Training Week 4: Proxemics
By Luke Malkin
YCD Host
After a week's absence, which was actually missed (vocally) by at least a couple of people, my comments are back. Set your phasers to "read" everyone.
First; let me explain a little about how our contestants train for this event. Most of it all takes place in L/N/028 on Sunday nights. I go in at 6:00, when it starts, and I appreciate finding the enthusiastic likes of Gruff, Lewis and Anna ready and raring to go. The music starts playing and they disperse from their relaxed chatting positions to their now very familiar positions in the room, as we're all, it seems, creatures of habit.
Once the likes of Emily Scott and Ed Lewis Smith arrive (usually about 20 minutes late) the whole room is filled with 11 couples, all dancing at completely different times and in completely different styles. It's a little surreal, to be honest, to try to focus on Tim and Harriet's Samba while "Roxanne" from Moulin Rouge is playing in the background. I must admit though that most of this subjectivity to surrealism and the increased gradient at which my hearing impairs is my own fault, as it's my choice to stand next to the CD player while I bitch chat to Fionna (Tess) about the couples. Maybe it's a power thing. I actually turned on the L/N/028 microphone and called, "pay attention" through it 3 times before I let the couples know their running order last night.
But enough about my Id and Egos, let's talk about the couples. Assuming you're in the lecturer position of L/N/028, here's what you'd usually see:
Right infront of you, in a pretty central location is the aforementioned Ngwena/Waghorn combination. They look strong, and you'll find your eye drawn to them frequently. Their routine looks sharp, and Tim's doing a great job of getting through the routine preserving balance, and more importantly, dignity. He's living up to his catchphrase and kp-ing things vry cl. My only concern is why he doesn't like vowels too much, dancing the SMB1 might give some Nintendo fans false hope, though it's something i'd thrill to see.
A central location's where you'll usually find both Ollie and Sarah N dancing the Quickstep; and Ed and Sarah C dancing the Tango. These are the couples who are most obviously using the space of the entire dancefloor in their routine right now, which is very positive. I find many similarities between them that go further than their professional's first name however. Both Sarah's have mixed classic steps of each dance with some crowd pleasing features and highlights. Ed's arrival at practice wearing glittery make-up was appreciated greatly. Check the photos section of the website for more details.
Look extreme left and you'll find RAG president Zoe and her partner, Phil. They were joined in their corner this week by Anna and Nathan, who're the biggest exception to the creatures of habit title I gave sweepingly in my second paragraph. I'm seeing less and less of Phil's literary accompanyment and more and more of Nathan's chest. The Nouse-sponsored Nathan Burles Button Countdown should be at 2 according to my most recent study. Both are doing the slower dances of the evening, but the contestants shouldn't be worried that just because their routines aren't as fast or as lively as others that they aren't as good. Elegance and simplicity, in my mind, shouldn't ever be overlooked.
Also usually fond of that corner are Peter and Abi W with their Jive. They seemed to want to venture further towards the back of the hall into usual Lewis, Gruffudd, Emily and Abi F territory this week though. Immigration seemed successful and welcomed however so there were no problems there. Their Jive is somehow both cute and, quite simply, mad. Mad's good thing though as i'm sure I would be more bonkers than Dizee Rascal himself if I had to listen to their song as often as they do. In fact, in a "if we were all trapped on a desert island with only each of our songs to listen to, who would you kill first?" post-rehearsal courtyard conversation, Peter and Abi would be, officially, the first to be killed in true Lord of the Flies style.
While we're on the subject of Desert Islands, it's probably appropriate to next analyse Gruff and Abi F, dancing to Natalie Cole's, Orange Colored (she's from the US, so i'll omit the u) Sky". Seemingly that's covered the American part of their American Smooth. Gruff's attitude, a deameanor that almost matches Tim's in terms of cl-ness is very definitely covering the smooth part too so, in conclusion, they're sorted and should recieve straight 10s for their obiedience to semantics.
Other high-flyers (I use that term dually; Lewis is a tall man and often lifts Emily easily onto his shoulders) include our YUSU Democracy and Services officer. After we struggled to find a copy of their music, I got to watch everything they've choreographed so far which is only 10 seconds shy of a complete routine. It's impressive stuff, and you can tell that Lewis has worked hard to get routine learnt. He's even had time to think about his head positioning, which remains largely correct. His eyes did remind me of someone looking at stars for the first time however, which, though adorable, probably isn't what he'll be wanting to repeat on the night.
Occupying the back right hand corner as you look at everyone are Doorsafe's Steve Miller and current champion Rosie. This is the space that I was using last year, so myself and Miranda know it well. (Interestingly position fans, Rosie danced in the same place Zoe and Phil are dancing this year when she won with Tom Flynn.) Steve's come along well despite not having as much dance practice as other couples. The part of his routine which I remember most clearly is his on-one-knee shimmy. You will know what this looks like when you see it, it's exactly what Bruno Toniolli would have ordered.2
Jason Rose spends most of his practice along the right hand side wall spinning and turning his way through the Vienesse Waltz. The routine's finished and should look good if he works on his technique in these next two weeks. There's quite an obvious gap between himself and his partner Claire that makes the dance harder to do, and looking upwards and smiling is absolutely essential as this is Vienesse Waltz. I often imagine a task that any Vienesse Waltzer has is to make everything rosy. Yes, we're at war. Yes, there's poverty, but put your concern on that elsewhere for a second and watch me spin!
Last but by no means least are Emily (Scott) and Richard. Emily complained to me about how her routine had changed after it was finished last week. "It's still sh!t", Barker told me in passing, so I don't want to see Emily's face if he changes it again during the final countdown to the show. They're one of the first couples to be dancing on the night, so they're going to have to make a good impression on our judges and audience.
That's all the couples in the room. You usually only see a maximum of 9 on the floor at any given time though as we keep distracting them by getting them to give us interviews. It's not just the newly-formed Dancesport media having a go either. Nouse writers and commenters hang by the door to the Courtyard, keeping an eye on Nathan's chest and all of Sarah C in general (you can read their much more professionally journalistic blog at http://www.nouse.co.uk/blogs/behind-the-dance if you're not completely satisfied with this one). YSTV have taken over filming the rehearsals, and pop in with their huge carry-on-the-shoulder cameras. It's not very subtle by any stretch of the imagination but it does help them to make the VTs for their very impressive series of York Come Dancing: The Rehearsals shows: http://ystv.york.ac.uk/watch/York-Come-Dancing/09-10/ (also available on this website).
There's a lot going on and it's all to bring you the best show we can so get your tickets now :) http://www.yusu.org/shop?societytickets or soon on sale in Your Shop and Vanbrugh Stalls. Also, if you find me- i'm carrying tickets on me that I can sell you at all and any time. Harass me. I like the attention.
1 SMB = Super Mario Brothers
2It's getting more famous- see it in the YCD Promo video. It was described by Kate Taylor as "the thing that did it [buying a york come dancing ticket] for me"