Dance Today! May 2007

Features:

20 Top of the class
Alison Gallagher-Hughes talks to professional ballroom champions Mirko Gozzoli and Alessia Betti as they train for this month’s British Opens

26 Strictly Abu Dhabi
Katie Gregory visits a dance studio in the United Arab Emirates for a weekend of workshops with Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova

33 Preparing for take-off
Alison Gallagher-Hughes finds out about preparations for the British Opens

37 Dancing head first
Sanna Nordin continues her
dance psychology series with a guide
to goal setting for DanceSport

41 Back on track
Lee Knights looks at
the history of mambo

47 Jump and Break Out!
Katie Gregory reviews Korean Martial Arts company Yegam

49 Dance Diary
Simon Selmon combines lindy hop with ballroom dance in Malta

Regulars:

6 News
Eurovision Dance Contest, Darcey Bussell, the latest musical theatre news and more

11 Letters
Your chance to be heard!

13 DanceScene
Iris Findlay reports on the latest socials and competitions; Rachelle Stretch spends a weekend with Andrew Cuerden and Hanna Haarala and looks back at the Blackpool Dance Festival; BDF page

45 Book and DVD reviews
Salsa Footwork and Styling with Alison Hurwitz and Salsa and its Transnational Moves

50 Sequence Today: Sequence in the South West by Helen Blackburn

Web Only

The Blackpool Dance Festival

At the end of this month, ballroom and Latin enthusiasts from all over the world will be flocking to the seaside for the 82nd Blackpool Dance Festival, the biggest and most prestigious event of its kind in the UK. In this issue we talk to Mirko Gozzoli and Alessia Betti – last year’s Professional Ballroom Champions, to get a glimpse of their busy training schedule (with none other than Marcus and Karen Hilton) as they prepare to defend their title. Also this month, whether you dance on the social or competitive floor, there’s some invaluable advice to be gleaned from our second dance science instalment – all about goal setting – plus, if you’re in need of some inspiration, we have an exclusive report from an exotic weekend in Abu Dhabi with “Strictly Come Dancing” stars Darren and Lilia. Enjoy the issue and – fingers crossed – the sunshine.

Katie Gregory