AtlanticBallroomDanceStudio lssue13 October2010

ATLANTIC BALLROOM DANCE STUDIO WELL

REPRESENTED AT ANNUAL CAPITAL CENTER
DANCESPORT COMPETITION
August 26, 27, 28, Thursday, Friday, and Timofey Klubov and Kennedy Thylo4 each and
Saturday, were the days of events held in all demonstrating the very best quality in all of
Alexandria, Virginia. The opening days, their presentations. Thursday and Friday were
Thursday and Friday, were greeted by one of our busy, exciting days for these young entertainers.
favorite couples in pro/am. Highest awards were given to all of them in all of
At noon on Thursday, teacher Dmitriy the categories in which they participated.
Klubov in a very Latiny black silk shirt invited I am again extremely impressed with the
Susan Gertrer, dressed in a pink, slinky Latin devoted effort that these unselfish parents invest
costume, to dance American Rhythm- On Friday in their children. For example, the schedule was
at 9 A.M. Susan was radiant in her gown of blue quite different from most arrangements for
as she danced American Smooth with her oh-so- competitions and was spread out over several
handsome teacher! They had great fun and their days and times of events. This meant that parents
performances were entertaining. had very difficult situations (they would not
Another of our professional teachers is lovely admit to this, but I observed this to be fact!) in
Catherine Noblitt whose presentationswith her leaving their work and driving back and forth to
students Bob Strain and (other student (Who?) total hundreds of miles for their children to be
well described music and motion as they were able to participate in the required heats.
recipients of awards.
Danny Catacora and partner Emily Cobb
won first place in Latin as they truly exceeded
every expectation ofother dancers in their heats.
Handsome Danny in a white silk shirt
complimented lovely Emily in a yellow and
purple gowrl as they represented Atlantic &;
Ballroom Dance Studio and their proud teachers
as they walked away with the top prize.
Our talented young people were prominently
in attendance with Andrey Privado and Jenna
Gaskill, Danny Catacora and Emily Cobb, and

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 process to make each move look so effortless
was achieved after a lengthy time of hard work
involving struggle and discipline.
A break time was in order, but in a short while
Igor was putting on his coat and we knew that
was the signal for activities to liven up again as
q Lisa Parella arrived for her performances in
I International Standard Gold. She brought a
presence to the floor which said experienced and
nk* \d
Kemedy and Tim comfortable with the proceedingsl Gently lovely
in her green gown she definitely came to dance!
SATURDAY MORNING was a new day of
She was accompanied by her daughter who was a
excitement for Atlantic students and their
great cheer-leading section. Her foxtrot and
teachers.
A first glimpse of Melissa Collins in a pale tango were particularly enjoyable as she
executed smooth fallaway reverse and slip pivot
pink gown and Igor in his usual dapper self,
in foxtrot and the tango fallaway four step.
preparing for a bronze waltz International
Watching these moves led by a master and
Standard was the introduction for the day. What
followed so well by the student was impressive.
a terrific way to begin! It was nice to see how
First place awards were added to Lisa's
well Melissa maintained her frame for a lovely
presentation. Her whisks flowed nicely and accomplishments.
chasseswere elegantly performed. Natural turns
were smooth and closed impetus position was
well learned. Speaking after her performance
Melissa said, 'I feel sort of let down now that the
dancing is over. Dancing with lgor is the best
.fun there is!'
This was Melissa's first time participating in a
competition. She takes two lessonsa week back-
How the world changes! When I was young,
to-back so she only makes one trip to the studio.
the tunes I hear at competitions were only
In order to be in condition to dance well she has
available on the radio which was used
a regimen of exercise (including crunches) to
occasionally during and after WWII or
keep fit. She incorporates her instruction from
routine of exercise. occasionally at someone's house on a
Igor with her
phonograph (usually a wind-up one) with very
Congratulations, Melissa on the first time out
large records.
with well-earned awards!
The majority of ballroom dancersare Russian-
It is always interesting to overhear the
speakers who came to experience this music in a
comments from visiting observers that it 'looks
variety of ways and only fairly recently as life
so easy.' Until one has actually taken a lesson
times of music time goes. As these young 30-,
and understands the
40-, 50-year-old emigres enjoy the excitement
challenges of even
and challenges provided by the music and the
simple moves this
opportunity to compete; one wonders at the
may appear to be so.
happenstance of life that places them and others
One who has delved
in this beautiful integration of combining
into the world of
cultures on the dance floor. Most striking is the
dance even slightly
delivery of colorfully gowned ladies displaying
can say that the

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intricate movements with sophi sticated,tuxedoed needed in the development of
males, replying to the sounds of Strauss's his frame becausehe did not
Viennese waltzes in an infusion of cultures from have a spine straight and
all over the world! African-Americans, Asians, shoulders back as required in
Hispanics of every nation, and again, Russian- basic skill category. What a
speaking people, combined with the mixture of transformation as he dances
melted-in+he-pot Americans filled the floor as with disciplined perfect frame
the day progressed. and obvious joy in his every
Krista Stewart presentation. Kudos go to
arriving in a gorgeous John and his excellent teacher
white and gold Natasha as they performed at
combination looked highest levels in their Intemational Standard
every inch a star. As heats and won first place awards.
one of the youngsters Catherine Noblitt and
said, 'We are the Bob Strain were readv to
Atlantic Girls in dance International
Wite!' I think Krista Standard in the pro/am
would enjoy knowing competitions. A genuine,
that is how she was naturally refined lady, :
thought of that day by Catherine consistently &;.
two other girlsfrom Atlantic. represents what is the best
What a performance she gave! Floorcraft was of Atlantic Ballroom. She
so obvious as Igor maneuvered through the never presents herself with
traffic. Couples were on every side and The her students as anything but
Master made it look like he squeezed through what the dance calls for in
with ease when we know very well it was not technical and musical skills.
easy at all! Krista's skills in quickstep Lady Catherine brings out the very best in her
International Standard Gold were on target with student Bob as his increasing efforts show. He
clear cross swivel moves and an exciting six has developed a smoothness and an ease of
quick run. Top awards received were well movement as he has learned to dance with
deserved. It was a joy to watch another excellent confidence which says, 7 lcnow how to do this
entertainer from Atl anti c. well.' He reaped the awards that he so deserved
A perky vision in a sky blue gown was as his dedicatedteacher respondedwith a pleased
Natasha Klubova as she 'I kttew you could do it' smile! Congratulations,
entered the ballroom on the Bob and Catherine, on a job well done and
arm ofher experienced student sharedwith all of us.
John Carey. These two The day moved along quickly and before we
Atlantic personages as student realized it the time had come for our young
and teacher have shown a people to shine in the spotlight for the
definite maturity as a International Standard heats. Starring in the
partnership in pro/am. When lead-off were l(ennedy and Tim who were asked
John was working with to come to the floor for the International
Natasha several years ago his Standard Novice Silver. This included waltz,
posture was such that I (as a quickstep, tango, and foxtrot. Parents
barely knowledgeable concentrated hard on watching their children,
observer) wondered if he would ever present as spectators oohed, and old ladies who watch and

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write held their breaths. How strong and
complete the delivery was as they calmly and
efficiently performed each dance required. What
a gift they made to the parents, the studio, and
the audience as they gave the best that they could
each time. How proud we all were of these two
up-and-coming serious dancers!
Atlantic observers enjoyed their favorite
senior amateur couple, Ted and Bunmee
Damianos dancing International Standard. This
attractive and joyous team always delights us
with their work .Keep dancing, Ted and Eunmee
we appreciate the beautiful art that you create!
Congratulations and thank you for great
entertainment.
JENNA AND ANDREY
WON FIRST PLACE IN THE JUNIOR
AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP!! !
The determined competitive spirit of these
special achievers is not exceededby any dancers
in their age group that I have seen. They dance
with a deliberation of concentration on technique
including remarkable extension of balance for
their age. It is truly impressive to seeAndrey do
the lgor stretch with a smooth reach that is
reminiscent of Igor Pilipenchuk, Andrey's
teacher,as Igor dancedwith his wife Polina.
Andrey and Jenna's ability to interpret and
process the thinking and feeling necessary to
produce such a unique and consistent
synchronized content of dance is due to true
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devotion and dedication
by Jenna and her family
and Andrey and his
family as they labor with
devoted and dedicated
teachers at Atlantic
studio.
One observer had a
little blurred vision as
she watched these
marvelous young
dancers stride off the
floor as top award winners!
AFTER DINNER it was time to go to see the
professional competition. Coverage of this
segment is short becausethis writer could not get
through the packed crowd to get to her seat or
even position to seemuch of the dance floor.
I did see Nikolai with Natasha in a flattering
costume of pink. She was attired as one would
think a true professional should be. Nikolai
presented her with respect and good taste and
from what I could see they were actually
performing high quality dancing.
The general performance of many of the other
heat competitors who I saw was frenetic and not
of the quality one would hope to see at this level.
It almost seemed that many of the performers
thought to impress with outlandish costumes and
behavior.
Congratulationsto Nikolai as he maintained a
high level of dance standardsin his presentation
of his talented and beautiful partner. Making it
into the semifinals was an accomplishment in
this atmosphere!
Teacher's Eye View
Dmitriy Klubov, as a senior instructor of
dance here at Atlantic Ballroom Dance Studio,
uses his years of experience in a practical sense,
and brings a sensitivity to the needs of the
individual to determine what his instructional
approach will be.
Combining theory and a knowledge of all
levels of the syllabus; he relies on analogies
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laced with demonstrationand humor to eet his
point across.
Ghallenges of the Dance lnstructor
By Dmitriy Klubov
(Author: Dancing is fancy walking!)
Every student is a new puzzle to be solved by
the teacher. A student looking for an
understanding of dance in a social situation is a
significantly different subject from one who
arrives at the studio and makes clear that he/she
wants to prepare for a showcase or competition.
No two students are ever the same in
flexibiliry mental attitude, or physical
endurance.
The shaping of the dance student begins with
the first diagnosis made at the introductory
lesson. The teacher initiates the development
necessary to reach the goals requested as the first
step to the floor is made. This is where floor
craft begins.
Determining where to start with each student
while keeping in mind the goals expressedby the
student can be daunting. Adults with whom I
work may vary according to age and experience.
Some come with no dance experience into their
60s and 70s. Others come with much dance
experience; perhaps in social dancing, and want
to learn more Latin or Standard forms and
moves.
Reaching the equity goal of 50/50 where
teacher and student share the responsibility of
mastering style and self balance is usually a
lengthy challenge for both the student and for
myself. Much struggle and practice goes into
this process of challenging fun. Come sign up
for a lesson see for yourselfl
Dmitriy and student Susan Gerber at Capital
Center.
TeacherFeature
Enthralled by a perforrnance of Swan Lake
with prima ballerinas or a paso doble with
Natalia Skorikova dancing with Nikolai
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Pilipenchuk; the exotic beauty in presentationof
Russian dancers evokes a thrill that few other
dancerscan!
As I observe stage performances or a live
showcase or a DVD I find myself using
Skorikova as the measurement by which I judge
all other female dancers. There are many lovely,
elegant female dancers who are successful in
their own rights using their own styles.
In my opinion, Skorikova has no peer in the
presentation of dance. She particularly excels in
Latin. Although I may watch 20 of the best
professional female dancers over a period of
several days and enjoy every beautiful, artistic
spectacle there is never the jolt of excitement
until Skorikova hits the floor. She is magical and
electric. She delivers entertainment to
sometimes breathless audiences, sometimes
wildly cheering audiences, but it is definitely
sure that no one sits emotionless as long as she is
performing.
What an asset to Atlantic Studio that this
talented young woman brings her skills to work
with students here .Her work with the youth is
particularly impressive.
FEMININITY
The ladies of Atlantic, Polina Pilipenchuk,
Natalia Skorikova, and Natasha Klutrova are
experts on the subject of femininity in dance.
(Pictures of these ladies here posing with
feminine charms).
Working diligently on counting, framing,
positioning, moving in required pattems, one
would think that there would be little space left
in the mind for other details of dance. Hovering
around the periphery of concentration, howeveq
is the recurring need to include the feminine
attitude in a given dance in order to properly
present the desired feeling to be conveyed. A
truly good female dancer uses the femininity of
her body movements to express the passion in
the dance.
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 Stressingwith a student learning a Latin move, impression of lovely decoration or a finishing
Polina said that the woman had to project her touch to a couple's presentation, Natalia
beauty side and think of herself as a gorgeous Skorikova demonstrates this with light and
contributor in the style to be desired for elegant expression. A twitch of the skirt, a flip of
presentation. One sfudent reported that she had the sleeve shows a flirtatious female action in
worked at another studio for two months to try to Latin. The male dancer is showing off his
learn the Latin attitude and never got it. She was female partner in the dance and it is the female's
dancing Latin with cheelcy Latin rhythm in a role to present herself as femininely as possible.
lesson with Polina and was so noticeable that As Igor Pilipenchuk says, 'The female is the
this writer asked where and how she learned and most important!'
received the above account. All of the ladies of Atlantic agree that as the
This achievement may vary with body type female dancer moves in exhibition she must be
and age of the female dancer. In any case the basically and technically correct, but she must
feminine side plays the role of lightness, also bring her basic instinct of loveliness and
attractiveness, and expression which brings flirtatious femininity to each dance.
together passion with the intuitive response to
the music resulting in lilting musicality. Watch for News
This is not to deny technique, however, and in
Natasha lCubova we see a truly excellent
instructor who teaches that self balance (which
WEDNESDAYNIGHT SOCIAL DANCE
means carrying one's own weight without taking
from the male leader). It is vitally important for
the female dancer to keep her femininity in the
language of the body related through the
footwork and to remember always to give not
tctkefrom the leader.. She says thatthe dancer is
transported and supported through footwork to
the spine and the accomplishment of self-
{}efr;fis*'
balance. Natasha demonstrated that proper use
of the spine contributes to keeping the body in
balance. She says that there must be balance to Be sure to put this on your calendar and watch
have dance and that balance must be implicated for other special events on the website.
as fusion to bring two bodies to move as one
unit. The connectors or joints -toe-heel-knee-
hip-react to the shifting of the body weight.
Natasha remarked that a good exercise is the
rocking movement of the body weight to find the
balance. Feet, joints, spine, shoulders,neck and
head all respond and as muscle memory comes
into play the female is ready to add her feminine
affributes.
Describing the line of the left arm and hand of
the female held in such a way as to deliver an

Published by Polina and lgor Pilipenchuk Written and edited by Shirley Williams

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