There was much excitement in the air as opening night of the UK Tango Festival 2017 kicked off without further ado in the grandure of the Edward Lumley Hall, London. This year promised to be brimming with dancing and good cheer with an unprecedented number of participants in both categories. The UK Stage and Pista competitions both qualify ‘officially’ which means that both crowned champions will recieve the title UK Champion and compete at the Mundial to be held in Buenos Aires later this year in August. Here are the results of Round 1. The tension was high as competitors prepared themselves mentally and emotionally to put all their months of training and practise to use. This was it. The hour had arrived.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

Lets quickly recap on what the judges are looking for:
For the Pista category couples will dance in a ronda format (circle of dance) in groups of 4 to 6 couples. Participants dance ‘improviso’ which means they do not know the music they will dance to until the music begins. Music is chosen by the judges. In stage category competitors dance solo to their chosen and prepared piece.

In Pista Tango, judges are looking for the embrace. Once the embrace is achieved couples must not separate throughout the dance so all their movements must be performed within the constraints of the tango embrace. Musicality and walking style are fundamental to the overall score given by the Judges who will also consider the ability of each couple to dance within the moving ronda. Finally, couple’s outfits are not taken into consideration.

In Stage Tango, the challenge for couples is to express their personal view of Argentine Tango. Other dance disciplines may be incorporated into their tango, however, traditional tango movements must be a feature. Aerial tricks must not exceed one third of the performance and couples must utilise the entire dancing space. Finally, couple’s outfits are taken into consideration.

STAGE TANGO PARTICIPANTS

01. Yacine Barhoumi and Charlay Wood – London
02. Louise Gauna and Mariano Gauna – Chateaulin
03. Agata Czartoryska and Michael Pawel Kaczmarek – Poznan
04. Shaun Mcenery and Anastasia Cioclea – London
05. Stan Lucian and Aldea Oana-Raluca – Bucarest
06. Lorena de Miranda Serra and Jory Raimo – Rotterdam
07. Fernando Zalazar and Sara Ferreira – Portugal
08. Despina Violari and Ozan Can Toker – London
09. Kazim Pal and Anna Alvarez Clasper – London
10. Pierre Jacques Raybaud and Emiko Yoshida – Paris

GOING THROUGH TO THE STAGE FINAL

02. Louise Gauna and Mariano Gauna – Chateaulin
04. Shaun Mcenery and Anastasia Cioclea – London
05. Stan Lucian and Aldea Oana-Raluca – Bucarest
06. Lorena de Miranda Serra and Jory Raimo – Rotterdam
07. Fernando Zalazar and Sara Ferreira – Portugal
08. Despina Violari and Ozan Can Toker – London

PISTA PARTICIPANTS – HEAT 1

01. Kate Louise Miller and Yuri Bellicanta – London
02. Mirella Santos David and Joao Carlos Santos David – El Haya
03. Mira van de Griendt and Santiago Onel – Amsterdam
04. Andra Jolly and Jeremie Chevillotte – Aixenprovence
05. Irem Ozturk and Goran Eliassen – Bergen
06. Maite Delafin and Andy Ong – London

Danced to:
Fueron Tres Anos – Hector Varela, Ledesma
Gloria – Donato Racciatti, Miranda
Rebeldia – Osmar Maderna, Del Cerro

PISTA PARTICIPANTS – HEAT 2

07. Marta Kubicz and Jon Marsh – London
08. Nozomi Akanuma and Mark Phoenix – London
09. Mezzasoma Silvia and Federico Suarez – Leiden
10. Stephan Schellin and Jessica Abele – Berlin
11. Herve Richomme and Christine Richomme – Paris
12. Nikolai Kosjar and Hilda Polzin – Berlin

Danced to:
Una Ves – Orquestra Tipica Victor, Del Cerro
Muchachos Comienza La Ronda – Ricardo Tanturi, Campos
El Trace – Rodolfo Biagi

PISTA PARTICIPANTS – HEAT 3

13. Dawid Polak and Malgorzata Polak – Coventry
14. Bo Gito Dalker and Anna Therese Heltberg – Copenhagen
15. Maria Martinez Sporrong and Gustavo Salcedo – Estocolmo
16. Daniel Gini and Clara Essman – London
17. Jacine Barhoumi and Charlay Wood – London
18. Louise Gauna and Mariano Gauna – Chateaulin

Danced to:
Chuzas – Alfredo Gobbi
Moneda de Cobre – Lucio Demare / Raul Beron
Noches de Montmartre – Ricardo Malerba / Orlando Medina

PISTA PARTICIPANTS – HEAT 4

19. Agata Czartoryska and Michael Pawel Kaczmarek – Poznan
21. Gabriela Buccarello and David Frohlich – Berlin
22. Stan Lucian and Aldea Oana-Raluca – Bucarest
23. Lorena de Miranda Serra and Jory Raimo – Rotterdam
24. Fernando Zalazar and Sara Ferreira – Portugal

Danced to:
El Once – Jose Garcia
Sin Sabor – Eduardo Donato / Horacio Lagos
La Vida Es Corta – Ricardo Tanturi / Alberto Castillo

GOING THROUGH TO THE PISTA FINAL

02. Mirella Santos David and Joao Carlos Santos David – El Haya
03. Mira van de Griendt and Santiago Onel – Amsterdam
04. Andra Jolly and Jeremie Chevillotte – Aixenprovence
05. Irem Ozturk and Goran Eliassen – Bergen
06. Maite Delafin and Andy Ong – London
07. Marta Kubicz and Jon Marsh – London
08. Nozomi Akanuma and Mark Phoenix – London
09. Mezzasoma Silvia and Federico Suarez – Leiden
10. Stephan Schellin and Jessica Abele – Berlin
15. Maria Martinez Sporrong and Gustavo Salcedo – Estocolmo
16. Daniel Gini and Clara Essman – London
18. Louise Gauna and Mariano Gauna – Chateaulin
21. Gabriela Buccarello and David Frohlich – Berlin
22. Stan Lucian and Aldea Oana-Raluca – Bucarest
23. Lorena de Miranda Serra and Jory Raimo – Rotterdam
24. Fernando Zalazar and Sara Ferreira – Portugal

It was noteworthy to me that the music for each heat was considerably different. Heat 1 and Heat 3 were slower in nature, with opportunity for pausing and displays of controlled technique while the music chosen for Heat 2 and 4 was more rhythmic providing those couples with opportunity for playful footwork and faster steps. (See songs noted for each group above.)

I chatted with one of the judges about this who confirms that while the music was indeed varied this differential should in no way impede on the contestant’s ability to present their dance, their musicality and their technique. In other words, this is not ‘unfair’. It is important that the couples are challenged to find and take (!) the opportunity to express their ’dance’ in any musical moment whatever the nature of the music. The judges are not reliant on the music to see the couple’s abilities as dancers.

THE FESTIVAL

With the competition at an end, Master of Ceremony Duo, Ralph Cohen and Victoria Fischer, opened the Festival grande. Social dancing began in earnest with DJ Andres Molina leading the way with floor stomping tandas until the early hours.

Backstage, competition participants cooled down, congratulating each other, talking through their performances and mentally moving on to the festival in full swing outside.

A cheery buzz filled the air as people browsed for treasure amongst the shoes, jewellery and dancewear stands chatting with icecream, food and wine on offer.

Esteemed competition judges and festival maestros, Los Totis (Christian Marquz and Virginia Gomez) performed 4 songs to the ongoing cheer from the crowd. What movement and musicality… What precision… What creativity and passion. What joy. What dancing! I loved it.

The last tanda finally rang out and to the soulful sounds of La Cumparsita, a full ronda of about 100 social dancers, festival supporters, maestros and everyone who could, danced the last.

Doors closed at 0200hrs. Lights out folks.

Until we meet again tomorrow…

THE FOLLY CREW
Commentary: Rita Horne
Imagery: Magdalena Smolarska – magdalenasmolarska.com

More News from the Festival

Highlights from Day 2 – THE SEMI FINALS

Highlights from Day 3 – THE FINALS

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