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The Cutting Edge!
International Championships
Report by: Didio Barrera
Photos by: Peter Suba, dancesportinfo.net
For the judges it was where to "cut," for the dancers it was being on the "Cutting Edge" and for me, just being on the "Edge." It just couldn't get any better. This year's International Championships at the Royal Albert Hall, London England was the event of the year! It was filled with surprises and anticipation. "Has-beens" came back, kings were dethroned, new ones were crowned, same sex couples on the floor, a changing of the guard, red flags all over the place, and best of all, dancers with "Cutting Edge" performances making a horrible task of the judges' decisions. But for us all in the boxes, it was brilliant.
Thursday the 13th of October (or should we say "Red October") before the big night at the Albert Hall, I spent most of my day poring over my notes from the previous two days at Brentwood where the competition, I'm proud to say, was also superb. As I sorted out my notes I couldn't help but think that having not being to Brentwood in a long time, I had been a touch worried Tuesday morning as I set off on my quest, but yes as you will see, I did find Brentwood but I also found the "Red October." To find out what in the world I'm talking about and how this fantastic competition unfolded in Brentwood including full reports on all events click on "Red October."
Back to the Albert Hall, this fantastic evening began for me at around 7:40 PM, when, having being ushered to my box by a very helpful and typically polite attendant (I can never find my way around this circular arena), I found my seat - front row at the edge on the balcony. I was about to put my things down and go for a cocktail and a bit of socializing (for spectators that's what the IT is all about, going back and forth, from box to box, until all the semifinals finals begin), but as I glanced on to the floor a couple grabbed my attention. This couple was none other than Marat Gimaev & Alina Basyuk from Russia who by the way danced superbly the entire night. As I looked further, different couples kept coming at me one after the other like a highway nonstop, all with great cutting edge performances. From the professionals to the amateurs they kept coming and coming and so there was to be no socializing for me only work and the pure satisfaction of dance.
The biggest upset at this year's Internationals was the dethroning of last year's International and recently crowned Open British & UK Open Pro Standard Champions, Timothy Howson & Joanne Bolton from England and topping this, the unsuspected ascendance of Mirko Gozzoli & Alessia Betti from Italy to this very prominent and highly acclaimed position. So is the marriage over? And does this mean that the judges are actually listening? This is a scary thought, but if you want to know what my take on this entire affair is click on my article entitled "The Marriage Is Over." You can also read a full review on this event by Benoit Drolet former Canadian Champion by clicking on his name.
When it comes to dancing, the professional Latin and the Amateur Standard had the sharpest edge for me. In the Professional Latin, last year's winners, Bryan Watson and Carmen from Germany did not dance and world renowned couples, Slavik Kryklyvyy & Karina Smirnoff from the USA and Dmitri Timokhin & Anna Bezikova (both no longer dancing together) were of course not present, but trust me when I tell you they were hardly missed.
The couples present were all in good shape, top form and cutting edge or just cutting it, but whatever, it made it all quite interesting. Michael Malitowski & Joanna Leunis from Poland became the newly crowned king and queen of the ball by surpassing Andrej Skufca & Katarina Venturini from Slovenia the heirs apparent and long time competitors Sergey Ryupin & Elena Khvorona from Russia.
So, who wants to be a "Dance Millionaire"? Did Michael & Joanna really deserve this throbbing crown? Who got a total make over? Did new arrivals, Klaus Kongsdal & Viktoria Franova from Denmark really deserve to be in this final? Who made a come back and how did they do? And the final question on the board, "who threw a temper tantrum at the end of the competition?" For good fun, let's play "Who Wants to be a "Dance Millionaire!" Let your mouse touch this title and find out the answer to these questions and a full report on this competition.
The Amateur Standard was just as good with dancers like Marat Gimaev & Alina Basyuk from Russia, Paulo Bosco & Silvia Pitton from Italy and Sergei & Olga Konovaltsev from Russia all torch in hand with the flame turned up as high as it would go ready to overthrow the now established regime. As you must all know by now, Domenico Soale & Gioia Cerasoli from Italy managed to escape unharmed and capture the title of International Champions once again but were they "cutting edge? And how were second and third position? Who was stiff and who was not? And who just escaped the fire by just and edge? To see my perspective on this standard competition click on "The Torch Bearer"
After almost a year of seeing Ricardo Cocchi & Joanne Wilkinson from Italy just cruising along, in my opinion, with just the right amount of edge to keep them ahead of the competition, they managed finally to bring me to the edge of my seat as for the final time as Amateurs they won the International Championships. Klaus & Viktoria turned pro and so will Ricardo & Joanne in January 2006. So who will be next? I consulted my crystal ball and my tarot cards and so I might just have a suspicion, so if you are curious and if you want to find out who I though shouldn't have been in this final, you should come with me and click on my article entitled "The Crystal Ball" or if you don't care and just want a sensible opinion, read Wendy Johnson's article on this event by just "Mousing" her name. Wendy Johnson was a former New Zealand Champion and world-class dancer
I think the Internationals at the Albert Hall is still the best competition in England to be a spectator. As I said last year, it is just England at its best. Just entering this historical, Victorian arena is incredible. It was built to host balls and if you want to peruse a little of its history, you can click on my piece called "The Ballroom Cake." Here you can also learn what I meant by "same sex couples on the floor" and the "red flags all over the place." To experience a competition with world class dancing and an atmosphere that takes you back to the times when class, etiquette and elegance were the prime elements, put the Internationals on your calendar, I know I will!