CHRISTOPHER HAWKINS - WORLD CHAMPION - AVOIDANCE - FLOORCRAFT - IN BALLROOM DANCE

TAKING STEPS

by

PAULA

It starts with the Floor - required is a beautiful purpose-built Ballroom Floor, at least 40’ x 40’ - hopefully more, as this one before us is, today! (But then, we are at one of the most prestigeous Venues in the U.K.!) A 'Sprung' or 'Suspended' floor. Both of these supply a certain amount of ' give' which is of considerable help to those feet and legs. Anyone who has danced on a solid wooden, composite or cement floor for any considerable time will appreciate this point.

OH THIS FLOOR IS HARD ON MY FEET!

Aching calves, painful feet - not condusive to enjoyment or for that matter performance! And very, very hard on those vital soft-soled dance shoes! Our really preferable floor surface will be 'maple' - which has been classed after many trials as the 'ideal' facility.

STRICT TEMPO - MUSIC MEANT FOR DANCING

And music for ballroom dancing, chosen from the countless delightful unforgettable melodies especially composed - and presently being played - for this purpose. This particular genre is perfect for our dancing - either ballroom, or Latin.

AND PRE-RECORDED IS FINE!

Pre-recorded music is usually presented in Strict Tempo - that is the timing essential for this dancing. Today it is perfect - and so it must be - World Titles are at stake!

DANCING AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD

Then the dancers - quick thought, quick feet, an even quicker eye. And perhaps what is in fact a gift: sheer instinct?

TO US WATCHING - WE THINK, HOW DO THEY DO IT!

This floor is one of the most spacious in the South of England, an elegant, charming venue, but some 12 couples, Standard Finalists, seem to present a capacity crowd They appear to fill the floor, as they vie for the TItle of International Champion. Now they are ‘Quickstepping’, and they move it seems in all directions - but ever following the line of dance, along, across , and diagonally - at high speed - regularly interspersed by a flutter of ‘flying’ here and there. Led, it seems, by the music, they take off, travel an astonishing distance apparently without touching the floor or with a brief contact in transit, a sort of slight 'touchdown', perhaps a swift complicated manoeuvre in mid-flight; then a delicately controlled landing and into a short session of intricate footwork. And off again.

THESE ARE WORLD CLASS CHAMPIONS

They are giving an outstanding performance, stunning dancing. Each is offering a performance which would probably receive a standing ovation as a Cabaret or Demonstration. All these are Competitors at the top of their league - this is an ‘Open to the World’ occasion, and these couples (Teams) represent their countries. Delicate ladies delightfully gowned, controlled and led and beautifully presented by elegant partners - a joy to watch!

BUT DON'T COLLIDE!

But the operative point is, they, each couple, are not alone, although each gives a firm impression of complete isolation, skimming confidently from corner to corner, perhaps for several feet apparently supported by air alone, across an expanse of enticing space.

AWARENESS -

Beautiful - but suddenly breathtaking, as the thought arises, there are 12 couples, each awaiting an opportunity to ‘sweep’, to ‘fly’, at speed. They are not demonstrating, competing, as single pairs, each allowed to take their turn. All are on the floor together! How do they know that the way is clear for them, that another couple (or more) have not lined up a like sequence of steps. How can they be certain that while in transit others will not brush against them (leading to minor disaster) or come into possibly violent contact, to the entire destruction of their planned progress. Resulting even in injury!

PLANNED AVOI - DANCE

But in fact, ‘planned’ is right! They all appear so light-hearted, carefree, casual. But are they?

KNOWING WHEN TO PAUSE! AND DOING IT GRACEFULLY!

They are into a spectacular Tango now, and the same circumstance arises. At given moments each pair is traversing the floor. Maybe the specific acceleration of that Quickstep is missing, but the matter of impetus is certainly present, with its difficulties of stopping at will. And stopping elegantly, gracefully, as if such a moment is part of their routine.

PREPARATION

It is, of course, a matter of ‘preparation’. While maintaining that apparently casual grace, they remain fully aware that they have company, and while perhaps not quite conscious of each individual ‘other couple’, they are bearing in mind the location of the nearest few, and where these few will be shortly - to make a point of themselves being elsewhere!

Sheer luck? Practice? Experience? Sixth sense? Whatever!

A 'CLEVER PLAN'

But this is an ability which can be learned. Because those fortunate enough to be able to attend serious dance classes, which offer workshops and masterclasses under the auspices of top names, will find the art of avoidance to be considered essential knowledge! And our dancers here do have a ‘clever plan’ already in place to deal with all possible contingencies.

'AVOIDANCE' ON THE DANCE FLOOR

Literally, what steps to take in order to avoid disaster, steps designed ahead, assimilated by mind and feet and ready to cope with as many contingencies as possible. Ready to put into practice at a moment’s notice, to re-think a routine move in mid-step At the same time, achieveing all this with delicacy, naturalness, and that vital consummate grace.

FLOORCRAFT - A Technique you can learn

Under the application of ‘Floorcraft’, acknowledged at the very highest level'

WORLD CHAMPION CHRISTOPHER HAWKINS

3 Times World Champion Christopher Hawkins features this subject in his superb Masterclass; and among notable others, it is an acclaimed aspect of instruction by Open Professional Ballroom Champions Craig Draper and the delightful Snezhana.

THE ART OF STATIONARY AMALGAMATIONS.

All to maintain elegance, beauty, and complete control. This takes time, effort, concentration - and work! Because eventually, reaction must become automatic, Instant. It’s asking a lot of the inexperienced and even of the enthusiast, but at the end of a ‘teach in’ on this matter there is the satisfaction of having acquired invaluable knowledge. To be able to take the necessary steps on a dance floor - to master the art of avoidance. A mental check through a list of moves relating to all possible contingencies - though one or two basic moves will help - eventually even an automatic reaction with what could be a required move and its immediate application.

From the potential Competitor to the Socially addicted, this may not come easily but it is a definite necessity and well worth the effort involved. The art of Avoidance!

Perhaps some of the most helpful and profitable steps you will ever take!