Hello Everyone,

Welcome to a new decade of DPA Newsletters! The first of 2020 is the Mid Winter edition of the DPA Newsletter, number 36. Information that you will find informative & relevant to you, whether you’re a Competitor, Parent, Teacher, Amateur Dance Club or a Competition Promoter – there is something in this edition for you all!

National League

The 2019/20 National League is now coming to an end, in fact only one more dancing week until the current league closes on February 29th. If you are uncertain as to your current position in any one of the National League tables then visit our website to find out. Once again, the top 14 couples in the Beginners, Novice, Intermediate & Pre – Championship grades will be invited to participate at their grand finals day at the running of The 2020 Bournemouth Summer Festival in July. The top 15 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 in 2020 will be awarded as follows to the leading couples;

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

The 2020/2021 National League commences 1st March. Would all competitors note that ALL NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS will now be taken from the best 15 events. This will apply to all 15 categories. The Management Committee are delighted to announce that in addition to the new league and the revised number of events, the winners of any of the main 15 categories that constitute the National League shall receive an additional £500 bonus. Plus the winners of the Under & Over 35’s categories in both Ballroom & Latin – American shall receive a bonus of £100 for winning their respective league also. This sum is currently on offer for the 2020/21 year only.

DPA “Dancer of the Year” Titles, THURSDAY 23rd JULY 2020.

Free admission for all National League qualifiers will be granted to all participating competitors with compliments of the DPA. This entitles each invited couple to participate in the new DPA “Dancer of the Year” titles. 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.

New National Leagues for 2020/21

The Management Committee are pleased to declare that 4 new leagues for children shall commence from 1st March 2020 & run until 28th February 2021. The new leagues are to be for Juvenile & Junior beginners in both ballroom & Latin – American.

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.

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.

WDC/Amateur League European Championships – Easter Weekend Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April 2020.

As mentioned in an earlier Newsletter that owing to the resounding success of The European Championships and the continual growth of entries year on year, the Management Committee are delighted to say that the 2020 presentation of The WDC Amateur League European Championships will continue as a 3 day Festival with competitions commencing in the fabulous Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, Blackpool on Friday 10th April 2020. For the first time, the 2020 Presentation will also hold a day of competitions and Championships for
solo competitors. These events will take place on Friday 10th April 2020 & shall be held in the Spanish Hall, within the Winter Gardens complex. Entries can be made online at www.dpaonline.co.uk. All solo entries close on 2nd March 2020.

The programme for Friday 10th April (Good Friday) is as follows;

• The WDC AL European Formation Championship.
• WDC AL Under 35’s Pre-Amateur Ballroom & Latin American
Championships.
• WDC AL Over 35’s Pre-Amateur Ballroom & Latin American
Championships.
• WDC AL Over 30’s Ballroom & Latin American Championships.
• WDC AL Over 50’s Ballroom & Latin American Championships
• WDC AL Under 19’s Latin American Championship.
• WDC AL Under 21’s Ballroom Championship.
• DPA Open to the World Over 40’s Professional Ballroom Grand Prix.

The programme for Saturday 11th April (Easter Saturday) is as follows;

• WDC AL European Juvenile Latin American Championship.
• WDC AL European Under 10’s Cha Cha Cha & Jive Championship.
• WDC AL European Under 14’s Ballroom Championship.
• WDC AL European Junior Ballroom Championship.
• WDC AL European Under 21’s Latin American Championship.
• WDC AL European Amateur Latin American Championship.
• WDC AL European Senior 1,2&3 Ballroom Championships.
• DPA Open to the World Professional Ballroom Grand Prix.

The competitions for Sunday 12th April (Easter Sunday) is as follows;

• WDC AL European Juvenile Ballroom Championship.
• WDC AL European Under 10’s Waltz & Quickstep Championship.
• WDC AL European Under 14’s Latin American Championship.
• WDC AL European Junior Latin American Championship.
• WDC AL European Under 19’s Ballroom Championship.
• WDC AL European Amateur Ballroom Championship.
• WDC AL European Senior 1 & 2 Latin American Championships.
• DPA Open to the World Professional Latin American Grand Prix.

The DPA are extremely proud to present in association with the Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited the 2020 Open European Championships. All entries for this wonderful long weekend of dance are officially open, with the closing date being less than 2 weeks away, 2nd March 2020. Send your entry to; www.dpaonline.co.uk as no postal entries are being accepted.

WDC AL European Championships Festival Programme.

Anyone wishing to send their good luck wishes to the competitors, advertise their Dance School or take out a full colour page advertising their business in the Glossy Souvenir Programme should contact the DPA TREASURER Hannah Trever to discuss pricing, size & current availability. Hannah may be contacted by email at dpatreasurer@gmail.com The closing date for ALL adverts to Norman Large is 24th February 2020, so please don’t delay.

Front Row Seating.

Once again, a limited number of front row seats will be available for spectators to purchase for the 2020 European Championships. These tickets where evening dress must be worn each evening are obtainable from the Treasurer of the DPA. Should you wish to take advantage of these prime seats, these seats are on sale at £45 per person per day. Please contact dpatreasurer@gmail.com for more details.

Bournemouth Summer Festival 2020.

The 31st Bournemouth Summer Festival will continue as a 5 day festival for 2020. Starting on Wednesday 22nd July with the DPA “Pro – Am”, Teacher / Student & Solos day. This interesting opening day of competitions will once again be presented by the DPA in conjunction with Pro – Am Champions Limited. Therefore please note that the 31st Bournemouth Summer Festival will commence on Wednesday 22nd July and will run until Sunday 26th July, 2020. Entries for the 2020 will open on 1st March 2020. Send your entry to;
www.dpaonline.co.uk or in writing to MARK LUNN, 151 RIDGEWAY, LONDON, E4 6QU. The closing date for all entries is Friday 12th June 2020. Once again, we are pleased to be able to confirm that there will not be any Booking Fees for any tickets purchased for this year’s Festival. For any ticket purchases please apply directly to THE BOX OFFICE, BOURNEMOUTH
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, BOURNEMOUTH, BH2 5BH or alternatively by telephone to 0844 576 3000. Please state clearly which day & for which session you require tickets for.

New for 2020 For the Bournemouth Summer Festival.

Several changes have been made to this years format; Thursdays National League Finals has become the DPA Dancer of the Year. The United Kingdom “closed” Under 21’s has been moved to Friday for the Ballroom Championship & Sunday for the Latin American Championship. The Grand Finals of the United Kingdom “Closed” Juvenile Ballroom & Junior Latin Championships will now take place on the Saturday night at the Festivals
Annual Dinner Dance.

At the most recent Management meeting it was discussed & unanimously agreed that for 2020 ALL UNITED KINGDOM “CLOSED” CHAMPIONSHIPS shall be 5 dance events. So whether you are a Juvenile, an All Girl Competitor or an adult in the Senior 3 grade, please make a note of this change.

Festival Dinner Dance, Saturday 25th July 2020.

As always with the Bournemouth Summer Festival the Saturday evening will
feature the Annual Dinner Dance. In addition to a fabulous meal, the evening includes the Semi – Finals & Grand Finals of The United Kingdom Closed Professional Ballroom & Latin – American Championships, The Amateur Ballroom Championship plus for the very first time the final round of the United Kingdom “closed” Juvenile Ballroom Championship & the United Kingdom “closed” Junior Latin – American championship (previous rounds of these 2 championships will be contested on the Friday). All of which includes the wonderful music of
Ross Mitchell, His Band & Singers. Tickets for this superb evening are now on sale at £59.50 per person. Tickets can be purchased online from our website. This function continually sells out, so do not leave your ticket application too late !

DPA Sequence

The 2020 United Kingdom Sequence Championships were held in Walsall Town Hall last month, & the day was well attended and very successful. Plans are currently in hand for the Sequence Committees other competitions which are due to be held in May & June of this year.
Good news for Sequence competitors for the National League year 2019/20 beginning October 1, 2019. The prize money for the six main categories: Juvenile; Junior; Amateur; Senior; Under 35 Social and Over 35 Social will remain as follows:-

1st place £300; 2nd place £200 and 3rd place £100.

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 can then be downloaded. Of course , all dancers must also be registered with the British Dance Council 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 2020 WDC AL European Championships close on 2nd March 2020. No late entries will be taken & telephone entries are not accepted.