Tattersall's Australian Dancesport Championships 2006
By Peter & Rosalyn Smith
Photographs by DanceSportPhoto.net
For many years now the Australian DanceSport Championships held in Melbourne, Victoria, on the second weekend in December has been the biggest event on the Australian DanceSport calendar and as such couples with a desire to win one of the coveted titles on offer over the duration of the championships have flocked to Melbourne to participate. On this occasion visitors to this wonderful city were greeted with a thick haze that blanketed the entire inner city region for the early part of the weekend, due to the most severe bushfires that the State of Victoria has ever experienced. The smoke haze was so dense that it set off smoke alarms in multi-storey buildings and caused evacuations of some of these buildings even though there was no fire actually inside. The Vodaphone Arena venue for this championship was not immune to the smoke drifting in through the entrance doors, but fortunately the smoke alarm scenario experienced elsewhere did not eventuate here.
For 2006 there was an even bigger incentive than usual for the couples with aspirations to the Amateur Latin title. In a joint decision by DanceSport Australia and the Australian Dancing Society, organisers of this event, Australia was to select its No. 1 representative couple for the recently granted IDSF 2008 Worlds Latin Championship to be held in Melbourne. The honour of representing Australia at this prestigious event was to go to the winner of this year's championship, or to the highest placed Australian couple should an overseas couple be successful in taking out the title. All of this made for a most exciting event on the final day and night of this championship, full details of which we will feature later.
In total over 650 couples competed in Melbourne from all over the world this year and as has become the norm, the organisation of the event was superb. Once again the Chief Executive Officer of the A.D.S., Margaret Lonsdale and her team, had not left a stone unturned in making sure every session ran like clockwork. Such has been the success of this event in recent years it has featured on television on Channel 7 on Christmas day in the early evening time slot. However due to the high rating of the highlights presentation of these championships and the popularity of Dancing with the Stars decision makers at Channel 7 have decided to defer the T.V. coverage to early February 2007 and use it as a lead in programme for the new series of Dancing with the Stars. A great decision and one that shows the confidence this major television network has in DanceSport and the Australian Championship itself. The television presentation will be hosted by Master of Ceremonies Larry Emdur a most popular T.V. personality who will be very ably assisted by the effervescent Sonia Kruger.
The choice of World and British Professional Exhibition Champions Victor & Hanna to be the star cabaret artists brought a new dimension to exhibition/adagio dancing and this most knowledgeable of audiences gave these two the reception that they thoroughly deserved at the end of each number. The Vodaphone Arena has a retractable roof for use by outdoor sports with the emphasis on tennis; however, if the thunderous applause had been any greater for Victor & Hanna, then it may well have been forced open, by volume of noise alone.
We were also blessed once again with many overseas based couples, many of whom were making their first visit to Australia and others, favourites from recent years making a welcome return to these shores. The inclusion of these couples in the IDSF Open Standard and Latin Championships not only lifts the overall standard but also means the locally based couples all have to give of their very best to impress the adjudicating panels who this year were augmented by the following International Adjudicators -
John Barbieri (Italy), Glen Brennan (Canada), Inga Haas (U.K.), Anthony Hurley (U.K.)
Serena Lecca (Italy), Grant Macown (N.Z.) Philip Nicholas (France), Colleen Murray (N.Z.), Marie Raiend (N.Z.) & Andrew Shen Yi (China)
The results of the major events were as follows:-
The Australian Professional Standard Championship
(Sponsored by the Seven Network for the Fred Barber Memorial Trophy)
1st: Grant Barrett-Thomson & Mary Patterson (England)
A very comfortable win for this young couple making a welcome return home to Australia, having based themselves in the U.K. for the last few years. They won all five dances with a display of vibrant exciting dancing that also included some very different choreography a point that has become Grant's trademark throughout his career.
2nd: Eamon & Anita McGrath (Victoria)
Danced with polished consistency throughout this event and as such were second in all five dances, although some members of the adjudicating panel saw it very differently. If we were to be super critical then perhaps their shape could have been a lot bigger and bolder.
3rd: Davide Tonizzo & Emily Reilly (Western Australia)
Their final analysis was to be third in all five dances, but in saying that their free flowing ease of movement dancing throughout this championship had many a pundit seeing them finish one rung higher up this illustrious ladder.
4th: Glen Hulkes & Larisa Locke (Western Australia)
Also just back from an extended stay in the U.K. and having just turned professional these two would have to be happy with this result. Fourth in all dances except Quickstep where they were fifth.
5th: Adam Blakey & Meagan Alderton (Victoria)
Another couple who always have a very enthusiastic approach to their dancing. You can never question their commitment to compete but just sometimes their enthusiasm takes over the other great qualities in their dancing to their detriment. Fourth in Quickstep and fifth in the remainder was the way they finished.
6th: Jarred Parnell & Kelli Brogan (Victoria)
We thought these two were the big improvers in this event; there was a much freer movement and a general overall improvement in their shape and the presentation of all the dances.
The Australian Professional Latin Championship
(Sponsored by Skilled Engineering)
1st: David Byrnes & Karla Gerbes (Victoria)
This was a first time outing at this championship for this relatively new partnership. Whilst David has been successful here with a previous partner and is a seasoned campaigner, there was a very different look with Karla and one that augers well for the future. They won all five dances although it was not quite as clear cut as that as it was a rather close call in some dances. Never the less a great result for them and well deserved.
2nd: Adam Blakey & Megan Alderton (Victoria)
These two again gave it their best shot and in the process went very close in quite a few dances. They did register quite a few first place marks in this event but did also receive some rather low marks. Stronger legs and feet from this young lady in this style would see them mount a much better challenge.
3rd: Brendan Humphreys & Zoe Unkovich (Western Australia)
This couple is a mystery to us, having seen them demonstrate on numerous occasions and on those occasions admiring the positive approach to the Latin rhythms, it is on the big occasion and in the big arenas that they have not been able to produce the dancing that we feel they are capable of. They were third in all five dances and would be disappointed with this result we feel.
4th: Alessandro Camerotto & Nancy Berty (Italy)
First time visitors to Australia, these two made a great impression, whilst not perhaps having some of the projection and enthusiasm of some of the other finalist there was a quality about their dancing that appealed to us. They appealed to some of the adjudicators as well as while actually finishing fourth they attracted some very well deserved first placings in every dance.
5th: Christopher Ryan & Julie Jones (Victoria)
A real mixed bag of marks saw this couple finish fifth in every dance. There were some flashes of quality dancing from these two over the length and breadth of the event, but once again the lack of projection and personality was to be their downfall.
6th: Ken & Jenni Pederson (Victoria)
These two danced well throughout this event, but the youthful quality of the other couples meant they were not to challenge for higher honours. They were sixth in Cha Cha, Rumba and Paso Doble and seventh in the other two dances.
7th: Andrew Palmer & Briony Penrose (Tasmania)
This couple really lacked strength overall and need to develop a more grounded earthy look if they are to be a couple to be considered for higher honours. We feel they also need to look at the individual interpretation of each of the dances.
The Australian Professional New Vogue Championship
(for the Wayne Douglas Perpetual Trophy)
1st: Stephen Olivieri & Natalie Lowe (N.S.W.)
These two very successfully defended this title that they won together for the first time last year. To defend a major title is never easy but Stephen & Natalie did so in fine style quite clearly winning all five dances. We believe this partnership is something special in the New Vogue style they exude confidence, and have a great deal of musical expression that is a joy to watch.
2nd: Adam Blakey & Megan Alderton (Victoria)
These two were the only professional couple to dance in all three finals and as such their fitness and stamina had to be admired. They do excel in this style and on any other occasion would perhaps have been holding the trophy aloft, but this time a final analysis of second in Twilight Waltz, Tango Terrific and La Bomba and thirds in Barclay Blues and Carousel left them quite short of the mark.
3rd: Jared Parnell & Kellie Brogan (Victoria)
This couple has improved in this style also, their presentation of all the New Vogue dances has a lot more colour and flair then we have witnessed in the recent past and as a result just fell short of snaring second place.
4th: Ian Gillard & Cherie Isbell (NSW)
A consistent fourth in all five dances was the end result. They have been regular finalists for some years now but this was not one of their most memorable performances.
5th: Shane Lawton & Lucie Whitehill (Victoria)
These two were fifth in all dances and on this showing were not serious contenders for anything but a minor placing. They have danced better than tonight and maybe it was just one of those off nights.
6th: Andrew Howlett & Monica Fincham (Victoria)
After challenging strongly for the Amateur title last year this couple have moved into the Professional field with good credentials in this style. However this time they had to be satisfied with sixth placing in all dances and were unable to overtake the other more seasoned competitors ahead of them.
The Australian Open & IDSF Standard Championship
(Sponsored by Sofitel Hotels for the Mickey Powell Memorial Trophy)
1st: Benedetto Ferruggia & Claudia Ko'hler (Germany)
Third time visitors to this championship and for the third consecutive year winners of this event. Once again an exceptional performance of all the five standard dancers from this most delightful of couples. The polish and precision coupled with exceptional flair that they presented to the audience and adjudicators alike meant they very comfortably winners of all five dances dropping just the odd first placing along the way. We personally hope they will come back to this part of the World many more times as they are a joy to watch.
2nd: Chao Yang & Yi Lung Tan (China)
First time visitors to Australia and another couple who will be welcome back any time. Tall and elegant with a free flowing movement that had you wondering if they were actually touching the floor, it was such a light but powerful movement when required. They gave each dance the story line it deserved and matched this with an immaculate top line and shape. Very clearly second in all dances.
3rd: Matthew Rooke & Anna Longmore (NSW)
Third in the first four dances and fifth in Quickstep, they danced with a lot more confidence and personality than we have often seen in the past. The years spent training overseas are slowly paying off, their International experience giving them an approach to this championship that manages to keep all other Australian couples at bay.
4th Bjorn Bitsch & Ashli Williamson (Denmark)
This couple we feel need to work on a much more defined lower and swing action especially in the slower dances, they do however present a clean top line and a reasonably good shape, but overall the action is a trifle too hard for our liking. Fourth in Waltz, V.W. and Slow Foxtrot and fifth in Tango and Quickstep.
5th: Masayuki Ishihara & Megumi Saito (Japan)
Once again these two were the darlings of this capacity and very knowledgeable audience. They have this unique ability to combine top quality dancing with showmanship and charisma. Third in Quickstep where they certainly excelled was their best individual dance result but they could consider themselves unlucky to be fifth overall in our book.
6th: Michael Glickman & Milana Deitch (NSW)
Considering the depth of this field and the somewhat topsy turvy year they have had it was only fitting that this young couple clearly established themselves as genuine finalists in this championship. Since moving out of the younger age divisions they have improved every time we have seen them and it is hoped that they go on and build on this result in 2007 and beyond.
The Australian Open & IDSF International Latin Championship
(For the Gilkison/ Roby Perpetual Award)
1st: Maurizo Vescovo & Melinda Torokgyorgy (Hungary)
Winners of this event on their first trip to Australia in 2003, they once again stamped their mark on this championship in 2006. They won all five dances without dropping one first place mark from any of the adjudicators. The improvement in this couple since last they were here is really quite amazing, it was precision dancing from the first bar of the first round to the last bar of jive in the final. Their technique and excellent leg and foot action was almost flawless.
2nd: Michael Miziner & Anastasia Belykh (NSW)
With this second place came the honour of representing Australia in the 2008 IDSF Worlds Championship, they very successfully fought of some fairly serious challengers for this representative honour. Watching from the sidelines we felt that they really established themselves as the Australian couple to beat from the very first dance. There was lots of emotiod, to match the musical expression and excellent interpretation of all the Latin dances. Dropped to third in Jive otherwise they were second in all the other dances.
3rd: Joshua Keefe & Annalisa Zoanetti (Western Australia)
This was to be a disappointing night for Josh & Annalisa having set themselves to win the representative honours at stake they did give it their best shot but fell at the last hurdle. We felt they attacked this opportunity exactly opposite to their arch rivals by starting a lot slower and relaxed and then coming home with a burst in the final; however on this occasion their run for the line was left a trifle too late. It was a much improved presentation of all the dances from this time last year, but there is still an emotional connection problem that needs to be addressed.
4th: Jeremy & Amanda Garner (Victoria)
Another couple who were a trifle too casual in the early rounds but they most certainly came home with a flourish. There was a marked improvement in all facets of their dancing from the semi-final onwards, perhaps leaving their run for representative honours too late also.
5th: Mirko Sciolan & Nuria Santalucia (Victoria)
Another couple who would have been a trifle disappointed with their result, they were fourth in Samba, fifth in Cha Cha and tied for fourth in Paso Doble and sixth in Jive. Watch out for these two next year we feel there is a lot of talent here just waiting to blossom.
6th: Sasha Farber & Giselle Peacock (NSW)
The spot for this last place in the final was in heavy traffic, this young couple deserved their spot however and whilst their style is very different to lots of other couples this is a good thing and with this individual style they always attract in the visual aspects of each dance, they too will join the long list of serious contenders for that elusive second representative spot next year.
Couples who stood out in the earlier rounds were Stefan Green & Zuedi Zoanetti (England), Arkady Bakenov & Rosa Filipello (Western Australia) Misa Cigoj & Alexandra Malai (Slovenia), Patrick Helm & Sharna Burgess (Germany) and Shaun Kingston & Fiona Rizzo (Victoria).
The Australian Open Adult New Vogue Championship
(for the Albert Boal Memorial Trophy)
1st: Gareth Jarrett & Samantha Larkin (Victoria)
This title was vacant with last year's champions turning professional however this couple made no mistake about having to engrave their names on the trophy. They were second in Lucille Waltz and then went on to win all the other dances.
2nd: Gino Cella & Lisa Baker (NSW)
A great result for this very new partnership they took the Lucille Waltz off the champions and were second in all the other dances.
3rd: Rhett Watts & Amanda Kirk (Victoria)
They secured clear third places in Lucille Waltz, Swing Waltz and Carousel, were fourth in La Bomba and fifth in Excelsior Schottische.
4th: Andrew Donnelly & Jessica Allen (Victoria)
Third in Excelsior and La Bomba, fourth in Swing Waltz and Carousel and fifth in Lucille.
5th David Coleman & Lisa Hooper (Victoria)
Fourth in Lucille and Excelsior, fifth in the remaining three dances.
6th Brad Dawes & Brooke Trasler (NSW)
Sixth placing in all five dances.
The Australian Youth Standard Championship
1st Earle Williamson & Kallyanne Brown (WA)
2nd Steven Rogers & Julia Nikitenko (WA)
3rd Steven Grinbergs & Rachelle Plaas (WA)
The Australian Youth Latin Championship
1st Steven Rogers & Julia Nikitenko (WA)
2nd Braydon Northey & Cassandra Titan (WA)
3rd Earle Williamson & Kallyanne Brown (WA)
The Australian Youth New Vogue Championship
1st Damian Garozzo & Taryn Montgomery (Qld)
2nd Steven Rogers & Julia Nikitenko (WA)
3rd ZacJolliffe & Ashley Payet (Vic)