It's all about the standing.
And it's Malitowski..or Mali-toff-ski to break it down, although Mali-tow-ski is also correct.
And it's Malitowski..or Mali-toff-ski to break it down, although Mali-tow-ski is also correct.
Blackpool Dance Festival 2012
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Hi Laura, trust you had a good week. Michael just said he is not a toff. 
Propeller planes fly into Blackpool airstrip, with airport exit just a minute's walk from a suburban road. Planes fly to Dublin, Isle of Man, Jersey, and some European resorts. My Dublin return flight cost 130 pounds, booked a month ahead.
Blackpool is a city of 140,000 stretching north-south for 5 miles along a seafront facing the Irish Sea. The beach unfortunately is covered with silt rather than golden sand. Given any excuse a breeze blows through the town keeping the air pleasantly cool.
Town centre is notable for Winter Gardens, a monolithic complex containing Empress Ballroom, plus an opera house, plus Spanish Hall upstairs offering conference and banqueting space. An extensive basement exhibition area is filled with dancewear, shoes, DVD etc which did roaring trade. Blackpool Tower on the seafront houses another complex for entertainment.
Winter Gardens sits next to a pedestrianised piazza paved with cobblestones, and a fountain area where children play. We sat there in between rounds to eat sandwiches and miniature tomatoes. Fringing this piazza are coffee shops and a Co-Op selling good sandwiches and fruits.
A minute's walk towards the seafront leads to Boots, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and a shopping mall containing Primark, H&M etc. There were no closed shopfronts or signs of recession that I could see. Perhaps all who come into this exclusively tourist seaside resort come with money to spend? The 70,000 beds in Blackpool hotels and B&Bs effortlessly absorb the annual influx of 6,000 Dance Festival visitors. Between them they probably spend 5 million pounds -- an important boost to Blackpool's economy.
This year I stayed in a B&B in Adelaide Road immediately next door to Winter Gardens, at 33 pounds per day for single occupancy of a double room, with en suite shower. Breakfast was outstanding, available from 7:30 to 11:30, offering grapefruit, peaches, fruit salad, as well as all the usuals. Internet WIFI was available free in the lounge, using a password given to hotel guests. The entire hotel was filled by Festival guests, attracted by the advantage of being 100 feet from the ballroom side entrance. On the hottest day I took 5 showers to cool off.
Propeller planes fly into Blackpool airstrip, with airport exit just a minute's walk from a suburban road. Planes fly to Dublin, Isle of Man, Jersey, and some European resorts. My Dublin return flight cost 130 pounds, booked a month ahead.
Blackpool is a city of 140,000 stretching north-south for 5 miles along a seafront facing the Irish Sea. The beach unfortunately is covered with silt rather than golden sand. Given any excuse a breeze blows through the town keeping the air pleasantly cool.
Town centre is notable for Winter Gardens, a monolithic complex containing Empress Ballroom, plus an opera house, plus Spanish Hall upstairs offering conference and banqueting space. An extensive basement exhibition area is filled with dancewear, shoes, DVD etc which did roaring trade. Blackpool Tower on the seafront houses another complex for entertainment.
Winter Gardens sits next to a pedestrianised piazza paved with cobblestones, and a fountain area where children play. We sat there in between rounds to eat sandwiches and miniature tomatoes. Fringing this piazza are coffee shops and a Co-Op selling good sandwiches and fruits.
A minute's walk towards the seafront leads to Boots, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and a shopping mall containing Primark, H&M etc. There were no closed shopfronts or signs of recession that I could see. Perhaps all who come into this exclusively tourist seaside resort come with money to spend? The 70,000 beds in Blackpool hotels and B&Bs effortlessly absorb the annual influx of 6,000 Dance Festival visitors. Between them they probably spend 5 million pounds -- an important boost to Blackpool's economy.
This year I stayed in a B&B in Adelaide Road immediately next door to Winter Gardens, at 33 pounds per day for single occupancy of a double room, with en suite shower. Breakfast was outstanding, available from 7:30 to 11:30, offering grapefruit, peaches, fruit salad, as well as all the usuals. Internet WIFI was available free in the lounge, using a password given to hotel guests. The entire hotel was filled by Festival guests, attracted by the advantage of being 100 feet from the ballroom side entrance. On the hottest day I took 5 showers to cool off.
Thank you for your entertaining and informative report I look forward to it every year.
Hope you trip home was good.
Hope you trip home was good.
T am so so sorry I didn't get your message until just now 
- also forgot my phone charger and my phone ran out of charge by the time I arrived in Blackpool, so couldn't text either you or Laura, as she now knows!
I know we usually meet up for coffee the morning after don't we - but since you weren't staying in the Imperial, I didn't get to see you then.
I was very very lucky this year - I go every year and haven't had a numbered seat for 4 years - just general seats - but this year I was very fortunate to get a front row balcony seat - if I could choose any seat, the one I had last week would be the one I'd go for. You could see absolutely everything and I didn't want to miss one single thing - it was fabulous.
Although, floorcraft was a particular shocker this year in the early rounds - don't quite know why!
- also forgot my phone charger and my phone ran out of charge by the time I arrived in Blackpool, so couldn't text either you or Laura, as she now knows!I know we usually meet up for coffee the morning after don't we - but since you weren't staying in the Imperial, I didn't get to see you then.
I was very very lucky this year - I go every year and haven't had a numbered seat for 4 years - just general seats - but this year I was very fortunate to get a front row balcony seat - if I could choose any seat, the one I had last week would be the one I'd go for. You could see absolutely everything and I didn't want to miss one single thing - it was fabulous.
Although, floorcraft was a particular shocker this year in the early rounds - don't quite know why!
Hi Tangoqueen, glad you got the seat you most wanted. Festival organisers are big on tradition and precedent, so if you quote chapter and verse about this precedent, in future year seat allocation you should get priority consideration.
Crowding and collisions on the dance floor, crowding and competition for scarce viewing space, competitiveness between 65 nationalities sharing no common language -- such would be sufficient provocation for rows and rage elsewhere. I am impressed that everyone sweetened by music and dance holds back from spoiling a happy week.
The bottom line is a kind and warmhearted place, or customers will not cross oceans to come back.
Good luck with your tennis.
Crowding and collisions on the dance floor, crowding and competition for scarce viewing space, competitiveness between 65 nationalities sharing no common language -- such would be sufficient provocation for rows and rage elsewhere. I am impressed that everyone sweetened by music and dance holds back from spoiling a happy week.
The bottom line is a kind and warmhearted place, or customers will not cross oceans to come back.
Good luck with your tennis.
Hi Soulmate - thanks for all your reports, sounds like you had a blast again!
Maybe next year you should invest in some platform shoes for optimum viewing?
What did you think of the Pro Latin final? And what of your favourite from last year, Tatsiana?
Tangos
Maybe next year you should invest in some platform shoes for optimum viewing?
What did you think of the Pro Latin final? And what of your favourite from last year, Tatsiana?
Tangos
Best seats (even better than front row on floor) are definitely front row balcony - especially if the balcony is opposite the stage. From there you can see everyone all the time; you don't have to worry that your 'favourite' only seems to be dancing out of view at other end of the floor, or that one of the judges decides to stand dead square in front of you so you can hardly see a thing, which is something that once happened to me.
The only problem is lack of eye contact and interaction up on the balcony - that's why I used to despise the International, it felt so detached and impersonal. Not a problem this year though, as I have a front row seat.
Yes, life on the rectangular dance floor is like the Bayeux Tapestry coming alive in cinemascope and stereo, with interesting things happening everywhere simultaneously. Unlike an army in uniform, unlike a corp du ballet, 20 latin couples are all doing their own thing their own way in 20 colours -- with glorious creativity, some less hot.
Watching this it also occurred to me how much poorer a society will be if the female half of the population is oppressed and kept in purdah.
While sitting in the front row dead centre, judge Sammy Stopford often stood in front of me. His girth has widened somewhat since he was latin world champion, and you might think he has slowed down. Not a bit. He kept moving to find a better view. During one paso doble he tapped his foot in rapid rhythm.
Then Olé , a flamenco stamping of the foot. The old warhorse wants to go back into battle.
I would sit upstairs if the floor can be arranged to shake and involve me, and if dancers look up towards me with exhilaration. Oh and I do like girls winking at me in the front row.
More later.
Watching this it also occurred to me how much poorer a society will be if the female half of the population is oppressed and kept in purdah.
While sitting in the front row dead centre, judge Sammy Stopford often stood in front of me. His girth has widened somewhat since he was latin world champion, and you might think he has slowed down. Not a bit. He kept moving to find a better view. During one paso doble he tapped his foot in rapid rhythm.
Then Olé , a flamenco stamping of the foot. The old warhorse wants to go back into battle.
I would sit upstairs if the floor can be arranged to shake and involve me, and if dancers look up towards me with exhilaration. Oh and I do like girls winking at me in the front row.
More later.
Originally Posted by tangos_with_tim:
“Hi Soulmate - thanks for all your reports, sounds like you had a blast again!
Maybe next year you should invest in some platform shoes for optimum viewing?
What did you think of the Pro Latin final? And what of your favourite from last year, Tatsiana?
Tangos”
“Hi Soulmate - thanks for all your reports, sounds like you had a blast again!
Maybe next year you should invest in some platform shoes for optimum viewing?
What did you think of the Pro Latin final? And what of your favourite from last year, Tatsiana?
Tangos”
Hi Mrs Tim,
Yes indeed, will investigate 6-inch platform shoes for next year. Thanks Becca for the example -- this is an arms race.
Tatsiana Lahvinovich partnered by Zoran Plohl who danced for Croatia in Blackpool Amateur Latin 2010 making such a big impression, now dances for Slovenia, exclusively in the WDSF camp, no more in WDC. I did see them ranked once as "WDSF World Champion", but now WDSF has changed their computation method, and this pair is currently ranked 17.
http://www.worlddancesport.org/Couple/Ranking
It is a crying shame they are lost to Blackpool, and Blackpool is lost to them. Since Blackpool 2010 they mopped up 21 wins in 25 WDSF comps, but in the process raised their computer points by only 10, only 1900 versus Joanna and Yulia on 2001.
http://www.dancesportinfo.net/Couple...9/Results.aspx
Come home Tatsiana.
More later. Last night 's jive lesson killed me.
Just popping in to say I love this thread every year.
Keep up the good work, all you Blackpool goers!
Keep up the good work, all you Blackpool goers!
Originally Posted by soulmate61:
“Since Blackpool 2010 they mopped up 21 wins in 25 WDSF comps, but in the process raised their computer points by only 10, only 1900 versus Joanna and Yulia on 2001.”
“Since Blackpool 2010 they mopped up 21 wins in 25 WDSF comps, but in the process raised their computer points by only 10, only 1900 versus Joanna and Yulia on 2001.”
This is because every one of their wins is an expected result for them. The Dancesportinfo rankings only change when a result is good for a couple (+ points) or bad for a couple (- points) so for achieving an expected result, it just stays exactly the same. For example, if a couple dances a competition and is beaten by some couples that usually they would place ahead of, points would be deducted. Similarly, if a couple was to maintain their usual position within a more challenging field, points would be added. Since the WDSF has pretty much close to 0 decent professional couples, it's just expected that Zoran and Tanya will win everything that they enter. Therefore, that 1900 looks to be staying set long term! Unless they retire before their time, just as the last WDSF World Professional Latin Champions did!
Thanks Becca.
We need all the challengers we can field against Joanna. Nina's dad Rudi won 4 latin championships in a row, Donnie 4, and Bryan 6. Joanna has already won 5 with no end in sight.
Could Tatsiana have given up the idea of confronting Joanna? Zoran and Tatsiana have a 13-year competition record, so they are no spring chickens. Have they decided to mop up some prizemonies while the going is good? Maurizio and Melinda split in 2010, both returning with new partners to reclaim similar places in the Final. Slavik made a bid in 2010 then lost his partner to matrimony. Franco also lost his parter to matrimony then in 2012 pulled out late. Joanna remains unbeatable in England, like a whodunit whose first page is overshadowed by the obvious last page.
Now for fashion. Joanna wore something totally unmemorable, except perhaps for her hairdo. Yulia wore a battleship grey top, with a skirt like a zebra crossing with wide vertical stripes in grey and coral. Yulia often wears variations of pink reflecting the warmth of her personality. I would never have dreamt of such a concoction but Yulia makes everything she wears beautiful. In the Final Yulia switched to silver and white -- dazzling under lights. Photos and videos capture colour but completely miss luminosity.
As predictably as Joanna wins the dancing prize Yulia wins my fashion prize, every year. I will pay good money just to watch Yulia walk -- better than a supermodel. Vogue magazine has missed a trick.
On the night Joanna showed a bare back awesome in its delineation of muscles. My friend said such muscles come from repeatedly using the back, not from weight training. Yulia's back shows similar muscle definition but she has narrower feminine shoulders. In the Sunday lecture Yulia with bare arms demonstrated movements illustrating Riccardo's talk. Yulia does not carry an ounce of fat -- top dancers make such incredible sacrifices.
Who won the 2012 Pro Latin? Joanna of course, all 5 dances. Who will win in 2013? Joanna of course, to applause all the way -- yawn.
Last year Mirko Gozzoli gave a lecture in Spanish Hall. A dancer, said Mirko, is like a star with 5 points: 2 feet, 2 arms, and 1 head.
(My own comment: the head is like a large heavy fruit at the end of a long stalk. If this fruit leans over, then it changes the centre of gravity of the plant, which like the Leaning Tower of Pisa will try to topple over. The larger, the heavier the fruit, the more pronounced the consequence from leaning away from the vertical.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaubRAEK-MA
In the clip above Joanna's spin was like the best Swiss chronometer in the world. At all times her heavy head pointed straight up so that not a trace of horizontal torque perturbed the symmetry of her rotation around the vertical axis.
Heresy: it is not like that when Yulia spins, also superfast.)
2012 has turned out to be the best of my 4 Festivals. Among other treats I got an autograph off Patrizia (where's that heart smiley?).
And one off Yulia.
"Spaceba," I said to Yulia.
"Pashalsta," she said to me and smiled, in one melodious word confirming what I always knew, that Yulia could be a singer, Yulia could play First Violin.
My goddess spoke to me.
We need all the challengers we can field against Joanna. Nina's dad Rudi won 4 latin championships in a row, Donnie 4, and Bryan 6. Joanna has already won 5 with no end in sight.
Could Tatsiana have given up the idea of confronting Joanna? Zoran and Tatsiana have a 13-year competition record, so they are no spring chickens. Have they decided to mop up some prizemonies while the going is good? Maurizio and Melinda split in 2010, both returning with new partners to reclaim similar places in the Final. Slavik made a bid in 2010 then lost his partner to matrimony. Franco also lost his parter to matrimony then in 2012 pulled out late. Joanna remains unbeatable in England, like a whodunit whose first page is overshadowed by the obvious last page.
Now for fashion.
Joanna wore something totally unmemorable, except perhaps for her hairdo. Yulia wore a battleship grey top, with a skirt like a zebra crossing with wide vertical stripes in grey and coral. Yulia often wears variations of pink reflecting the warmth of her personality. I would never have dreamt of such a concoction but Yulia makes everything she wears beautiful. In the Final Yulia switched to silver and white -- dazzling under lights. Photos and videos capture colour but completely miss luminosity. As predictably as Joanna wins the dancing prize Yulia wins my fashion prize, every year. I will pay good money just to watch Yulia walk -- better than a supermodel. Vogue magazine has missed a trick.
On the night Joanna showed a bare back awesome in its delineation of muscles. My friend said such muscles come from repeatedly using the back, not from weight training. Yulia's back shows similar muscle definition but she has narrower feminine shoulders. In the Sunday lecture Yulia with bare arms demonstrated movements illustrating Riccardo's talk. Yulia does not carry an ounce of fat -- top dancers make such incredible sacrifices.
Who won the 2012 Pro Latin? Joanna of course, all 5 dances. Who will win in 2013? Joanna of course, to applause all the way -- yawn.
Last year Mirko Gozzoli gave a lecture in Spanish Hall. A dancer, said Mirko, is like a star with 5 points: 2 feet, 2 arms, and 1 head.
(My own comment: the head is like a large heavy fruit at the end of a long stalk. If this fruit leans over, then it changes the centre of gravity of the plant, which like the Leaning Tower of Pisa will try to topple over. The larger, the heavier the fruit, the more pronounced the consequence from leaning away from the vertical.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaubRAEK-MA
In the clip above Joanna's spin was like the best Swiss chronometer in the world. At all times her heavy head pointed straight up so that not a trace of horizontal torque perturbed the symmetry of her rotation around the vertical axis.
Heresy: it is not like that when Yulia spins, also superfast.) 2012 has turned out to be the best of my 4 Festivals. Among other treats I got an autograph off Patrizia (where's that heart smiley?).
And one off Yulia.
"Spaceba," I said to Yulia.
"Pashalsta," she said to me and smiled, in one melodious word confirming what I always knew, that Yulia could be a singer, Yulia could play First Violin.
My goddess spoke to me.
The dresses seem to be getting better, not been keen on some of them I have to say!
Joanna's first dress was black followed by flesh/gold. I'd much rather some of the dresses be unmemorable than stick out for all the wrong reasons; there were quite a few dress disasters over the whole week!
Joanna's first dress was black followed by flesh/gold. I'd much rather some of the dresses be unmemorable than stick out for all the wrong reasons; there were quite a few dress disasters over the whole week!
Pics of top 6 couples from Pro Latin Final. Great to see also, though not in every dance:
Anton Karpov and Ekaterina Lapaeva from Russia,
Justinas Duknauskas with Anna Melnikova from Lithuania,
Markus Homm and Ksenia Kasper from Germany,
Emanuele Soldi and Elisa Nasato from Italy (onto the floor to a great ovation).
http://www.dancesportinfo.net/Articles/7715.aspx
And beautiful gowns from Ballroom Final top 6. Good to see also in the Final Round though not in every dance:
Sascha and Natasha Karabey from Germany,
Angelo Madonia and Antonella Decarolis from Italy,
Chao Yang and Yiling Tan from China.
http://www.dancesportinfo.net/Articles/7717.aspx
Victor Fung and Anastasia Muravyova started Blackpool on 2002 and by virtual of coming second rose to 2003. Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova started on 2049 and finished on 2049 despite winning all 4 dances (as explained by Becca) -- their 60th straight win since coming second in Blackpool 2009.
Anton Karpov and Ekaterina Lapaeva from Russia,
Justinas Duknauskas with Anna Melnikova from Lithuania,
Markus Homm and Ksenia Kasper from Germany,
Emanuele Soldi and Elisa Nasato from Italy (onto the floor to a great ovation).
http://www.dancesportinfo.net/Articles/7715.aspx
And beautiful gowns from Ballroom Final top 6. Good to see also in the Final Round though not in every dance:
Sascha and Natasha Karabey from Germany,
Angelo Madonia and Antonella Decarolis from Italy,
Chao Yang and Yiling Tan from China.
http://www.dancesportinfo.net/Articles/7717.aspx
Victor Fung and Anastasia Muravyova started Blackpool on 2002 and by virtual of coming second rose to 2003. Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova started on 2049 and finished on 2049
despite winning all 4 dances (as explained by Becca) -- their 60th straight win since coming second in Blackpool 2009.
'Spaceba'?
'Pashalsta'?
Please translate for us Soulmate!
What's going on with Sergey's horrible vest?
I did wonder if Tatsiana was a casualty of the politics, shame
'Pashalsta'?
Please translate for us Soulmate!
What's going on with Sergey's horrible vest?
I did wonder if Tatsiana was a casualty of the politics, shame
In Russian:
Thanks.
Please (or you're welcome.)
It was one word, but I shall never forget it.
I will never wash my ear.
Haven't you heard?
There is a Recession on, everything has to be recycled now.
Thanks.
Please (or you're welcome.)
It was one word, but I shall never forget it.
I will never wash my ear.
Originally Posted by tangos_with_tim:
“What's going on with Sergey's horrible vest?”
“What's going on with Sergey's horrible vest?
”
Haven't you heard?
There is a Recession on, everything has to be recycled now.
I don't think there's anything wrong with the vest - I just would have preferred him in black for the final.
http://www.dancesportinfo.net/Articles/7715.aspx
In the absence of music, a captions contest.
Michael: "Look, a pigeon is about to do the business on us."
Joanna: "It will never catch me."
Yulia: "There is a coin on the floor."
Riccardo: "It's only a 5p."
Melia: "I like your cleavage."
Sergey: "Nina's THAT big."
Andra: "It's hard work ploughing this floor."
Maurizio: "Especially going backwards."
Melinda: "Why are we skating?"
Andrej: "Joanna is coming after us."
Anton: "How low can you go?"
Ekaterina: "Ouch."
In the absence of music, a captions contest.
Michael: "Look, a pigeon is about to do the business on us."
Joanna: "It will never catch me."
Yulia: "There is a coin on the floor."
Riccardo: "It's only a 5p."
Melia: "I like your cleavage."
Sergey: "Nina's THAT big."
Andra: "It's hard work ploughing this floor."
Maurizio: "Especially going backwards."
Melinda: "Why are we skating?"
Andrej: "Joanna is coming after us."
Anton: "How low can you go?"
Ekaterina: "Ouch."
http://www.dancesportinfo.net/Articles/7717.aspx -- captions contest.
Katusha: "We have risen to great heights."
Arunas: "I am gasping for oxygen."
Victor: "I love your ballgown."
Anastasia: "I borrowed it from paso doble."
Sara: "I am changing the centre of gravity."
Andrea: "Not half."
Monica: "What are you singing?"
Domen: "On Wings of Song."
Yulia: "Goal !"
Valerios: "A kiss for you later."
Kristi: "I am dizzy."
Warren: "Close your eyes and think of England."
Katusha: "We have risen to great heights."
Arunas: "I am gasping for oxygen."
Victor: "I love your ballgown."
Anastasia: "I borrowed it from paso doble."
Sara: "I am changing the centre of gravity."
Andrea: "Not half."
Monica: "What are you singing?"
Domen: "On Wings of Song."
Yulia: "Goal !"
Valerios: "A kiss for you later."
Kristi: "I am dizzy."
Warren: "Close your eyes and think of England."
Originally Posted by soulmate61:
“It was one word, but I shall never forget it.
I will never wash my ear.”
“It was one word, but I shall never forget it.
I will never wash my ear.
”
I wonder if Yulia reads this thread? If so, I am sure she would be smitten by your dedication Soulmate!
Originally Posted by tangos_with_tim:
“I wonder if Yulia reads this thread?”
“I wonder if Yulia reads this thread?”
She will be too busy globetrotting for that
. In addition to exhibitions, Riccardo and Yulia competed in 16 comps since Blackpool last year, coming second only twice (to Michael and Joanna who limit themselves to about 5 comps a year). They have a very de luxe website now: http://www.rydance.com/media/22 MAY- 01 JUN 2011 - Blackpool Dance Festival
01 JUL 2011 - MANHATTAN DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS
16 JUL 2011 - 2011 WDC WORLD CUP - Shenzen, China
04 SEP 2011 - EMBASSY BALL - Irvine, California
09 SEP 2011 - USDC 2011 - Orlando, Florida
11 OCT 2011 - INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Brentwood, London
15 OCT 2011 - LONDON BALL
22 OCT 2011 - KREMLIN WORLD CUP - Moscow
12 NOV 2011 - DUTCH OPEN - Assen, Holland
19 NOV 2011 - OHIO STAR BALL - Columbus
26 NOV 2011 - WDC WORLD MASTERS - Innsbruck, Austria
04 DEC 2011 - WDC DISNEY RESORT - Paris
19 JAN 2012 - UK OPEN 2012 - Bournemouth
26 FEB 2012 - ASIAN OPEN - Tokyo
28 FEB 2012 - TAIWAN OPEN - Taipei
03 MAR 2012 - MALAYSIAN INTERNATIONAL DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS - Kuala Lumpur
11 MAR 2012 - MACAU OPEN
Whenever Joanna walks through a public place she looks at the floor straight ahead, neither to the left nor to the right. It is understandable as so many fans want to make eye-contact, shake hands, gosh even to invite themselves to a kiss on Joanna's cheek. Before a long comp she needs to preserve her concentration and emotional energy. Without makeup and covered up in civvies, quiet Joanna looks just like a woman on a Clapham bus.
On Tuesday night I was watching the Amateur Latin from an unfavoured corner of the dance floor. At 9pm lo and behold a familiar-looking couple arrived. Can it really be? Yes it was ! Reigning world champions Riccardo and Yulia. They took up their reserved seats in the second row, turfing out two interlopers. So this is why I cannot make the front row, because the world champions can't. Another night Katusha Demidova arrived with an American party -- to sit in the 4th row next to me
.When Riccardo and Yulia got up to leave during one interval, they couldn't. Such was the throng of adoring fans and friends who kept talking to them and would not let them go.
I would not dream of accosting my goddess. One word was exchanged between us, that was enough and very special to me
. Yulia is such a sensitive soul though I guess (I guess all the time) that she would actually remember me. Hang on. I got an autograph off Joanna last year, after which she remembered my face and instead of looking at the ground beamed at me twice when walking past me later the same day. But one year later Joanna had forgotten my face and did not show a flicker of recognition. Who can blame her, so many faces all over the world turn to Joanna it must be quite wearing.
I find that personality wise, Joanna and Yulia are the complete opposites of each other. From the times that we have spoken, I get the impression that Joanna is fairly shy and sweet, while Yulia is quite chatty and friendly. They both seem to be really nice, genuine people. I don't know either of them that well, but they'll always smile and say hello to me.
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