Blackpool 2010 Ballroom Dancing Pro Final - Waltz

[Duc1100EVO]

Welcome to Blackpool, home of the great. English walsch on the world top level! Nice filming by the way.

ps: HAHALOLMFAO: When you don't know shit, SHUT IT!

[HAHALOLMFAO]

wtf, they r just running around luking stupid

[Duc1100EVO]

@HAHALOLMFAO When you don't know shit, SHUT IT!

[beautifyeva]

call me crazy cuz i cried while watching this. it's just soooo beautiful!

[TheAR15shooter]

D: jaw dropping anyone?

[hthomas1000]

@TheAR15shooter Amazing. Wish it was me!!!!!

[teahschmidt]

what is the name of couple number 3 they are my absolute fav.

[IYarD]

@teahschmidt Mirko Gozzoli & Edita Daniute.

[khl31]

"Blackpool music" is distinctive, even for dancesport - nowhere else (incl. any other competition) would dancers/DJs deliberately choose such music, unless specifically preparing for Blackpool. Why is the music so unique? Supporters call it "traditional", haters label it anachronistic - personal opinion.

Blackpool music's structure *IS* a unique challenge - for better or worse,

part of evaluating a couple is how they make the best of what's available, music or floor conditions included.

[KaiAquila]

I love the way they seem to glide over the dance floor, but I hate how exagerrated the womans postures are. I know it's probably supposed to be like that, but to me it just seems awkward.

[20osgood]

Wow

[callmeadog1785]

Watch this "Domenico Soale & Gioia Cerasoli Waltz WSSDF 2010" ( youtube.com/watch?v=Jy9GAgNFw9­s ) And then answer the question: if this is not interpretaition of music then what is?

[HunterstonB]

@callmeadog1785

This choreography - not interpretation. Two different things

[callmeadog1785]

@HunterstonB I really dont understand what are you trying to prove. If this choreography is not interpretation of music then i dont know what is.

[georgewu5]

At the very beginning, the two couples, Arunas and Fung, were doing the same figures. Preparation 123, natural turn 123, then the Running spins 12&3 repeating about 12 times before doing the Chase 12&3 and so on. The fact that the running spins are 12&3, not 123 makes the steps of the dancers having no musicality, or out of beat, whatever. Because of these, the dancers would experience the variety in the Waltz music ---not doing the Arthur Murray or the American style123 foever ! George Wu, AIA

[georgewu5]

At the very beginning, the two couples, Arunas and Fung, were doing the same figures. Preparation 123, natural turn 123, then the Running spins 12&3 repeating about 12 times before doing the Chase 12&3 and so on. The fact that the running spins are 12&3, not 123 makes the steps of the dancers having no musicality, or out of beat, whatever. Because of these, the dancers would experience the variety in the Waltz music ---not doing the Arthur Murray or the American style123 foever ! George Wu, AIA

[HunterstonB]

It might better be titlled 'deaf people trying to dance'

What the couples are doing bears no resemblence to the music.. . . and if you are not following the melody of the music, you are not dancing.

The fantastic thing is that you have an audience of 1,000's, judges and competiors who think this is dancing.

[ajmooch]

@HunterstonB Ballroom isn't a social dance, it's a performed representation of social dance. You're confusing the two. Would you call a choreographed hip hop routine a Deaf Person Trying to Dance if it doesn't fit the music? It's not a social dance in this context, it's a combination dance-sport-art, and to judge it by the same standards as you would a social dance is unfair. I agree that musicality is undervalued in ballroom, but if you go out and dance Salsa and your partner doesn't dance to

[ajmooch]

@HunterstonB the music in a way that you see fit, are you going to tell that person "YOU ARE DEAF AND NOT DANCING TO THE MUSIC?" I think not.

Is this social dancing? No. Is there practically any musicality? No. Does that make it any less legitimate or entertaining for those who enjoy it? Not at all. It's a choreographed/partially improvised partner sport dance danced to music that the competitors do not know about ahead of time.

[HunterstonB]

@ajmooch

I'm sure its entertaining for those who enjoy it - I'm not sure those who are doing it are aware of what they are doing, which is 'athletics to a beat'

There is no art or creativity in what they are doing at all, none, zero, zilch, yet it is being represented as creative. That's my objection to this.

The art and creativity is in matching the movements to the music - interpreting the music. If you are not doing that you are doing athletics - whether it be hip hop or ballroom

[MatthewADusenberry]

@HunterstonB The idea that they aren't interpreting the music is nuts. You might title your comment "tone deaf person doesn't know what dancing to music looks like." You might as well say the ballet is "athletics to a beat," as they are choreographed.

Their timing and musicality are spot on. If you can't tell, the problem is with your eyes, not their dancing.

Dancing to music does not require freestyling, if that's what you're getting at.

[HunterstonB]

@MatthewADusenberry

There is no musicality - zero, zilch. If you think there is you are deluded. The problem is with your muscial perception. not my eyesight. Less than 10% of people can identify the melody in a piece of music - let alone follow it in dance.

That's not knocking your or the dancers, it just a fact that dancing to the music is about as common as being able to play a musical instrument by ear - if you can't play by ear, you'll never realise how completely way of this is.

[ldsnately]

@HunterstonB Have you ever danced slow waltz in the international ballroom style? The musicality and creativity in this style is very subtle. All of these professionals are amazing at what they do and, yes, are very creative indeed, albeit within the framework of established figures.

[HunterstonB]

@ldsnately

'Established figures' If they were improvising to the figures they would alter them to suit the music. Establishedfigures cannot fit the music because every piece of music is different.

[ldsnately]

@HunterstonB Every piece of music is not completely different. Every waltz is in 3/4 time. Every foxtrot in 4/4.

At the very end of this video you see Giampero and Anna improvise their ending to bow on the last down beat of the music. That is not choreographed. They don't do it every time.

As I said, their improvisation is subtle – how long they hold their shapes, for instance. Dance is not defined by 'musical interpretation' as you said in an earlier comment. There are various styles of dance.

[HunterstonB]

@ldsnately

Dance has to be defined by musical interpretation - otherwise it is either gymnastic's or a martial art. The music choosen for Dancesport Competion's seems to be choosen because it is next to impossible to dance to. No accents, no syncopations, no hesitations, completely flat, like the dancing.

The problem is most people can't see it or hear it. For this debate to have any meaning you have to show me that you 'see' musical improvisation.

[ldsnately]

@HunterstonB For this discussion to have any meaning you have to first support your argument that dance has to be defined by musical interpretation.

From the New Oxford American Dictionary:

dance |dans|

verb

1 move rhythmically to music, typically following a SET sequence of steps

• perform

noun

a series of movements that MATCH THE SPEED AND RHYTHM of a piece of music.

(emphasis added)

I have already demonstrated that this dancing fits the above definition. You have not supported your argument.

[HunterstonB]

@ldsnately

Yep it does indeed fit your definition - as long as you determine that the music does not change tempo, emphasis, or contain syncopations and breaks.

Then the couple would have to improvise to follow the music.

That's why ballroom dance "music" has little or no musical structure.

You might type in 'Johnny B Goode' and Sarah Van Drake and 'Johny B Goode and 'East Coast Swing Leo and Anjula into Youtube to get an idea of what is wrong

[ldsnately]

@HunterstonB Nor have you responded with your dance background. Having danced various styles from modern to tap to ballet, I can appreciate the value of interpretive dance, just as well as I can appreciate the structure and rigid technique of ballet.

You may prefer one over the other, but you have no right to declare only one style as dance.

[TheRampus]

@HunterstonB Why watch if you don´t like it?

[HunterstonB]

@TheRampus

It's absolutely fascinating. All the dancers and the audience THINK they are dancing but what they are doing is just gymnastics to a beat - there is no musical interpretation at all.

The vast majority of people are musically deaf and this is proof. . . . . .

There are some dancers who can hear the melody (Donnie Burns comes to mind) but it isn't going to win you competions.

[HunterstonB]

@TheRampus

I like it, the technique is flawless. It would be so better if they were improvising to the music (which is dreadful)

[georgewu5]

The running natural spins at the very beginning was one of the hardest figures to do, therefore the smart competitors always did it at the very beginning and got it out of the way. It is a very difficult figure and yet the professionals had to make it look simple and easy. Try it sometimes, and you will know how much practice the champions had to put into the performance and then the audience would say it is so easy for them to dance ! YouTube dancewu net

[Light8574]

wonderful!

[georgewu5]

At the very beginning, Arunas and Fung did exactly the same routines, Natural turns into the running spins. However, Arunas almost cut Fung off at the very dead corner knowingly, I did not like to see that happening, even it is world championship competition, a big ticket of a life time. Arunas should be capable controlling his direction as a seasoned dancer, there is no excuse for that.

[dancer19941000]

@georgewu5 i agree but if you want a dancer how is able to change directions to don't dance into the others you have to watch sascha and mirko!!

[georgewu5]

@dancer19941000 I stopped watching Mirko ten years ago. I thought he had tortured his partner in front of the world through the years. And he was like a gangster all the years, very abusive to his partner. Until he lost the title in 2010. I thought the dancing world had done the justice ! Mirko was a black horse in the dancing world !

[dancer19941000]

@georgewu5

i don't exactly understand what you mean?

[georgewu5]

@dancer19941000 Sorry, I do not have space to say what I had said already. I have many other posts in the past to reflect my personal views whaich were never a secret. Thank you for your interest. George Wu, AIA

[marieditz]

@georgewu5 You must be mistaken! Mirko is a nice person and very talented.

[georgewu5]

@dancer19941000 In Asia open 2010, Sascha had run into other couples in about 4:40 ,4: 51. and 6:15.....

I wished so much to watch Marcus and Karen Hilton dance again. He was such a gentleman and she was such lovely lady.

[marieditz]

@georgewu5 ..."Arunas almost cut Fung off " Nice moved Arunas...Ha ha ha... Good for fake FUNG!!!

[georgewu5]

@marieditz Fung was the only Chinese in the two couples at the very beginning of the dance; he was out-numbered by three Russians. Ha Ha. George Wu, AIA

[dancer19941000]

this is fun when you are dancing like this your feeling soooo happy you can't emagine i know 2 of thes dancers and i dance as well and even i can tell you it's fun!!!!

[KyoyamaKita]

@peebowl123 *shrug* everyone's own choice

[KyoyamaKita]

@peebowl123 If you start dancing ballroom, you'll know what an orangatang looks like =)

[MavsWorld]

The better you get at dancing the more easily you will be able to tell the mistakes made. The judges are high level and can spot the mistakes, for example, apparently Edita's hips are locked forwards.

[MrAlistairb99124]

How do they adjudicate events like this? All these dancers are awesome. And given that there are 100s of thousands of dancesport dancers out there, all wanting to be where they are now, statistically, all these dancers are equally as awesome as the next. Surely the final result is largely subjective and adjudicators base a lot of their decision making on the results of previous competitions.

[TootieLouLou11]

I am in love with the white dress! It's so flowing and looks beautiful during the turns!

[emy93able]

in the beginning it's a little weird with the two couples doing the same steps :P

[dancer19941000]

this is authem nothing else!



[sacowley5732]

@liensriilovely....are you a dancer or instructor? I stand by my comment, actually whether waltz or foxtrot. Eye contact is simply not part of the dance, and cannot be if the man is to "steer" effectively while traveling across the floor.Also part of the styling. Yes, waltz originated as you suggested, and especially the religious leaders of the day denounced it for the contact. Queen Victoria, the Lady of the romance era, liked the waltz and promoted it. It's now a sport, and not taboo.

[sacowley5732]

They don't look at each other partly because the man is guarding their path an watching out for other dancers. His #1 purpose is to keep his partner safe. And she watches his back too. You as an observer---and obviously a non-dancer!--wouldn't know that there is this purpose, beyond just the styling.

[GANN010355]

They look like Freaks! Can't they look at each other than some point on a wall?

[Romanticdance]

@GANN010355

Your not supposed to look at each each other due to bodyline head and shoulders, it's a rule.

You may do it only briefly.

[FilipVideoBE]

Very nice video