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"America's Ballroom Challenge"
- Author:
- Elizabeth Knoll, 2-time Ohio Star Ball Champion
- Date Published:
- February 13, 2007
The Ohio Star Ball
As seen on TV as "America's Ballroom Challenge"
Second of a five-part series
Week Two: American Rhythm or International Latin Wannabes?
And so here we are after the second week of the fabulous new TV show, America's Ballroom Challenge. Lest you think I'm being snarky, I really do think this is a good show. It presents the Ohio Star Ball, maybe the greatest competition in the world, as a real competition and not just as show and fluff like some of the other popular dance shows are presented. It's thrilling that the general public has the opportunity to see competitions nearly the same way we do. The producers, directors and camera operators are their best to display the competitions, even though I'd love to see more camera time for each couple. My opinions, and certainly other people's must be, are influenced by the amount of time each couple is shown dancing. Remember that my "rankings" below are based on what I saw on TV, and not necessarily how I'd judge the same competition in person.
If you are reading this, you are on a real ballroom website or reading a magazine geared to ballroom dancers, and have some ballroom experience. You are educated and opinionated, and can appreciate the dancers on many levels. First, the effort it takes to compete and demonstrate the dances with ease is not evident to most people. Second, the attention to detail the competitors have makes it all look so nice and effortless; Olympic skaters pant and heave and drop their posture at the end of the dance. Ballroom dancers have to look good and competent before AND after the dance. Dropping your posture is NOT acceptable. Third, and most important, you know this stuff is not easy! Those pros got to the top through guts, blood, sweat, tears, and years of dedication to their craft.
First, a little bit about American Rhythm: as with the American Smooth, I think Rhythm doesn't really know what it wants to be. This is evident especially in the leg actions demonstrated by the finalists. To the lay person, one leg is as good as another. But it's a characteristic of International Style that the leg is straightened BEFORE the weight transfer, and in American Style AFTER the weight transfer. (For those of you who seriously study Rhythm and/or Latin, please forgive the oversimplification.)
So what IS American Rhythm? It's supposed to be "typical" or "classic" American dances with a real American flavor. Hmm It's my personal opinion that some of the dances (Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing) are nearly indistinguishable from their International counterparts. Try this: if you turn down the volume, can you tell what dance they are doing? In most cases, it's not possible. I saw a show several years ago presented by the reigning US Champions, and it took me 4 DANCES to figure out what style they were doing, and I only figured it out because I identified the Mambo music! I'd love to see real American dances in this division, including West Coast Swing (NOTHING is more American than that!) and Hustle. Beth's impossible dream.....right along with having one timing in American Rumba. Look at your tape again. Some of the couples are dancing QQS and some are dancing SQQ. What's correct? They both are. Go figure. Another one of my brilliant students said he wishes he could dance as well as the pros so that when he goes off time no one notices.
Enough of the ranting, and on to the competition. Remember, my rankings below are based on what I saw on the TV show.
1. tie: between Tony Dovolani with Elena Grinenko (NY) and Decho Kraev with Bree Watson (AZ) Wait! A tie? You can't do that! Right. If I were judging, I'd have to rank the couples in order of merit. So here it is: Tony and Elena have a level of competency and comfort that is unmatched. I always feel at ease watching them, and they have some really cool choreography. But I didn't see them DANCING. They did a bunch of posing. In addition, every leg action Elena produces is pure International Style. Straight straight straight. Tony is a little more American, but not much, which results in a sloppy sort of loose knee and ankle action. Decho and Bree, a fresh young couple breaking into the finals for the first time this year, showed the highest level of energy and the best physical connections. They need to deepen their understanding of the dances, and seriously give more volume to their dancing, but I see a bright future for them. And the camera loved them. They are very attractive.
So the tie-breaker goes to...Decho and Bree!
3. Felipe and Carolina Telona (NY) While I do not like the edge of hardness that Carolina has to her dancing, she is an extremely gifted and versatile dancer. I like the presentation of partnership from this couple. Felipe is very rhythmical and masculine. I'd like to see Carolina soften her look, be more feminine, and generally contribute to a more balanced partnership.
4. Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine and Joanna Zacharewicz (NY) I have seen them be so much more dynamic in the past that I was pretty disappointed in what I saw last week on TV. During last year's show, they captivated everyone. This year I had to look for them, and didn't like the lack of energy and presentation. Too bad. This was their last competition together, and it showed.
5. Evgeny Dyachenko and Inna Ivanenko (PA) Inna is a former US Champion with Tony Dovolani, and when she started dancing with Evgeny he had some pretty big shoes to fill. Finally I think he's starting to dance, but it sure doesn't look very relaxed. He has a great sense of humor, and a great personality, but didn't show them and I thought they got a little lost in the competition.
6. Michael Neil and Danielle Wilson (FL) Wow, how long has this guy been dancing? I remember him in the final years and years and years ago. Kudos to him for continuing to make top finals, but maybe it's time to let some younger couples in? And what was with that hair? Elvis and the electrical outlet with a letter opener... A very accomplished couple, well rehearsed, but not really exciting.
A bit of a jumble! Some of my criticisms are probably because when I'm at a competition I can choose whom to watch, and for how long, and as a judge I'm expected to apportion the allotted time equally among the couples. The cameras didn't do that, since in today's fast-paced world people look for 2-3 second video bites. I think this style, more than the others, suffers from this short shrift.
The Show Dance competition:
1. Emmanuel and Joanna Cha Cha While I didn't love this number, I thought it was fun, well-executed, and within the idea of "show." Well done. (Look out for Emmanuel with his new partner, Julia Gorchakova. They will be exciting!)
2. Decho and Bree Bolero. I know, I know, it wasn't a "show" dance. They just came out and danced. But while I thought that approach wasn't enough for the Smooth couples, this number was terrific. Elegant, accomplished (even though they did miss the exit to one lift) and compelling...I loved it.
3. Evgeny and Inna Swing Pretty gimmicky, but they get points for trying. He finally let his personality show. Did you notice the rubber ducky in his pocket?
4. Tony and Elena Bolero Same comments as for Decho and Bree, but for some reason this left me a little cold. It was a little more earthy than Decho and Bree's Bolero, and I think elegant works better for this dance.
5. Felipe and Carolina Bolero/Theater Arts Again, amazing connection, well rehearsed, phenomenally talented lady. But it felt contrived, and if your skirt is going to flip up and stay there then get a dress made that won't distract from the dance.
6. Michael and Danielle "Suspender Dance" I actually don't remember what dance they did! I don't think that's a good sign. The suspender work was pretty interesting, but the dancing didn't do it for me, and PLEASE PUT ON A SHIRT!!!!!! A nice black T-shirt would have been even more effective. The ballroom dance floor is no place for nudity.
As for the other show numbers, Alain Doucet with his student did a good job, even if it was way too reminiscent of numbers Alain did with his wife Anik. And the kids stole the show! The little guy who mopped his brow? Can you hardly wait until he grows up?? And Stan and Patrycia, who did the Jive/Quickstep number, were the indefatigable couple who danced in everything and won almost everything they entered at the 2006 USA Dance Nationals. An amazing couple with a bright future.
Next show you can look forward to seeing the International Standard, the discipline in which I won the US National Championships once and the Ohio Star Ball twice. It's an exciting division, so deep with talent that there were some outstanding couples left in the semi-final. See if you can identify the dances...you should see more basic and recognizable dancing this time.
Have fun and GO DANCING!!