“If you learn to dance with people, with life, then nothing wrong can happen to you.” -Hugues de Montalembert
I was wrong though only slightly
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They were conservative and gave it to the same people who’ve won for the past 2 years – mirko and alessia. Whatever you do don’t ever expect any excitement at blackpool.
Victor and anna
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From usa made finals in every dance! In my mind it’s neck to neck between arunas & katusha and mirko & alessia, a&k having a slight edge but we’ll find out shortly if i’m right.
Round two
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I love jonathan and hazel but think arunas and katusha are doing better. Miles above everyone else, mirko and alessia haven’t danced yet.
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Dangerous – they’re throwing crystals into this ridiculously pushing and shoving crowd.
Tonight is pro standard
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For some reason i feel like standard is more fair – more on this later. My favorites, from germany placed 3rd in amateur last night and i was happy.
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Across the quay from the tate liverpool, which has an excellent exhibit on 20th century art as part of the 2008 european cultural capital festivities.
Taking a break from the competition
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To spend the day in liverpool.
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Sergey and melia placed 4th overall, even behind the utterly boring stokkebroes. Everyone who cares about these stupid comps knew beforehand who would place first so i won’t bother to say. Yulia danced better w/ max but she and riccardo placed 2nd.
Latin update
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Andrei and elena from usa made finals in samba!
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His and melia’s paso is unbeatable. Couple 184 just did a very original jive – will have to figure out who they are…
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In the orange dress near the center of the picture.
Today is pro latin!
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Practice time.
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Don’t know if i could ever be a pro ballroom dancer w/ all the hours of preparation.
Got a tan!
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My friend mika is competing tomorrow so i helped her put tanning liquid on her back. I now have tan fingertips.
Nothing
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That’s how much i can see of the ballroom floor. They’ve far outgrown the winter garden and need a new venue. Val and val didn’t make the finals. My other favorites, from russia, didn’t even make the semis. Only good news is that slavik is here,
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According to this british dance newspaper there’s a new show soon to premier here where overweight contestants compete for who can become the most fit through ballroom dancing. It’s called “diet on the dance floor.”
Watching video of karina and slavik
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Who according to the program decided not to compete this year presumably because his partnership with hannah is too new and they didn’t feel ready. So upset!
Amateur latin today!
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I’m hoping u.s.’s valentin chmerkovskiy and valeriya kozharinova will make the finals. They’re on later tonight; right now is qualifying round from which they’re exempt. Room is already packed!
Best congress lectures yesterday
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Were given by yulia zagoruychenko (left, on ray rose poster w/ riccardo cocchi – who i predict will place 2nd in latin) and bryan watson (right). Yulia gave a great talk on interpreting different rhythms and bryan was just bryan 
England is neither the u.s. Nor europe
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So you need different electrical converters. I am the only one who seems to remember this! It’s ok- nice to feel popular
Inside the winter garden mall
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My favorite inexpensive alternative to boots where i always get my english soaps and daily – or bi-daily cadbury bar.
One of my favorite parts of blackpool.
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Cooked breakfast, especially the fried toasty thingys!
Grumpy
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Didn’t see anyone who truly impressed me in tonight’s latin under 21 comp. I saw great technique particularly from girls but no real artistry – though maybe 17-20 is too young. Saw Maks chmerkovskiy watching.
Team usa wins!
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Don’t know if it shows here, but there are some waving u.s. Flags. Most vocal crowd is from italy. This is our first time ever winning team comp!
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His congress lecture was very good – very personable making fun of himself when screwing up his english etc! Their paso was breathtaking – inspired by “carmen” and garcia lorca -passionate, tragic,.. I realized why i love them so…
Surviving morning of boring lectures
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But the boredom soon will end as sergey surkov is next to lecture. Here is splendid julie frye – who used to dance with louis van amstel – demonstrating for another lecturer.
Am gonna get no sleep.
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B/c my window faces string of party b&bs. Oh well; guess i didn’t come to sleep. Latin rising star results were disappointing: vaidotas & jurga danced gorgeously but still didn’t make finals. Dmitri & violetta kurakin also from u.s. Won. Does anyone know them?
First big event
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Tonight, is rising star latin.
