| Profile
of Doris Lavelle
 |
Doris
Lavelle was born in 1907 in London. Her father was a music
hall artist and she had two brothers. When she left school
she attended a secretarial course at Pitmans and every
weekend she went to the West End of London to enjoy the
popular 1920's pastime of Ballroom Dancing. |
Much
of this time was spent at Monsieur Pierre's Studio in Regent
Street. This was a famous venue for Ballroom Dancing in the
20's, 30's and 40's. Pierre was a well-known teacher and demonstrator
who had come to London in the mid 20's to teach the 'new'
Latin dances; Argentine Tango, Paso Doble, Samba and Rumba.
Of course this was the Square Rumba. He quickly realised the
dance potential of Doris Lavelle and after some years of training,
she became his dance partner and they were much acclaimed
demonstrators, appearing as often as three nights a week at
different London night clubs of which there were many at that
time. The Studio stayed open all through the war and was a
popular meeting place for the free French citizens on leave
in London.
After
the war, the Studio had a short spell in Oxford Street and
then moved to Greek Street in Soho. A small studio on the
top floor with a very good maple floor, a wonderful sound
system installed by Jimmy Arnell, music brought back from
Cuba and when the fire escape door was opened, the great sound
of this Latin music drifted out across the rooftops of Soho.
It was the number one place to go for dancers of all types
from Social to Champions, all changing partners and dancing
purely for the love of it.
By
now Pierre, Doris and Jimmy had visited Cuba many times and
discovered that the Square Rumba was not the Cuban Rumba,
so in 1948 Pierre introduced to the UK the system of Ballroom
Rumba. It was not well received at first and took 8 years
to be accepted. In the late 60's Doris was involved in a horrendous
car accident, on the way to a competition and was left with
many broken bones in feet, arms and legs including a badly
broken ankle and a shattered kneecap. It took nearly 2 years
before she was able to dance again, but with enormous willpower
and persistence so characteristic of her personality she started
again to lecture and demonstrate and was often partnered,
very beautifully, by the much missed Geoffrey Clapham.
In 1970, Doris published 'Discotheque Dancing', one of the
first books to 'chart' Disco dancing. I remember her well
trying out all the steps at her classes in Greek Street. She
was a very good 'Class Teacher'.
In
this book Doris refers to this style as Soul Dancing. In the
introduction she wrote, 'It is not my intention to be dogmatic,
but rather to give instructions as guidance only, since this
type of dancing is essentially a matter of individual taste
and improvisation. The most successful performers of Soul
Dancing as of all other forms of dancing are those who possess
the greatest sense of rhythm’. These words, to me, typify
the essence of Doris's own teaching and dancing. Doris judged
at all the major Championships and was on the Latin American
Committee for many years. She always enjoyed training professionals
for their qualifications. Her approach to the coaching of
competitors was not in choreography, but in bringing out the
rhythm in every movement.
Doris
was very strong-minded and believed totally that the main
spring of Latin Dance was authentic dancing to authentic music.
She had a long and happy personal partnership with Jimmy Arnell,
himself a Latin Champion and shared with him a love of dogs.
When you visited the Greek Street Studio, the most comfortable
settee was always reserved for the dogs, generally an alsatian
and two poodles.
Thank
you Doris for your dancing, your determination and inspiration.
Marion
Brown
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