March 2008

Many readers will have already learnt the sad news of the death of Bill Irvine, MBE, on February 13. Bill, with his wife Bobbie, led a life dedicated to dance, and together they will be remembered as the most successful ballroom dancers of their generation. Born in Kilsyth, Scotland, Bill was drafted to the Royal Navy in World War II, and on his return he made the decision to become a dance instructor and his entrance into the world of dance – working with some of the most well-known names in its history – began. In 1962 Bill and Bobbie won the British Professional Ballroom Championships, going on to win 13 world titles, including both the Ballroom and Latin World Titles on the same day in 1968 – a feat that found its way into the Guinness Book of Records. Bill held positions as President of the Imperial Society, British Dance Council, and the Worlds Council; was awarded – with Bobbie – the MBE in 1967, and came to be known as “the voice of Blackpool” as Chairman there. A full tribute will follow, and if you would like to share your memories of Bill with Dance Today readers please contact us in the coming weeks via the usual address.
Katie Gregory

In this month's issue    

6 News
“Strictly” does Sport Relief, Dance Dictionary, holidays and breaks and more!
9 Letters
From ice dancing to “Strictly Come Dancing”, your views and opinions
11 DanceScene
Arthur Murray Baker Street opening party; Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards 2007; The 2008 UK Open Championships; BDF page
22 Get into the groove
Alison Gallagher-Hughes talks to salsa stars Chris Marques and Jaclyn Spencer at Symphony Ballroom
29 Judging DanceSport part two: the finals
Rachelle Stretch examines the current adjudication system used in ballroom and Latin American dance, and looks closely at the maths behind it
34 Strictly on tour
Katie Gregory talks to Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova at the O2 Arena, the penultimate venue for Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour
Read our exclusive online version here!

41 Destination:
Dirty Dancing
Jeannine Williamson takes a dance holiday with a difference by visiting the original film location of the hit movie
47 Technique for teachers
Imogen Walker offers advice for teachers to achieve maximum results in class, from developing proprioception to understanding injury
53 It’s a West Coast Swing thing
Diane Moody explores the history of West Coast Swing
59 Three layers of development
Benoit Drolet examines the fundamentals of ballroom technique, looking this month at the stages of development of the dancer
63 Book review
Simon Selmon on Frankie Manning – Ambassador of Lindy Hop
64 Sequence section: The million dollar question by Helen Blackburn

66 Tango Giovanni
by Barry Earnshaw and Beverley Murch-Fowkes
69 Variations: A simple sparkler in Paso Doble by Steven Verrall
71 A simple sparkler in Cha Cha Cha by Pamela McGill
72 Competition diary
Dates for March
73 Listings
Dance around the UK
82 The last dance
Dance impressions in 40 years ago this month and The Ball-Room Guide

Exclusive online content

Dancing in Bournemouth 2008
Sadler's Wells Dance Club

On the cover: Chris Marques and Jaclyn Spencer. Photograph © Cuban Groove.