Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the late Summer edition of the 2019 DPA Newsletter, number 34. Information that you will find informative & relevant to you, whether you’re a Competitor, Parent, Teacher, Amateur Dance Club or Competition Promoter – there is something in this edition for you all!

National League

The 2019/20 National League commenced on 1st March and is now well underway If you are uncertain as to your current position in any one of the National League tables then visit our website to find out. If you finish in the top 14 couples of the 2019/20 National League in the Beginners, Novice, Intermediate & Pre – Championship grades, you will be invited to participate at the grand finals day at the running of The 2020 Bournemouth Summer Festival in July. The top 13 categories of the National League will be presented with their prize money during the Festivals Annual Dinner Dance on the Saturday evening. The prize money figures for each place will be awarded as follows to the leading couples;

1st £500, 2nd £250, 3rd £150, 4th £100, 5th £100, 6th £100

GRAND FINALS DAY, THURSDAY 23rd JULY 2020

Free admission for all National League Grand Final qualifiers will be granted to all participating competitors with compliments of the DPA.

National League Presentations for Juvenile All – Girls, Under 10’s, Junior All – Girls & Under 14’s;

During the running of The 2020 Bournemouth Summer Festival the Presentation to the winning couples of the Juvenile All Girls, Under 10’s, Junior All Girls & Under 14’s will also be made at various points throughout the 5 day festival.

Keeping to the rules

Could we please remind couples taking part in all National and Super League events that they must adhere to the rules especially those referring to moving up through the grades. If you are unsure, then refer to the DPA website – it’s all there.
May we also remind you that we need to be notified as soon as possible with regard to any partnership splits or terminations, so that the placings of the National League be adjusted accordingly in order that each league table is kept completely up to date.

Point structure for National and Super League will be as follows;
Major Events – (United Kingdom Closed, British Nationals, Star & European)

PLACE/POINTS
1ST 26
2ND 24
3RD 22
4TH 20
5TH 18
6TH 16
Semi Final 12
¼ Final 10
Previous Round 8
Previous Round 6

Super League Events ;

PLACE/POINTS
1ST 18
2ND 17
3RD 16
4TH 15
5TH 14
6TH 13
Semi Final 11
¼ Final 10
Previous Round 8
Previous Round 6

National League Events;

The point structure has not changed for these events.

Advertising of all League Points

All promoters must inform the DPA of their intention to run any league point events and advertise the necessary competition in all required media outlets.

League Events – some explanations

Please note that National League points will only be awarded to the following age groups and levels – U/35 and O/35 Beginner/Novice/Intermediate/Pre Champ. No other age categories at these levels will carry points – Promoters, please be aware for your forthcoming competition programmes & would all competitors please take notice. Any DPA member wishing to add a Super League event to their programme then please download the application form from the website, duly complete, sign and forward to the DPA Treasurer Hannah Trever with the appropriate fee.

Solo National League

The DPA are proud to announce the new Solo National League, which will commence from 1st September 2019. This new and innovative venture is open to all Juvenile & Junior solo dancers around the country. It’s very easy to participate. Simply turn up at a competition running the new solo National League events, enter the competitions you are able to dance in and you’ll be automatically entered into the new Solo League. Points will be gained each time you compete at a DPA members competition.

2020 WDC/Amateur League European Championships

After what was a superb WDC Amateur league European Championship weekend, back in April of this year, plans are already in place for the 2020 presentation of these prestigious & sought after championships. The DPA are delighted to confirm that this festival of dancing which brings the finest competitors from every part of the European Union to Blackpool will once again take place in the fabulous Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, Blackpool from Friday 10th –Easter Sunday 12th April, 2020. Online entries will open from 1st October 2019.Tickets & reserved seating will be on sale from The Winter Gardens box office, shortly after 1st September.

Bournemouth Summer Festival 2019

The 30th Bournemouth Summer Festival was a 5 day Festival that saw the finest competitors turn out each day and compete at the very highest level. Starting on the Wednesday with the DPA “Pro – Am”, Teacher / Student & Solos day. This interesting opening day of competitions was once again presented by the DPA in conjunction with ProAm champions Limited. An excellent number of competitors and spectators got this years festival off to a great start!
The feature events throughout the week are of course The United Kingdom Closed Championships which were very well supported at all grades. Too many impressive performances were put in to highlight couples individually, so this years championships were won by;-

United Kingdom Closed Juvenile Ballroom – Nicholas Rashkov & Vytaute Mazionyte
United Kingdom Closed Junior Ballroom – Maxim Morris & Olivia King
United Kingdom Closed Juvenile All Girls Ballroom – Hannah Exall & Clara Davies
United Kingdom Closed Junior All Girls Ballroom – Harriet Greenway & Isobel Lowe
United Kingdom Closed Under 14’s Ballroom – Francis Carty & Olivia Bourne
United Kingdom Closed Under 21’s Ballroom – Andrei Toader & Mia Linnik – Holden
United Kingdom Closed Senior 1 Ballroom – Slawek Lukawczyk & Janine Desai
United Kingdom Closed Senior 2 Ballroom – Steve & Sarah Everington
United Kingdom Closed Senior 3 Ballroom – Yiping & Hong Song
United Kingdom Closed Over 50’s Ballroom – Russ Houlden & Diane Black
United Kingdom Closed Amateur Ballroom – Kyle Taylor & Izabela Skierska
United Kingdom Closed Professional Ballroom – Mark & Olga Elsbury
United Kingdom Closed Juvenile Latin American – Keane Scerri De Carlo & Poppy Brennan
United Kingdom Closed Junior Latin American – Gethin Poacher & Ruby Savage
United Kingdom Closed Juvenile All Girls Latin American – Hannah Exall & Clara Davies
United Kingdom Closed Junior All Girls Latin American – Sophia Pritchard & Poppy Ella Davies
United Kingdom Closed Under 14’s Latin American – Daniel Ettridge & Phoebe Draper
United Kingdom Closed Under 21’s Latin American – Oliver Beardmore & Zoe Cunningham
United Kingdom Closed Senior 1 Latin American – Paul Hopwood & Carol Ireland
United Kingdom Closed Senior 2 Latin American – Norberto Santangelo & Aileen Carroll – Turner
United Kingdom Closed Over 50’s Latin American – Norberto Santangelo& Aileen Carroll – Turner
United Kingdom Closed Amateur Latin American – Petar Daskalov & Zia James
United Kingdom Closed Professional Latin American – Gunnar Gunnarsson & Marika Doshoris
United Kingdom Closed Amateur 10 Dance – Glenn Richard Boyce & Caroly Janes
United Kingdom Closed Professional 10 Dance – Richard Still & Morgan Hemphill

Festival Dinner Dance, Saturday 27th July

As always with the Bournemouth Summer Festival, the Saturday evening was the Annual Dinner Dance. In addition to a fabulous meal, the evening included the Semi–Finals & Grand Finals of The United Kingdom Closed Professional Ballroom & Latin – American Championships, The Amateur Ballroom Championship plus the final round of the Under 21’s Ballroom Championship. All of which included the wonderful music of Ross Mitchell, His Band & Singers. Also during this wonderful evening, the presentations were made to those top 6 couples who finished highest in the 2018/19 DPA/BDF National League. Those couples who topped each of the 13 Leagues received a cash prize of £500. The winning prize money was awarded to the following couples;-

Nathan Storey & Olivia Smorga Juvenile Ballroom & Latin American
Mark Chilcote & Ilinca Badic Junior Ballroom & Latin American
Oliver Beardmore & Zoe Cunningham Youth Ballroom & Latin American
Slawek Lukawczyk & Janine Desai Senior 1 Ballroom
Steve & Sarah Everington Senior 2 Ballroom
Graham & Helen Diles Senior 3 Ballroom
Paul Hopwood & Carol Ireland Senior 1 Latin –American
Colin & Sandra Adams Senior 2 Latin – American
Ethan Brock & Jasmine Saunders Amateur Ballroom & Latin American

DPA Sequence

Good news for Sequence competitors for the National League year 2018 – 2019 beginning October 1, 2018 the prize money for the six main categories: Juvenile; Junior; Amateur; Senior; Under 35 Social and Over 35 Social has been increased as follows:-
1st place £300; 2nd place £200 and 3rd place £100.

The United Kingdom Sequence Championships will take place next year on 19th January 2020 at Walsall Town Hall in the West Midlands.

Amateur Registration or DPA Membership

Anyone considering to enter the competition scene at any level may register with the DPA. Registration/Membership is FREE to all Competitors. To register, simply complete the application form & register online. Your registration/membership cards will follow shortly afterwards. If, however, you are new to promoting, then why not join us and become a member of the DPA. Annual membership is £55 per organisation. An application form is available from DPA Treasurer Hannah Trever at dpatreasurer@gmail.com

British Dance Council

As a Corporate Member of the British Dance Council, the DPA supports the work done by the British Dance Council.

DPA Calendar of Events

Please refer to the DPA “What’s on” Page of the website for all details of all events being held during the oncoming months. If you wish your events to feature, please contact the DPA enquiries e-mail for details.

Rules of the Association

Following the Annual General Meeting of The DPA in November of 2016, the rule book of The Association has been reviewed and updated. Anyone wishing to familiarise themselves with these updates or view any part of the rules may inspect them on our website.

And Finally …………….

May we take this opportunity to remind you that ALL entries for the WDC Amateur League European Championships may be submitted online from 1st September 2019. The festival runs from 10th – 12th April 2020. Please send your entry to; www.dpaonline.co.uk.