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BDF Congress- Blackpool 2024
It’s free- it’s full, its fabulously fervent and with ferocious talent too. A mix of the young and fearless to the more mature with minuscule moments of anticipatory relish- It’s Blackpool, It’s BDF, it’s “B”eautiful “D”ance “F”ervency.
Ed and Veronika Ault “Fire and feeling in Tango”
This pair, over the years, have ensured that they collect and show the principles of dance laid down by our great pioneers. It is instantly obvious, as they bare the bones of Tango actions, the musical “feel” was clear in the music they chose to dance to. He talks , she dances with him and a lovely blend is clear.
How to add inflections to movements such as Oversways, Spanish Drags etc, both musically and with function. They used their explanation of a Closed Finish which was held so beautifully after the drag action. This is of the essence in Tango, so as to establish and use rhythmic and body contrasts.
20 minute lectures from different couples. How to expand your knowledge of what seems to demand academic function by using contrasts of time to accelerate or decelerate. Each lecture today will be a fabulous attempt to not only thrill the audience with their illustrations coupled to explanations.
Graham Oswick- “Feet to be free”
On he walks and there is an unseen presence surrounding this man of Latin dance. He walks so confidently that you can actually hear the audience's intakes of breath- mine too.
He is all ready to impart knowledge as deep as an ocean and this man of Latin conjures up visions of feet and ankles which constantly and instantly show utter expertise and as he talks he accelerates to eyes and ears. The knowledge which is allowed to cascade to attenders who can gobble it up as if a meal at the London Savoy. I can see Graham at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool during the Junior Dance Festival of some years ago and as he danced; it was obvious his talent was screaming loudly as his use of base was being protected and enhanced. To progress you must articulate feet and ankles says Graham. Without those aspects you will never be successful. “There was no fear” says Graham. This was a master of Latin showing a masculine part of his superb knowledge of Latin dance. He did it with charm, persuasion and tough talking too. Majestic “Oswick-ology” would create for you, and with you too, a spring up the ladder of fame if you concentrate on his principles as if a witch boiling up a brew of functional effervescence.
Oliver Hand and Anastasiia Lysytsyan - “Sensitivity in Motion”
The principles of dance are indispensable and must be acquired said Oliver. How right he is to connect a thought process explanatory showing of different parts of the body and how they can work together to enhance dance prowess. Using equalising fences, you must acquire smoothness of motion. You must “not” overuse pressure in your hands to the Lady. You have to show relaxation and not over tension.
Practise social style and dance without the usual silhouette and learn to dance beautifully. Benny Tolmeyer said he learned more in a night club than anywhere else how to lead and follow. They gave a lovely illustration of “how” to set up ready to dance a competition as tension free as possible. Blessed with physiques, born to dance Ballroom, this young couple’s lecture was full of “how” to be able to produce excellent dance, and they have evidently studied very hard. A man has to ask himself many valid questions and find answers to enable him to really exploit his dances with a girl who will follow his leads. Refinement is vital and not at all easy to acquire.
Christopher Hawkins gave a lovely address as BDC Chairman which transmitted just how fervent himself and the BDC members were and they spend much of their time trying to solve difficult situations. When Graham Oswick was using his magical wand in his lecture, I noticed a wee girl of a tender age on the floor attempting valiantly to portray what Graham demanded and she sure was trying. Her name is Liza Vennov and she is 9 yrs old. She tells me she loves latin just a minuscule more than ballroom and simply adores being on the floor with Graham. Thank you Liza, your abundance of sheer joy was not just found in you of course but in everyone.
Gee, I turned over too many pages and lost some of Chris Hawkins’ speech when I prepared my notes for publication. Chris said all the hard work done to prepare the Congress is most appreciated and he wishes to protect the BDC and all dancers throughout every year. He looks forward to the future and the energy required to get to Blackpool where supreme efforts are most appreciated. The onerous tasks of BDC Chairman will be dealt with by Christopher and the members are drawn from all over the U.K- It’s only by investing in the future that we can build a better future. We must work hand-in-hand together. Thank you Christopher.
Scott Draper- “It’s Your Choice”
Scott described what can happen after you have had a lesson and revealed problems which can arise from practising as so often you have to revisit the new ideas and try to incorporate them as the norm and it’s not easy.
A lovely young couple conveyed the stance and analysed the lady and Scott showed them with the lady in an incorrect position. Scott then showed how the man should just move his weight in relation to his feet in order to produce a body position ready to dance which is vital. Weight being towards each other in relation to feet placement for stance is an asset of superb use of some of the pioneering principle. The man must release any arm tension so as to inhibit strain.
Foxtrot Feather analysed for the use of CBM and CBMP and Body Swing- all very important acquisitions demanded of Great Champions of the Past as well as of today. Scott showed walks forwards and backwards. “Not that good” said Scott, and his sense of humour incited much laughter - Joy was spread and can escalate as “your” dance process can. From today’s lectures, there so much to learn. The entire Draper family are steeped in dance.
Darren Bennett.
His brother Dale was unable to be there today to give a lecture but Darren was asked and accepted to assist by taking his place- we all send our best wishes to Dale for a speedy and full recovery. The BDF will ensure he is asked again when fully recovered. Darren talked at length about the rhythm effects you can use if you posses a good knowledge of the beats and bars of the music, as a fine understanding of this aspect can make a big increase on your performance and he emphasised how to use attack, set and hover etc to enable a top class dance performance.
Energy is vital to create volume and relax and this becomes dynamic. Darren’s evident knowledge and understanding has been released from his mind as he shows how to expand through an on-shot spin, coupled to speed and also deceleration of the spin action. 20 attenders join Darren’s invitation to join him on the floor - Darren shows and they dance what he shows gleefully and rhythmically too. The use of accented beats shared as clean as you hear a church bell ring on a Sunday- Thank you Darren.
Michael Barr “What does the future hold?”
He danced a Foxtrot solo, all the way round the Spanish Hall. Attenders react instantly. Humorous quips from Michael, added instantly to his magical prowess as a dancer and a multi champion too. Michael is totally immersed with the production of the use of proper mechanics to be able to produce such magnificent dancing and, over the years Michael and Vicky have delighted audiences and judges who saw them dance inimitally. Showing posture for both man and lady which was devoid of overproduction. Ease of movement, the hold structured and on comes todays’ assistants, Joanne Bolton Hawkins, Denise Weavers, Nicola Nordin and of course Vicky Barr. These girls had no fear because they knew that Michael would never not produce fabulous leads to allow them to follow. He showed aspects of such desirability and he also showed the bad run. Each lady had a task and they all carried their tasks beautifully. Trepidation must have been on Michaels’ mind to ensure he transmitted so well as to make the ladies smile- he sure did.
Michael's knowledge is like a cauldron of a male witches brew- he even showed the “current” trends in Waltz of continuous runs “without” expertise. “Give me an extra couple of minutes” says Michael- I would wish it to be hours. His understanding tremendous and his humour so attractive. “Swing is the basis of a Quickstep” Michael says, "step and swing". The Spanish Hall's walls and ceiling were devouring all that Michael said today and conviviality was filling the hall with sheer joy- thank you Michael, professor of ballroom dance and Les Girls who were simply marvellous.
Peter Daskalov and Zia James “Musicality in Samba”
The British National Champions of Latin Dance and there is no doubt of the expertise this couple have. You can be sure blood, sweat and tears have been part of these lives in dance. The music in Samba, and its relationship between sound and music. Zia says that musicality is of the essence in dance and Samba contains terrific usage of rhythmic changes with superb use of nuances of such excellence. They bring enormous capability into the Spanish Hall and both of them tell attenders about the understanding and knowledge they posses. They both talk of what they have assimilated over the years. As all great lady dancers can, Zia was able to illustrate her thought process and create a picture of what is ultra desirable musicality. Her confidence is of the essence so that, for example, coordination between herself and Peter is achieved. They are world class, shooting into the stars of dance and they light up the Spanish Hall as they dance some Samba. Peters’ leads to Zia are as subtle if a police squad car and he is the expert driver, so well rehearsed and using his steering wheel to overtake and to direct his lady of dance. Their performance today was mesmeric as he led his wonderful lady of Latin to balance after balance and showed and explained many aspects of Latin dance which are a necessity to eventual success.
Jack Reavely
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