Well, this wasn’t exactly a vintage Blackpool Week. Alexandra was pretty much the only celebrity to rise to the heights of breathless “Mecca of Ballroom” hyperbole, and even then she had the ever-irritating Human Props to contend with. Read my … Continue reading
Pre-Blackpool Week saw many couples in something of a dilemma: do we go easier and hope to win over the audience with a fun performance, or risk tougher routines to impress the judges? Actually, I think voters also appreciate growth, … Continue reading
Ah, Blackpool Week: forced VTs, drama, sky-high scoring and the odd great performance amidst the hysteria. The best part for dancers is the chance to use that giant sprung floor – or at least it would be, but once again … Continue reading
In the year of our Lord WTF, it may seem relatively minor, yet it’s still worth acknowledging: #BallsToBlackpool is actually a reality, as 2016’s unlikely saviour prances on. At this rate, he could be Prime Minister by Christmas. Or maybe … Continue reading
Poldark, Woody Allen, Proms pleasures and Blackpool illuminations. Read my full theartsdesk newsletter here
Marianka Swain looks back on a busy year and previews 2016 Same-sex dance made headlines again in 2015 with the Strictly debate, but the real news was on the dancefloor, with improvements in outreach and visibility leading to exciting competitions … Continue reading
Welcome to Blackpool, where, according to Strictly, the beaches are positively balmy in November, time has stood still since Len’s Fifties heyday, and the local scoring exchange rate is approximately 1:1.5 – 9s and 10s for all the vaguely good … Continue reading
We need to talk about music. Strictly precariously straddles the worlds of ballroom and entertainment, so it can’t – and shouldn’t – be wall-to-wall Victor Silvester, but we’ve reached a crisis point. Song and theme choices (as I understand it, … Continue reading
My articles in the February issue of Dance Today, out now: Just ad dance How does fleet-footed advertising affect the dance industry as a whole, and what made our top 10 ads? Teacher of the Year 2015 As we open our competition, dance luminaries pay … Continue reading
It was so much worse than we could ever have feared. Strictly’s foray into international waters made Eurovision look positively restrained, tasteful and nuanced. Around The World In 80 Cultural Appropriation Nightmares Week made a mockery of ballroom, logic, fairness and … Continue reading
