The National Championships at Blackpool have arrived, and of course those who so look forward to attending, either as spectators or competitors are full of the utter enthusiasm reserved for those who have dance in their blood.
As the story of the Festival unfolds it creates many stories, including despair of a couple who do less well than the expected and also of the scales of achievement if they exceed their hopes.
The judges are steeped in dance and their minds are whirring round and round, but they accept the responsibility because the utter knowledge they possess bears almost instant recognition of the expertise of the dancing couples.
Bring it on Blackpool 2024.
I seem to have wings on my shoes as I rush to join the environment in the Empress Ballroom while trying unsuccessfully to disguise my mental affinity as the couples practising hit my eyes and ears.
I instantly see a vibrant pair of “latinos” and the young man was so aware of exactly how to lead his lady and produce many nuances of excellence, and she is fully aware of how to expand into dynamic themes and her use of ankles and feet showed just how she hits eyes and ears- They were Yegor Young and Zoe Woodhall.
Time flies past and it is near the Semi-Final of the North of England Ballroom Championship- Steeped in history with previous winners almost leaping from the tower winner’s names in the programme.
No.7- Max Draper and Sofiia Tyshchyk sophistication has encroached to a high level and there is much improvement to see, and hear from their dances. Their dances are enhanced by contrasts of step lengths, and the lady allows this through her wide understanding.
Robert Litchfield is the new compere and chairman of judges. He is steeped in dance and is beautifully sympathetic to everyone's needs and he escalated in confidence as the Festival continued.
In Foxtrot, 17- Lewis Hateley and Nadya Martynenko- man’s collar could be a little higher to advantage. They show nice presentational aspects and draw my eyes towards them.
6- Francis Carty and Ruma Baker efficient with good use of progressing motion, and as I watch the couples, I wished I was one of them.
Viennese Waltz
18- Alessandro Bidinat and Danielle Jay Forster showed a good attempt at the use of fleckerels as did also No 12- Andrei Toader and Mia Linnik-Holden.
2- Jamie Meah and Jessica Lewis had a clean to see swing, and this was without ugly foot snatches- Difficult to achieve.
No 16- Oleksandr Pishenko and Erin Sefton could easily get well marked today as they show style and substance without ostentation and are good performers.
Tango
No 7-Max Draper and Sofiia Tyshchyk- showed a good approach to many of the demands of the dance, and their characterisation was clear to see.
12-Andrei Toader and Mia Linnik-Holden- could check closing steps in Tango as they lost the “look” which a close can induce.
Quickstep
14- Thomas Purdy and Harley Nelson this pair were able to epitomise the dance as the structure they used was nicely wise.
7-Max Draper and Sofiia Tyshchyk- retained structured poise and silhouette and they don’t throw away judges’ marks by over-dancing - wise assets.
Great names of prior winners flood the Ballroom- The Ghosts are smiling benignly- Those of us watching found our entire life is enhanced by the memories of ‘Somewhere In Time’.
No 4- Oliver Johnson and Sophie Heyworth- one tall and very elegant couple and the capitulate to the lovely sounds of Ashley and the lads of the Orchestra who fill the Empress Ballroom with music which transmits the characterisations so necessary.
No 21- Max Appleby and Niamh Harding show a classic Waltz action and have a great presence as they maintain promise with a lovely postured retention and they keep good contact.
Foxtrot
12-Andrei Toader and Mia Linnik-Holden-keeping moving and using excellent floorcraft, and they are unafraid to milk oversways all the way through the bars of music they choose. Their performance was excellent.
Viennese Waltz
21-Max Appleby and Niamh Harding- nice Natural Turns, and not skipping which is very good.
No 7-Max Draper and Sofiia Tyshchyk- and 12-Andrei Toader and Mia Linnik-Holden- are using fleckerels, and it would be nice if all couples practised this dance to acquire all of the figures allowed.
17- Lewis Hateley and Nadya Martynenko- in Tango, are performing with with impact and good use of structure.
12-Andrei Toader and Mia Linnik-Holden- excellent use of “fan” foot actions when repeated, and in this dance they show lovely unusual aspects.
4- Oliver Johnson and Sophie Heyworth- excellent Quickstep and ensuring space by using floorcraft.
21-Max Appleby and Niamh Harding- Girl just lost neck posture but it was on the last four bars in Quickstep and wouldn’t affect their marks.
Youth Under 21
Rumba- 1st round
74- Christopher Buttle and Cee Cee Jackson- Blatancy personified as she entices her young man of dance through body gesticulation and rhythm, and he responds to her wishes to create dance, dance and more dance.
Generally, I find leg, ankle and foot action to be diluted somewhat in Rumba- not easy to acquire but worth a King’s ransom when these are integrated to the dances.
In Paso, no 88- Caleb Arslan and Kristyna Fatuliaj- very nice arm and body use by this pair. They are unafraid to use their bodies, so that the Bull can’t destroy them.
SENIOR BALLROOM- SEMI-FINAL
The spectators have joined James Bond but have reversed his famous cocktail- It is now stirred, as were the audience, and then shaken by the prowess which will be on show every day of the Festival.
It was interesting to note that the event winners were presented with special Blackpool sashes, which will bring nostalgic thoughts to the forefront of the minds of those expert enough to have received one as the years pass by.
Blanche Ingle was a world famous dancer and with her husband Ken Bateman she ran a most successful school in Slough. Ken pre-deceased Blanche, and Blanche carried on teaching until she wasn’t fit enough to cope.
She died recently and in her will she left £1500 to be split into a yearly prize of £100 until the capital was all used up.
The Senior Ballroom Over 35 Championship is eagerly anticipated by all the couples and it was fabulous to see our Dance Motto in action on and off the floor- The Motto is “Friendship through the dance” which was the wording on the British Team Badges designed by the great coach Len Balyer.
54- Jonathan Noblett and Jennifer Kilheeney are lovely stylists in Waltz, and they dance a lovely open Natural Turn, with excellent control of posture and timing- could do well.
48- Phil Houlding and Melina Harrison- classy pair, full of information and applying it so well. In Foxtrot they tend to miss the standing phase action from a slow heal lead to the floor which follows it.
52- Russ Houlden and Yaryna Houlden- suaveness persuades as they show such a nice silhouette, coupled to the transmission of sheer joy.
36- Tibor Poc and Hilary Mouat- are back to the floor after they celebrated the birth of their daughter. They started Waltz with a 4 beat Whisk, and the understanding of timing and use of special rise and fall, instantly transmitted high skill.
Viennese Waltz
59- Graham Simpson and Kristina Downing- very correct stance and swing without blurs- Good contact- just as I saw one couple dance 2 bars of fleckerel the music finished.
Tango Senior Semi-Final
43- Michael O’Leary and Nicola Banyard- Born to Tango- nice stance, good musicality, and nice silhouette added to the posture.
41- Slawek Lukawczyk and Janine-Nicole Desai non stop performance to their plan for tonight, and they certainly succeeded- Terrific Silhouette, and evidently very well coached too.
Quickstep
No 41- Slawek Lukawczyk and Janine-Nicole Desai- and their silhouette and its maintenance would not look out of place in the Professional Championship.
Youth Latin- Semi- Final
Thursday Night 9:30pm
Samba
73- Mason Bevan and Sofiia Nanivska- some rhythmic blurs show a little as they dance and it is on the verge of becoming important, as clarification and use of an inserted nuance is working beautifully..
In Rumba, 87- Enrique Adolphus and Eleanora Kostileva- uses nice articulation of her ankles and feet.
In Rumba, “ooze” is required so as to elasticate the rhythmic usage- The famous Walter Laird and Lorraine were simply terrific on those aspects.
76- Benjamin Turner and Lilia Fleming- this Youth Latin is a scene which burns itself into my eyes and ears, and also floods my mind with reminiscences of wondrous exponents from the past, many of whom have gone on into status of top coaches who are producing dance which mesmerises.
76- Benjamin Turner and Lilia Fleming- vibrant but never over produced and using the step patterns and rhythmic changes to enhance their dances.
81- Daniel Ettridge and May Reid- lovely close base use in Cha Cha Cha which enhances the dance for them.
I see the famed Alan Fletcher judging, and his grey suit was simply magnificent and deserves a place on a monument of classic good taste. Made to measure of course, and my discreet enquiries discovers it was made by Ron Gunn whose tailoring expertise is simply classic elegance. The cut is simply spiffing of course, our Alan is under the jurisdiction of his wife Hazel, the adviser in chief.
In Jive no 81-Daniel Ettridge and May Reid- show a great mix of masculine/ feminine.
Gosh, the joint is jumping, and they retain a lovely close base usage.
The FINAL-OVER 35 BALLROOM
43-Michael O’Leary and Nicola Banyard- consistency is their key, and they most certainly retain this to great effect
His collar at the back of his neck is terrific, and adds so very much to his appearance of suave sophistication.
They grabbed the chance to dance fleckerels in Viennese Waltz- wise choice indeed.
Tango 54-Jonathan Noblett and Jennifer Kilheeney -lovely posture and control of body lines, which transmit very well.
36- Tibor Poc and Hilary Mouat- have produced a challenge and were rewarded, and they produced a very interesting use of dance structure, and the lady's dress colour was a triumph of good taste, which was easy to find even when the floor was crowded.
Youth L/A Final
81-Daniel Ettridge and May Reid- show terrific potential and the girl is very mature- she dances as a woman of substance of Latin Dance. He understands and crashes his natural excellent temperament to the eyes and ears of watchers.
Stay tuned for Part 2...
Images: Dancefile.eu
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