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Ballroom and Latin American Dance Questions |
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#601 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 39
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Personally, I don't mind how many questions you ask. Always happy to answer if I can.
When I started dancing I learnt both ballroom and Latin together, and competed in both through the medallist system, and then onto the Open competitions. However, as I climbed up the tree (so to speak) I found it sensible to specialise on just one element; as an amateur I still had to work, and did not have the time to have lessons and practice for both elements (most of our lessons meant a round trip of nearly 200 miles!) and nor did I have the money for clothes etc., for both ballroom and Latin. When I turned pro, I continued with the one element, i.e Latin, which has always been my favourite. favourite. (In order to teach all round I did take further ballroom lessons, though still mainly teach Latin). Hope that is what you wanted to know? |
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#602 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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Happy Christmas everyone - maybe this thread will tick along through the year??
ha ha had to post this video of Josephine Braddley introducing the Jive to UK oh how times change https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45T2uX3BEC0#t=199 |
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#603 |
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,520
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Happy Christmas everyone - maybe this thread will tick along through the year??
ha ha had to post this video of Josephine Braddley introducing the Jive to UK oh how times change https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45T2uX3BEC0#t=199 Warm wishes, Jennifer |
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#604 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,439
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Happy Christmas everyone - maybe this thread will tick along through the year??
ha ha had to post this video of Josephine Braddley introducing the Jive to UK oh how times change https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45T2uX3BEC0#t=199 |
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#605 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
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This is really interesting. Do you mind me asking what age you were when you started dancing? I'm just curious about how young you need to start to turn professional. One of my teachers said she started when she was 12 and she said that was already too old for her to turn professional - she said you have to start when you're really young. But another teacher started at 20 and turned professional!
How young you need to be in order to turn professional depends largely on what you intend to do. It would be unusual for someone in their late teens, for example, to start dancing from scratch (with no experience of any dance discipline) with the intention of competing in the professional field - unusual but not impossible. Certainly someone aged 12, providing he/she had really good teachers, could work their way up through the ranks and eventually turn pro. Quite a few do - not everyone starts very young. However, if the intention is to teach, perhaps in a medallist school for example, then there is no upper or lower age limit. I know an excellent medallist teacher who didn't take up bb & Lat until she was in her 40s. Hope this answers what you wanted to know. |
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#606 |
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,520
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I started when I was 4, but had quite a long gap between ages 11-14 (health issues).
How young you need to be in order to turn professional depends largely on what you intend to do. It would be unusual for someone in their late teens, for example, to start dancing from scratch (with no experience of any dance discipline) with the intention of competing in the professional field - unusual but not impossible. Certainly someone aged 12, providing he/she had really good teachers, could work their way up through the ranks and eventually turn pro. Quite a few do - not everyone starts very young. However, if the intention is to teach, perhaps in a medallist school for example, then there is no upper or lower age limit. I know an excellent medallist teacher who didn't take up bb & Lat until she was in her 40s. Hope this answers what you wanted to know. Equally many current competitors chose to establish themselves in the Amateur ranks for many years before turning professional. |
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#607 |
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Join Date: Nov 2013
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For anyone that may be interested, 2 new and very exciting professional partnerships have been formed.
Domen Krapez is now partnering the fabulous Natascha Karabey and Valerio Colantoni is partnering Monica Negro. Can't wait to see them both competing. Best of luck to both. |
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#608 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
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For anyone that may be interested, 2 new and very exciting professional partnerships have been formed.
Domen Krapez is now partnering the fabulous Natascha Karabey and Valerio Colantoni is partnering Monica Negro. Can't wait to see them both competing. Best of luck to both. As you say, good luck to both new partnerships |
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#609 |
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Join Date: Nov 2013
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I didn't realist the Karabeys had split Was never a huge fan of their dancing, they were always very good, but I found it a bit too bland. It's just a matter of taste.
As you say, good luck to both new partnerships I do wish SCD would regularly feature top ballroom and latin couples. |
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#610 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
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I do understand what you mean, however Natascha is a fabulous dancer , I am looking forward to seeing her with Domen.
I do wish SCD would regularly feature top ballroom and latin couples. I agree, but when they had Joanne & Michael as guest dancers one year so many people, who were only used to seeing Strictly version of dancing, thought they were dreadful! They didn't understand what they were seeing. |
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#611 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 39
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I started when I was 4, but had quite a long gap between ages 11-14 (health issues).
How young you need to be in order to turn professional depends largely on what you intend to do. It would be unusual for someone in their late teens, for example, to start dancing from scratch (with no experience of any dance discipline) with the intention of competing in the professional field - unusual but not impossible. Certainly someone aged 12, providing he/she had really good teachers, could work their way up through the ranks and eventually turn pro. Quite a few do - not everyone starts very young. However, if the intention is to teach, perhaps in a medallist school for example, then there is no upper or lower age limit. I know an excellent medallist teacher who didn't take up bb & Lat until she was in her 40s. Hope this answers what you wanted to know. |
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#612 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
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Thanks so much!! It certainly does xx
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#613 |
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Join Date: May 2011
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I agree, but when they had Joanne & Michael as guest dancers one year so many people, who were only used to seeing Strictly version of dancing, thought they were dreadful! They didn't understand what they were seeing.
Even Len Goodman, who is always presented as Mr Big Expert, is in reality just a very ordinary elementary dance school teacher, no better qualified than hundreds of others, whose main business before this show started was putting on medal classes for beginners. Every time he nit-picks about footwork he betrays his medal-test background, and I have lost count of the number of talented celebrities he has used his position as "head judge" to vote off, most recently Pixie Lott. I will never forgive him for getting rid of the classy Cherie Lunghi like that! Before long he will drop dancing altogether like Lionel Blair and go on the golden television trail as a presenter - he has already started! |
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#614 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
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Exactly. To have real-life ballroom competition dancers on this show would make it obvious that the show has nothing to do with ballroom dancing and is a distorted version which is organised and controlled exclusively by stage dancers. I always think that the title "Strictly" is a joke and the show should really be called "Loosely Come Dancing". The so-called "judges" have never included real-life ballroom competition judges (actually I seem to remember Shirley Ballas was on the panel once but not for long).
Even Len Goodman, who is always presented as Mr Big Expert, is in reality just a very ordinary elementary dance school teacher, no better qualified than hundreds of others, whose main business before this show started was putting on medal classes for beginners. Every time he nit-picks about footwork he betrays his medal-test background, and I have lost count of the number of talented celebrities he has used his position as "head judge" to vote off, most recently Pixie Lott. I will never forgive him for getting rid of the classy Cherie Lunghi like that! Before long he will drop dancing altogether like Lionel Blair and go on the golden television trail as a presenter - he has already started! As for Len Goodman. Either you know him and he has upset you, or you are only guessing because you don't like him? Len has owned 3 very successful dance studios. Yes, beginners/medallist classes are part of those - as they are in virtually ALL dance studios. However, mostly these were run by Len's dance assistants, while he himself concentrated on World-Class Amateur (i.e. championship level) and professionals - some of whom are ex-Strictly pros, others who are Strictly pros. As well as coaching, Len has, at various time, travelled all over the world to judge just about every prestigious dance competition there is, including the World Championships and, of coruse, Blackpool Festival. You don't get those jobs by being an "elementary medallist teacher". As for his nit-picking - have you not yet realised that is precisely his job on Strictly? To pick up on technique, something which the other 3 haven't a clue about? Voting off Cherie Lunghi? Classy does not make a good dancer; Pixie - he was one of 2 who chose to vote her off, simply and purely because Simon was the better dancer. |
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#615 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 15,185
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could not agree with your comments more Kaycee the OP must as you say have a grudge with Len or just not know his background.
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#616 |
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,520
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Sorry, but I couldn't disagree with you more. The 10-standard dances in Strictly are all based on "real" dancing. They problem is the celebs are limited to what they can learn in such a short timescale, so only the same easy steps are used, which are then "disguised" with various tricks and gimmicks to prevent everyone looking alike and the viewers switching off in droves.
As for Len Goodman. Either you know him and he has upset you, or you are only guessing because you don't like him? Len has owned 3 very successful dance studios. Yes, beginners/medallist classes are part of those - as they are in virtually ALL dance studios. However, mostly these were run by Len's dance assistants, while he himself concentrated on World-Class Amateur (i.e. championship level) and professionals - some of whom are ex-Strictly pros, others who are Strictly pros. As well as coaching, Len has, at various time, travelled all over the world to judge just about every prestigious dance competition there is, including the World Championships and, of coruse, Blackpool Festival. You don't get those jobs by being an "elementary medallist teacher". As for his nit-picking - have you not yet realised that is precisely his job on Strictly? To pick up on technique, something which the other 3 haven't a clue about? Voting off Cherie Lunghi? Classy does not make a good dancer; Pixie - he was one of 2 who chose to vote her off, simply and purely because Simon was the better dancer. |
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#617 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,439
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could not agree with your comments more Kaycee the OP must as you say have a grudge with Len or just not know his background.
Bit of both, I suspect! A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to you, Bendy, and to your brother. Always interesting when you repeat his views on the dancing/dancers. |
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#618 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,439
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Agree with all that you have said, Kaycee.
As with Bendy, A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours. Let's hope it's a good one. |
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#619 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 383
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Finally managed to find a local ballroom/latin class! I've been looking for ages now but I live in the back-end of nowhere so the only local dance classes are ballet and street. Even this is only two introductory sessions (one each ballroom and latin) but hoping if it's successful they'll keep it going!
![]() So, any tips for the first class? |
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#620 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,122
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Quote:
I started when I was 4, but had quite a long gap between ages 11-14 (health issues).
How young you need to be in order to turn professional depends largely on what you intend to do. It would be unusual for someone in their late teens, for example, to start dancing from scratch (with no experience of any dance discipline) with the intention of competing in the professional field - unusual but not impossible. Certainly someone aged 12, providing he/she had really good teachers, could work their way up through the ranks and eventually turn pro. Quite a few do - not everyone starts very young. However, if the intention is to teach, perhaps in a medallist school for example, then there is no upper or lower age limit. I know an excellent medallist teacher who didn't take up bb & Lat until she was in her 40s. Hope this answers what you wanted to know. A question How much do you lot rate Arunas and Katusha? I think they are simply magic |
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#621 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,520
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Quote:
Finally managed to find a local ballroom/latin class! I've been looking for ages now but I live in the back-end of nowhere so the only local dance classes are ballet and street. Even this is only two introductory sessions (one each ballroom and latin) but hoping if it's successful they'll keep it going!
![]() So, any tips for the first class? Have you danced before ( I am assuming these are beginners classes) and are you going alone or with a partner? I hope that they are just waiting to see whether there are sufficient numbers interested? |
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#622 |
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,520
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I seem to remember Jonathan Roberts started ballroom at 21
A question How much do you lot rate Arunas and Katusha? I think they are simply magic With regards to Arunas and Katusha, they are sublime, almost perfection. Lovely soft powerful movement, technically excellent, very difficult to fault. There are couples behind them that are improving too, it will be exciting this year as there are a couple of new partnerships out there too. |
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#623 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 383
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What part of the Country do you live? Would you be prepared to travel a distance for classes / lessons...this may be the only other alternative.
Have you danced before ( I am assuming these are beginners classes) and are you going alone or with a partner? I hope that they are just waiting to see whether there are sufficient numbers interested? |
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#624 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,439
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Quote:
I seem to remember Jonathan Roberts started ballroom at 21
A question How much do you lot rate Arunas and Katusha? I think they are simply magic Arunas and Katusha. Just simply brilliant. |
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#625 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,714
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Here's my not very technical question while we are the topic of Arunas' dancing. I have never seen him live but in the Youtube clips of their waltzes, he seems to me to achieve exaggerated rise and fall as much from knee flexion as footwork. Am I wrong about this? It's not something I have ever been taught in the waltz, certainly to the degree I see him bending the knee in conjunction with heel leads. Amazingly expressive couple.
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