Simon
Cruwys in Profile
Simon
Cruwys is a Ballroom and Latin American Examiner and
a member of the Latin American Faculty Committee. He
is also a Championship adjudicator, demonstrator and
lecturer. He runs a busy school with his sister Heidi
in which he teaches all levels from social dancers,
medallists and competitors to professionals.
Simon was born in beautiful Bournemouth to proud parents
John and Heather. He has an older brother Russell and
a sister Heidi, five years his junior.
With a mother who loves dancing and was a member of
the Trevor and Pat Schoffield formation team in Weston-Super-Mare,
a dancing dad and big brother Russell (who already danced
extremely well) as well as a sister who was later to
prove herself to be a gifted dancer, it was no wonder
Simon took to dance with ease.
At age six Simon began training with Colin and Toni
Twine at Anglo Dance Studios. He trained for ISTD medals
and very soon joined the competitive ranks.
As a boy Simon was into football, cricket, rugby and
all the sports, but it was dance that won the day and
on which he spent most of his time and energy.
He competed at both National and International levels
with various partners through Juvenile, Junior and Youth
divisions. In 1989, as an amateur, he moved to Finland
to partner Tuula Rankovaara. They danced at the Telemark
Club and trained with her parents Asho and Salmo Rankovaara.
Simon enjoyed the atmosphere of the Club system, finding
it to be supportive and fun. Some of his happiest competitive
days were with the Club, especially on the European
trips to Russia, the Baltic States, Italy and more.
He found that travelling and competing as a group of
enthusiastic like-minded young dancers was more enjoyable
than travelling and competing as a single couple.
When Simon first returned to England he continued competing
for about three more years as an amateur. However, when
his partnership with Nicki Moore ended, Simon’s
life led him full speed into exciting changes. The reason
being that sister Heidi’s partnership with Bruce
Lait also ended at about that time. It was the first
time ever in their dancing lives that neither Simon
nor Heidi had a partner. It was meant to be that they
dance together.
Simon and Heidi had the same aspirations for their futures
and many of the same qualities. Both have a vast experience
of dance gained from their years of training and competing.
Not least, both of them have a tremendous capacity for
hard work.
In 1995 Simon and Heidi opened their own school, Dance
Crazy. They base the school ethics on the Club system
that Simon found to be so beneficial to him. Wisely,
they sought guidance and training from Martin Simmons,
who has been an amazing force for good in Simon’s
professional life. In Simon’s words “Martin
was the driving force that has enabled me to get where
I am today. As I took one exam, the following week’s
lesson was immediately spent training for the next examination.
I could not have had a better mentor.”
As a result of gaining Highly Commended in his Ballroom
Associate, Simon entered and won the coveted Phyllis
Haylor Scholarship. His Great Aunt Edith, who gave her
utmost support to the three children in all their dancing
endeavours, was especially interested in his participation
in the scholarship. This made the win a poignant one
for Simon.
Simon and Heidi competed successfully as professionals,
winning amongst other things the Closed UK Professional
Ballroom Championships in 1996. In that same year they
had a wonderful trip to South Africa, teaching, lecturing
and demonstrating.
They retired from competing in 1997 but continue demonstrating.
“Shows are absolutely still a big part of my life”,
says Simon. “The nervous tension, the excitement,
is why it all started. I love the shows, even more perhaps
than competing because the show is purely centred on
dance and giving the best you can. It’s not about
beating someone else, to win”. I like his way
of thinking.
Simon became a member of the Latin American Faculty
in 2000 and an Examiner in 2003. His enjoyment in committee
is in working with others and being there in the development
of things. Simon finds examining interesting and that
it is great to be out there, with an objective eye.
Within his and Heidi’s school, there is a constant
buzz with laughter and learning going hand in hand.
The complete family involvement also adds to the atmosphere,
giving warmth in a way that only a family can. Big brother
Russell takes Wednesday class (Russell was a qualified
teacher before Simon and Heidi began their training).
Mum and Dad also help in every way possible, giving
as much support now as when rushing around the country
taking the children to competitions.
Simon teaches with a generosity of spirit. He draws
out pupils’ qualities, teaching in a way that
enables them to discover and fulfil their potential.
Asked what he likes best about teaching, Simon’s
answer was “the pupils’ achievement”.
Janet Clark
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