The New Zealand DanceSport Championships 2007
By Peter S Smith
Photos by Dancesportphoto.net.au
To have the pleasure and privilege of both attending and adjudicating at the New Zealand Amateur & Professional DanceSport Championships for two years in a row, was a thrill that I cannot explain. As a very proud "Kiwi" I love returning to the country of my birth for any reason and to adjudicate at this event is very high up my list of preferences. It was very evident to me that this event is going from strength to strength on a yearly basis and that DanceSport is very healthy in the "Land of the Long White Cloud" both administratively and in competitor numbers and enthusiasm.
The promoters of this event the New Zealand Federation of Teachers of Dancing have for many years now operated a rotation policy in terms of the host city. This rotation plan centres on the three main DanceSport strongholds in New Zealand and after last years very successful event in Auckland it was the turn of the beautiful South Island city of Christchurch to play host for the 2007 event.
With the rotation programme comes a rotation of Championship Organiser also and this years daunting task fell on the very broad shoulders of Maurice Edwards. To put together a full two day and night programme covering all aspects of the DanceSport styles popular in the southern hemisphere is no mean feat. Maurice I am sure had burnt the midnight oil on many an occasion in the lead up to this event, but when the doors opened on the Pioneer Leisure Centre on Saturday morning the 28th July until the curtain came down late on the Sunday night there had hardly been a glitch in all aspects of the championship. Congratulations must go to Maurice and of course his large support team who all worked diligently throughout the weekend. The quality of the music for all the championship events also cannot go without a mention, all three styles were presented via a computer lap top programme, the hours of work that went into this was obviously enormous, but for the record not one track was repeated all weekend and all of them were very carefully selected, it was music of a quality that made you feel as if the couples could not perform to their utmost best to this music then they were in big trouble. Congratulations to the team of Grant Macown, Robert Connors and Michael Nicholas who were given the onerous task produce this quality music each with their own style to look after, Standard, New Vogue and Latin respectfully, a great team effort!! The unsolicited selection of "Stardust" as the Foxtrot track in the Professional Standard Championship was of sentimental significance for me any my family who were in the audience, it brought tears to all of us.
This year's event featured the exceptional talents of Victor Fung & Anna Mikhed of the U.S.A and the very popular stars of last year's championship the brilliant Yoshihiro & Hidemi Yamamoto of Japan. I have had the pleasure of attending events of this nature in various capacities over perhaps many more years than I care to remember, all over the world but I can honestly say that I do not recall two couples filling the role these two did who were so popular with the capacity audience on both evenings of this championship. Of course there is always a reason behind such an assumption and it had a lot to do with the fact that the four of them are some of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet and also they are all brilliant exponents of their respective dance styles. It is quite simply amazing to see Yoshihiro and Hidemi who speak almost no English communicate via the medium of dance to this audience. When it came to actually speak to the adoring crowd he did that as much as his limited vocabulary would allow before enlisting the services of two young Japanese brothers Lyo and Lyu Ishizuka who had earlier in the proceedings been competing in the Junior events to translate for him. A gesture that will long be remembered by their myriad of fans in New Zealand. It seems almost an anti-climax to tell you that this wonderful couple from Japan was accorded the honour of a standing ovation at the end of each dance; this was of course supported by applause that almost lifted the roof off this auditorium.
Victor and Anna have also been to New Zealand before and as such have a rather large group of adoring admirers. For me personally I had never had the pleasure of watching this super talented couple dance before. A quick perusal of their resume in the championship programme tells me that amongst other titles they have been successful in winning the Rising Star titles at both the U.K. and British Championships. From what I witnessed over this most enjoyable of weekends in Christchurch they have taken the phrase "Rising Star" to the enth degree. The challenge of presenting a Standard floor show in conjunction with one of the real darlings of the Latin show dance field has to be a challenge. They took this challenge on, produced dancing in all the Standard dances that has in my humble opinion has to be up there with the best I have had the pleasure of witnessing in recent times. Rising Stars they may be, but that star will rise to the top of the tree before long if I am any judge of the quality of their dancing. Another significant factor in their presentation was their choice of music. As I sit at home in my office in Perth, Western Australia producing this report the hair on the back of my neck is standing up once again as I remember their absolutely brilliant presentation of Tango to Beethoven's V Symphony and also the Foxtrot using the former hit song "Without you" with the backing of Il Divo. The music was exceptional, so was the dancing. Thank you Victor and Anna for blessing us with your presence at this championship and I hope that in the not too distant future I will have the pleasure of watching you perform again. It goes without saying that these two were also accorded the honour of standing ovations at the end of each dance. In reflection I wonder why any of us bothered to sit down throughout this special presentation, just stand up and enjoy what is on offer would have saved a lot of energy from an audience perspective.
To the National Executive of the New Zealand Federation of Dance Teachers especially President, Barbara Edwards a personal big "Thank you" for a great weekend. On behalf of the other invited International Adjudicators Glen Tierney and Cushla Edwards also from Australia I also extend their thanks for the invitation to participate and for your hospitality.
Before moving on to a summary of the major events, it would be remiss of me not to extend the thanks of all the invited guests to Tim Stonhill, General Manager of the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Christchurch. He and his very efficient staff hosted all of us in his beautiful hotel, their service, food and all other requirements were exceptional.
Sponsors for an event of this nature are also a major factor, without them in this age of high costs in all aspects of the presentation of an event of this nature. On behalf of the N.Z. Federation of Dance Teachers their Executive and all their members, participants in this championship a big thank you goes to all those companies who saw fit to support this magnificent event.
The results of the major events were as follows:
N.Z. Professional Ballroom Championship
1st: Richard & Natalie Perry: These two successfully defended this title they first won in the year 2000, making it a sixth time their names will be engraved on this trophy. It was a win in all five dances for them in this straight out final.
2nd: Darryl Davenport & Natalie Smith: A clear second in all five dances, although they were rewarded with some first place marks in this their first sojourn to these championships.
3rd: Peter Head and Juanita Berry: Third in all dances picked up one second place mark in Quickstep otherwise were consistently marked third through out this event.
N.Z. Professional Latin Championship
1st.Jonny Williams & Helen Candy: As they were the only entrant in this event they retained the title they won last year by default sadly.
N.Z.F.D.T. Professional New Vogue
1st: Darryl Davenport & Natalie Smith: They won all five dances in this New Vogue event quite comfortably a very satisfying result for them.
2nd: Peter Head & Juanita Berry: A clear cut second in all five dances, with just one judge preferring them to the winners in three dances.
3rd: Derryn French & Emma Silke: Third in all dances, danced well but lacked the experience or expertise to challenge in this style.
N.Z Open Amateur Standard Championship
1st: Tim & Yulia Mullayanovo: This excellent brother and sister team quite comfortably defended this title that they won for the first time last year. They are a quality team that gave their opposition little chance of snatching this title; such was the overall quality of their dancing. They won all five dances.
2nd: Mathew Nicholson & Samantha Mallock: You cannot but help but admire this couples enthusiasm, however they have to be careful that this enthusiasm does not overpower their dancing, when it does the quality quite simply is not there. Second in Tango and V.W. and third in the remainder of the dances.
3rd: Cameron Candy & Tanaya Webb: I felt these two did enough to snare the runners-up spot, but it was not to be. They were actually fourth in Waltz, second in Foxtrot and Quickstep and third in the other two dances.
N.Z. Open Amateur Latin Championship
1st: Arkady Bakenov & Rosa Filippello: It was welcome home time for Arkady as he grew up in Christchurch and boy were they pleased to see him. Since teaming up with the very talented Rosa last year, this couple has quite simply gone from strength to strength. There was just too much class and quality dancing being produced here for this result to go any other way. They very comfortably won all five dances.
2nd: Michael Hemera & Lauren McFarlane: They were a clear second in all five dances and also produced some quality dancing throughout this event. They too are a reasonably new partnership and will make their presence felt wherever they dance if this showing is anything to go by.
3rd: Mathew Nicholson & Samantha Mallock: These two are often a bit over exuberant in this style also. It can lack subtlety as a result which perhaps explains why they were fourth in Rumba, they were however third in all the other dances.
N.Z.F.D.T. A Grade New Vogue
1st: Mathew Nicholson & Samantha Mallock: Danced with confident flair in this
style and as a result just cruised to an excellent victory. Won all four dances.
2nd: Blair Petterd & Bonnie McNeill: A comfortable second in this event by virtue of a very consistent showing in all dances. A couple to be watched in the future.
3rd: Christopher Beattie & Samantha Lust: They have more obvious potential in this style than perhaps in the other styles they competed in over this weekend.