This was my first time attending the World Dance-o-Rama, since it's usually held a long way from home. This year, it was held on March 15, 2019, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. It was a great milestone, and a day I'll never forget! :)
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2 The ballroom was decorated in bright colors and flowers, reflecting the fact that the event was taking in place in San Diego this year.
3 The ballroom was decorated in bright colors and flowers, reflecting the fact that the event was taking in place in San Diego this year.
4 Ready for Smooth rounds!
5 This photo was NOT Photoshopped. ;) Yaxin, Carolyn, and I just look that small compared to Damion and Jude. It's a good thing that our spray tans don't make us look orange, or we'd look like Oompa Loompas! LOL
6 Take 2! And this time Dave and Naomi decided to photobomb us. I love my dance family! :)
7 Third time's a charm!
8 Smooth Scholarship Semi-final: Waltz
9 Smooth Scholarship Semi-final: Foxtrot
10 Smooth Scholarship: Introduction of the finalists. Our names were even on the display! :)
11 Smooth Scholarship Final: Waltz
12 Smooth Scholarship Final: Tango
13 Smooth Scholarship Final: Foxtrot
14 Smooth Scholarship Final: Viennese Waltz
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23 The Scholarship events each had 9 judges.
In the Smooth Scholarship finals, overall we placed 5th, but we tied with the 4th place couple for points, and we only had 1 point less than the 3rd place couple. 2 judges even had us as 2nd and 3rd. As far as the dances go, we placed 3rd in Waltz and Tango, 4th in Viennese Waltz, and 5th in Foxtrot.
24 Int'l Latin Scholarship - Final: Cha Cha
25 Int'l Latin Scholarship - Final: Samba
26 Int'l Latin Scholarship - Final: Rumba
27 Int'l Latin Scholarship - Final: Paso Doble
28 Int'l Latin Scholarship - Final: Jive
29 Int'l Latin Scholarship: Introduction of the finalists. Our names were even on the display! :)
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31 The Scholarship events each had 9 judges.
In the Latin Scholarship finals, overall we placed 1st. As far as the dances go, we placed 1st in Paso Doble and Jive (with 7 of the judges placing us 1st), 1st in Samba (with 6 of the judges placing us 1st), and 2nd in Rumba and Cha Cha (with 4 of the judges placing us 1st).
32 Peter and I were thrilled with our results at the comp! In addition to the great Scholarship results, we did great in our open single-dance heats during the day! We placed 1st in 11 of 12 Smooth heats (and placed 2nd in 1 of them). In addition, we placed 1st in 10 of 15 Int'l Latin heats (and placed 2nd in 5 of them).
33 Peter had a really good day! :)
34 Yaxin, Carolyn, me, and Julie after a long day of competing. It's so wonderful to be able to support each other through the ups and downs of this crazy journey!
35 Maria (from the Temecula studio) joined us for a "girl power" photo.
36 The rest of the Temecula studio attendees jumped in for a group shot.
37 I feel so blessed that Donovan was able to be there to watch the Scholarship events in the evening! His ongoing support means the world to me! :)
38 I didn't attend the Saturday night gala, but at the practice party the following Wednesday, Peter presented me with the overall award I won!
39 I won the Top Student (a.k.a. amateur) for my division at the comp! This is the first Top Student award I've ever won, and to be able to win it at World DOR is incredible! All the blood, sweat, and tears is paying off!
