GENERAL THOUGHTS AND NOTES
I am going to start with my general thoughts during the first 3 days of competitions at the British Open. I really do need to say a few IMPORTANT things and get it off my chest. Fortunately or unfortunately (still do not know which, but prefer to think it is the first) I am very straight forward and say and write what I think because I live for and believe so much in our ART OF DANCING.
Who knows me, knows only too well that I am fanatic on most things from dancing (from A-Z) to social networking. I love and adore SMALL details, as they make a BIG difference and I HATE anything that is SUPERFICIAL or FAKE. Or you dance with HEART, MIND AND SOUL, or just stay at home. That simple. It does not matter what level a couple is, a beginner to a champion, they have to BE IN WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
One of my basic priorities is OBLIGATION and CHOICE. All couples that have taken a decision to dance here at the British Open (or any competition) have made dancing an important part of their life. They spend a lot money (sometimes too much), use time (not enough) and energy to learn and compete, so they have to make the best of it.
So what is an OBLIGATION? Simply knowing the basic essentials of the dancing which is: basic technique, timing, connections, direction, space, choreography and being VERY MOTIVATED. You cannot do without these basic elements!
CHOICE is how you use it, design it, live it, explore it. Something that come from within and presented YOUR WAY as a performance.
What I have seen in the first 3 days of competitions so fare (first round RS Amateur, RS Professional and Under 21 Latin) way too many couples missing completely the OBLIGATIONS, being completely out of time, basic footwork and hip/body movement missing. Their CHOICES being (if they are aware or not) COPY their ICONS and making a really bad job of it.
FLOORCRAFT is a dying ART! Then I said to myself “stupid girl, it died a long time ago”. Now the priority today with the new generation is GETTING AROUND THE FLOOR AT ALL COSTS, so get through your choreography, if there are any obstacles in the way RUN THEM OVER or PUSH THEM OUT OF THE WAY, judges included! Yes, do not be shocked, we see it all the time. So the couples should be taught better by their teachers and coaches THE ART OF FLOORCRAFT. Even Marcus Hilton had to say a few thing the other evening about it during the Ballroom competition, many of the couples were dancing against the line of dance and unfortunately it also happened in the Latin. This disturbs their own dancing and that of the other couples.
So calling out to all Coaches,Teachers and trainers……BRING BACK FLOORCRAFT and teach the couples this wonderful ART of getting round the floor, with beauty and ease.
Well that is my first OFF THE CHEST comments, but it is not my last, I can assure you.
So happy dancing
Carolyn Smith
The views and opinions expressed above are those of Carolyn Smith and do not necessarily reflect the views of dancesportinfo
