February 2008

This month the offices of Dancing Times Ltd. are busier than ever, as preparations continue for MOVE IT from March 7–9, which promises to be even bigger and better than previous years, with more classes, performances and seminars – as well as more space – than ever before. To celebrate, we’re offering a pair of free entry tickets to 50 readers in this month’s issue – see page 11 for details of how to enter. The full timetable is available to view at www.dance-london.co.uk, and highlights include performances from Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag – who will be signing copies of their DVD Simply Ballroom on Saturday – as well as classes with Karen Hardy (Saturday), Ian Waite and Camilla Dallerup (Sunday) and the chance to learn West Coast Swing with Diane Moody, sponsored by Dance Today (Sunday). Don’t forget to pre-book your classes before the event to guarantee entry. We’ll be there over the three days, so come and meet us at stand 100 and pick up a free copy of our sister magazine, Dancing Times. In the meantime, enjoy this month’s issue, and look out for next month’s, which features coverage of Strictly Come Dancing Live, a teacher’s guide to bringing out the best in dance students, and much more.
Katie Gregory

In this month's issue    

6 News
Strictly Come Dancing Live, holidays and breaks, your chance to win a Sony DVD player and more
9 Letters
Your views and opinions
11 WIN tickets to MOVE IT
The UK’s biggest dance exhibition takes place at London’s Olympia next month: be there!
12 DanceScene
World Professional South American Showdance Championships; 2008 Star Championships; BDF page
18 Onwards and upwards
Alison Gallagher-Hughes talks to ballroom competitors Warren and Kristi Boyce about their new Professional status
24 Judging DanceSport – part one: the heats
Rachelle Stretch examines the adjudication system used in competitive ballroom and Latin American dance
29 China: now and then
Katie Gregory looks at the forthcoming season of events celebrating Chinese culture

35 Opportunity knocks
Alison Gallagher-Hughes talks to Latin legends Bryan Watson and Carmen about past successes and new ventures
41 Prepare to perform
Imogen Walker offers a ten-point guide to enhancing both physical and mental performance, whatever style you dance
46 The body projection system
Benoit Drolet examines the fundamentals of ballroom dance technique
49 Reviews
“Dance Britannia” on BBC4; Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! at Sadler’s Wells; Cirque du Soleil in Varekai at the Royal Albert Hall; PLUS Carole Edrich previews Flamenco Festival London 08 at Sadler’s Wells
57 CD and DVD reviews
This month: The Ultimate Ballroom Album 10 and Wicked on CD, plus Essential Yogalates on DVD
58 Sequence section: The million dollar question by Helen Blackburn
60 Rannerdale Rumba by Michael and Angela Hayton

62 Variations: A simple sparkler in Tango
by Snieguole Wood
63 A simple sparkler in Jive by Steven Verrall
64 Competition diary
Dates for February
65 Listings
Dance around the UK
74 The last dance
40 years ago this month and The Ball-Room Guide

Exclusive online content

Miguel Angel Zotto: Buenos Aires Tango
Championships and Trophies at Horndean

On the cover: Warren and Kristi Boyce at a performance hosted by Midlands Dance Events. Photograph by Andy Billington/VitalPhoto.