PRINCETON '99

reported by Candice Chan

The competition in brief:

• 11 team members and a coach made the 5 hour trip
• Princeton organizers were efficient and friendly
• Held in a huge, well-light, well-ventilated gymnasium
• small competition, low stress, everyone had an excellent time!

Results:

Our newcomers Laurie and Bernd did really great for their first comp swiping a few ribbons -- YAY! -- not to mention being excellent travel companions :) Bernd and Laurie managed to get placed in all the smooth catergories taking 4th place in waltz and 5th in tango. They also received callbacks in american rumba, international cha cha and international rumba -- CONGRATS!

In our beginner category (Bernd, Heather, Adam, Josh and I) Cornellians once again managed to get called back for many events. Heather and Bernd were called back for international waltz having just leanrt it a couple of weeks ago -- whoo-hoo! Josh and I managed to get called back for a number of rounds in all the standard stuff and even some jive and international/american rumba. Finally we got placed 6th in american tango, 6th in international waltz and 5th in international tango.

Intermediate categories went extremely well with TWO new couples to the level (Nick-Wendy, Hubert-Petra) Our intermediate couples did us proud by taking 4th in american waltz/tango (way to go Nick and Wendy), 4th in american foxtrot/viennese waltz (yay Hubert and Petra). So Cornell grabs fourth place in the entire intermediate american smooth division -- HOORAH!. Nick and Wendy went on to take 6th in int'l foxtrot/tango, 6th in american rumba/chacha and 7th in swing/mambo as well as getting callbacks for most of the other events. Hubert and Petra also won more ribbons 7th for int'l waltz/quickstep and 7th for int'l foxtrot /tango.

Unfortunately we had no advanced participants this year but I'm sure we would have done really well if we had!

Last but not least the exciting team matches! Cornell placed in both catergories coming 5th for international styles and 6th for american!

Wow I was really impressed with the level of commitment the dancers put in while still being able to enjoy the dance! Great job everyone. Thank you once more for making all the arrangements run smoothly and looking forward to traveling with you again!