The BBC featured the first of the Brucie Goes Dancing series today where Strictly Come Dancing’s Bruce Forsyth goes after how different forms of dances had evolved. It included an interview with the great Frankie Manning himself. Obviously, the series was filmed before the legendary dancer’s death in April 2009.
Anyhow, during this interview, Bruce mentioned that lindy hop looks like a very, very fast dance, especially when watching Frankie Manning’s performance on Hellzapoppin. Frankie replied, “Of course… because it was a performance!” He said that show dancing is very different from social dancing and this is what people should remember. With show dancing, you show off… with social dancing, you take it easy and savouring the moment with your dancing partner.
I couldn’t agree more with Mr Manning. I have been explaining this to people since I began learning Argentine tango. They always ask me whether I can now dance like those dancers in Strictly Come Dancing since I’ve been learning for so long. I respond by telling them that what they see on TV is not social dancing. See, great minds think alike. *chuckles*
Episode 2 of Brucie Goes Dancing is on tomorrow, 11 Oct on BBC One.
It is appalling that my last post was back in February. Talk about a long hiatus! Actually, the amount of time I’ve left this blog unattended was about the same amount of time that I stayed away from the dance floor, any dance floor. I am hoping to turn that around now so come back again soon!
This weekend, Pablo Veron — renowed dancer, appeared in the film, The Tango Lesson by Sally Potter — conducted a series of tango workshops here in London. I was supposed to go but my laziness got the better of me that I forgot to pay the booking. My bad, my bad, my bad. Oh well, I hope there will be another opportunity.
Knowing where and how tango really began is almost like finding out the origin of the universe. Both Argentina and Uruguay claim that tango started in their respective countries. Apparently, this debate has been going on like forever. However, there is this news item from the Guardian (dated 25 Jan 2009) says that for the sake of achieving a world heritage status for tango from UNESCO, two parties are needed. Below are some excerpts and link to the said article.
Latin rivals learn it takes two to tango | by Rory Carroll and Oliver Balch
For a century, Argentina and Uruguay have duelled over who invented tango, the sultry music and dance synonymous with Latin passion.Argentinians insist it was born in Buenos Aires and blossomed as the country came of age in the first half of the 20th century. Uruguay says tango originated on the other side of the River Plate in Montevideo, and that its best song and singer were Uruguayan.
…
At last, however, a truce has been declared. The respective culture ministries of Montevideo and Buenos Aires set aside their rivalry jointly to petition Unesco, the UN’s cultural agency, to grant tango world heritage status. It takes two, apparently, to get on to the coveted list of “cultural heritage of humanity”.
“The candidacy is being examined and the final decision will be made by the intergovernmental committee in September in Dubai,” a Unesco spokeswoman said last week.
(Image credits: Tango by Filippo Ciappi, licenced under Creative Commons on Flickr)
I’ve always been a big advocate of dancing, whether it be as a hobby, a lifestyle or a profession. Personally, my reasons for taking it up is twofold — to keep me fit and to meet new people. I never envisage dancing to be my bread and butter but then again, who knows. But for someone who is yet to take it (dancing) up, it can become difficult to select which type of dance to go for. I know of some people who like the music and therefore think they could dance to it, only to find out that they cannot. It does help if you do like the music as it will give you the passion and the motivation to get up and strut your moves on the dancefloor.
In March 6-8, a dance exhibit will be staged here in London at the Olympia. Move It 2009 is like the Vitality Show or the Ideal Home Show but for dancing. I am not quite sure if this is the first of its kind but with the uber popularity of Strictly Come Dancing, something like this would be of no surprise. In this event, you can choose from hundreds of classes to participate and learn. Dance styles vary and includes ballroom, ballet, flamenco and streetdance among others. Of course, they also feature ‘my’ two dances: swing and tango. Bianca of Rojo y Negro is teaching the Argentine tango. I’ve done classes with her in the past and she is okay. The swing classes will be given by Swing Xtreme, which I haven’t had experience before so I wouldn’t know how they are.
So, if you are looking to find which dancing shoes to put on, head to the Olympia in London this March. Be prepared to catch the dancing bug!
(Image credits: Copyright © 2009 Upper Street Events Ltd)
