Team Gibraltar
Dancing to the Podium The Gibraltar National Dance Team rocked Germany by being crowned World Champions at the recent World Show Dance Championships. The event was staged in Riesa, with 3,301 dancers from 34 nations such as Russia, Canada, Germany and South Africa, taking part. The event was organised for the world governing body the International Dance Organisation (IDO) by the Germany Dance Federation (TAF), FSVG Riesa and a good friend of Gibraltar, IDO Vice President Michael Wednt. The competition bagan with the Children Solo Female section, in which Gibraltar’s Louise Martinez, Sarah Montovio and Caitlin Rodriguez competed against 47 other dancers. Sarah qualified for the quarter finals, while Caitlin made the semi-finals finishing 11th out of the top 12 children soloists. Louise Martinez and Sarah Montovio, Celine Stewart and Siandayle Alman, and sisters Caitlin Rodriguez and Megan Rodriguez took part in the Children Duets and all qualified for the quarter finals out of 32 entries. Louise and Sarah qualified for the semifinals finishing in a remarkable 9th place. The Gibraltar National Dance Team also performed in the Children’s Group section to a piece called They Don’t Care About Us. The team missed the semis by one point finishing in 14th place out of the 26 entries. There were 53 competitors in the Junior Solo Female section, with Louise Flower, Sarah Anne Maclaren and Jenella Sodi representing Gibraltar. All three qualified for the quarter finals, Sarah and Jenella went on to the semis, and Sarah in a fantastic 8th place with Jenella managing to qualify for the grand final amongst the top 7 junior female soloists finishing in an excellent 7th place. Jenella’s piece was choreographed by Jolene Gomez and Jade Federico. Gibraltar was also represented in the Junior Groups with a piece entitled One of Us — the group qualified for the quarter finals from 33 groups. The Adult Solo Female section saw 50 dancers compete with Gibraltar represented by Nicole Valverde and Nicole Victor. Nicole Valverde reached the quarter finals whilst Nicole Victor competed in the top 11 semi-finals finishing in an outstanding 8th position. In the Adult Groups, Gibraltar’s piece The Reef came 11th out of 35
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teams taking part. Gibraltar ’s Adult Solo Male, Duncan Grech, performed a piece choreographed by Gillaine Alman in the grand final, coming 6th out of 28 entries. Gibraltar won Bronze medal in the Adult Duet Division with Tyron Walker and Nicole Victor’s piece Remember Me Daddy choreographed by Jade Fedrico. Duncan Grech and Genyka Celecia qualified for the semi-finals. The best result of all a Gold medal for duet Sarah Anne Maclaren and Isabella Gomez who were crowned IDO World Champions in the Junior Duets division with the piece The Forgotten Idol choreographed by Paulette Fin-
Gibraltar was also represented on the panel of judges by IDO Official International Judge, Seamus Byrne layson. Louise Flower and Emma Flower, Joelle Davis and Chelsey Celecia also reached quarter finals against 49 entries. Gibraltar was also represented on the panel of judges by IDO Official International Judge, Seamus Byrne. The official choreographers for this project were Paulette Finlayson, Gerald Rodriguez, Sabrina Abudarham, Nichol Montovio, Gillaine Alman, Genyka Celcia, Duclie Edwards, Jolene Gomez and Jade Federico. GNDO President Seamus Byrne said, “I take this opportunity to thank all the sponsors and most importantly Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar and the Cultural Grants Committee for making our participation a reality. “IDO competitions are where la
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2014