Keith Todd
Yankee Classic Kicks off Star International Latin Tour
The Yankee Classic was the first official stop on this year’s Star International Latin Tour where the finalist couples are required to perform a solo routine of their choice and this was certainly a headline event this weekend.
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Open Professional Divisions at Atlanta Open 2016
All of the Open Professional Divisions at Atlanta Open took place on the last night of competition and it was quite a marathon! The two international styles had semifinals and the two American Styles had quarter-finals. On top of this we had what I believe was an unprecedented “13-couple” cabaret final at the end of the night.
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In the Open A, Natalie Crandall w/ Decho Kraev was the victor.
Natalie won all dances with the majority of 1st places. 2nd in all was Isabella Libertore w/ Charles Cunningham who picked up some 1st places in all dances and for the rest had mostly 2nd’s and 3rd’s. Only judge Eugene Katsevman did not favor her, awarding 4 6th places and a 4th.
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Junior II Latin
This marked a “double” for the Washington based pair Erik Linder & Rickie Taylor....
1. Erik Linder & Rickie Taylor (WA) 1,1,1,1,2. Erik & Rickie are a very successful 10-dance couple. For me the Latin is their weaker style in that it is a little lacking in passion. I would also like to see more precise leg action from Rickie. That being said, I thought they were worthy winners today.
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If you wanted to see every event of this year’s Emerald Ball, you basically had to check into the LAX Hilton on Monday April 26th and check out Monday May 1st. That’s right a full week of dancesport competition! Emerald Ball, run by Wayne & Donna Eng for the past 27 years, is certainly one of the USA’s largest competitions and the largest on the West Coast. This year, more time was added to the schedule with an earlier start on Tuesday and this made everyone a little less stressed and allowed some downtime for competitors and officials alike. It is certainly the trend of competitions to become longer and longer nowadays, but as entries continue to increase for many, there is little option.
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Getting the “Vibe” in Miami Beach! Miami Vibe 2016
Report by Keith Todd
Photography by Ryan Kenner
It is always a treat to attend a competition in your hometown and for me, Miami Vibe offers just such a treat. Its venue, The Eden Roc Hotel, is barely ten minutes from my residence. And what a venue this is! The Eden Roc is a MIMO masterpiece, designed by Morris Lapidus and completed in 1955. It has been lovingly restored, keeping all of its original flavor. I was very lucky this year to be housed in the fully renovated ocean tower and I could literally hear the Atlantic surf if I opened my windows.
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“Flying Sharks, Batman!” It’s the Beach Bash!
Report by Keith Todd
Photography by Stephen Mario
Flying Sharks, judges in deck chairs, competitors fanned with palm fronds while having their feet massaged, bathing suits matched with formal wear – where else could I be but the San Diego Beach Bash! Organizers, Michael Mead, Toni Redpath & Jonathan Roberts have brought their own brand of “California wackiness” to the ballroom and it seems to be working. Only in their second year, this event exploded to over 8,000 entries this year. Oh, by the way, just to appease the animal activists – the flying shark was not real!
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Back to our Roots! The Cuba International Ballroom Championship 2016
Report by Keith Todd
Photography by Charles Ryder
Ask most dancers which country they associate most with the Latin American Dances and the answer 90% of the time will be “Cuba.” While it is true that samba originated in Brazil, paso doble in France and the jive in USA, it is the Cuban music of the mid 20th century that still fuels much of our competitive Latin dancing to this day. But for most of us living in the USA, the country of Cuba remains mostly a mystery thanks to the embargo policy reaching back to the 1960’s.