The Fish Tank: SGDF Competition: A Competition to remember!!

Woke up very early cos had to go to the competition venue at Raffles to do preparation. I had promised Celia to go early so as to help her to arrange the trophies. When I reach there, there were already a few people helping to carry the stuff from the ops room to the ballroom. There were peopl setting up the reception area, the competitor changing room and the ballroom itself. Everyone was doing final checks on what the hotel had provided for us and to do some fine-tuning.

I had to get to my position as the competitor coordinator. I may look cheerful outside, but inside I was close to panic liao.. I dun really know if I miss anything cos this is the first time I'm doing something like this!! Luckily I have a savior, Jonathon. He came straight here from the airport to help out with the competitor coordination as he's the only experienced guy who's available. He taught me some of the things I should look out for and do and also coordinated with the hotel staff on how to arrange the place where the competitors go into the dance floor.

As the competition starts, the real work began. We had to call out to the competitors to inform them of what's the next event (we have event schedule pasted up also, with cancellation of the event that was over with marker). As I was having a cough, I always cough after shouting for the couples' no. or for the competitors for the coming category to get ready. I learned alot from Jonathon, my "mentor". Without him, I think I'll be so stressed and panicky as there were so many situations that I never thought of! The most important lesson I learn is to be calm and to not want everything to be perfect, to learn to let go and be flexible (being too perfect can make things worse as cannot move forward).

Well, on the whole, good to say the day event was good. And also Kelvin and Rosanne managed to get into the 3rd round of their Standard category, which they didn't expect, so was happy for them (mind you, its an international competition, not easy to get into round after rounds). Kelvin and Rosanne also had something funny happened. They had 2 events back-to-back, as they figured they probably won't get into the round anyway. However they did, and this situation happened. They had to compete in the Standard category, then after that, they had to change into their Latin costume to compete in the Latin category. While they were changing, the other competitors waited for them. The MC was trying to fill up the time by entertaining the guests with talks and introducing the couples that were already on the floor. He also explained the situation to the audience. When Kelvin and Rosanne went in, the audience was clapping very loudly for their spirit, the competitor spirit, the spirit of taking up both disciplines in competitions, which is not easy and is very rare in Singapore!

Now, the night event is the interesting part. While in the day, I had Jonathon to be in control to help me, at night, I'm on my own as he has something on! So, there I was, trying to look brave, and consolidating my mind on what I learned in the day and try to learn to apply it when I need it most... which is NOW!!

It was a very adrenalin-filled night. I thought since there are fewer competitors at night, the job should be easier. How wrong I was! Me and my assistants had to call the competitors so many times to assemble them at the competition hall entrance for each of their events (I was told they are supposed to know their own event and assemble there themselves). It was fun though.. I was shouting and coughing at the same time. Thinking they must be thinking this is the most comical competitor coordinator they've ever seen!! I've a new found respect for this role. Its really difficult trying to organise so many people and keep to the schedule.

The whole competition, I didn't really have a chance to watch the dancing. After the prize presentation, the champions are to do their honour dance. The Latin IDSF Open is won by MAURIZIO VESCOVO & MELINDA TOROKGYORGY from Hungary and the Standard IDSF Open is won by DOMENICO SOALE & GIOIA CERASOLI from Italy. Maurizio and Melinda started by doing rumba. I was thinking at that time that this was not going to be interesting, as I prefer their high energy dance routines like Jive and Samba. I got my wish as they progressed into a high energy packed routine. It was fabulous and exciting to watch them dance.. so full of life!!

Domenico and Gioia did their honour dance with Waltz. It was the most beautiful standard dance I've ever seen. They were telling a story with their dancing. It progress from courtship to dating to romance and ended with Dominico turning Gioia and then hug together, with him hugging from the back. They look so lovely together!!