JAPAN INTERNATIONAL 2014
PROFESSIONAL FINALISTS are presented to the audience dancing 40 seconds of a 'set pattern' followed by 40 seconds of their own choreography
These comments are limited to the dancers' performances of the basics, or 'set patterns.'
The first couple onto the floor was #8 in a black dress. They were very sharp and staccato. That's good, but maybe we expect more.
The second couple onto the floor was #30 in white dress. I liked them. Note the head use on step 3 and 4 of the four step at 1:38. Then note it on the basic reverse turn at 1:42. I tried to ignore one thing. Matt Cunniff mentioned to me that many ballroom ladies are now wearing white shoes in competition. I don't know if it is the fact the shoes are white or not but her feet look huge--they look bigger than his feet. I think the larger the feet the bigger the advantage of balance and movement. They might look awful but they work great. Not that it's a choice. Remind me to tell you about a patient of Andy's whose feet were very unusual.
The third couple, #41 in the blue dress gave me the least favorable impression.The lady seems too centered on the man's body and she seems tilted backward.
The fourth couple, #53 in the black dress I really enjoyed. He is very steady and very placed. Take a look at the 'innovation' on the contracheck at 4:40. Do you love his manly stance when he releases her at the end of their presentation?
The fifth couple, #99 in a red dress, is very entertaining to watch. They display the most contrast of smooth versus sharp movements. Check out their contracheck at 5:20. Also notice how smoothly they move through all the promenade endings. the closed finish on their basic reverse turn, however, is very clean edged and sharp.
The sixth couple, #185 in a white dress with dark insert, is not that appealing to me. Her head bobs. I wouldn't want to say it is distracting, but let me say instead that is moving unnecessarily and unattractively. Look at it in the middle of the promenade turn at 6:54. Then watch it from 7:05 through 7:20. there is minimal steadiness.
The last couple, #210 in the white dress, gives the most straightforward, ungussied-up presentation of their set pattern. The simple interpretation allows the viewer to appreciate quality dancing with no extraneous decoration. In a dance where exaggeration is rampant, it must take some level of self-discipline to give a simple, straight forward presentation of figures that take practically no effort to do.
Based on the tango basics only, I would place the couples in this order:
1st-#210
2nd-#30
3rd-#99
4th-#53
5th-#8
6th-#185
7th-#41
PROFESSIONAL FINALISTS are presented to the audience dancing 40 seconds of a 'set pattern' followed by 40 seconds of their own choreography
These comments are limited to the dancers' performances of the basics, or 'set patterns.'
The first couple onto the floor was #8 in a black dress. They were very sharp and staccato. That's good, but maybe we expect more.
The second couple onto the floor was #30 in white dress. I liked them. Note the head use on step 3 and 4 of the four step at 1:38. Then note it on the basic reverse turn at 1:42. I tried to ignore one thing. Matt Cunniff mentioned to me that many ballroom ladies are now wearing white shoes in competition. I don't know if it is the fact the shoes are white or not but her feet look huge--they look bigger than his feet. I think the larger the feet the bigger the advantage of balance and movement. They might look awful but they work great. Not that it's a choice. Remind me to tell you about a patient of Andy's whose feet were very unusual.
The third couple, #41 in the blue dress gave me the least favorable impression.The lady seems too centered on the man's body and she seems tilted backward.
The fourth couple, #53 in the black dress I really enjoyed. He is very steady and very placed. Take a look at the 'innovation' on the contracheck at 4:40. Do you love his manly stance when he releases her at the end of their presentation?
The fifth couple, #99 in a red dress, is very entertaining to watch. They display the most contrast of smooth versus sharp movements. Check out their contracheck at 5:20. Also notice how smoothly they move through all the promenade endings. the closed finish on their basic reverse turn, however, is very clean edged and sharp.
The sixth couple, #185 in a white dress with dark insert, is not that appealing to me. Her head bobs. I wouldn't want to say it is distracting, but let me say instead that is moving unnecessarily and unattractively. Look at it in the middle of the promenade turn at 6:54. Then watch it from 7:05 through 7:20. there is minimal steadiness.
The last couple, #210 in the white dress, gives the most straightforward, ungussied-up presentation of their set pattern. The simple interpretation allows the viewer to appreciate quality dancing with no extraneous decoration. In a dance where exaggeration is rampant, it must take some level of self-discipline to give a simple, straight forward presentation of figures that take practically no effort to do.
Based on the tango basics only, I would place the couples in this order:
1st-#210
2nd-#30
3rd-#99
4th-#53
5th-#8
6th-#185
7th-#41