Getting ready for rising star warm up

Journal Entry 4

Ahhh, so Trey has been doing this thing for me before I fall asleep...... :) no but it's relaxing.... Haha it's hypnosis I guess, lately I have been closing my eyes and all I can see or think is dance and it makes it hard to fall asleep, so Trey will talk me through a visualization. He will talk about the beach and tell me to picture waves and the breeze in the trees. It has been working famously. So last night we both slept well, the competition this morning was scheduled for noon but we were in the second block of heats which was heats 11-19, which would startnat 2:50 so we ate breakfast around nine, which consisted of corn flake cereal with sliced banana for me and choco something for Trey, I drank juice and he drank coffee, when we were done with that sue brought out our hot breakfast which is three slices of dinner ham, baked beans, boiled mushrooms, scrambled eggs, and toast. I love eating this breakfast, oh yeah a has brown also... I crave this breakfast and I always feel just right after I am done eating it. So we went up to get ready and my straightener fizzes out and so did my blowdryer. Luckily my b&b had a blowdryer for me but T had to run to super drug and get me a cheap British straightener and safety pims because blackpool doesn't supply any for your number, which we didn't know until we were there. Our warm up felt really bad, the floor felt slick and it was crowded so it was frustrating, Trey and I got mad at each other and exchanged a few nasty words and had a drama moment. But when it was our turn to compete it was like magic, the floor was perfect, the music was enchanting all we saw was each other and it went wonderfully well all 4 dances were equally good. Yegor came up to us before hand and gave hugs and kisses, it was comforting to know a coach was watching... Besides shirley who was judging. Shirley did seem to be watching us every time I saw her though and I made sure to throw a wink her way just like she asked me too. Good news is we made the cut and will dance again tomorrow morning at 10 am, practice rounds start at 8:30 and we have breakfast at 7:45, which will be early for me, so hopefully I can talk Trey into getting me a red bull :) the goal is to make the cut again tomorrow ok god? Thx xox

DANCING NOW!!

Hope and Trey are currently dancing in England at the Blackpool Championships at Winter Gardens.

They are competing (right now!! -- with the time change) and will be in the 19th heat of the Festival Rising Star Latin competition.

19 heats!!!!

SENDING LUCK AND ENERGY THEIR WAY!!!

--- Hopefully they post soon and let us know how it goes!!-----

Dinner first night in blackpool

Journal Entry 3

On the bus on our way to blackpool now, yesterday we had our last night of rounds at Semely and it was wonderful because it was there 25th anniversary so Carmen and Brian were there with two other couples doing shows, the original "heat 1" at rounds it's like five heats of 12 couples on the floor, it's crowded and hot and sweaty and the music is loud, Brian said it isn't always the best place to practice but it is the best place to dance and I agree wholeheartedly. It was amazing being there, everyone showed up at one point. Peter Maxwell was there and gave some words and Greg and Lydia both got gifted for there hard work which I was glad to see because I didn't even know them and I could tell they love doing what they do and they do it tirelessly. It was an amazing experience. I am on the bus ride feeling really nauseas and I was watching horton hears a who. Which is an amazing story probably one of my favorites. I love when the mayor of whoville looks at his wife Sally and says this is bigger than me, take the family and get them safe. And she says I will I believe in you. It made me cry the whole thing did but especially that part because no one believes in him, and she honestly does. It's significant because with Trey and I traveling and being so far away from home the bottom line is he's my buddy and my pal and we can laugh and hang out and get sick of each other and all the traveling he has succeeded in taking care of not just himself but me too and the luggage has been heavy and the walking isn't easy and the dancing is hard but I realized that he always makes sure I get the lightest load, and although it isn't always obvious right away and even if he's being a jerk, underneath all that he is still helping me out, and making my job as easy as he can. We crossed the border into blackpool now, and I need to buy new dance shoes so I can't wait to get checked in to our place and get to the winter gardens.

Journal Entry 2

Yesterday at rounds Daria and Val were there as were a few canadians like Artemis and one other guy. Greg and I are pretty good friends I would say. There was a coach doing a lesson when we went in for rounds that later approached us and asked where we were from and is this our first year? A few people have asked us and I can't decide if that's because we look good or not. Practice was a lot better yesterday paso was a royal mess all three times but jive felt great surprisingly since we haven't danced it in a few weeks.... Greg introduced us when we were leaving for the night to his friend Jake who lives here in norbury and wants to hang out him and his brother... Yesterday I went and talked with Vesa and Luca too, it was wonderful! The sweetest people ever and we had so much fun. Then Trey and I came home and I napped for 6 hours.... Kinda crazy but it felt good. I fell asleep after rounds at about 1 am and woke up today about 2pm. I think I am still trying to figure the time zone out because I still feel tired. I woke up really sore too, neck back and legs. Luckily my feet aren't as sore. I am really looking forward to rounds tonight and tomorrow Trey is taking me into London to eat at our favorite place, Masala Zone, and to scope out where the comp is at. We compete in two days in London for the idsf crystal palace cup

May 24, 2011 9;56 London Time Journal Entry 1

We got in to London around noon and arrived at Anns house by tube train and foot at about 4 pm. We went to rounds at 7 but they didn't really start until 8, it was amazing. Trey and I started out really nervous and small because everyone, EVERYONE was there. Stefano and Olga, yulia and riccardo, melia and sergey, kerill and Elvira, Neil and katy a, yulia and Ferdinand. Everyone I have ever watched and idolized was there dancing in a studio space. The studio itself was really cool, it had a bar and a stage where some swanky euro trash lounge area was but it was not big or fancy. Kate and her partner from USA were there and from minute one were at each others throats and then on the flip side there was Neil and katy a who played and laughed with each other. Neil loves her and the daninc g so much it is enchanting. The room was so crowded and all different levels. Trey and I didn't Feel close to the worst but still lot to work and focus on. Trey and I were careful and professional I only got hit in the head once in rumba and ran into yulia once in paso (big scary oops ;)) but we did alright! I feel now that shirleys choreography was for the best because it can be danced similar to what I saw others dancing tonight. A lot of soon to be friends were there and I love this world, the atmosphere was incredible. Trey and I stood with the Russians and Italians because the American couples were all scattered and arguing with one a other.... Which is interesting in retrospect but was annoying at the time. My shoulders are aching and my feet are raw but I am happy. Covered in sweat and exhaustion but nothing in this world can beat how I feel right at this moment. Anns house is pleasant and I am grateful I can feel comfortable here. Greg de wet was the only person I introduced myself too tonight because Allan told us too, he's a bundle of fun and told us to kiss and hug Allan when we see him next. Now I just want to shower with Trey and watch horton hears a who...