AUSTIN BLUES PARTY 13
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​Competitions That
​Celebrate Social Dancing

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Friday Night: L'il Damn Social | ​Saturday Night: Big Damn Social | Sunday Night: BYOP (Strictly)
L’il Damn Social Dance Competition
​

We’re trying something new this year! Meant to better reflect our values and open up the playing field a bit more than just “newcomer,” this competition is open to anyone who hasn’t placed (1st, 2nd, or 3rd)* in a Blues competition above the newcomer/beginner/local level. We’re also moving the prelim time later on Friday evening to allow you a little more time to make it to the dance.

Still a good way for newbies to get their feet wet, this competition will start with prelims in a side room, but the finals will be in the main room and danced to LIVE MUSIC. Three leads and three follows will be selected from prelims, and instead of being watched by our instructors, they’ll dance with them! Rotating between songs, our finalists will share a social dance with three different instructors. 

Prelims will be from 11:00-11:30pm in the side room Friday night; Finals will be shortly after midnight to LIVE MUSIC.

*Dancers may compete in either role (lead or follow) in which they have not placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a competition above the newcomer/beginner/local level.


Big Damn Social Dance Competition

A competition for the serious social dancer. If you love to dance with everyone and look good doin' it, this competition is for you! Prelims are going to be a little unconventional, in that you'll be dancing with everyone at the dance, including and especially non-competitors! You'll be judged on your ability to social dance with dancers of varying skill levels, your Blues aesthetic, quality of movement, musicality, and partnering. So get out on the dance floor, pin a number to your back, and DANCE!

For the finals, you’ll be dancing with your peers who made it to that level, rotating between each song. In addition to the standard watching judges and criteria, you’ll influence the results of this competition by voting for your favorite partner.

Prelims will be from 10-11pm on the social dance floor Saturday night; Finals will be at Midnight to LIVE MUSIC.

There will be a competitor's meeting at 9:40pm before prelims - this is mandatory, and if you miss it you can’t compete so...don't be late!

B.Y.O.P. (Strictly)

It's Bring Your Own Partner time! We'll give you the whole weekend to find someone you *love* dancing with, and then on Sunday night you’ll have the opportunity to show us why! Or heck, feel free to bring your preferred partner along with you to the entire event! We just want to see you dancing with someone who makes the dance feel magical to you, and share a little bit of that magic with the rest of us.

Prelims will be held on Sunday at our workshop venue from 6-7pm, directly after the last workshop class, and we won't close entry until 5 minutes before the prelims start (so you have even more time to find a partner, if you didn't have one at the start of the weekend). Finals will be at 10:30pm to DJed music.

​Tickets for this event include both partners


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Secret Judges

If you’re interested in being a ‘secret judge’ for the big damn social competition, please use the ‘contact us’ option on this website and provide your name, primary role, and email address and we’ll get back to you.
Become a Secret Judge

Judging Criteria

Prep for the competition! 
Understand what the judges will be looking for.
Get a little closer to winning one of our fine prizes.
Read Our Judging Criteria
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Previous Winners!

ABP 7 Results
ABP 7 Newcomer J&J Results
1st: Flouer Evelyn and Jessica Rossi
2nd: Angie Fadness and Katie Cline
3rd: Adam Segal and Shawna Klein
ABP 7 Big Damn Social Dance J&J Results
1st: Graham Hunter, Rachel Stirling
2nd: Joy Arico, Dave Ljung Madison & Paul Mandel (tied)
3rd: Sarah Elias
ABP 8 Results
ABP 8 Newcomer J&J Results
1st: Mary Ingram & Lisa Tackett
2nd: Wendi Sisneros & Brendan Newell
3rd: Tim Margheim & Kelly Stevens
ABP 8 Big Damn Social Dance J&J Results
1st: Amos Rose & Rachel Stirling
2nd: John Vigil & Kara Fabina
3rd: Kevin Nguyen & Anna Washenko
ABP 8 B.Y.O.P. (Strictly) Results
1st: Amos Rose and Kara Fabina
2nd: Paul Mandel and Natalya Alissa
3rd: Laney Barhaugh and Marc Longhenry
ABP 9 Results
ABP 9 Newcomer J&J Results
1st: Sarah Pederson & Gohar Gharibyan

2nd: Marc Longhenry & Chelsea Adams
3rd: Melanie Pasquarelli & Daniel Bullard-Bates
ABP 9 Big D@mn Social Dance J&J Results
1st: Laney Barhaugh & Ross Blythe
2nd: Flouer Evelyn & Paul Mandel
3rd: Kara Fabina & Aaron Brown
ABP 9 B.Y.O.P. (Strictly) Results
1st: Kara Fabina & Tim O'Neill
2nd: Katie Belsky & Aaron Brown
3rd: Sarah Lokay & Ross Blythe
ABP X Results
ABP 10 Newcomer J&J Results
1st: Elizabeth Lynn Rakphongphairoj Kilrain & Leia Chang

2nd: Ari H-c & Katy Capper
3rd: John Vigil & Paul Schaefer​
ABP 10 Big D@mn Social Dance J&J Results
1st: Kara Fabina, Nathaniel M. Abrea
2nd: Rachel Stirling, Ross Blythe
3rd: Gina Longo, Andrew Smith
ABP 10 B.Y.O.P. (Strictly) Results
1st: Ross Blythe & Sarah Lokay
2nd: Kara Fabina & John Vigil
3rd: Sarah Elise & Forrest Rogers-Marcovitz
ABP 11 REsults
ABP 11 Newcomer J&J Results
1st: Melanie Nguyen & Michael Eason
​Also Placed: Jory Bowers & Steven Schelling, Cassie Anderson & John Jennings
ABP 11 Big Damn Social Results
1st: Kenneth Shipp &Laney Barhaugh
2nd: John Vigil & Kara Fabina
3rd: Olivia Hillmer, Kelsy Stone (tie), 
Zach Brass
ABP 11 BYOP Striclty Results
1st: Kara Fabina & John Vigil
2nd: Kenneth Shipp & Laney Barhaugh
​3rd: Sarah Elise & Rachel Stirling
ABP 12 Results
ABP 12 Newcomer Results
1st: Christi Jay Wells & Christina Tannert
2nd: Cait Capper & Zandra Gilmore
​3rd: Tamara Fox & Melisande Ledu
ABP 12 BYOP Striclty Results
1st: Brandy Smith & Christi Jay Wells
2nd: Sarah Elise & Ari Hausman-Cohen
​3rd: Olivia Hillmer & Zach Brass
ABP 12 Big Damn Social Results
1st: Rachel Stirling & John Vigil
2nd: Olivia Hilmer & Ari Hausman-Cohen
​3rd: Emily Troe & Kelsy Stone

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  • Schedules
    • Weekend Schedule
    • Class Schedule >
      • Class tracks >
        • Bootcamp
  • Competitions
    • Competitions >
      • Judging Criteria
  • Venues
    • Venues
    • Explore Austin
  • The Talent
    • The Team
    • The Teachers
    • The Music Makers
    • Sponsors and Partners
    • Vendors
  • Passes
    • Pass Descriptions
    • At The Door Prices
  • Contact
  • FAQ