empressorchestra

Many thanks for all the wonderful comments about the Empress Orchestra’s music for the London Ball 2010. Both the Dinner Dance and Competitions were very well presented and it was a pleasure to be involved in the inaugural event from the InterContinental on Park Lane.

Fine dining, excellent dancing and a lovely venue for Ballroom Dancing, it was an honour to perform for so many of the world’s ‘ballroom icons’ past and present.

The event seemed to be a huge success and we have been asked to perform again for the next one in 2011.

Those of you that attended we hope that you had a great experience, for those that didn’t, you missed something really special but we look forward to hopefully seeing you there next year.

Many thanks to Bryan & Carmen, Hans, Irene & Andrew for inviting us and also for putting on such a wonderful event.

Best wishes,

Ashley Frohlick

Back in May of this year I finished work on a brand new Samba for 9-times World Professional Latin Champion Bryan Watson and Carmen. I then opened up a competition for fans and friends of the Empress Orchsetra to ‘think of a title’ for this unique piece of music in return for a signed CD of our album ‘Always & Forever‘.

After much deliberation Bryan & Carmen have chosen a title for their samba… ‘Samba de Carson’.

This piece of music will be performed at the forthcoming ‘London Ball‘ (an event co-presented by Bryan & Carmen), and should you wish to listen (or dance) to it then tickets are still available for the event to be held on the 22 & 23 October 2010 at the InterContinental, Park Lane, London.

As nobody hit the nail on the head with Bryan and Carmen’s preferred title, the third umpire was called in (namely me) and my decision is that Julie Taylor came closest with her suggestion of ‘The Carson Samba’.

Congratulations Julie,  a CD will be with you shortly!

Many thanks to everyone that suggested a title(s) for the Samba, it was nice to see so many people joining in the fun and there were some great suggestions!

Best wishes,

Ashley Frohlick.

Just to inform you about a fantastic new event which is being brought to you by Bryan Watson, Carmen, Hans-R Galke and Andrew Sinkinson.

The London Ball 2010 will be hosted at the InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane in London on Friday 22 October & Saturday 23 October 2010.

Friday evening will be an exquisite dinner/dance in a stunning locale with fine dining and  your chance to dance to some wonderful music provided by the world famous Empress Orchestra.

Saturday’s programme should prove to be spectacular, featuring Professional & Amateur, Ballroom & Latin Dance competitions. The world’s finest will battle it out on the dance floor in this exciting new event to the music of the Empress Orchestra.

Prize money for the competitions are guaranteed at over £20,000!

So if you want to dine and dance on Friday, compete or spectate on Saturday then please visit The London Ball 2010

Those of you attending the UK International Championships from the Royal Albert Hall on the Thursday night might just want to stick around for this wonderful new event… Amazing prize money for the competitors with up close and personal seating for the spectators to view the phenomenal dancing on offer.

Hope to see you there supporting this new and exciting dance event.

Best wishes,

Ashley Frohlick.

Many thanks to Tony & Amanda Dokman for inviting me to lecture on ‘Musicality’ in Holland earlier this month (August).

It was a pleasure to be a part of something special and a real privilege to be able to share some of my thoughts and ideas about music with a wonderful group of Ballroom Dancers.

Dank je wel,

Ashley Frohlick

Introducing a beautifully presented training weekend by Tony & Amanda Dokman from 6 – 8 August  in Hilversum, Netherlands.

Last year (alongside Tony & Amanda) Andrew Sinkinson lectured and taught in his own inimitable style… This year sees another icon in the world of Ballroom Dancing… Mr. Richard Gleave.

I shall also be lecturing for the very first time in a relaxed, Q & A style session with examples, demonstrations and ideas on how to make it ‘Musical’.

Places are limited and going fast so please book now to avoid disappointment!

For more information please follow the link to the Dokman website. I look forward to seeing you there!

Best wishes,

Ashley Frohlick

Well another wonderful festival done and dusted!

Many congratulations to all the winners, finalists, semi finalists etc., and those that rose above the challenge of personal goals, it really has been an exceptional week. For those that didn’t do as well as expected or hoped… better luck next time!

To the many people that took the time to say hello and compliment our music… I thank you wholeheartedly.

The atmosphere has been magnificent, the dancing stunning and I can’t wait for Blackpool 2011… I hope to see you there!

Best wishes,

Ashley Frohlick

The Copthorne Hotel and surrounding countryside looked beautiful under its blanket of snow on Wednesday and though it was obvious that the weather would hamper proceedings somewhat, the event proved once again to be a very successful occasion.

There was a strong field of competitors battling it out for the prizes on offer, a hugely experienced panel of adjudicators to rival any other major event in the world and music provided by the Empress Orchestra with a stunning sound system giving the dancers and audience the chance to hear us in near studio quality. Richard Miller was spinning the discs.

Once again the event was well thought out and run by the BDF (Ballroom Dancers’ Federation) and I would like to gratefully thank the many people whose wonderful comments about the music we perform means so very much to all of us and also the BDF for inviting us to play for the second year running. We have been asked to perform for the event again in 2011, so will keep you posted.

Best wishes,

Ashley Frohlick

Just wanted to bring your attention to the next event for the Empress Orchestra to be held at the Copthorne Hotel (Effingham) on Wednesday 13 January 2010.

The event is an open dance competition (Ballroom & Latin), starting around midday(ish) with some spectacular dancing, wonderful music, fine dining and a distinguished panel of adjudicators. The Copthorne Hotel (Effingham) helps create a friendly atmosphere and the shape of the room (if you’re spectating) offers a wonderful view of the dancing, Orchestra and distinguished panel of adjudicators.

The BDF are still taking entries for the competitions which was a wonderful event last year and I believe that there are still places available for spectators.

The Ballroom, which is in the round, offers a completely different experience from some of the larger venues where we perform and the sound of the Empress Orchestra in here has been said to be near studio quality.

I hope very much to see as many people as possible at this well organised event which is set to be a grand opening to our 2010 calendar.

For further information please visit the BDF website.

Best wishes,

Ashley

There are still tickets available for the New Year’s Eve Ball from the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool.

If you’re within striking distance of Blackpool on New Year’s Eve, why not come and dance the New Year in with style in one of the world’s most spectacular ballrooms?

Tickets for the evening are available from the Blackpool Tower website via our ‘Links’ page, or you could just drop by on the night. It’s a formally fun and safe way of ringing in the New Year with some excellent music for you to enjoy dancing or listening to. Hope to see you there!

Best wishes,

Ashley Frohlick

Thanks to everyone that took the time to express their feelings about the music we played during the recent British National Championships and WDC World Professional Latin Championship, it’s always a pleasure to perform for wonderful dancers and a knowledgeable and appreciative audience.

It was also interesting to talk about ‘Latin rhythms’ and their relevance to dance with a competitor eager to learn, (I hope the conversation helped!)

Congratulations to all that entered and danced so well during the four days, there were some cracking competitions with a few thrills and spills along the way, a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Looking forward to the next one!

Best wishes,

Ashley Frohlick