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Old 13-12-2016, 17:24
collaw
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I agree Ann, probably best to post in the NAT thread....or not.
Yes sorry is was the Argentine tango
nat thread?
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Old 13-12-2016, 17:39
Jennifer_F
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Yes sorry is was the Argentine tango
nat thread?
In this instance, yes probably best to post in the NAT thread ( Most definitely not an appreciation thread). Lots of AT experts in there will be able to help. Most of us are purely ballroom and latin.
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Old 13-12-2016, 17:40
collaw
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Thanks
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Old 13-12-2016, 17:42
Ann_Dancer
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Or try resurrecting this thread. http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...506&highlight=
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Old 13-12-2016, 17:43
Nina_Blake
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I'm not sure any of the regular posters on this thread are expert enough, collaw. I have danced quite a lot of AT in the past (private lessons for a few years) but I wouldn't set myself up as an expert, You really need someone like An Thropologist who does some teaching (and who is also very fair and objective) to comment.
Agreed on An Thropologist. A wonderful poster.
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Old 13-12-2016, 18:01
Toasted Toad
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Agreed on An Thropologist. A wonderful poster.
Sofakat there (on the NAT) also an AT aficionado (not sure of her exact background). She was, to put it mildly, unimpressed by Ore's routine.
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Old 16-12-2016, 20:29
pabird
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Watched ITT tonight and they showed finalists in practise and I found something really unusual in particular in a comp dancer

In an extended showing of Kevin in practise he was obviously performing so much better than he had in the semi's

Still for me a left arm tango issue but I always found the energy of actual comp performance produced the best levels of technique and performance
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Old 16-12-2016, 20:51
Rhumbatugger
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Sofakat there (on the NAT) also an AT aficionado (not sure of her exact background). She was, to put it mildly, unimpressed by Ore's routine.
I don't rate sofakat on objectivity. And she thinks ALL SCD ATs are rubbish anyway, so...
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Old 16-12-2016, 21:04
Ann_Dancer
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Watched ITT tonight and they showed finalists in practise and I found something really unusual in particular in a comp dancer

In an extended showing of Kevin in practise he was obviously performing so much better than he had in the semi's

Still for me a left arm tango issue but I always found the energy of actual comp performance produced the best levels of technique and performance
I've known competitiors who perform at less than their practice level, pabird. Also could he be affected by Louise who may not be at her best in the semis? Certainly for tango he may have to do quite a lot of compensating.

How long did you compete for pabird? It sound like you had a successful competitive career. Was it always at amateur level and was it always with your wife?
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Old 16-12-2016, 22:54
pabird
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I've known competitiors who perform at less than their practice level, pabird. Also could he be affected by Louise who may not be at her best in the semis? Certainly for tango he may have to do quite a lot of compensating.

How long did you compete for pabird? It sound like you had a successful competitive career. Was it always at amateur level and was it always with your wife?
Always amateur but did turn down odd opportunities to go pro

had two early days partners until I teamed with my life long partner, we were engaged for four years and married for fifty three years until I became her carer for 2/3 years losing her two years back

We started pro-am before progressing on and up and managed circa ten years on the circuit

Loved every minute and still treasure memories plus Frank Alback photo,s and the odd D/News comment suggesting we were on the way up and on
Truth is we sat down one night and after an emotive chat decided a lifetime of night shift would prevent the family life we both opted for
Had a most fulfilling family and slight twinges ref leaving dance no serious regrets

Ann you have me unloading
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Old 16-12-2016, 23:13
Ann_Dancer
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I was just interested pabird. There are so few serious competitors or ex competitors on these forums. It does sound like a very joyful dance career, but I can appreciate that it must have been difficult fitting in the hours of practice, late evenings and travel to various locations.
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Old 16-12-2016, 23:39
pabird
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I was just interested pabird. There are so few serious competitors or ex competitors on these forums. It does sound like a very joyful dance career, but I can appreciate that it must have been difficult fitting in the hours of practice, late evenings and travel to various locations.
Thats ok Ann
non comp dancers/spectators simpl;y would not understand the time and money involved
Apart from our own coach we had lessons at different times with Scrivener and Davis and given practise hours and travel to comps and undergoing several heats and the grand finals you could rack up fourteen hours in a week on the dance floor(s)
Loved it and it is amusing to watch on SCD top class international athletes out of breath after a single dance
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Old 17-12-2016, 06:07
Jennifer_F
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I was just interested pabird. There are so few serious competitors or ex competitors on these forums. It does sound like a very joyful dance career, but I can appreciate that it must have been difficult fitting in the hours of practice, late evenings and travel to various locations.
It is very difficult Ann, especially when you have full time jobs too. It is 1000% commitment, there are no half measures. We danced or did something dance related every single day. We would have 3 hour practices probably Monday Wednesday and Thursday ending late at night after work, Tuesdays and Fridays would be time spent in the gym, in the summer would treat ourselves to a run round the park too.
Saturdays if we had lessons, it would be a long day of travelling to London starting out early, having the lesson/s then the long drive back. Sundays would be comp days where I can recall sometimes getting up at 3.00am to get ready and then driving 4 or 5 hours to a comp, doing the comp and getting back at 2 or 3 in the morning, minimal sleep before getting up at 6.00am to go to work. On weekends when we may not have either a lesson or comp, you are back in the training room.
With all of this, you still have to fit in cleaning dresses and shoes, re-stoning dresses, dress fittings, entering comps in advance, booking ,accommodations, flights, tanning up before comp days, hair and nail appointments etc, not to mention fitting in your job and everything that comes with ordinary everyday life.
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Old 17-12-2016, 06:15
Jennifer_F
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Always amateur but did turn down odd opportunities to go pro

had two early days partners until I teamed with my life long partner, we were engaged for four years and married for fifty three years until I became her carer for 2/3 years losing her two years back

We started pro-am before progressing on and up and managed circa ten years on the circuit

Loved every minute and still treasure memories plus Frank Alback photo,s and the odd D/News comment suggesting we were on the way up and on
Truth is we sat down one night and after an emotive chat decided a lifetime of night shift would prevent the family life we both opted for
Had a most fulfilling family and slight twinges ref leaving dance no serious regrets

Ann you have me unloading
Lovely memories pabird
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Old 17-12-2016, 06:17
Jennifer_F
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non comp dancers/spectators simpl;y would not understand the time and money involved

Loved it and it is amusing to watch on SCD top class international athletes out of breath after a single dance
Yes and yes...
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Old 17-12-2016, 08:35
Ann_Dancer
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That's interesting from both of you.

The late night scheduling of competitions is a pain. I was going to take my scrutineer exams which I should be able to pass easily being a maths graduate. I even went as far as getting the rules from the bdc and starting to study. I pretty well had it nailed and ready to do the exams. However, I then thought what's the point. I can drive but don't have a car nowadays, and it would be difficult for me to get to and from the differrent locations.

Do other countries financially support their ballroom dancers or are all dancers self funded?
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Old 17-12-2016, 09:10
Ann_Dancer
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RE: Len Scrivener. Wasn't he very influential to modern ballroom tango? I'm sure I read that somewhere. (As well as being quite anti establishment in some of his ideas.)

Ha! Found this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Y6Q784OI8
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Old 17-12-2016, 09:29
Jennifer_F
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RE: Len Scrivener. Wasn't he very influential to modern ballroom tango? I'm sure I read that somewhere. (As well as being quite anti establishment in some of his ideas.)

Ha! Found this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Y6Q784OI8
Yes, he was Ann, along with his partner Nellie Duggan. Tango has evolved thankfully since those days - as has all the dances - but he was one of the greats that everyone in that era went to for lessons.
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Old 17-12-2016, 10:32
Ann_Dancer
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Yes, he was Ann, along with his partner Nellie Duggan. Tango has evolved thankfully since those days - as has all the dances - but he was one of the greats that everyone in that era went to for lessons.
Yes, it has changed a lot, as have all the ballroom dances. You do expect all dance forms to evolve in time, That's why I think discussions which are too focussed on authenticity can be quite backward looking. I also love it when people who practice other dance forms, like Matthew Bourne, are open minded and take an interest in Strictly.
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Old 17-12-2016, 10:43
Mr Cellophane
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It is very difficult Ann, especially when you have full time jobs too. It is 1000% commitment, there are no half measures. We danced or did something dance related every single day. We would have 3 hour practices probably Monday Wednesday and Thursday ending late at night after work, Tuesdays and Fridays would be time spent in the gym, in the summer would treat ourselves to a run round the park too.
Saturdays if we had lessons, it would be a long day of travelling to London starting out early, having the lesson/s then the long drive back. Sundays would be comp days where I can recall sometimes getting up at 3.00am to get ready and then driving 4 or 5 hours to a comp, doing the comp and getting back at 2 or 3 in the morning, minimal sleep before getting up at 6.00am to go to work. On weekends when we may not have either a lesson or comp, you are back in the training room.
With all of this, you still have to fit in cleaning dresses and shoes, re-stoning dresses, dress fittings, entering comps in advance, booking ,accommodations, flights, tanning up before comp days, hair and nail appointments etc, not to mention fitting in your job and everything that comes with ordinary everyday life.

Oh my, Jennifer - that is an awesome level of commitment! (I was going to pick you up on using a percentage figure greater than 100, but in this instance maybe it's understandable!)
Were you able to function at all at work on a Monday??
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Old 17-12-2016, 10:48
Jennifer_F
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Oh my, Jennifer - that is an awesome level of commitment! (I was going to pick you up on using a percentage figure greater than 100, but in this instance maybe it's understandable!)
Were you able to function at all at work on a Monday??
Yes, its amazing what the body and mind can do when it has to. I really didn't think about it at the time as it (dancing) was our life, we did it and that was normal for us and other dancers. We had to practice all the time, whether you were sick, tired or just plain didn't actually feel like it that day, for whatever reason. I think this is why dancers, or most of them, are really quite tough characters, who have worked tirelessly over the years for their successes.
I also did not mention the money
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Old 17-12-2016, 10:51
Toasted Toad
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Yes, it has changed a lot, as have all the ballroom dances. You do expect all dance forms to evolve in time, That's why I think discussions which are too focussed on authenticity can be quite backward looking. I also love it when people who practice other dance forms, like Matthew Bourne, are open minded and take an interest in Strictly.
He's wonderful, isn't he? I think Matthew loves all forms of dance and gets a lot of pleasure out of seeing people learning movement.

Re the 'out of breath' thing - I rather suspect that a lot of the pros are putting it on so as to empathise with their celeb, or to show the public how difficult the routine was.
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Old 17-12-2016, 10:55
Jennifer_F
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Yes, it has changed a lot, as have all the ballroom dances. You do expect all dance forms to evolve in time, That's why I think discussions which are too focussed on authenticity can be quite backward looking. I also love it when people who practice other dance forms, like Matthew Bourne, are open minded and take an interest in Strictly.
I see what you mean, but I do like to see authenticity in the dances, ie the characteristics of each dance, without that, you don't actually have a proper ballroom dance. I love seeing dancing evolve but with it as always, the basics of the dance must be there.

I have suggested it before but been shot down in flames on this forum but at Christmas, say, I would actually like to see a show ( half hour perhaps ) of just the Pro's dancing, no gimmicks but just pure dancing, both ballroom and latin. Surely this would tick the boxes for a lot of viewers in that they would see good dancing with faces/dancers that they were familiar with.?
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Old 17-12-2016, 12:14
bendymixer
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would love to see a programe of the pros dancing too

talking of Sir Matt Bourne he is going to tonight's final with Gene Kelly's widow - with this in mind I wonder if Ore's judges choice is Singing in the rain??
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Old 17-12-2016, 12:16
Jennifer_F
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would love to see a programe of the pros dancing too

talking of Sir Matt Bourne he is going to tonight's final with Gene Kelly's widow - with this in mind I wonder if Ore's judges choice is Singing in the rain??
It just has to be Bendy.....its going to be brilliant and emotional for all concerned.
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