Written By Dance Judge: Dr. Caroline Kay Picart, DanceSport Champion, Scholar, Artist, Radio Show Producer and Host
In 2009 competition, the panel of judges included Ms. Caroline Hoadley from Walhalla, South Caroline, Professor Eric Nielsen of Valdosta State University, Mr. Julius Horvath from Daytona Beach, Florida, Ms. Kristia Kaufman of Valdosta, and Dr. Kay Picart from Tallahassee, Florida. All of the judges had significant performance and teaching credentials, across a range of dance traditions, from classical ballet to modern, tap, jazz dance, acrobatics, gymnastics, ballroom, folk and international dances.
The 2009 competition has three divisions, grouped according to age ranges, and to the number of people involved per entry. There were nine entries in the Youth Team Division (aged 14 and under); there were 10 entries under the Adult Team-Small Group Division (from 15 years old upwards, and with only one to three dancers per group); and there were 12 entries for the Adult Team-Large Group Division (from 15 years old and up, with four or more dancers).
The 2009 competition certainly lived up to its reputation in terms of global diversity. Countries and regions represented included Hawaii, India, Scotland, Ireland, Nigeria, the Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, Egypt, Cuba, Korea, Indonesia, U.S.A., Sicily, West Africa, Middle East and Bavaria.
In terms of which teams won, Europe dominated the Youth Team Division, with the Glas Tara Dance Group (Ireland) winning third place; Christiana Liedle (Scotland) winning second place; and the sister-team, Christiana and Anneliesa Liedle (Sicily) winning first place. What I enjoyed most about the female Liedle duo was their synchrony of their partnering, and the precision of their footwork.
For the Adult Team-Small Group Division, the Dhun Sae Institute Atlanta representing Korea worked the crowd, to win third place, with its powerful drums, and two traditional hats, from which a ribbon was hung, and with which intricate head movements, could be done, alongside some powerful leaps. Kahu Ahi (Polynesian) captured second place, with the women's colorful and authentic costumes, their sinuous and synchronized movements, and their relaxed and lovely smiles. But the Liedle Brothers: Stefan, Francis and Jacob (Scotland) won first place, with their striking "Argyle Broadsword Dance", combining masculine and military bearing with grace and precision.
For the Adult-Large Group Division, it was a clear fight between two groups: the Philippine Performing Arts Company of Tampa Bay and the Highlandlers of Marshallville, GA. Hardly surprisingly, the Highlanders combined the Liedle brothers and sisters, with other daners, to form a formidable team; they won 2nd place for the dance of The New Highland representing Scotland. They won fourth place with the Schwinger Tanz, representing Bavaria, which moved across marching military postures, softer and more graceful elements, and a some group lifts, in which two young women were lifted off their feet, as the group soared in a circle.
But it was ultimately the Philippine Performing Arts Company of Tampa that won two prizes: third place, for their charming rendition of Aray (a dance that depicts the Spanish influence on the northern parts of the Philippines and is a courtship dance), and first place, for their breathtakingly spectacular Singkil (a dance of the south in the Philippines, which depicts its proud Moslem heritage, combining the story of royalty with love and battle, and using long bamboo poles, beat in rhythm to traditional drums and gongs).
