THE
TIMES
BALLROOM
AUSTRALIA
R
Vol. 2 No. 4 April 2015
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A Letter from the Editors
Welcome to The Australia Times “BALLROOM”, April 2015 Edition. We have a great
cover this month with South Australia’s future stars in the three fantastic Recreational
couples that danced at the recent DASA Adelaide Spectacular. We welcome back a very
popular article “History of the Floor” a great look at the career of Joanne Boden one of
Queensland’s most successful Lady dancers, Joanne Boden.
Enjoy! Jason & Erin.
ON THE COVER
Vanya Golobokov & Amina Khasanova (Top Right)
Feruz Karimov & Sophia Karimov (Bottom)
Jesse Ruth & Ashley Tran (Top Left)
PHOTO BY BRETT COUSINS - IMAGE LOUNGE
www.pbase.com/brett_cousins
IN THIS ISSUE
Letter from the Editors.............Pg 3
S.A. Ballroom Spectacular........Pg 5
Aussies Around the World.....Pg 18
WDC Asian Tour Shanghai.....Pg 24
History Of The Floor...............Pg 32
Have Your Say........................Pg 42
Want to be a contributor?
Please email us
info@theaustraliatimes.com.au
CONTRIBUTORS
John Tan (Singapore)
Joanne Boden
COMING NEXT MONTH
• Off The Floor Interview
• World Athletes Commission
• Crown Dancesport Ch’ships
• Competition results from
around Australia as well as ...
• Aussies Around the World
• Balance, Nourish Thrive
• much much more !
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www.outsidechange.com
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2015 D.A.S.A.
Adelaide Ballroom DanceSport Spectacular
TAT Ballroom reporting ...
The weekend of March 21 & 22, the Wonderland Ballroom in Adelaide witnessed some great dancing for the
Adelaide Spectacular. This year attracted some of Australia’s best couples with some great prize money on
offer. Organiser Mr Rhett English and the DASA committee should be congratulated with trying to promote
DanceSport in South Australia and getting out there and getting sponsorship and fantastic prize money for the
competitors. It would be great to see more competitors from the South East region of Australia make the trip
for this event, this year saw couples from Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Victoria, New South
Wales and Queensland competing. A great effort.
The two day event could have really been finalised in one day with not much support on the Saturday events
even from South Australian competitors. Was disappointing to see this however, I am sure next year it can be
completed over one day.
The judging panel consisted of a wide range of states being represented and those being
FROM QLD - Richard Perry
FROM NSW - Tony Gauci
FROM VIC - Brent Olifent Jason Beaman Adam Blakey
Andrew Howlett Pamelia Courts
FROM TAS - Andrew Palmer
FROM NT - Stephen Farawell
FROM WA - Glen Tierney
FROM SA - Madeleine Zoanetti Malcolm Batty Rhett & Kym English
Stephen Pulbrook Susan Bowshall Maxine Derham
Day 1 consisted of Pro Am and Masters 2 and 3 events with a Masters 1 Open 8 Dance and Adult Open 10
Dance event. Winning the MASTERS 1 EIGHT DANCE were Victorians Kevin Keurntjes & Grace Leong
winning very convincingly with some very calm and unflustered dancing and being very consistent over both
styles make them a very strong force in this sort of event.
Winning the ADULT OPEN 10 DANCE were South Australians Jason Coleman & Amy Hazell who were also
very consistent over the 10 dances making them the eventual winners of this event.
Day 2 witnessed the graded events for Masters 1, Adult, Junior, Youth and Juvenile and also Professional
events, It was great to see some Professional couples travel to Adelaide to compete, unfortunately only one
couple entered in the PROFESSIONAL LATIN. They received the $1,000 prize package which was great
www.outsidechange.com
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2015 D.A.S.A.
Adelaide Ballroom DanceSport Spectacular
money for them and they were Victorians Joel Conroy & Stacey Petts who gave the audience a great
demonstration of all 5 Latin rhythms.
Two couples took the floor for the PROFESSIONAL NEW VOGUE, with the eventual winners being James
Van Elswyk & Amanda Peden (QLD) with Damien Kolourous & Sheree Holly (SA) taking out the runners
up position. What an interesting event this one was with both couples having totally contrasting
styles
. The winners showing some very active and action packed choreographed routines with the runners
up taking the very classic and basic look at New Vogue.
An extremely close event with James & Amanda winning 4 dances with 4 firsts and 3 seconds in each
and Damien & Sheree winning the other dance with 5 firsts and 2 seconds. A very close event and really
could have gone either way. My preference was Damien & Sheree on this occasion, purely on the quality of
movement and calmness created throughout. I had a little issue with timing in some places but overall a good
solid performance, more work definitely needed on shaping.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARD had three couples take to the floor and the winners being Antonio Micheli &
Katusha Volgina from Victoria who were clear winners in this event, Katusha is a dream to watch and one for
many young ladies to look up too.
Damien & Sheree were clearly second with a very polished performance and also a couple for the young
ones to look up too showing some quality dancing.
In the Adult Open events we saw some wonderful dancing in all 3 styles, winning the ADULT OPEN STANDARD
were Victorians David Rozycki & Sarah Whiter who have obviously done some serious work on their Ballroom
over the New Year period. They showed some lovely choreography changes and seem to be much freer in all
they are doing. Taking out the runners up position were Adrian Marcato & Marianna Boin who fought off
a strong challenge from third place couple Sheldon Gilbert & Sonja Budisa only one point separating 2nd
& 3rd and
this result really could have gone either way with both couples producing some
beautiful dancing.
In the remaining places we see the new partnership of Morgan Flowers (Qld) & Ebony Ratcliffe (Tasmania)
who currently commute between Brisbane and Launceston to get there lessons and practice done and for
having minimal time to practice they put in a good performance. Would like to see Ebony relax through the
frame and work on lengthening her spine to help the partnership blossom. 5th was Michael Tomkins &
Jenna Tampaline (VIC) and 6th Daniel Buckley & Jessie Wong (QLD) both couples could have finished in
4th place as nothing between 4th to 6th in this final.
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2015 D.A.S.A.
Adelaide Ballroom DanceSport Spectacular
2015 DASA ADELAIDE BALLROOM DANCESPORT SPECTACULAR
DAVID ROZYCKI & SARAH WHITER (VIC)
Adult Open Standard Champions
Photo by Brett Cousins IMAGE LOUNGE : www.pbase.com/brett_cousins
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2015 D.A.S.A.
Adelaide Ballroom DanceSport Spectacular
ADULT OPEN NEW VOGUE had 7 couples take the floor and the top 2 couples produced some great dancing
with them both being clearly in front of the remaining finalists. This event was definitely two finals in one with
the first and second placed couples in a league of their own which left the rest of the
finalists fighting it out for 3rd place.
Winners were Crawford Hill & Monique Savill (VIC) who won all 5 dances despite picking up some 3rd
places from one of the adjudicators. They have definitely matured and developed their style in their performance
and are now producing some lovely soft and musical dancing that isn’t forced or hard. They have made a
dramatic change in their dancing over the last 12 months and in that time have seen some great results. A
very impressive first competition for the year.
Runners up were Adrian Marcato & Marianna Boin (VIC) who placed 2nd in every dance and did not pick
up any 3rd places from any adjudicator. You cannot miss these two when they take the floor, they have a very
bold approach to the New Vogue style and always commit to every shape and line 100%. I feel their styling
(choreography) is very busy and does not allow them the best chance to fill the music up top the fullest. I would
like to see the shapes come from the feet and legs and through to the body. They are a very strong couple that
you cannot miss but I am not sure it is always for the right reasons, I feel they are both capable of so much
more in this style.
The remaining couples in the New Vogue event all receiving a mixed bags of markings as not much separating
any of them. There is certainly some talented couples coming up in the New Vogue style and let’s hope they
can continue to dance New Vogue.
THE ADULT OPEN LATIN saw 5 couples take to the floor with eventual winners being South Australia’s own
Annallisa Zoanetti & Sigurdur Thor Sigurdsson who dominated this final with a powerful and dynamic
interpretation of the Latin dances. Annalisa just loves dancing for her home town crowd and it shows, they
have great chemistry with each other and always give it 100%.
Clear winners in this event leaving
no stone un-turned, I feel Paso could be looked at as I felt too much energy being projected outward and not
enough being held within, I felt this was their weakest dance.
Runners up were west Australians Steven Greenwood & Hannah O’Donovan who are really
total
opposites in every way
to Sigurdur & Annalisa, the height, style and approach. On this occasion I felt
Steven fell flat in rhythm dances showing next to know use of his centre or body which for me was the most
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2015 D.A.S.A.
Adelaide Ballroom DanceSport Spectacular
2015 DASA ADELAIDE BALLROOM DANCESPORT SPECTACULAR
ANGUS DAVISON & SUZANNE NATHAN (VIC)
Adult B Grade New Vogue Champions
Photo by Brett Cousins IMAGE LOUNGE : www.pbase.com/brett_cousins
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2015 D.A.S.A.
Adelaide Ballroom DanceSport Spectacular
noticeable ever however, I did feel Paso Doble was a very good dance for them with the energy being contained
and felt this dance they won. Hannah is such a great lady dancer and Steven looks after her very well but feel
Steven is capable of so much more.
3rd place went to Victoria and Lyu Masuda & Siobhan Power. Lyu is such a talent, but feel at times the
choreography does not allow him to dance enough to show what he can really do. I felt Siobhan fell a little flat
and was out shone by her partner on this occasion. I am not sure if they have new work or are in a transition
period but this was not the same couple we witnessed at the Australian in December.
These two have the talent to be right up their challenging and I really look forward to seeing what they can
produce at their next few events. They have all the right tools to be the couple to beat.
Moving to the Masters events and the top spots were taking by both Victoria and Queensland. Kevin Keurntjes
& Grace Leong (Victoria) winning the MASTERS 1 EIGHT DANCE on the Saturday, the A GRADE NEW
VOGUE on the Sunday and runner up in the OPEN NEW VOGUE, STANDARD and A GRADE STANDARD.
David & Sandra Kroning (QLD) were 2nd in the A grade New Vogue and first in the Open New Vogue and
Standard and A Grade Standard.
Both of these couples producing some really good dancing, Kevin & Grace seemed to have a great weekend
showing a much softer approach to the New Vogue and a more together Standard style with a great quickstep.
David & Sandra start the events off well with some great dancing but feel stamina lets them down on some
occasions, I felt the Standard style had improved immensely.
Other couples that caught our attention over the two days of dancing were ...
Jason Coleman & Amy Hazell (South Australia) who won the Adult Open 10 Dance event on the Saturday,
they have some moments of lovely dancing but feel it can be quite inconsistent. For me the Standard style
was their best but overall a very good 10 dance couple. Amy has a very classy look on the floor and
I think in time and more work needed on the Latin style they could be a very strong 10 Dance couple.
Angus Davison & Suzanne Nathan (Victoria) what an improvement these two have made since last I saw
them compete. Good free movement and a strong confident approach to all three styles, New Vogue being
their strongest style but seem to have worked hard in all 3 styles.
Qunyi Sun & Yinghong Liu (South Australia) definitely love performing and what an infectious love of dance
they have. They seem to have also made huge improvements in all 3 styles in the Masters 2 events and were
a real joy to watch perform over the two days.
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2015 D.A.S.A.
Adelaide Ballroom DanceSport Spectacular
2015 DASA ADELAIDE BALLROOM DANCESPORT SPECTACULAR
QUNYI SUN & YINGHONG LIU (SA)
Masters II B Grade Latin, New Vogue Champions. 3rd Place Masters II B Grade Standard
Photo by Brett Cousins IMAGE LOUNGE : www.pbase.com/brett_cousins
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2015 D.A.S.A.
Adelaide Ballroom DanceSport Spectacular
(Queensland) making the trip to Adelaide all the way from Cairns and putting
a solid performance over all three styles. They have the potential to go much further in their
dancing and I am sure the interstate competitions will give them the experience they need.
Vlad & Theodora Croitoru (South Australia) in the Juvenile events have some great potential, they are big
movers in the Ballroom and New Vogue styles and give it some punch in the Latin but feel they need to be
more rehearsed in all styles as not as consistent as the winners on this occasions. I look forward to seeing
their progression.
Jarraed & Saffron South (Victoria) winning the Juvenile Open events with some great dancing. Jarraed has
a great top line in the Standard style but needs to pay some close attention to his footwork in Foxtrot. They
have very nice use of the feet and timing in the New Vogue style and while Latin seems to be their weakest
style out of the three, they still produce some good body and leg actions throughout.
I have to make mention of the three couples who danced in the JUVENILE RECREATIONAL COUPLES LATIN.
This event brought the house down and received the biggest round of applause of any event over
the 2 days of dancing. The three couples were all from South Australia and they were : Vanya Golobokov &
Amina Khasanova, Feruz Karimov & Sophia Karimov and Jesse Ruth & Ashley Tran. What a future these
three couples have and I am sure they will be future stars for South Australia if they can continue dancing. These
3 couples have been featured on the front cover of this edition.
To see all the result from the Adelaide Spectacular, follow this link
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2015 D.A.S.A.
Adelaide Ballroom DanceSport Spectacular
2015 DASA ADELAIDE BALLROOM DANCESPORT SPECTACULAR
DANIEL & AMY MANSFIELD (QLD) - 7th Place Adult Open New Vogue, 3rd Place B Grade New Vogue,
4th Place B Grade Standard, 2nd Place C Grade Latin
Photo by Brett Cousins IMAGE LOUNGE : www.pbase.com/brett_cousins
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2015 DASA ADELAIDE BALLROOM DANCESPORT SPECTACULAR
VANYA GOLOBOKOV & AMINA KHASANOVA (JUVENILE RECREATIONAL COUPLES)
1st Place Samba, 1st Evening 3-Step, 2nd Place Cha Cha
Photo by Brett Cousins IMAGE LOUNGE : www.pbase.com/brett_cousins
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2015 DASA ADELAIDE BALLROOM DANCESPORT SPECTACULAR
2015 DASA ADELAIDE BALLROOM DANCESPORT SPECTACULAR
JESSE RUTH & ASHLEY TRAN (JUVENILE RECREATIONAL COUPLES)
1st Place Waltz, Quickstep, Merrilyn, 2nd Place Evening 3-Step, 3rd Place Samba & Cha Cha
Photo by Brett Cousins IMAGE LOUNGE : www.pbase.com/brett_cousins
FERUZ KARIMOV & SOPHIA KARIMOV (JUVENILE RECREATIONAL COUPLES)
1st Place Cha Cha, 2nd Place Samba, 3rd Place Evening 3-Step
Photo by Brett Cousins IMAGE LOUNGE : www.pbase.com/brett_cousins
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International
The most recent results of Australian Couples from Competitions held
around the World via Outside Change online Dancesport Magazine.
Visit www.outsidechange.com to read this great magazine
Pg 19
International
The most recent results of Australian Couples from Competitions held
around the World via Outside Change online Dancesport Magazine.
Visit www.outsidechange.com to read this great magazine
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Aussies Around the World
Troitsk, Russia Saturday 21st February, 2015
Matthew Potter and his Russian dance partner
Verokina Rezepina recently placed 2nd in the
Danceplatz Amateur Ballroom Championship
beating some 50 plus couples.
WDC ASIAN TOUR, TAIPEI
Taipei, Taiwan Saturday 28th February, 2015
The third leg of the WDC Asian Tour took place in
Taipei, Taiwan at the wonderful Taipei Arena, this is
a great venue for showcasing dancing at its best.
Australia had some couples competing on this leg of
the Asian Tour and their results are as follows
David Rozycki & Sarah Whiter from Melbourne made
the final of the WDC Amateur Ballroom Championship
and finished in 4th place.
In the Professional Ballroom we see that our current
Australian Champions David Klar & Lauren Andlovec
are achieving some great results with making the
semi final round placing in 11th position out of a first
round starting field of 46 couples.
Also in the Professional Ballroom event we saw
an upset at the top end of the final with the world
number 1 Arunas & Katusha not dancing this leg
of the Tour so it was left to World Number 2 Victor
Fung & Anastasiya Muravyeva (USA) and World
Number 3 Andrea & Sarah Ghigiarelli (England)
to fight it out. On this occasion and for the first time
as far as we know, Andrea & Sarah were victorious in
taking out the title in Taipei with Victor & Anastasiya
having to settle for the runners up position.
WDC ASIAN TOUR, CHINA
ZhangJiagang, China Thursday 5th March, 2015
Australia only had one couple feature in the China
leg of the Asian Tour and they were David Klar &
Lauren Andlovec in the Professional Ballroom. David
& Lauren were successful in making the semi final
round and placing 11th making them semi finalists
in all Professional Ballroom events on the Asian Tour.
Winners of the Professional ballroom event this
time were American’s Victor Fung & Anastasiya
Muravyeva followed by the winners from Taipei in
Andrea & Sarah Ghigiarelli (England), we are
sure we will see many more great battles between
these two couples in the future.
FINLAND OPEN
Helsinki, Finland Saturday 7th March, 2015
The 2015 Finland Open was host to the WDSF Grand
Slam events in both Standard and Latin and with
some a former Aussie achieving some great results.
In the Standard section we see Bjorn Bitsch & Ashli
Williamson (Denmark) make the semi final round
and place in 8th position out of a round 1 entry list
of 77 couples.
COLOMBO TROPHY
Pieve Di Cento, Italy Friday 13th March, 2015
In the WDSF International Open Latin 139 couples
started in the first round and Australia’s Alex Salvador
& Alice Chiocchi advanced to the 3rd round of 48
couples placing equal 28th. In the same round of 48
couples we see former Australian brother and sister
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Aussies Around the World
WDSF WORLD OPEN TURKEY
Antalya, Turkey Sunday 22nd March, 2015
In the WDSF World Open Latin we see Alex Salvador
& Alice Chiocchi advance to the second round of 48
couples placing in 32nd. The first round started with
69 couples.
USA DANCE NATIONAL
DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIP
Baltimore, USA Friday 27th March, 2015
The 2015 USA Dance National Championships
are held by the WDSF organisation in the USA and
former West Australian Earle Williamson & Charlotte
Rikke Christiansen who now dance for the USA
were crowned the 2015 USA Dance Standard
Championships in the Adult division.
2ND BRILLANTE INTERNATIONAL
DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIP
Singapore Saturday 28th March, 2015
Melvyn & Nancy Low organised for the 2nd time the
Brillante International Championships in Singapore
with some very good international competitors and
adjudicators making the trip to Singapore.
On the adjudicating panel we see Australians Peter
Townsend and Matthew Rooke who were joined
by adjudicators from right across Asia and some
European nations too.
Winning the Professional Standard were Australians
Steven Grinbergs & Rachelle Plaass beating couples
from Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
team Errol & Ami Williamson (Denmark) place 47th.
Both couples also competed in the Rising Star Latin,
both making the semi final round with Alex & Alice
placing 10th and Errol & Ami placing 12th.
135 couples started in the first round of the WDSF
International Open Standard and our ex Aussie
counterparts placed as following.
Making the final were Bjorn Bitsch & Ashli
Williamson (Denmark) placing a fantastic 3rd.
In the semi final round placing 10th were Earle
Williamson & Charlotte Rikke Christiansen (USA),
and in the fourth round of 24 couples we see Errol
& Ami Williamson (Denmark) placing in 24th. The
Williamson family are really making their mark on the
WDSF circuit and we are sure all of their friends here
in Australia are proud of all they have achieved.
WDC WORLD CUP
Taipei, Taiwan Saturday 14th March, 2015
The Taipei Arena was the setting for the WDC World
Cup with an Aussie couple making the Amateur latin
final and placing 4th were Declan Taylor & Upeka
Senaweera . Winners of the Latin event went to
China, the Amateur Ballroom went to Italy and the
two Professional titles went to the USA.
SOUTH OF ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
Reading, England Sunday 22nd March, 2015
Unfortunately no Australians were seen dancing as
far as we know however, our New Zealand friends
featured in the final of the Youth Under 21 Latin
with the current New Zealand Champions of Brian
Dibnah & Sarah Nolan.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Aussies Around the World
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Aussies Around the World
Congratulations to all of the
Australian couples overseas and if
we have missed anyone’s results,
please drop us a line at
info@outsidechange.com
Steven Grinbergs also won the Pro Am 5 Dance
Standard with partner Annie Mung.
WDSF WORLD OPEN BUCHAREST
Bucharest, Romania Sunday 29th March, 2015
Australians Alex Salvador & Alice Chiocchi are doing
a lot of travelling around Europe with them this
time competing in Romania and with 92 starting in
round 1 of the Adult Latin, Alex & Alice placed a very
credible 23rd.
Shout.
JUST DO-NATE.
ShoutForGood.com
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John Tan (Singapore) reporting ...
The Asian Open Dance Tour is a WDC World Ranking and World Series Event
where top competitors, across the globe, come together to compete in a series of
different renowned competitions – Korean Open (KOREA), Japan Open (JAPAN),
Taipei Open (TAIWAN) and Shanghai Open (CHINA).
The Asian Open Dance Tour came to an end after the last stop at Shanghai Open, which was held on 5 March
2015 at ZhangJiaGang – People’s Republic of China.
The Shanghai Open was organised by YUAN DONG DANCE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION with Zhang Xiang
Guo as the Organising Chairman.
Adjudicators judging this competition consisted of famous WDC Adjudicators from
China and invited Overseas Adjudicators namely :
ROBIN SHORT (CHAIRMAN OF ADJUDICATORS)
ISAO NAKAGAWA (Japan) SVEIN ROTVOLD (Norway)
MARKUS HILTON MBE (England) HANNES EMRICH (Austria)
HENRY OOI (Malaysia) ALLAN FLETCHER (UK)
RALF LEPEHNE (Germany) ANDREW SINKINSON (UK)
SIRPA SUUTARI (Finland) TONY DOKMAN (Netherland)
CHRISTOPHER SHORT (UK) MICHAEL WENTINK (South Africa)
JUNICHIRO KUSUNOKI (Japan) LAWRENCE CHAN (HK)
JANE LIU (Taiwan) MICHAEL WANG (Taiwan)
and JOHN TAN (Singapore)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
WDC Asian Tour Shanghai Open
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
WDC Asian Tour Shanghai Open
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
WDC Asian Tour Shanghai Open
With more than 20 couples in each Professional division striving to do their best, the audiences and adjudicators
surely had a great time enjoying their elegance in Ballroom while liveliness in Latin. A grand total prize money
of USD 100,000 was distributed among the finalists and the results are shown below:
Professional Latin Results
1 RICCARDO COCCHI & YULIA ZAGORUYCHENKO USA
2 MAURIZIO VESCOVO & ANDRA VAIDILAITE Canada
3 STEFANO DI FILIPPO & DARIA CHESNOKOVA USA
4 MASSIMO ARCOLIN & LAURA ZMAJKOVICOVA Italy
5 RACHID MALKI & ANNA SUPRUN Norway
6 MANUEL FAVILLA & NATALIA MAIDIUK Ukraine
Professional Ballroom Results
1 VICTOR FUNG & ANASTASIYA MURAVYEVA USA
2 ANDREA GHIGIARELLI & SARA ANDRACCHIO-GHIGIARELLI England
3 DOMEN KRAPEZ & NATASCHA KARABEY Germany
4 VALERIO ANTONIO COLANTONI & MONICA NIGRO Italy
5 YANG CHAO & TAN YILING China
6 ANGELO MADONIA & MARIA MITROKHINA England
The Asian Open Dance Tour has once again been an amazing event, having 4
top prestigious competitions in Asia, bringing many top Professional and Amateur
couples together. With the rising standards of Ballroom Dancing in Asia, the
following years’ competitions will definitely be something to look forward to.
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WDC AsiAn Tour shAnghAi open
PROFESSIONAL LATIN FINALISTS (FROM LEFT)
1st Riccardo Cocchi & Yulia Zagoruychenko USA, 2nd Maurizio Vescovo & Andra Vaidilaite CANADA,
3rd Stefano Di Filippo & Daria Chesnokova USA, 4th Massimo Arcolin & Laura Zmajkovicova ITALY,
5th Rachid Malki & Anna Suprun NORWAY, 6th Manuel Favilla & Natalia Maidiuk UKRAINE
Photo courtesy of John Tan
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WDC AsiAn Tour shAnghAi open
WDC AsiAn Tour shAnghAi open
PROFESSIONAL LATIN FINALISTS (FROM LEFT)
1st Riccardo Cocchi & Yulia Zagoruychenko USA, 2nd Maurizio Vescovo & Andra Vaidilaite CANADA,
3rd Stefano Di Filippo & Daria Chesnokova USA, 4th Massimo Arcolin & Laura Zmajkovicova ITALY,
5th Rachid Malki & Anna Suprun NORWAY, 6th Manuel Favilla & Natalia Maidiuk UKRAINE
Photo courtesy of John Tan
Pg 28
WDC AsiAn Tour shAnghAi open
PROFESSIONAL BALLROOM FINALISTS (FROM LEFT)
1st Victor Fung & Anastasiya Muravyeva USA, 2nd Andrea Ghigiarelli & Sara Andracchio-Ghigiarelli ENGLAND,
3rd Domen Krapez & Natascha Karabey GERMANY, 4th Valerio Antonio Colantoni & Monica Nigro ITALY,
5th Yang Chao & Tan Yiling CHINA, 6th Angelo Madonia & Maria Mitrokhina ENGLAND
Photo courtesy of John Tan
Pg 29
WDC AsiAn Tour shAnghAi open
WDC AsiAn Tour shAnghAi open
PROFESSIONAL BALLROOM FINALISTS (FROM LEFT)
1st Victor Fung & Anastasiya Muravyeva USA, 2nd Andrea Ghigiarelli & Sara Andracchio-Ghigiarelli ENGLAND,
3rd Domen Krapez & Natascha Karabey GERMANY, 4th Valerio Antonio Colantoni & Monica Nigro ITALY,
5th Yang Chao & Tan Yiling CHINA, 6th Angelo Madonia & Maria Mitrokhina ENGLAND
Photo courtesy of John Tan
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www.outsidechange.com
Pg 32
History
OF THE
With Joanne Boden
from Queensland
Pictured here with Dan Buric. Photos supplied by Joanne Boden, thank you.
Pg 33
History
OF THE
With Joanne Boden from QLD
Teacher or Teachers?
My first dance coaches were Doug and Dora Broomfield. They had moved to Queensland from the United
Kingdom. They taught all 3 styles and made us dance with a record cover (containing the record) between us
to ensure we kept contact in Ballroom. I was 11 years old when I started so of course none of us
wanted to get boys or girls germs so as you can imagine a few records were damaged in this process.
How many dance partners did you have in your career?
I have had 5 dance partners from 1975 - 1991: 1. Gary Soderlund Juvenile
2. Johnny Giacomo Junior
3. Derek Roofayel Junior
4. Brandon Virtue Adult
5. Dan Buric Adult/Professional
Did you compete in all styles and how important do you think it is to have a solid understanding
of each style?
Yes I did compete all 3 styles. Everybody did back then, not anyone I can remember
specialised like they do now. Even when I first arrived in London I competed in both ballroom and latin. We
decided not to continue with our ballroom purely because of the expense.
A solid understanding of all 3 styles is of course a good thing but knowledge of any form of dance ie. flamenco/
ballet/contemporary is all really helpful.
Do you think there is too much focus on younger couples specialising in one style?
This depends on how young. I think Juveniles and Juniors should experience everything. At that age you don’t
know what you really want to do. And with the adults I think it depends on their time restraints etc etc. As you
mature you know what you enjoy the most and that’s when you will put your heart and soul into it.
results as a competitor?
Amateur: Australian Champion World Cup Finalist International Semi - Finalist
Middle European Champion European Semi - Finalist United Kingdom Semi - Finalist
South European Champion World Semi - Finalist British Open Semi - Finalist
Pg 34
history of the floor interview
1990 British Open Professional Latin Final, with Dan Buric.
Pg 35
history of the floor interview
History
OF THE
With Joanne Boden from QLD
Southern Cross Champion Queensland Champion
Asia Pacific Champion All England Finalist
British Open Rising Star Finalist British Open Semi - Finalist
What year did you retire from competition dancing?
We retired in 1991 after I sustained a shoulder injury that put us off the floor for 8 weeks. This left us with
only 2 weeks to prepare for Blackpool in which the previous year we placed 9th in the open latin professional
semi final. It was impossible to achieve such a position with so little time.
Who were your coaches both here and overseas?
Australia - Ray and Robbie Rivers, Ross and Rhonda Dougherty, Alex and Julie Schembri.
England - Walter Laird, Nina Hunt, Michael Stylianos and Lorna Lee, Alan and Hazel Fletcher, Peter Maxwell,
Sammy Stopford, Joan Knight. Forgive me if I have forgotten to list anyone. These are the names that roll off
my tongue even 24 years after my lessons have stopped. These coaches changed my dancing
and my mind.
Who was your biggest inspiration whilst competing?
As a Juvenile it would without a doubt have been Diane Clare. She had the best legs and action. I can still
visualise her dancing now.
As an Adult, Shirley Ballas (Stopford) I had a one off lesson from her in Sydney and she danced my cha cha
routine to show me that the choreography didn’t need changing the way I danced it did. That was a pivotal
point in my dancing career that I still continue to pass on in my lessons to this day.
biggest assets as competitors?
Brian Watson & Claudia Leonie - Rhythm and quality of movement
Alan Tornsberg & Vibeke Toft - Innovation and styling
Was there any couple in particular when you were growing up that inspired you to become a
champion?
Warren Smekel and Diane Clare & Terry Manton and Dolly Gorman.
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history of the floor interview
1980 Junior Ballroom Champions in Perth, with Derek Roofayel
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history of the floor interview
History
OF THE
With Joanne Boden from QLD
Do you regret anything in your career, or would there be anything that you would have changed
looking back now?
Save harder, take more money to London. Enjoy the ride more. Take it for what it was and laugh at
myself.
What is the main difference in the Ballroom world now compared to when you were competing
and growing up in the industry?
[There are] so few competitive dancers now. When I was a competing juvenile at Festival Hall
in Brisbane they had to split the floor with a rope and have 2 separate events running simultaneously. This was
to ensure that the organisers could get through all the events listed on the programme.
You obviously have coached many competitors over the years, have there been any in particular
No.. joking. I get the biggest buzz when a dancer wants to know how to move from foot to foot in fine detail.
That can come from one of my youngest couples through to one of my masters 2 couples. I still get the same
inspiration.
As an adjudicator, what is something that you look for in a good competitive couple?
Understanding what quality of dance is. Not the latest choreography with no clue on how to stand on their own
feet. If we could stop the madness of couples dancing routines way above the ability we would be seeing a
higher calibre of dancing...guaranteed!!!
What bit of advice could you give the competitor’s of today that you wish you had received in your
early days of dancing?
Try softer
Thank you so much Joanne for a wonderful interview and an insight to your own
competitive career. You may see Joanne at many events adjudicating in both
Brisbane and around the country. She is truly part of our Australian dancing
history and we thank her once again for a wonderful interview.
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history of the floor interview
“Pride of Erin” Festival Hall QLD
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history of the floor interview
history of the floor interview
With Dan Buric at Wonderland Ballroom SA 1991
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Photo 1 of Lucas & Ashley by Nitsia Lionis
Photo 2 of Sean & Jane by Meg Shields
Photo 3 or Michael & Chloe by Kerrie Bourke
www.lionisphotography.com.au
www.facebook.com/TranscendenceMedia.MegShields
www.facebook.com/kerrierollsbourkephotography
JUNIOR BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS - BLACKPOOL
All of us at TAT Ballroom would like to wish the very best of
luck to our Juvenile and Junior couples competing at the this
months Junior British Championships in Blackpool, England.
JUVENILE: Lucas Cheng & Ashley Huynh (Victoria)
JUNIOR: Sean Hill & Jane Cloribel (Western Australia)
JUNIOR: Michael Wilson & Chloe Zenz (Queensland)
We will be bringing you some reports on the Junior British
from ANNA LONGMORE and JOANNE BODEN in a future
edition of TAT Ballroom.
Congratulations
Michael & Chloe!
The cover of TAT Ballroom March edition featured MICHaEl WIlSON and
CHlOE ZENZ from Queensland, Australia, and we have some news since
that edition was released! This talented young couple competed at the
Junior Blackpool Dance Festival in England earlier this month and were
crowned CHAMPIONS IN THE JUNIOR BRITISH SAMBA EVENT, beating
some 150 other couples from all over the world.
CONGRATULATIONS Michael & Chloe and to their coach Joanne Boden
from all of us at TAT Ballroom.
If you are interested in reading the full write up on this event, head to
www.outsidechange.com and buy your subscription today!
photo courtesy of Joanne Boden, thankyou.
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Les Newman O.A.M.
29.11.1930 ~ 12.3.2015
Australia has lost another one of our dancing greats. Mr Les Newman O.A.M. was very passionate about the
CSTD (Commonwealth Society of Teachers Of Dancing) and was always interested in what was happening and
what the future held.
Mr Newman was President of the CSTD for 34 years, a job and a Dance Society he loved. He joined the
Victorian Society of Dancing (one of our two founding Societies) in 1951 after he and his then dance partner
won the Victorian Society of Dancing Ballroom Championship. Shortly after he was elected to their Executive
Committee as Vice President and Chairman of the Ballroom Branch.
In the early 1960’s he left the committee to pursue both his dance activities and his commercial career in
management and marketing. In 1976 he was persuaded to rejoin the Executive Committee and was elected
President at a time when the Society was at a low ebb following some years of loss and falling examination
entries in all states. With the support of the committee in office at that time he set out to establish a sound
financial basis for the Society and to rebuild activities across Australia.
After some years of consolidation he together with the late Betty Tilley travelled extensively throughout Asia
to introduce the CSTD examination system in the Asian Pacific Region and to establish exam centres in
various countries. In 1988 he was elected Chairman of the Australian Dancing Board and served three terms
in that capacity. 1989 saw him elected Vice Chairman of the
Asian Pacific Council of Dancing. In 1987 he became Australia’s
Delegate to the World Dance Council.
He was responsible in 1989 for the creation of the television
series “THAT’S DANCIN” which ran for three years in prime time
throughout Australia on the ABC television network. His award
in 1996 of the medal of the Order of Australia recognised his
contribution to dance in Australia and Internationally.
In announcing his decision to step down he said “the CSTD
today is recognised throughout Australia and the Asian Pacific
Region as a vibrant and respected Society with high examination
standards and is poised to meet the future developments in
dance with confidence. Our future lies with the young teachers
and members who will take the Society forward through the
twenty first century.”
RIP Les Newman.
photo from CSTD
Vale
The sad passing of some dear friends to the dancing
fraternity worldwide.
Congratulations
Michael & Chloe!
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