| Maurizio
Vescova & Melinda Torokgyorgy
Graham
Oswick interviews these top competitors and gets an
insight into their lives
I
met up with Maurizio & Melinda during a quiet period
at the recent United Kingdom Dance Championships in
Bournemouth. They very kindly let me chat with them
to find out a little bit more about how the minds of
the reigning World Amateur Latin American Champions
work. They are of course, the holders of the Imperial
Amateur Latin American Championship as well as being,
British, International and World Champions.
Here’s how it all went:
G
- How were you first introduced to dancing?
MV - Well, my mother was dancing first. She did Salsa
and then got involved in competition. My parents said
that every time they went for a lesson, I was always
there watching and trying to copy what they were doing.
I also used to dance around the table when we were supposed
to be having our meals. Eventually they decided to find
me a partner and that was the beginning!
MT – My parents were also dancing and had their
own club in Hungary which is still running. My sister
was also dancing. So there were two possibilities. Either
I hate dancing or take up dancing. I chose the second!
G
- Fortunately for all of us I guess!
G
- What is the most memorable moment in your career so
far?
Two memories are the most clear for me. Making our first
major semi-final at Blackpool and then making the final
in the International championships in London. Then of
course there was winning Blackpool in 2007 which was
very special for us.
G
– Of course you recently won the World Championship
for the first time in Lithuania in December which must
have been a great feeling too.
MV – Yes, this was the end of a year of very good
results
for us.
G
- Have you ever had any major disasters in your dance
career?
MT – We did a competition one time in Belgium
when Maurizio forgot nearly all our choreography! He
was going against the line of dance and things like
this! Promenade runs the wrong way around the floor.
G
– I guess that got you noticed!
G
- What other dancers have inspired you?
MV – I have a lot of inspiration from my Flamenco
teacher. Especially in the way she looks at dancing
and how strong she is in the practice. She gives me
a lot of character
G
- Which dance best suits your character and why? I assume
from your last answer you are going to say Paso Doble.
MV – Yes, that’s right.
G
– You are quite famous for your interpretation
of the Paso Doble.
MT – I like the Rumba more.
G
- What is it about Dancing that you like?
MT - I like that when I dance I can just forget everything
and enjoy the music. It’s a great feeling for
me. It’s almost an escape.
MV – I also like the Dance World and the people
in it. I like the way I can be myself on the floor.
I can take away the tension in my body with the dancing.
I especially like that dancing is something you have
or don’t have. Nobody can buy this. I feel very
rich with this feeling even though I don’t have
so much money.
G
- What tips would you give to young dancers starting
out today?
MV - I think the young generation are a little full
of mechanics of movement instead of relaxing and finding
their own style for dancing and their own way to express
what they feel inside. I think this is very important
for any dancer.
G
– How important would you say a good technique
is to a successful dancer?
MV – The more technique you have the more you
can be on balance and express music. Without this the
expression we see is not real.
G
– How much practice to do you do in a week?
MT – It really depends. Sometimes it’s three
hours per day but we don’t have a strict system.
We feel our practice is affected by our mood as well
as our working schedule. Sometimes we do a lot and other
times not so much.
G
– So you would say that it is a more spontaneous
thing?
MV – Exactly
MT– Every day we change how, what and the amount
we practice.
G
– Where’s the strangest place you have had
to dance?
MT – In Budapest we had a show with many VIP’s
and nobody was watching us at all. They were only eating
and talking to each other.
MV – Another time we were doing a show by the
side of a swimming pool. In one number I was using a
cape and I threw the cape inside the pool!
G
– I bet that made it difficult to twirl.
MV – Beside the pool there is a type of plastic
grating where the overflow water runs and Melinda kept
losing her heel down this. It was very funny. In the
Samba we had to actually dance around the swimming pool.
G
– What are the top five elements a good dancer
requires in your opinion?
1. Not to be too commercial
2. Good musicality
3. Correct Interpretation of dances
4. A good knowledge of technique
5. Be original
G
– Who’s the boss in your partnership?
MT – He is the boss!
G
– Who’s the most organised? I’m sure
it can’t be Maurizio if he is a typical Italian.
MT – Actually he is quite organised (for an Italian).
MV – I do 80% of the things.
G
– How was it being immortalised on the ISTD technique
video for Paso Doble?
MV – It was quite difficult because everything
had to be precise as the book states and there were
many hours standing and repeating steps for the camera.
MT – The simplest things always took longer!
MV – It was difficult to keep our own interpretation
of shapes and amounts of turn under control.
G
– Is there anything else we should know?
MT – He is very crazy but he has a good heart!
He can change moods very quickly. He is very spontaneous.
G
– He’s Italian you mean?
MT – Exactly. I’m the more consistent one
who controls the situation!
I
would like to thank Maurizio and Melinda for spending
some time with me and I am sure you would want to join
with me in wishing them well with their successful careers
together.
Graham Oswick
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