Summer Break Week 6- Ocean City, Maryland
Week 6 was quite a departure from the norm- Abby and I were gone ALL WEEK in Ocean City, MD for a national dance competition. The dance competition was called Believe National Dance Competition.
I don't know quite where to start... Our week was jammed packed not only with dance but other interesting/ fun activities. I think for this post, I'll write about dance since that's the whole reason we went to OC. Time wise, dancing comprised a fairly small amount of time. We had quite a bit of free time and we did some fun things (when the weather cooperated!). For this post, I'll focus on dance.
Here is a basic run down of our time in Ocean City:
Saturday- Traveled to OC- about an 11 1/2 hr drive
Sunday- No dancing! Hoped for beach day
Monday- Four group dances/ awards
Tuesday-Two solos/ awards
Wednesday- One group dance/ awards
Thursday- Just an hour or so dance practice for Friday. Other than that, free day
Friday- Dance competition finale for two routines that scored well called Battle of the Beach. That was over by 1:00 pm. By 2:00 we were on the road and 12 hours later were at home!
Here is a little more detail of the girls' dances:
On Monday, Abby performed four of her five group routines. The girls did a great job dancing; there were no major mistakes. At the awards, one of the routines, a jazz number called "Woman" received the highest possible score. It also qualified to be in a "final showdown" on Friday. The top performances throughout the week in various categories had a chance to compete again with other top performances. The Friday showdown was referred to as The Battle at the Beach.
On Tuesday, Abby did her solo routines. She actually competed two solo routines. She did one of her solos from last year and she did her solo from this year. Abby lit up the stage, per usual :). She received a special judges award (the "Intensity" award) and she came in first place in her category. She received the highest possible score she could have received. That's quite a feat as Abby performs her solos in the highest, most competitive division where receiving the highest score is not easy. Abby was thrilled to score so high and to receive a trophy.
On Wednesday, Abby performed in another group routine. The girls danced to "I Will Rise." This routine is usually a hot mess. The girls performed it as well as they've ever performed it. This routine didn't have much competition in terms of making it to the final showdown on Friday, so this routine also made it into the final showdown, The Battle at the Beach.
On Thursday- The girls had an hour long practice to get ready for The Battle on the Beach Friday.
Friday- Friday morning, the girls competed "Woman" and "I Will Rise." in the Battle at the Beach. They were competing in different categories- small group jazz and large group jazz. "Woman" didn't place while "I Will Rise" took second place.
I have a TON of pictures. I'll try to limit myself and not over post. It will be hard :). I bought the professional pictures of Abby's contemporary solo. I bought the digital video files of her dances and will provide links to those in another post.
Monday-
We stayed in a condo that was within walking distance of the venue of the competition (The Ocean City Convention Center). The girls had plenty of time to get ready Monday morning before their group routines. Sunday had been a cool day and Monday morning was nice and cool, too. The girls whom we shared a condo with and Abby decided to put their make up on outside on the balcony. Not a bad view!
On stage: "Lovely"
"Woman"
"Jellicle Cats"
"Hometown"
Tuesday- Abby's solos!
The following photos are of her contemporary solo. I bought these from the professional photographer who took pictures of each routine.
Abby received a special judges award, the highest possible score and she won her category, open, in the highest most competitive division.
Back at the condo on our balcony after awards...
Thursday- large jazz group, "I Will Rise" gets ready to perform
Abby is arising!!
Friday at the Battle of the Beach- the girls performed "Woman" and "I Will Rise"
I don't know quite where to start... Our week was jammed packed not only with dance but other interesting/ fun activities. I think for this post, I'll write about dance since that's the whole reason we went to OC. Time wise, dancing comprised a fairly small amount of time. We had quite a bit of free time and we did some fun things (when the weather cooperated!). For this post, I'll focus on dance.
Here is a basic run down of our time in Ocean City:
Saturday- Traveled to OC- about an 11 1/2 hr drive
Sunday- No dancing! Hoped for beach day
Monday- Four group dances/ awards
Tuesday-Two solos/ awards
Wednesday- One group dance/ awards
Thursday- Just an hour or so dance practice for Friday. Other than that, free day
Friday- Dance competition finale for two routines that scored well called Battle of the Beach. That was over by 1:00 pm. By 2:00 we were on the road and 12 hours later were at home!
Here is a little more detail of the girls' dances:
On Monday, Abby performed four of her five group routines. The girls did a great job dancing; there were no major mistakes. At the awards, one of the routines, a jazz number called "Woman" received the highest possible score. It also qualified to be in a "final showdown" on Friday. The top performances throughout the week in various categories had a chance to compete again with other top performances. The Friday showdown was referred to as The Battle at the Beach.
On Tuesday, Abby did her solo routines. She actually competed two solo routines. She did one of her solos from last year and she did her solo from this year. Abby lit up the stage, per usual :). She received a special judges award (the "Intensity" award) and she came in first place in her category. She received the highest possible score she could have received. That's quite a feat as Abby performs her solos in the highest, most competitive division where receiving the highest score is not easy. Abby was thrilled to score so high and to receive a trophy.
On Wednesday, Abby performed in another group routine. The girls danced to "I Will Rise." This routine is usually a hot mess. The girls performed it as well as they've ever performed it. This routine didn't have much competition in terms of making it to the final showdown on Friday, so this routine also made it into the final showdown, The Battle at the Beach.
On Thursday- The girls had an hour long practice to get ready for The Battle on the Beach Friday.
Friday- Friday morning, the girls competed "Woman" and "I Will Rise." in the Battle at the Beach. They were competing in different categories- small group jazz and large group jazz. "Woman" didn't place while "I Will Rise" took second place.
I have a TON of pictures. I'll try to limit myself and not over post. It will be hard :). I bought the professional pictures of Abby's contemporary solo. I bought the digital video files of her dances and will provide links to those in another post.
Monday-
We stayed in a condo that was within walking distance of the venue of the competition (The Ocean City Convention Center). The girls had plenty of time to get ready Monday morning before their group routines. Sunday had been a cool day and Monday morning was nice and cool, too. The girls whom we shared a condo with and Abby decided to put their make up on outside on the balcony. Not a bad view!
On stage: "Lovely"
"Woman"
"Jellicle Cats"
"Hometown"
Tuesday- Abby's solos!
The following photos are of her contemporary solo. I bought these from the professional photographer who took pictures of each routine.
Abby received a special judges award, the highest possible score and she won her category, open, in the highest most competitive division.
Back at the condo on our balcony after awards...
Thursday- large jazz group, "I Will Rise" gets ready to perform
Abby is arising!!
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