Tri's Guide to Toe Tapping - Valentines Edition

As it was Valentine’s Day recently, this special edition of Tri’s Guide to Toe Tapping focuses on a specific routine performed by Hayley Newton and Drew McOnie, which depicts an argument between two lovers. Our posts this month have been about how a song or lyrics can encapsulate a relationship; why shouldn’t dance also have this ability?

Contemporary began to emerge in the early 20th century as a reaction to the rigid and specific techniques associated with Ballet (perhaps painful is a more fitting description!). Rather than following certain moves or rules like most other dance styles, contemporary focuses on natural shapes and movements, and can be performed to any type of music. For example this routine is to 'Speechless' by Lady Gaga.

I have chosen this specific clip as it really demonstrates how this style does not follow traditional rules, leaving dancers free to move in a way which suits the music or the storyline. I’m sure you will notice that the whole routine is performed around a bed, and how at the beginning Drew throws Hayley across the stage, only to be thrown in return at the end! If their aim was to illustrate the constant ups and downs of a relationship, the fighting and the making up, then I think they have succeeded with this routine. And yes, ok, it’s taken from ‘So You Think You Can Dance?’ which I’ll admit is only slightly cooler than ‘Strictly’, but apart from the annoying judges it was actually a pretty good show. (Unfortunately neither Hayley or Drew got to the finals.) But here is their routine:

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Tri's Guide to Toe Tapping

To most people, the word ‘dance’ may conjure images of gay guys in tights bending in unnatural ways, or old couples reminiscing in their living rooms with scratched records, or even the scantily clad women in music videos getting friendly with a pole. Well kids, I’ve got news for you, dancing does not have to be gay, or wrinkly, or naked. It can be fun, and expressive, and a form of exercise that doesn’t involve excessive pain! Yes, they do exist, and my mission is to persuade you of this.

As it is nearly Valentine’s Day, I thought I should begin my monthly summaries with Rumba, the slowest and sexiest of the Latin American dances.

Originating in Cuba, Rumba has developed over the years into an intimate partner dance, which usually depicts a story of love and/or loss. Without being overly technical, it requires strength in the legs and movement in the hips – basically meaning dancers have to move fluidly along their whole body, in order to make the routine sensual and the storyline believable. As the music used for Rumba is often fairly slow, the dance also involves pauses in which the couple form shapes and sometimes lifts. Oh, and eye contact is also pretty important.

Just in case that made no sense to you, I’ve chosen video of Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe’s Rumba, mainly due to the choreography – look out for how their actions are mirrored then reversed, and how she leaves him at the end. And I know what you’re thinking; Strictly Come Dancing is so uncool that you can’t bear to watch this video, but seriously, who wouldn’t want to dance with him! Or her for that matter. So, here is a Rumba:

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