Spring
Congress 2005
Sunday
13 March 2005
Royal Lancaster Hotel
London
As I mingled with friends and colleagues
arriving at the Royal Lancaster Hotel for our
annual Spring Congress it seemed amazing that
another year had passed since our last one, in
the Centenary year.
There was the usual happy hubbub of conversation
as teachers enjoyed a coffee, greeted friends
and caught up with the news before they moved
into the ballroom to be greeted by the Chairman,
Mr Robert Grover. After his greeting Mr Grover
introduced Mrs Peggy Spencer MBE, President of
the ISTD, who presented the first lecturer and
we were off!
Mr John Taylor was an inspired choice of lecturer
to open the day as, within minutes, the floor
was packed with smiling couples enjoying both
John’s choreography and his humour. The
lecture was entitled ‘Choreographing the
new non-syllabus figures in Foxtrot, Tango and
Quickstep’, which he proceeded to do with
his customary enthusiasm and skill.
Impeccably demonstrated by Neil Dewar and Lorraine
Kuznik, the Foxtrot flowed well and featured a
‘whiplash’ which John said would benefit
from a “touch of aggression” from
the gentlemen. With his wonderful teaching voice
he exhorted his class to “soar” into
the curved feather and to enjoy the experience.
I’m sure they did. The tango amalgamation
featured a Natural Fallaway Whisk to Spur. As
the class made their first attempt at the tricky
timing, John assured them a foot swivel would
”stop the pain”. It must have done,
as the second performance of this attractive grouping
was much better!
 |
 |
| 'Dance
in Time’ Vernon Kemp assisted by Lena
Shalneva |
Neil
Dewar and Lorraine Kuznik demonstrate in John
Taylor’s Foxtrot, Tango and Quickstep
lecture |
The Quickstep amalgamation
moved beautifully and highlighted a Scoop from
PP into a double Shunt - ‘no pursed lips
on the shunt, please’. Helped along by John’s
superb teaching methods, the class quickly mastered
this very useful group, and had great fun doing
so. A first class lecture enhanced by the lovely
dancing of Neil and Lorraine, and a most enjoyable
foretaste of some of the non-syllabus figures
currently being technically analysed by the Modern
Ballroom Faculty. It is hoped to eventually publish
these in book form.
The first Latin American lecture of the day was
presented by Miss Julie Tomkins who gave us ‘Imaginative
Choreography at Gold Level’ in Samba. The
class very much enjoyed this well thought out
amalgamation which featured some interesting developments
which would add interest and challenge at Gold
Star Level. The rhythmic demonstration of the
amalgamation by Julie and her partner Mr Graham
Oswick was much appreciated by the audience.
Mr Kevin Page then came to the floor to present
his lecture entitled ‘Strictly Sequence’.
Partnered by Miss Valerie Laws, he taught two
dances of their own choreography, both of which
will prove most useful.
The first dance, the Tango Regatta, was well constructed
and at just the right level of difficulty –
enough content to be interesting without being
too complicated for the average social dancer.
I particularly liked the middle sections of Swivels
to Promenade Point, which would be a useful class
variation.
The Resolution Rumba which followed was constructed
from basic and standard figures, and offered an
interesting variety of holds. Again it contained
some very attractive groupings which could be
used separately in a general class. Each dance
was taught with excellent clarity and was much
enjoyed by the capacity class.
After coffee the audience settled down to listen
attentively to Miss Anne Lingard and Miss Marion
Lane as they took us through the ‘Marking
System of Units 4 and 5 of the Foundation in Dance
instruction’ (Miss Lingard) and ‘Progression
Routes involving QCA accredited examinations’
(Miss Lane).
Anne dealt very clearly with each component of
Units 4 and 5 and explained in simple terms exactly
what was required from the candidate. Marion,
in her turn, stressed the importance of the new
professional examinations which will give us the
coveted accreditation qualifications and explained
the routes by which they can be achieved.
A most informative lecture, ably presented by
both ladies, which hopefully will have led to
a fuller understanding of some aspects of the
new examinations.
‘DFR Trilogy’ DFR Committee
Our last lecture before lunch was the very popular
DFR ‘Trilogy’ and the audience, having
sat and absorbed information during the last lecture,
was brought quickly to its feet by Miss Rachel
Wadey to learn two very lively Country Western
routines. Partnered by Mr Paul Streatfield she
presented ‘Rita’s Waltz’ and
‘Ghost Train’. Both dances were great
fun and were performed in lines holding hands
with the people on either side. On turns the dancers
found themselves in different lines holding hands
with other people, which caused some confusion
and much hilarity. Very catchy music and great
for party nights.
Mrs Pat Woor then gave us a very useful Rock ‘n’
Roll routine which was not difficult but contained
some very attractive shapes and would be most
suitable to teach to a social class. The class
mastered it quickly and danced it with enjoyment.
The final section of the Trilogy was a Disco Pairs
routine presented by Mr Paul Streatfield, partnered
with Miss Yvonne Taylor Hill. An interesting and
lively routine with varied patterns and shapes
featuring a clapping sequence much enjoyed by
the class.
Each section of the Trilogy was most carefully
and efficiently taught, and the DFR Faculty must
be congratulated on packing so much useful and
enjoyable work into half an hour.
Immediately after lunch the floor was packed again
with couples enthusiastically performing the Lindy
Hop. The lecture, presented by Mr Richard Marcel
and partnered by Susanne Hammond, provided a bright
and lively start to the afternoon. Richard’s
customary enthusiasm for club dance was infectious,
and the large class thoroughly enjoyed themselves,
getting well down into the floor and getting their
knees working as instructed.
The lecture was completed by a demonstration of
club style Lindy Hop by two amateur Club Dance
couples whom Richard had invited along to dance
for us. The audience loved their relaxed and rhythmic
dancing and showed their thanks to Richard and
his team with prolonged applause. A really excellent
lecture - most enjoyable work, well taught and
as Peggy Spencer said in her summing up - such
fun!
After their lively participation in the last lecture,
the members of the audience were happy to sit
and listen attentively as Miss Margaret Preedy
commenced a joint Modern Ballroom and Latin American
Grades lecture by taking us through the preparatory
exercises required for the Modern Ballroom Grades
1, 2 & 3. Assisted by two of her young pupils,
Margaret gave a very clear presentation of this
new work. She invited the audience to stand up
and go through the movements themselves, and a
huge class joined her on the floor as she explained
each exercise in detail.
The
second part of this lecture was presented by the
Chairman of the Latin American Faculty, Miss Lorna
Lee, who stressed the value of the Latin American
Preparatory Dance Exercises in developing the
fundamental actions of each dance. Today she dealt
with Samba and Cha Cha Cha and, as well as explaining
the exercises, gave us the benefit of her tremendous
knowledge and teaching expertise by giving invaluable
hints and tips on rhythmic expression and performance.
A most informative and interesting lecture, much
appreciated by the audience who gave it their
rapt attention throughout.
Our next lecture ‘Dance in Time’ was
presented by Mr Vernon Kemp. He had been given
the twofold task of talking about timing and presenting
a variation in Waltz. This he did with his usual
efficiency and skill, discussing general timing
problems encountered by pupils and explaining
different types and aspects of timings. All of
these, he said, needed to be mastered and thoroughly
understood before a dancer could achieve the ultimate
aim of being able to ‘play with the music’.
This Vernon did in the second half of his lecture,
when, partnered by Lena Shalneva, he presented
a stylish Waltz variation which featured two examples
of Split Beats and an attractive Running Feather
Ending to PP. A most useful and enjoyable variation
which, as Vernon explained, could be danced in
a fairly small room.
‘Imaginative Paso Doble’ was the title
of our next and final lecture, and Mr Michael
Stylianos, a choreographer ‘par excellence’,
was the perfect choice of lecturer. He started
by talking generally about the dance and about
the shaping and characterisation which are vital
to a good performance, insisting that complicated
choreography is not necessary. Michael stressed
the importance of a good stance – a still,
shaped upper body, arms rounded, knees rarely
completely straight – and a centralised
body weight on each step.
He then, with his usual flair, and using a cape
in place of a partner, demonstrated with great
style an amalgamation of Chasse Cape, Left Foot
Variation and the Twists which he said could be
danced throughout in Shadow Position with man
and lady dancing practically the same steps. Miss
Julie Tomkins was then ‘encouraged’
onto the floor to prove that it could be done
before the audience joined in. A lively class
ensued, much enjoyed by participants and spectators
alike.
Closing his lecture Michael exhorted the audience
to enjoy their choreography and made a plea for
‘free’ dancing without too much restriction,
demonstrating how different rhythms could be heard
in the same piece of music as she danced several
different dances to the same piece.
This most entertaining and informative lecture
from a Master of his art brought our Spring Congress
to a close. It had been a thoroughly enjoyable
day offering an excellent variety of well presented
lectures from all the Dance Sport faculties. “The
best ever” was a comment I heard several
times as the assembly made their way happily downstairs
to enjoy the annual treat of the Theatre Showcase.
Report by Margaret Connon
Photographs by Ron Self
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