The Not So Strictly Come dancing crew
It was the night he’d been waiting for… our journalist Ryan Smith took to the dancefloor…
THE night finally arrived.
It was the first night of dancing, a culmination of weeks of hard work by nine couples in the Westville Family Resource Centre’s Not So Strictly Come Dancing.
Nerves were abound at the Killyevlin from around 6pm. Couples gradually seeped into the hotel,
The group dance, involving all of us, lasted just a few moments in my head. A dance from the musical Hairspray – it was fun, light-hearted and got things kicked off nicely.
Backstage there was a mix of faux, genuine confidence, and the inevitable nerves. Some weren’t daunted, others were very.
And when it came to our individual dance, there was again a mixture of emotions.
Yasmin was – I hope she doesn’t mind – edgy. She wanted to get it over with: ‘Why did I agree to do this’ was on her lips once or twice. I, on the other hand, didn’t feel too badly.
To be fair, I’d a few things working in my favour. Most of my friends and family are coming to the final night on the 21st – so there were just a handful of ‘Team Yasmin and Ryan’ in the audience.
So while my stomach turned a few times out the back, once we got onto the dancefloor as a couple – I scanned the audience and thought ‘Bring it on’.
The dance itself is a bit of a blur. We didn’t appear to forget anything – but then so many things could have been done a lot smoother.
At one or two points I felt my legs freeze up a little and they wouldn’t bounce the way I wanted. But we’ll work on that for the final.
The judges on the night were Tommy McLaughlin, Jill Little and Catherine Robinson. Ted Maye compered wonderfully.
Tommy covered ‘attitude’ – which was ironic as you should have seen his! – Simon Cowell reincarnate. Jill, the dancing, and Catherine ‘style and appearance’.
We scored a 6/10 for attitude, a 7/10 for the outfits and a 9/10 for the dance itself. I was told that I had to loosen up, which I reckoned to be a fair comment. Part of me is still self conscious, even if the crowd doesn’t bother me.
The audience winners on this night were Karol Kelly and Sean McCauley.
The next final is on Thursday November 21. So between now and then we’ll be brushing up on a few of the moves. I’ll be trying to loosen up, and Yasmin shall continue to be incredibly patient with me.
The tickets are sold out for then. And the audience is a little more intimidating this time. It’s bigger yes, but mainly, my mum is going to be there. I can’t embarrass her, can I? We shall see.
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