|
Through The
Eye Of The Video Camera
Howson &
Bolton on Waltz By Harry
Smith-Hampshire
The BDF Congress video
reached me after I had seen Timothy Howson & Joanne Bolton (pictured below in a
Dance News file photograph by Wolfgang Menningen-WeiB of Lobopress Germany)
dance In the Team Match and the British Professional Championship at this year’s
Blackpool Dance Festival. In both events I thought they were most excellent in
performance but it was the Open British where they were being compared directly
with the defending champions. And It was here that I came to the conclusion, as
I studied them against Hawkins — Newberry, “they could win tonight”; the first
time that this thought has occurred to me in recent years. Many of the judges
were obviously of the same opinion, as a study of the Finals marks will clearly
indicate. Howson-Bolton have made a positive move upwards in quality of
presentation and are now credible challengers for the top Grand Slam
Championships of the world. So it was with keen interest that I searched out the
track on the video that contained their lecture.
Timothy Howson, an
artistic dancer, was raised on a diet of sound technical performance from
his early Juvenile days; a fact that he announced in the introduction to his
lecture spot. He believes as I do - that a carefully programmed, in depth
technical training is an essential foundation to the development of a champion.
Artistic interpretation is the end product but, as in Ballet, technical
excellence is an absolutely vital pre-requisite.
Of course, Ballroom
Dancing is a partnership and the lady must be quality expert in presenting
quality technique, from consistent body contact to delightfully elegant posture
to brilliant leg and footwork. Joanne has adapted to ideally complement
Timothy’s particular style of competitive dancing.
There was a time in
the past when Timothy Howson’s floor persona could be described as
introverted. Totally committed — yes! A workaholic — yes! But nevertheless
presenting a somewhat reserved floor persona. Nowadays Timothy presents a very
positive extrovert floor personality as well as being a very polished
professional dancer.
They have been
allotted Waltz as a lecture subject and Timothy does the talking. He tells
the audience that the basics of dance are strong enough! if danced really well,
to not need “tarting up”. Yes! I can identify with that viewpoint. I was also
fortunate in having a teacher! at the outset of my career as a dancer, who
believed in aspiring to nothing less than technical perfection. Every practice
session would start with going over the basic principles, checking and
rechecking technical accuracy. The result of years of such dedication! to use
Timothy’s own words were “feet and ankles to die for”.
But feet and ankles
are just one aspect of the ballroom technique. Timothy also dealt with and
illustrated the Waltz pendulum swing; the characteristic Rise & Fall of this
rhythm dance. The group used by Howson-Bolton started with the first three steps
of the Natural Turn that, he insisted, should be completed with a perfect foot
close. Any passing of the feet at this point was a fault and should be marked
down. But any Bronze Medalist should know this! yet high grade international
competitors are often seen committing the sin of ‘passing the feet!.
Simplicity with
artistic beauty was the keynote of the group demonstrated. There is a lesson
to be learnt here. Many dancers erroneously think that complex groupings, loaded
with intricacies are the only way forward. This can often be a big mistake.
Choose your variations carefully and be very selective. Study the dancing of
Timothy Howson and Joanne Bolton in this BOF official video.
TOP
|
