Two Left Feet Newsletter - August Issue
Finally all the points are added up, all the calculations made so we can proudly say: Congratulations to the Top Ten Students in our Summer Sweepstakes 2005. Here they are:
Don Jaffe
Misha Jaffe
Linda Auton
Nordis Glasoe
Yukie Banks
Carol Shea
Bill Kochman
Elinore Barrett
Richard & Cathy Kean
Susie Fowler
A total of 49 students gained points throughout the month of June, showing their dedication and enthusiasm about dancing, having fun and competing to be in the Top Ten. All of them will receive a voucher with the total of points earned and they will be able to redeem them for either Private Lessons or Group Classes by the end of August.
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With the completion of a great sweepstake season, we are feeling a little bittersweet knowing that we will soon be missing our receptionist and dear friend, Eleanor. We wish her endless new adventures and just ask that she be careful jumping out of all those planes! A Fond Farewell My time at Fred Astaire Dance Studio has been fun and I have enjoyed greeting and working at the 'front desk' with the staff and many of you. However, it is time to be able to do what I want when I want and to go where I want whenever I want; so, it is with sadness to be leaving, but yet joy that I will be joining the world of "whatever". Thank you all for your understanding, kindness and friendships. Keep Dancing!!! Eleanor Canty |
World Championships Professional Standard and Latin
World Championships have been held in ballroom dancing since 1909 when Camille de Rhynal held annual championships in Paris. Records of the years prior to the First World War are sketchy, and it is only since 1922 when the sport split into professional and amateur levels that complete records have been kept. The 1922 championships were also the first to award a single 'world championship' as opposed to titles in the individual dances.
These annual competitions only became official in 1936, and since then the title has only once left the United Kingdom. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the championships were put on hold for six years. Following its revival, the professional ballroom dancing world was becoming more and more fragmented as competing organizations vied for domination. Finally, in September 1950 the International Council of Ballroom Dancing (ICBD) was founded, becoming the world's first international professional dance organization, and all competitions claiming to be the 'World Championships' were boycotted by all member nations.
The Championships returned once again in 1959 under the control of the ICBD, and have continued since then. The ICBD has since been renamed as the World Dance & DanceSport Council (WD&DSC).
The 'Standard' section of DanceSport covers the dances waltz, quickstep, tango, foxtrot and Viennese waltz. DanceSport denotes dance as a sport activity. Initially this term was applied to competitive ballroom dancing, in its International Style.
The most recent World Professional Standard Championships were held in Tokyo in February 2004, and were won by the British couple Christopher Hawkins and Hazel Newberry.
World Championships have been held in the Latin section of ballroom dancing since they were organized by the ICBD in 1959, and are held annually.
International Latin dancing covers the dances cha cha, rumba, jive, samba and paso doble.
The current champions are Bryan Watson & Carmen Vincelj who represent Germany and have been Professional Latin World Champions since 1999.
Dance Spot The Swing
The Swing, originally called the Lindy Hop, was born in the south of the United States, and is the most famous American Folk Dance. The best forms of Swing included the Charlston, Black Bottom, Shag, and the Lindy Hop. In the early 40s, these forms consolidated into what was called the Lindy.
The Lindy was first danced as a modified box step, with a slight shuffling movement. The shuffling movement of the original Lindy can be likened to today's single rhythm in Swing. As the shuffling, or single rhythm progressed, it evolved into both the double and triple time Lindy. Today all three form the basis of good Swing dancing.
About 55 years ago, the Swing was danced in the Harlem Section of New York city at a time when such band greats as Chic Webb, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman were holding Sway. It was in Harlem where the Swing took on most of today's popular steps and styling.
For many years now the better establishments have frowned upon the wilder forms of Swing because the acrobatics involved limited the number of people who could dance at one time. It is possible however, to do a fine Swing in a relatively small area, providing the dancers are better than average and have an assortment of dance breaks. There is no question that the dance will always be around. All parts of the country you will find dancers adding their own interpretations and changes of style. All dances, in order to survive, must be built up from a firm basic movement so that adlibbing and complete freedom of expression can be interpreted into the dance. The Swing has these attributes.
The swing is a dance that does not move along the line of dance. Free rhythmic interpretation is characteristic, using single, double or triple rhythms. A relaxed shuffling movement and use of upper body sway is also used to highlight the Swing.
The three main dance forms of swing are Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, and East Coast Swing. However, there are many other dances of this kind, such as the Jive.
Originally, swing was danced to swing music, which is a kind of jazz. Some of the swing jazz great performers are Count Basie, Woody Herman, and Ella Fitzgerald. West Coast Swing is usually danced to blues or rock and roll but dancers may dance to virtually any 4/4 music that is not too fast. Swing music had a revival in the late 90s thanks to musician Brian Setzer, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the movie Swingers, and a number of other bands.
Events This Month
August 26th is the date for our Guest Party this month. Bring your Qualified Guests and win Free Private Lessons. What is a Qualified Guest?
21 or older
Takes advantage of and completes the Guest Special
Not a family member
Lives within 20 miles of the studio
If your Guest does not fit the above criteria, they qualify when they enroll in The Get Started or Beginner Program. To qualify to receive Free Lessons when you bring a Guest you must be enrolled in a program yourself (Pre-Wedding, Intro Class and any other series excluded).
You didn't forget about the competition, did you? Friday August 12th is the Professional Night (7:00 pm - 11:00 pm) Price: $35 per person for session #2; $80 per person with buffet. Saturday Night, August 13th is the Grand Ball and Banquet (8:00 pm - 12:00 pm) Price: $110 per person. Please call 1.781.826.2500 for more details.
As a young girl, dancing and performing had been Kristina's passions. In High School, she was the captain of her Varsity Dance Team which won the Bay State League Championship four years running. She auditioned for both the National and Universal Dance Association All Star Team. She was asked to join both and perform in Paris and many College Bowls.
Kristina is trained in ballet, jazz, Irish Step and also spent last summer dancing for a local hip hop singer in Boston.
Kristina has been with Fred Astaire since September 2004 and is looking forward to sharing with others the fun and enjoyment of dancing. She competed in several professional competitions including the Mixed Novice and Intermediate and American Rhythm Divisions with Aleksi Lovkin and Vadim Asmolov. She won second place in the Open Cabaret Division with Serge Aliev at the New England DanceSport Championships in Springfield in March 2005.
Kristina and Richard will be competing in the American Smooth Division this month at The 40th Colonial Classic DanceSport Championships in Cambridge. She is also going to be dancing in the International Latin with Istvan Cserven.
Her hobbies include singing, acting and kickboxing. Kristina has a dog, a bird, a hamster, a newt and three fish. She is designing and making her competition dresses for the upcoming Championships.
Did You Know?
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Fred Astaire's
real name was Frederick Austerlitz |
Dance Grouping
Coming from grouping dances in competitions, the following divisions of contemporary ballroom dance are recognized: International Standard and International Latin. In addition, American Smooth, and American Rhythm are widely popular in the US. The former two divisions are called International Style and the latter two are American Style:
International Standard
Waltz - Tango - Viennese Waltz - Foxtrot - Quickstep
International Latin
Cha-cha-cha - Samba - Rumba - Paso Doble - Jive
American Smooth
Waltz - Tango - Viennese Waltz Foxtrot
American Rhythm
Cha-cha-cha - Mambo - Rumba Bolero - East Coast Swing
In addition, in social ballroom dancing, as well as in dance competitions in the US the Nightclub dance category is recognized:
Nightclub
Two-step - West Coast Swing - Hustle - Lindy Hop
Latin nightclub Salsa - Merengue
All dances listed in the Country Western category are better to bear the "C/W" qualifier when discussed in non- C/W context:
C/W Polka - C/W Cha-Cha-Cha
C/W Two-step - C/W Waltz
Argentine tango is often regarded as the "authentic" tango since it is closest to that originally danced in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dance Horoscope
People born under the sign Leo, the Lion, love disco and belly dancing. Some of their favorites are the Samba, the Rumba and the Flamenco. They are crazy about Frank Sinatra's "Strangers In The Night" and they are swept away by afro music and soul.
The Ballroom Robot Dance Partner
It took them six years, but a team of very lonely Japanese scientists built themselves a robotic dance partner. The Partner Ballroom Dance Robot, which moves around courtesy of three hidden wheels, is still a couple of upgrades away from replacing the real thing (which means you won't be sweeping any competitions Strictly Ballroom-style), but it can follow your lead by analyzing your movements. Oh, and for all the ladies, there's a male version in the works.
