Follow me Around the Blackpool Dance Festival 2025 - Part Two by Jack Reavely

Senior Over 35 Ballroom Championship

Just prior to the start, the floor of the Empress is swarmed with couples, and tail suits were replacing the latin gear. It sure was so elegant, and brought to the fore, memories of years gone by. When for example, in many smart ballrooms throughout the UK, Friday evening dances were a wondrous social occasion, and all the men dressed in tails with the ladies in evening dresses, and at that time, long cigarette holders were very popular as they were thought of being an embellishment for the Ladies. The men had cigarette cases containing their quota for the evening and they were used as a social exchange. For example, a gentleman could offer a young lady a cigarette and she would accept it and have it set alight by his “gold” cigarette case…

The Seniors are feeling the floor from the soles of their feet, as they prepare for the event to continue. They receive satisfaction as they also enjoy the environmental perfection. I see lots of wide silhouette placements from the male exponents which is the norm these days, although it does mean Ladies having to almost straighten their right arms in order to accommodate the wide holds seen from the male exponents. The males task is to show the ladies off, and make them feel that they have seen and walked through the “Gateway to Heaven”. Yes sirree this is Blackpool and part of its continual ability to draw couples from all over the world is the non-changing of what is and epitomises the elegance of days gone by. Quite a few dresses worn by the ladies in this event seem to be just a shade too long, and there is a danger that when they for example, lower in Waltz, the dresses will skim to the floor and the feet and ankles will disappear from view… but the sheer elegance and utter sophistication is simply faberoo… John Barry’s “Somewhere in Time” is filling the air and the cascading notes fill ears with pleasure and eyes with tears as the lilting perfection of sound floods the atmosphere with dance, dance and more dance. My ears however must be filled up with wax, as the couples dance Foxtrot, because there are so many couples who dance merely to progress round the room, without using the mechanics of motion demanded in this dance. The timing is caused by out of time foot placements, within the desirability to move more than anyone else. Could also be because of the desire to portray what is fondly imagined as the demand of a Foxtrot is to get round the room faster than anyone else…and of course to show their stunning structure, but most unfortunately, capability to produce a correct function is missing in more couples than should be the case.

Under 19 Years Ballroom Competition

Aah youth on the floor and so resplendent too… Lucky young lads and lasses who joined the throng to portray ballroom dance as an artistic part of their lives. They have thrilling fervency as they start with a Waltz and they unleashed their dance feelings and portrayed the assets of desirability, even if they still have to be polished and cherished and honed to standards which has stood the test of time, although some aspects have less desirability than others. For example Foxtrot standing phase, where the weight should be almost screwed into the floor surface, before the slow forward step is taken, as without that action it becomes a mere long walk. Many couples show undoubted talent and some even show a beautifully polished look from their shoes as they are shaped well, to enhance the finality of foot placements. What appears so simple, such as a Natural Turn in Waltz, becomes a lifetimes study to be able to dance it beautifully every time you exploit its nuances. I see nice left Whisks which is a difficult figure and was invented by Charles Thiebault in association with Josephine Bradley and Phyllis Haylor, and took many hours of experimentation before the word comfortable could be inserted, but their pioneering thought processes gave the final solution. Generally the couples have to continue to work, so that for example, the musical nuances can shine like a new star in the sky. One heat start had all the couples split between 2 corners and when they dance towards the centre all with forward Feathers it was as if the Red Arrows were in formation and exploiting their expertise, to wring gasps of delight from spectators. It was simply a gorgeous presentation. I did notice many young gentlemen actually bowing to their ladies, before even taking up stance norm. I have to mention that Tango seems to have calmed tonight and some of the frantic over the top motion has been transferred, to induce character to the image of the dance… Oh to see a young Len and Nellie Scrivener who were unbeaten in Tango, and who pinned their hopes on the acquisition of characterisation. They used to dance a figure on the spot called an Argentinian spin which was simply staggeringly good, and they did not rely on mere progression, but contained within its structure a big top and a hook ronde… It unleashed applause from every part of the floor as their presence in a competition incited fervour, and appreciation from everyone.

As my mind decides to wander off into memory mode, it seems as if I have been ordered to mention a few of those great exponents who brought to the Blackpool floor, an indelible picture, of their personalities and their quest for the unobtainable perfection aimed at but never fully acquired. For example, Alf Davies and Julie Reaby, all the way from Australia. Prior to them dancing for the first time at Blackpool, there was a stirring in the minds of dances throughout the UK, as Alf and Julie were setting the dance floors in London alight with their prowess, which crashed into the eyes and ears, of those lucky enough to see them dance. They had magnificent floor appeal with a Tango which almost burst into flames and they had a quick step which flashed into your memory box and stayed there from then to now. Their first visit to Blackpool was so looked forward to and the silence when they were ready to dance their first Tango in the Professional Championship, was as if we were waiting to pay our respects to a King and Queen of dance. Off they went and so very clearly and suddenly there was an uproar of applause as they had just danced a Spanish Drag using a shudder exit as an embellishment, and it was as if he was going to devour her for his dinner and she was a delicious wine too, ready to be sampled in a dance and to gain the support and encouragement deserved so very much.

As an aside, I can tell you confidently of course, that Anne and I had lessons from Alf at the Hammersmith Palais, and he had some ideas which were revolutionary, but which meant that you had to be able to use your mind to be able to carry out the procedure he asked for. An example to make you think, was that he advised me to think I had a steel hook coming out of my stomach and I should think of picking my lady of dance up, and fixing her to me by impaling her on to the hook. Well well… Please guys don't buy steel hooks… They could hurt your lovely Lady. Sonny and Sally Binick were great ballroom champions and their Foxtrot was the envy of all who were able to appreciate the beautiful action that they produced, and they had terrific challenges from Alf and Julie and in fact in one year they tied for the title of British Professional Champions and Sonny instantly said to Alf that he could keep the trophy for the first six months and he and Sally would have it for the next six. Sonny became one of the greatest dance coaches ever and for many years was at the forefront of forward thinking processes. His teaching environment was simply awesome, because it was on the floor of the Hammersmith Palais during the daytime, and he was inundated with requests for lessons… Sonny had a definite theory that nearly all faults were caused by the male exponents and he often was able to change couples into fine exponents by his wonderful eyes and ears, which transmitted the information so well. Sally Binick gave Sonny wonderful support through her strength of body usage and she was a major contributor to their great successes over the time they competed.

Images: Tomasz Reindl