| ISTD
Blackpool Grand Finals Weekend
Another
success for the ISTD! The Grand Finals Weekend in Blackpool
just gets better from year to year. If you have never been
you should think about attending next year.
The
moment your feet step into the magnificent Ballroom of the
Blackpool Tower you can feel the excitement. Hundreds of young
and old people are caught up in the magic of dance. Team spirit
is apparent and helps to magnify the enthusiasm. For me there
was just one thing that marred the weekend, which is the reason
for this article.
The
ISTD Latin Technique was re-written some five to six years
ago and I am disappointed that at Blackpool it was very clear
that old actions and theories are obviously still being taught
by some teachers.
I
realise old habits die hard and even if you (the teacher)
have a problem disciplining the change in your own dancing,
your pupils should by now be able to show the correct actions.
Children of six or eight years old are not old enough to have
danced the‘old technique’ and yet I quite clearly
saw them showing incorrect actions very deliberately.
An
example of this would be the backward walk in the Back Basic
in Cha Cha Cha and Rumba. When a step is taken back, full
weight should be transferred to that foot. The free leg has
the heel released from the floor with pressure in the toe,
(this happens as a direct result of weight transference).
Both legs are straight at this point.
The
image I saw at Blackpool was the heel of the front leg being
released with a bent leg almost simultaneously with the placing
of the back foot. The weight was not being committed to the
back leg properly. Consequently there were incorrect hip actions,
loss of postures and the steps were abrupt, clumpy and heavy
with a rocking body motion.
This
was just one example but there were others. That is why I
appeal for you to keep up to date with everything. Make sure
you try to attend the Spring and Summer Congresses. This will
give you the opportunity to speak to myself or one of the
Latin American Faculty committee.
It
is essential we all keep learning, dancing is a living thing
and it keeps on growing. The day I think I know it all I shall
give up but until then I shall keep on soaking up any information
I can get.
Lorna
Lee
Latin American Faculty Chairman
|
