Hi, I'm writing a book - using dance themes, postures, terminology, etc., as a means of communicating ideas. For example, a few chapter titles are "Grounding" and "Adagio." I'm writing today about dancers maintaining eye contact, but not as in "spotting." Any thoughts? And if you need more to go on, let me know.

Lowell

Lowelleq. In the International Standard style of dancing there is no eye contact at all. In the Latin Style there is eye contact. In the Rumba when Colm Wikinson sang When I gaze into your eyes Paul Killick was doing just that a not looking anywhere else other than into Hannah's eyes. A Latin coach once said to me I would rather see a person looking at their partner all the time than not at all.

Brilliant, Serendipity! Exactly what I'm looking for. Any more insights, from you or others, would be appreciated ... and if there are any personal stories that you wouldn't mind seeing in print one day, please pass them along.

lowelleq. A few years ago now, at a competition my partner had to change from her Latin gear into Ballroom. Suddenly she took off to the dressing room. She realized she had forgot to put an important part of her underwear on. If you have ever been to a competition you may have seen one of the partnership standing with ther hand raised, meaning their partner is missing. I was standing with my hand raised.

Was curious to know what yr you were taking with Wally ?-- also--- did you attend the aft. sessions at the palais ?-- was wondering if we vaguely knew each other .

Terence. There was a ballroom or club diagonaly opposite the Hammersmith P. I forget the name. Wally used to take lessons there . I also had lessons at the Palaise and also at Henry Jaques place not far from Q.P.R. You remember how inbetween the afternoon and evening sessions how the Palaise was alive with teachers and pupils.
You'd remember when it wasn't neccessary to pre enter a competition. Just pay at the door and get your number. Nobody was registered. In the weekly Dance News all the events were listed plus who was judging and who was demonstrating.There were three grades and none of us would dream of dancing out of our grade, either above or below. I had a technique book in those days. Now I have also a book of rules which will one day be as thick as Gone with the Wind. I wonder how we ever managed without all these rules and regulations.

2 names come to mind about studios / teaching places-- Bob Burgess had one very close ( which i attended a couple of times, and then-- was it Garganicos ? )

I was a regular at the afternoon social from 3- 5.30.( Wed ? )


remember quite well , all the pros ( Wally , Scriv, Binnick,Colyer et al ) sitting by the side of the bandstand, and the amats on the other side of the room !!-- the truly golden era of dance.

My last yr there ( other than a visit from the states in 83 )was in 53/54 .

It sure made entering a lot more fun -- just the spur of the moment thing .

While thats something different my dance teacher always tell us about eye contact and how it is so important when you are performing.

They were refering to LATIN / Rhythm-- not Standard / Smooth .