Len wa a real character. I was at a competition at the Olympic Ballroom Kensington where he was demonsrating and judging that night. it was a one dance competition , the Tango. He walked among the couples and if he tapped the shoulder you left the floor. The last one standing was the winner. I can always say I was touched on the shoulder by one of the immortals. I used to go to the Hamm Palaise on Tuesdays to the strict tempo nights. Those were the days. No registration cards. At the smaller comps no pre- entering, just pay the money at the door and get your number. If you didn't like the judges you would go somewhere else to compete. As I said those were the days. Got to go.

Am not trying to top you-- but this happened to me at Ham. on the Wed. aft. practice session .

Remember-- the "exscuse me " dance? >where people stood in the middle-- tapped you on the shldr, then cut in,?

It was usually in q.step.-- I was with one of my partners, doing my thing-- and Tap--looked around- it was Nellie !!. All I remember, was being in a daze, and petrified, couldnt think of a thing to do other than qrtrs, chasses and locks-- once around the floor, then she exscused herself, with the parting comment " very nice, young man "" . I have a feeling to this day, that Len put her up to that .
I was all of 17 yrs of age .
By the way-- did you ever go to Colliers place in Balham ? Thats one of the last places I saw len lecture ,before I moved to the states .

I sent all my young pros in the states, to Len ( and Sonny )

Sernd.-- forget to mention-- have been teaching for past 50 plus yrs, and am a former Examiner . Lectured at the IDTA national congress last yr .Spent most of the past yrs in the states, now back in the u.k. ,teaching as usual.

I LOVE the tango! (Having an amazing partner helps). Probably took me the longest to be able to follow through an entire piece of music, but definitely the most rewarding once I did. (We work without discussing steps...only technique. I never know what he will be leading in any dance. I have no intention of teaching, so I really prefer it that way...impossible to "cheat" and the fastest way to beat your bad habits). We also like to change it up with the music for fun and a challenge. (Batman? Sure...how about Chopin? The Beatles? It can be fun) I still love tango music though. I love William Pino and Alessandra's tango showdance. Amazing! Luca and Lorraine also inspired me when they kind of put a fresh face on tango a few years back. Wish I were doing a tango right now, matter of fact!

I was at the Hammersmith Palais when Eric Lashbrook 's partner Sheila Wikinson did her last competition. That would have been 1953. Where you there the night Harry Smith- Hamphire did absolute basics in the quickstep right up to the final. The reason for that was he had been criticises for two many scatter chasses before. As you know the audience was always well educated as far as dancing was concerned. As he went around the ballroom, with the audience it was like a Mexican wave at a Soccer match.I did a competition at Balham. Apart from Bob Burgess's place in Kensington and the Hamm Palaise most of my dancing was in N.W. London around Wembley and Harrow. But Tuesday strict tempo night was always the palaise. I guess we must have rubbed shoulders. Other than that on a Wednesday it was without fail Wembley Town Hall for me.

SMALL world !! yes -- I was there that nite !!.-- I also, which I forgot to mention, very briefly started to train for teaching with Bob .That was the yr that Binnick won the British ( before he danced with Sally )

Odd story, when I was in Fla. many yrs a go, I met the pro. who danced with sally , before Sonny !-- . he was managing for one of the pros I had initially trained for his Assoc( Phyllis haylor, examined )

Remember Eric and Sheila very well-- what a pretty girl she was . Often wonder what happened to her( same with Tony Hurleys junior partner )?


Am trying to set up a meet and greet group in London for the " salsa " crowd. Did extensive work and training with Latinos in the states, in the authentic side of latin .

I met Anthony and Fay a short while ago. He was living here at that time. Then he moved to Tasmania. He gave a couple of seminars which I attended. We had a yarn about old times. Fay is as petite as ever and easy to rcognize. I was at a comp run by Sydney Winter in Harrow when Anthony and Len Armstrong just came out of the juniors. Just going from memory i'm pretty sure Josephine Bradley was one of the judges. How much does ballroom dancing owe her in particular the Foxtrot. I was at Guy Hayward's studio in Harrow when Joyce Hayward retired and Sonny Binik joined up with Sally Brock. Joyce retired when she was due to marry.

Please excuse this off-topic comment, but I would like to say how much I have enjoyed your exchanges. I have just begun classes at age 50 with my husband and the tango has been an interesting experience. Reading your comments place a wonderful light on the dance that, perhaps, we have not seen before. Thank you.

capy56. If you want a really good video on the Tango, the Waltz is on the same tape. Steven Hillier's Dance Basics is still available. If not from this site Quasar Video in the UK. have them. They are the same people responsible for bringing us Blackpool live on the inter- net. Best wishes.

Hi,
I found the stories by Tangotime and Serendipidy very interesting, especially when Tangotime said he was a former examiner for the now IDTA. He may find it interesting to know that two former IDTA examiners write to this board, namely; Kenneth Lee and Ken Akrill.