. Then more importantly what the people who came thought of our efforts. Our confidence about next year was buoyed by your reactions and the very positive feedback we have received. However not all was rosy in the garden. So a few of those to be talked about here. Now there is no way I can cover everything in one Blog post so I will break it down over a couple of posts.

Slightly off. We were not particularly happy with the sound in the main room and also the bleed into the second room. And some of you commented on this. Next year. 4 corner speakers and the  provision of greater sound proofing for the second room. I know that some didn't feel the second room worked for them, but an overwhelming number liked it and it's slightly 'off the wall' nature.

Ugly. Registration on the Saturday started off very poorly and a magnificent save by Jess, Sue and Linda from the team kept us afloat. And I mean a save of epic proportions. They stayed cool and professional. This, all importantly, allowed us to keep to time. One of our priorities.

Good. The general Vibe of the whole event seemed to work. You cannot plan for that. It's the setup, crew and the people who make it that way. If we could have bottled the general atmosphere we would be billionaires.

Unclassified. A lot of local dancers came to the event with a "suck it and see" attitude along with some who desperately wanted to take part, but had no partners. I make no apologies for pushing people into taking part and doing our best to find partners at the last minute. Some of those partnerships won medals. I bet most of them come back to compete next year with partners.

I know many of you want me to talk about the music played for comps and I will get around to that. But it's a pretty big job and I want to ensure it is right. The Blog will continue on a weekly basis to keep you updated.

Quick reminder that this Sunday is my Juke Joint event at the Engine Shed. 6 till 10. Hope to see some of you there.

Sunday Winners

Sunday Results

Well another day of competition is over and it was pretty spectacular. A quick post of Sunday results. More to come about the weekend and particularly details of the competition music.

In The Zone

1st Ed Greenwood and Beth Caygill
2nd Roach Tyler and Judy Tyler
3rd Neil Wiffen and Ann Harrison

Raw and Ready

1st Melvin Young and Lynn Davis
2nd Nick Shore and Hannah Lonsdale
3rd Jo Hart and Ann Harrison

Smooth Fusion Blues (The Juke Joint Trophy)

1st Nick Shore and Hannah Lonsdale
2ndMark Oxley and Sarah Oxley
3rd Ann Harrison and Jennifer Cowling

Swinging The Blues (CurlyWurly Trophy)

1st Robert Jeffreys and Anna Jeffreys
2nd Nick Shore and Hannah Lonsdale
3rd Joe Rosa and Zuzanna Lalanne

Jack and Jill (Spotlight Dances)

1st Melvin Young and Chloe Hunt
2nd Robert Docherty and Hannah Lonsdale
3rd Joe Rosa and Lynn Davis

It's been great weekend and congratulations to all who attended. And if you placed then extra special well done.

More to come next week.

The Finger is on the Starting Gun

In less than 24 hours we will open the doors to the venue for the Pre Champs freestyle. Just about everything we can think of is ready. But. Well, we have never done anything like this before so who knows what the next 3 days will bring. We have put together a great team of local dancers together to help us. The venue are right behind us. The judges are ready and waiting and heavy on discussion on a forum you cannot see here. But I know they are looking forward to the task ahead. Having looked through the entry list we have some amazing dancers from far and wide. They range from the new to the Blues and Smooth dance styles up to some very experienced dancers. All in the same room.

There are medals to be won and some very interesting.. well,l I am not calling them trophies. Wait till you get one handed to you. They are different.

So at 8pm tomorrow we open the doors for a freestyle evening of great tunes in 2 rooms. Then Saturday at 10.30 you get your numbers and at 11pm it begins. The full competition schedule is available on a previous blog. I have the music for your competitions sorted. Well I think I have!!!!! Saturday night freestyle and Sunday more competitions culminating in a Jack and Jill and the a BIG chill down on Sunday night.

Lisa and I really hope you enjoy yourselves. Come along to have fun and enjoy the weekend. The next blog will be Saturday night when I can tell you about the first days competitions and all it's winners. Nervous. No not me. I have always had this facial twitch.

The Starting Line

We are at the starting line. Prepared as it is possible to be for something we have never done before. After much thinking, action and occasional setback it is just a few days away. Below is the schedule for the 2 days of competition and it is our intention to stick as closely to this as is humanly possible. Come along and take part, but most of all enjoy yourselves. We will have made mistakes and no doubt have a few issues on the days. But we will do our best to make it a great event. However, it is you the dancers that will make it because that's what it is all about. Come along. Enjoy the music and competition, but above all dance your hearts out.

https://www.facebook.com/download/948494251836320/CopyofBluesChampsProvcomptimetable.pdf  for a PDF Link.

The all important schedule.

Saturday

10.30 doors open

11.00 Lucky Dip Partnering

11 15 Lucky Dip 1a

11.20 Lucky Dip 1b

11.25 Freestyle

11.50 Young Pups Song 1

11.55 Old Dogs Song 1

12.00 Freestyle

12.30 Fresh Fundamentals Song 1

12.35 Polished & Pro Song 1

12.40 Freestyle

13.10 Lucky Dip 2a

13.15 Lucky Dip 2b

13.20 Freestyle

13.50 Young Pups Song 2

13.55 Old Dogs Song 2

14.00 Freestyle

14.30 Valentines Trophy Song 1 & 2

14.40 Freestyle

15.10 Lucky Dip Semi

15.15 Fresh Fundamentals  Song 2

15.20 Polished & Pro Song 2

15.25 Freestyle

15.50 Young Pups Song 3

15.55 Old Dogs Song 3

16.00 Freestyle

16.30 Lucky Dip Final 2 songs

16.40 Freestyle

17.00 Fresh Fundamentals Song 3

17.05 Polished & Pro Song 3

17.10 Valentines Song 3

17.15 Freestyle

17.45 Presentation

18.00 Music until the evening

20.00 The Big Saturday Freestyle

Sunday

10.30 open

11.30 In The Zone Song 1

11.35 Smooth Fusion Song 1

11.40 Freestyle

12.10 Raw & Ready Song 1

12.15 Swingin' the Blues Song 1

12.20 Freestyle

12.50 In The Zone Song 2

12.55 Smooth Fusion Song 2

13.00 Freestyle

13.30 Raw & Ready Song 2

13.35 Swingin' the Blues Song 2

13.40 Freestyle

14.10 In The Zone Song 33

14.15 Smooth Fusion Song 3

14.20 Freestyle

14.50 Raw & Ready Song 3

14.55 Swingin' The Blues Song 3

15.00 Freestyle

15.45 Presentations

16.00 Freestyle

16.30 Jack & Jill

16.45 Final presentations etc

20.00 The Sunday Chill Down

 

And then I will go home and have a VERY STIFF DRINK.

 

 

In The Beginning

The 2015 UK National Blues and Smooth Dance Championships

In The Beginning

 

When Curlywurly Lisa first approached me about jointly running the champs I did not hesitate to say YES. The chance to help organise a major event for the North of England and sort the competition music. A no brainer.
I do not think either of us fully understood what was involved.
WE DO NOW.
So here is the start of a regular Blog to keep you up to date with as many aspects of the champs as possible.

Something for Everybody

 



So lets start at the Beginning. The Champs is a joint collaboration between Curlywurly Events and Juke Joint Events and aims to bring you a competition category to suit all Blues and Smooth dancers, regardless of their ability. Judges from all aspects of the Blues and Smooth dance community and some great DJs playing the best Blues and Smooth music.

3 days of competition and freestyle from the 13th to the 15th of February 2015. So check out our events page at Curly Wurly Dance.

In our next post we will talk Competition Categories and music so keep an eye on the Blog for more soon..

Chris Uren