第七屆ISTD盃7th ISTD Cup
二零一零年四月十一日主辦第七屆ISTD盃標準舞冠軍賽同時加插我生平第一次的生日舞會, 除了希望嘗試一下與學生、好友共渡生日的感覺之外, 亦是一個測試, 測試結果令我悲喜交集, 悲者是有些我看重的學生缺席, 喜者是一些久未露面的學生專誠前來參加我這次生日舞會, 另外最令我感動的是 : 我和太太高玉文四年前認識了一對澳洲與意大利的拉丁選手Joshua Keefe & Sara Magnanelli (並曾和他們同台表演), 他們當時仍是名不經傳的業餘選手, 可是現在已搖身一變成為世界職業拉丁前十二名的名牌, 當我探聽他們是否願意參加第七屆ISTD盃的公開職業拉丁組比賽時, 雖然獎金不多, 而且亦不是很大型的比賽, 但他們竟一口答應, 這可算是我一生中最珍貴的一份生日禮物 !
當天雖然碰到有另外一個比賽舉行, 尚幸實際參賽人數跟上一屆ISTD盃差不多, 仍吸引到意大利 (Joshua & Sara)、星加坡、泰國、菲律賓、澳門、中國等其他國家及地區的參賽者, 比賽項目較為突破是首次在港舉行的校內壯年拉丁舞組別, 公開職業標準舞組成為下午比賽的最後一個項目, 由動亂中泰國前來的 Erie Perez Dela Cruz & Nardrudee Bothaworn奪冠, 公開職業拉丁舞組跟上屆一樣安排在晚上舉行, Joshua & Sara領獎後送上兩隻冠軍榮譽表演舞為我賀壽 ! 切生日蛋糕儀式在Joshua & Sara冠軍表演後立即舉行, 連隨送上我和太太為現場嘉賓準備了的一個新穎有獎遊戲, 就是我們選跳16小節華爾兹基本步及查查查基本步, 考考現場觀眾能夠認得出多少個我們所演譯基本步的名稱, 結果兩位現場賽手觀眾並列冠軍!
陳航行
11 April 2010, the date of 7th ISTD Cup Ballroom Dance Championships, was also the most memorable day of the first Birthday Party in my entire life. Other than enjoying the moment of Birthday Celebration with my students and friends, the Birthday Party also served as an occasion of my personal experiment. The result of the experiment was a mixture of happiness and sadness. The sad thing was some of my favorite students were absent. The happy thing was some "long time no see" students turned up specifically to join this Birthday Party. For me, the most important and touching of all was : my wife Gertrude & myself were acquainted with a couple of Australian and Italian dancers namely Joshua Keefe & Sara Magnanelli four years ago (actually we had performed together). They were from nowhere at that time in the Amateur field. Now they became the top 12 elite Professional Latin couples in the World. When I tried to ask if they would like to compete in Open Professional event of 7th ISTD Cup, albeit that the prize money was not high & the championships was not one of mega size, they promised instantly. I must say it was the biggest Birthday gift I'd ever received in my life!
Although another competition clashed on the same day in HK, the number of entries were similar as last year's ISTD cup. Couples representing Italy (Joshua & Sara), Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Macau, China were in attendance to support this event. A new event of Studio Senior Latin was first introduced in the history of HK DanceSport competitions. Open Professional Standard was the last event in the afternoon session. Erie Perez Dela Cruz & Nardrudee Bothaworn from the turmoiling Thailand took the title. With the same format of last year, Open Professional Latin Final was held in the prime time of the evening Dinner Party. Joshua & Sara offered two Honour Dances to cheer my Birthday! Birthday cake cutting ceremony was held immediate after the Honour Dances. Thereafter came a Prize-Giving Game prepared by Gertrude & myself. We danced 16 Bars of Basic Waltz and Cha Cha Cha. The guest at scene who participated our game and named the Basic Figures shown by us with most names correct could take the prize home. Eventually two participants, both competitors, were emerged dual winners!
Lawrence Chan
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