When the dreadful news reached me of the passing of Frank, I suffered an instant contraction of my breath control, coupled to that horrible mental message that how could it possibly be true, because Frank always transmitted such very strong health, and an attitude that conveyed he would live forever. During his terrific career with his wife Linda, as a dancer of the highest possible status, Frank became a world renowned coach. I remember so very well a conversation I had with the famed Ernie Chatt…Ernie and I were watching a competition, which contained a top class entry and Frank and Linda were competing and, as they passed us, Ernie said to me, “ thank goodness we don’t have to take on Frank and Linda eeh, especially in Tango and Quickstep. They have that look of dedication and fervency coupled to talent, which should take them to the top of the amateur ladder!..” I found myself agreeing and for many years my wife Anne and I enjoyed a fabulous relationship with Frank and Linda.
Frank was full of humorous stories from dance and had a marvellous way of how to tell you. We were often laughing uproariously at Frank’s stories. One story actually stands out in my memory and it was when Frank and Linda went to compete in an important championship at the Hammersmith Palais. There was a top class board of judges and Frank and Linda were looking forward to competing, especially as the crowd of spectators were all ready to cheer on their favourites.
Into the changing room, prior to the start and Frank started to wear the dance comp clothes and came to the trousers. Lo and behold, as he put them on he realised a dreadful error was that he had packed his trousers from his junior days and as he had grown taller since then, his horror was clear to see, as the trouser bottoms were way above his ankles and flapping around like a flag in high wind. Frank’s mind went into overdrive but he thought that some of the competitors perhaps would carry a spare pair with them, which he could borrow, and which would have a more elongated leg length. To his consternation, nobody owned up to possessing two pairs although all those he asked, were doubled up with laughter, when seeing Frank, with his usual resplendency, having turned him into looking as if he was a country yokel, visiting the big city for a first time.
The event started and continued Frank and Linda danced with Linda’s face a bright red, and our Frank, as white as a ghost……A little time later, they went to the famed coach Phyllis Haylor for a lesson and she was one of the judges at the trouser event in Hammersmith. Phyllis with a smile said “of course my dear, I did notice the peculiar effects your flapping trouser bottoms transmitted, but there's always a compensatory item and yours was quite clear the clothing mishap allowed everyone to see your lovely use of ankles and feet when you danced.”
Frank will never be forgotten by those who knew him, and his lovely skills were ultra appreciated, especially in Italy. We can only pray that in another heavenly time we will meet again, and be privileged to hear Frank’s wonderful input and also discuss with him, the nuances of dance production of which he was such a great expert.
The entire world of dance is in reverence as they think of Frank, and sympathy is beamed in abundance, and sorrow has blackened the sky of dance. Linda is in everyone’s mind and the sorrow is slightly diluted, by remembering the fantastic man of dance called “Frank Venables” and the warm sincere condolences are beamed invisibly from everywhere that Frank taught dance, as an art. His wise principles of dance were honed by some of the great pioneers such as Henry Kingston and Benny Tolmeyer etc etc… Frank ensured he stressed the utter importance of showing the aesthetic nuances of superb fundamentals within dance… I will never forget him and send to Linda, sincere thoughts from myself and Anne.
Jack Reavely
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