November 2007

Autumn is always a busy period in the dance calendar, and the number of DanceScene reports in this month’s issue reflects the variety of events on offer. November continues at a steady pace, with preparations for the Nationals in Blackpool busily continuing, and in this issue we meet Ashley Frohlick, musical director of the Empress Orchestra, who’ll be bringing the festival’s music to life (page 48). Judging by your letters (see page 9), the “Strictly Come Dancing” music team could benefit from taking a leaf out of Frohlick’s book, and as a fan of the show I have to agree that it’s a real shame – particularly in the case of the tango – to see fantastic choreography so often obscured by mis-matched music, and technical skill overshadowed as a result. On the subject of which, in this issue we have the first of a series of articles from Benoit Drolet, who – having achieved world-class status in the professional field with his partner, being semi-finalists in all the major championships as well as finalists in top world competitions – begins with an exploration of the word “technique” itself.
Katie Gregory

In this month    

Features
6 News
The latest word on dance
9 Letters
“Strictly”: the good and bad
10 DanceScene
Wheelchair dancing; Brighton Rueda Congress; Hampshire Festival; Midland Championships; World Amateur Allstars; Night of 100 Stars; BDF page
46 Volume 51 index
Highlights from another year of Dance Today magazine
51 Musical review
Alison Kirkman reviews Rent Remixed in the West End
52 Competition diary
Dates for November
53 Film review
Katie Gregory reviews Razzle Dazzle the movie

24 Open for Business
Rachelle Stretch talks to Andrew Cuerden and Hanna Haarala about life after turning professional
31 Keeping up appearances: part one
Strictly Sensational: Rachelle Stretch talks to the “Strictly Come Dancing” team about hair, make-up and costuming
39 Skills for survival
Katie Gregory talks to fitness experts Kris and Cara Watson about health for dancers
44 Tools for technique
Benoit Drolet begins a regular column focusing on technique
48 The music man
Alison Gallagher-Hughes meets Ashley Frohlick of Blackpool’s Empress Orchestra

55 CD reviews
The latest music for dancers put to the test
57 Sequence section: Get the party started by Helen Blackburn
58 Maestro Mambo by Barry Earnshaw and Beverley Murch-Fowkes
60 Sugarberry Salsa by Ian and Sue Webster
62 Springfield Swing by Ellen Harrison and Kelly Sloan
64 Variation: A simple sparkler in quickstep by Steven Verrall
65 Listings
Dance around the UK
74 The last dance
Dancers on Television
in 40 years ago this month and The Ball-Room Guide

On the cover: “Strictly Come Dancing” stars Matt D’Angelo and Flavia Caccace. Photograph by Mark Chilvers © BBC.