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Upon arriving back in the UK and having an awesome time showing around Alf and Marieka (which that postcard is still to come), I have hit t…

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There is nothing better than lying in bed, just about to fall asleep at 11.54pm and your boyfriend says:

“Want to got to Dublin on Thursday? Carry-on only?”

Yes. Absolutely!

This had been a plan G and I had wanted to do for ages. But after seeing we had a few days before Christmas and the flights were only 40 pound ($80 return), it was a crime not to.

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We caught the bus from Bratislava, Slovakia and for some reason, both Mel and I were in really good spirits. It was close to 10pm and we were ready to get on the train to our accommodation. Everything was going fine and dandy. We had found the station, embarked the right train, got off at our stop when all of a sudden we saw those men. In Australia, if you have this job, you definitely were bullied in high school.

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I loved Italy when G and I did our little tour of it in October, so it is no surprise I adored heading back there, even if it was only for one day.

The main attraction of Bari is for tourists to head to a street called Strada delle Orecchiette. On this secluded street, Nonnas sit out in the sunshine, cutting and rolling their own pastas. They chatted to the other locals as the passer-bys admired their craftmanship. There were thousands of little ear-like pieces of pasta, sitting out to dry. There was so much delicious food from all throughout this trip that I wanted to bring home, however, I am always worried the Border Patrol will pick me out and say I can’t bring it into the country. With that being said, sadly I didn’t buy any funky pasta but there was something down the road that definitely did catch my eye.

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So as you can imagine, Mel and I hopped straight onto Get Your Guide, whacked down $210 and went on our merry way, expecting a smooth day full of incredible sceneries and photographs. However, it would not be a proper Henley trip unless something went wrong.

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In no particular order:

1. Amy Sharrock

   Not only did she win Gold and step onto to the top step of the podium, but that lady absolutely radiated sunshine in her dress. I get so excited seeing amazing designs like this. The skirt was electric when it spun and caught your eye, no matter if you were there in person or watching on the livestream. I saw it and was instantly reminded of Kendall Jenner’s golden fairy Halloween look from 2019.

   

   And the best part is, I was not alone in this opinion either! When we posed the question to you, our lovely DSR community, you guys also agreed that she was one of the best dressed of the event.

2. Mia Linnik Holden

   Fresh off their historic British National win just last month, Mia and Andrei wowed every person watching their event at Aussies. And the dress just added to the mesmerising look this couple has. I love an Iban number. I think at the moment, they have some of the most innovative designs and Mia’s navy and golden number was no exception.

   

   Iban often loves to play with the designs of their skirts. Personally, it feels like a breathe of fresh air. I feel that Aussies tend to play it safe and always seem to opt for a fuller, traditional skirt. So it was refreshing to see a sleek, draped skirt whisking around the floor. Even the stoning of the dress with the contrast between the bigger stones down the front pulled it altogether perfectly.

   No notes. Stunning.

3. Harrison Sturcke

   

   Let’s spice it up a bit! I want to give a shoutout to one of the lads and Harrison… those pants… WERE INCREDIBLE.

   I love when boys experiment and have fun looks. Yes I know, all black is clean but sometimes I feel like boys will wear a white top to jazz it up a bit and think that is “daring”. But you want to know what is daring? When someone commits to something as extravagant as fully stoned pants. The pants complimented Harry’s beautiful partner Cassie’s Latin dress so well. When your girl is awarded Belle of the Ball at Oceania, you need a look to match it, and Harry, you did just that.

   Super cool. Loved it.

4. Anda Wang

   

   Time after time, this girl EATS. As soon as her and Erik walked out and did THAT bit on the top of the steps, I had to sit back and just smile. These two know how to captivate an audience.

   As I said earlier in this piece, I love dresses that are different. And this little Madame Web number was so edgy. The pairing with the head piece and accessories across her arms and hands, chef’s kiss. You can always count on Anda to be daring and her and her team at Catalano did that yet again this Aussies. Congrats on your well-deserved win!

5. Robyn Dirks

   

   This black swan moment was gorgeous. It was edgy and elegant. It was so sophisticated and a completely different look from Robyn. She exuded this class in this dress that I loved so much.

6. Jordan Kopp-Collins

   Gold was DEFINITELY in this year and Jordan killed. it. I loved that instead of the traditional wings that everyone gets, she opted for a spikier choice and it was elite. If her and Amy collaborated their two dresses together, I reckon it would be a pretty insane collection of dresses for a 10 Dance girl to step to and compete in. One for Latin and one for Standard. It was just so different from any look I have ever seen Jordan in. And did anyone see that crown?! Shoutout to Radiant Designs Jewellery because that crowned tied the entire Killer Queen look together.

If this year’s Aussies proved anything, it is that we definitely have some dancers that are ambitious and bold, ready to outshine their competitors with incredible fashion choices. It looks like champions still do wear white. It is crisp, classic and impossible to ignore. However, our golden girls shimmered across that floor like a constellation.

Anyway, that’s my Hot Take of the Best Dresses at Aussies. Got your own Best Dressed? Let us know in the comments!

A big thankyou to the team at Nima Photography for supplying these incredible photos!

• Hot Take with Hen

@hot_minute_with_henSome pretty cool football is in Milan. #acmilan #pisa #seriea #football #italy

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Firstly, some context as to why we were so excited for this. When we were booking the trip, there were no games that cross over for any of our destinations. To be honest, I was a little devastated discovering this.

BUT!

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1. “Enjoy the moment and your own dancing. Stay present and practise mindfulness.”

   I was so glad to see this as a piece of advice that a few dancers mentioned. I believe mental health is just as important as your physical health. I personally think some dancers underestimate the importance of being kind to yourself throughout your dance journey. I have been around dancers in the past that get frustrated when results do go their way or something happens that is out of their control. And yes, whilst I acknowledge that frustration is a valid emotion, it is important to reconnect with your partner and focus on the next time you will be on the floor.

   If you are feeling stressed from a situation, don’t be afraid to just go and take a few minutes by yourself. Go put in your Airpods, listen to some music and stretch or practise some breathing exercises. Just be in your own company for a little bit until you feel okay again. Just remember, nerves are a very normal feeling at the Australian Championships. Read that again. Nerves. Are. Normal.

   At the end of the day, do not beat yourself up if you don’t attain a certain result. As long as you get on the floor and your dancing feels good, you are a winner. Go out there, support each other and remember you and your partner are a team.

2. “The floor is big. Make sure to use it by finding space and not reach your steps to try and get across.”

   This piece of advice came from one of our Professional Standard competitors. We all know that if you start pushing your steps too far or remarkably further than you have trained, it’s dangerous. One of my coaches once said to “not chase space”. I think this is very important to remember when on the competition floor.

   Trust in your teaching and adjust your setup accordingly. The best way to get the most out of the floor is to get to the venue early when doors open and map out your routine. Get on the floor and establish with your partner where you want to start for each dance so nothing is left to chance. This will make you feel more confident when stepping out for your event as you know exactly where you will be for each dance and can use the floor to the best of your ability.

3. “Bring enough snacks.”

   “Have a shoe bag out back with all your goodies and lollies.”

   You might dismiss this, but these pieces of advice are not to be laughed at. Aussies is LONG. I find that when you spend all day inside, all concept of time evaporates. You are running between the floor, marshalling and the changerooms constantly and before you know it, it is 5pm and you have had three sips of water and two gummy bears. In order to combat this, have snacks in a little bag at marshalling with your water bottle, shoe brush and sweat towel. Bananas are excellent as they boost your energy and replenish glycogen stores. I use to also have Glucojel Jellybeans always handy in marshalling. They were an easy way to keep the energy throughout the day. Don’t forget to also keep a Powerade and water near by.

   If I were to write a list of what to take to marshalling, it would be this:

   • Water/Powerade

   • Lollies (Glucojel jellybeans and jelly snakes)

   • Bananas

   • Fan

   • Sweat towel

   • Lipstick

   • Shoe brush and band-aids

4. “Bring a jacket”

   Long story short, it is freezing at Aussies, especially when it’s later in the evening. If you are waiting for presentations close to midnight, please, bring a jacket to put on, because it gets chilly.

All in all, we cannot wait to see you all out of the floor. If you see us there, come say hi. Or if you see our lens pointing at you, play with us and give us a smile! We love seeing you all out there having a great time. Best of luck to all of the dancers!

• Hot Minute with Hen

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1. I graduated.

2. I called a new country home.

3. I travelled.

But this year has forced me to grow in so many ways. 21 was fun and adventurous but definitely came bundled up with a few hurdles. So I thought I would write a little postcard, bidding farewell to this age with a few lessons of what I have learnt.

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The mornings are chaos. Young men pushing and pulling their carts over the canal bridges, with piles upon piles of stock. Wooden carts.

MOSSA MOSSA!

I can understand why they hate tourists in that part of the morning. So many people were oblivious to move out of their way whilst these burly men were trying to navigate the suffocating lanes of Venice. As we sat in the café, making sure to order our cappuccinos before 10am, the men yelled, “mossa, mossa,” to “move” in Italian.

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Overall, the recipe for this holiday was simple.

• 1 teaspoon of sun served at 27*c

• 16L of Super Bok

• 2 sunbeds

• At least 100 sprinkles of sand found in bikinis and board shorts

• Add some salt water and sunscreen

I have just gotten back from a week spent on the Algarve Coast and it was heaven. We stayed in an area called Sesmarias which is about five minutes from Albufeira. Quiet but absolutely beautiful. But let’s get into it.

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Sundays are under-rated, I think. Especially over here.

The temperature has started to drop, the rain clouds have started to roll in. The blankets have been pulled out of our linen cupboard and now find their new home folded over the edge of the couch, eagerly waiting to be used.

Sundays are bliss here. It is the slow day I genuinely look forward to. A chai latte at Brook Lane with a hearty full English breakfast. The warmth of the latte radiates through my body.

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