Hi all,

I'm going to the International Comp at the Royal Albert Hall. I've never been before so am looking for info!

The main thing is dress code - do people get dressed up? I'm not on the front row or anything but then again I wouldn't want to let the side down

Also - it runs from 5pm - 12.30am apparently. I'm guessing you're not allowed to take your own food/drinks into the venue so are there breaks in the comp or do people just wander in and out as they wish? I've been to more informal comps ie.Sunday open comps where it's all very relaxed but obviously this is a whole different ballgame. Also I'm guessing the food and drink in the RAH is not cheap....

Basically any information from people who have been before would be gratefully received

I have been, dress code is anything from smart casual to formal - I normally go smart casual.

Yes there are breaks in the comps where people go to the bars for drinks - not sure about eating, I eat before I go in

I am going with Vivacious Lady.
We went last year and there are so many people there I doubt anyone would notice what you were wearing. We went for just smart dress.
We ate late in the afternoon before we went in. There are places to eat inside and you can get drinks.You are right about the food available isnt cheap.

Keep a look out for the Striclty professionals s most of them seem to go there.

Anyone going to the pre-Albert Hall finals at Brentwood centre on the Tuesday and Wednesday?

No, would love to go to Brentwood but it is too far away for me to get to and to find a place to stay.

Yes I agree with EJ and olivej regarding dress code. I've been the last 2 years and some people were dressed up (Anton had a DJ on last year). I'll probably wear something nicer than I would normally wear to the theatre say. I don't know if they'd notice if you took food and drink in (you're not supposed to, but I can't remember if they check the bags - they probably do, although I don't think they'd worry about a snack or a bottle of water).

I had thought about this Kaycee, since I have that week off work and my dance teacher is competing, (and his partner plus two other teachers from the same school), but it's a bit of a trek out to Essex and so I'll probably be too lazy . Presumably it is more relaxed with people able to move around more, as it takes up the whole of the two days?

Go on Vivacious, give Brentwood a try. If Joanna is going then it is because it is great. Out of numerous competitions in the world clamouring for Joanna she goes to only 5, including London, Bournemouth and Blackpool.

I plan to go all the way to Assen in November, taking in the sights of Amsterdam as well, making a week of it including the Rembrandt Museum. Like a Christmas gathering of the family of dance.

Sex and frenzy on the dance floor much better than sex and violence and interminable bad news on the box. You will enjoy it.

I've been going to the Internationals for the last couple years and always go pretty dressed up, cocktail dress/evening dress. The hall doesn't demand you do but all the dancers who are watching are always in evening dress I love dressing up so ...

That reminds me I need to find a dress soon, this always comes around so quick every year!

x x x x x

We competed UK wide but my favourite was the International at the AH
The British was special and such as the South East Counties was great fun, especialy when the fleet was in at Southsea but for me the "International" was always stand alone for pure pleasure
The crowd are rapped around the performers giving a warm and exciting feeling for the entire day
To make the grand finals (evening) is outstanding when (they used to) announce the finalist pairs a pair at a time who then move onto the floor hit by a spot light
We loved it then and love the memory still

Enjoy your day

How wonderful to have competed at the AH Internationals!

Hi Soulmate. I think Joanna and Michael don't have to compete at the heats at Brentwood since they won last year. Still it would be interesting to see the heats.
I hope you have a great time in Assen at the Dutch Open

If it finishes 12.30 am, all the trains will have stopped by then! Would have been tempted to go otherwise

Actually I would say nothing about the Brentwood Centre part of the International is in the least relaxed! It's non-stop from start to finish.

Apart from the qualifying rounds for both amateurs and pros hoping to make the semis and hence Albert Hall, there are all the juvenile, junior, and senior I & Senior II events run in their entirety; and mustn't forget amateur rising stars and pro rising stars events.

Also it isn't a comfortable venue; it's dark, dingy, the seats are uncomfortable, the changing facilities are atrocious - a lot of dancers resort to getting changed in the toilets or the corridors or occasionaly the aisles between the seats!

They should have attempted changing for the midlands in Birmingham many years back
Truth is performance is everything

Would just like to add to this, for anyone relying on a late train, that last year, it ran on until about 1am or just after.

TQ it really did run on late didnt it? Were you there too?

A lot of people left though before the end presumably because of transport.
We are staying overnight close to AH as last year.

Not many stay til the end, tbh. I can usually stay until about 11 for transport reasons but I never feel like I've missed out if I've seen the top couples dance and had a a Strictly spotting sesh.

x x x x x

It's authentic British then.

hi
i've been going the last few years too, have second row this year!
Each year we dress posher and posher, also if you dance take dance shoes as there are 2 slots to dance - awesome venue!
I am sure i have taken food and water in, no glass, i have also eaten there but i bet you can't get a table now!
People wander in and out at least for the first 2-3 hours then it gets more intense!
and yes, i think it did over run last year - and we always leave a bit early due to early start next day!

LOL, sounds awful, although I guess the excitement of the event makes it worthwhile. Are you competing kaycee?
By the way, what are the facilities like in Blackpool Winter Gardens. Presumably a bit better? (I'm going there for my first medallist competition in November.)

hi EJ yes I was! was still busy at the end though, wasn't it.

Hi VL! A lot of the dancers, when I have been, seem to be changing on the balconies or at the back on the ground floor - I know there is a room on the upper balcony for them to change in because we were there earlier this year with two under 21 couples (who have now moved up to the main level) but there was little room so they were changing on the balconies.

Don't know in general though!

Yes, tbh I hardly noticed it emptying much last year although I dd the year before.

Oh no, that sounds awful! Maybe not so bad for the under 21s, but at my age..... Still only one change from ballroom to latin (or vice versa) and so I guess it isn't that bad!
Maybe see you at the RAH if you are going.

hi again !

yes will say hello if I get there! I have a ticket of course - but I am collecting my new baby - black lab puppy! - on Saturday and I wouldn't leave her so early - my children are booked to go to a friend's since hubby is away that night, so they are no problem, but if I can't get the guy who usually looks after my animals to puppy-sit her here in my home, then I can't come down! She will still only be 11 weeks so too young to leave her.

Will most definitely come and find you and EJ to say hello if I make it down!

Thanks everyone for all your comments

tvaddict37 - dancing in the RAH sounds dreamy but I'm going on my own, I'd have to steal a dance partner

I'm guessing taking a camera is not allowed...?

Ah pets, they're more a responsibility than children sometimes! I haven't had a pet for a few years now. Well if you are there, we will be almost opposite the stage at the back of the stalls. (Seems the earlier I book, the less good the seats are - something odd about how the RAH does its online allocation)