Luca and Loraine Baricchi

[waltzgirl]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB7bQWgH-bI

OMG!

And if you want to see the whole lecture that this demo is part of, you can link to it through Adwiz's nifty site:

http://dsblog.dancesportmusic.com/index.php?itemid=9&catid=4#more

Never know what you'll find on DF when you can't sleep and you're browsing around at 4 in the morning!

[samina]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB7bQWgH-bI

OMG!

And if you want to see the whole lecture that this demo is part of, you can link to it through Adwiz's nifty site:

http://dsblog.dancesportmusic.com/index.php?itemid=9&catid=4#more

Never know what you'll find on DF when you can't sleep and you're browsing around at 4 in the morning!

Oh, yum! Here's another one of the pair:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5CfbkC5Sj0

Say, waltzgirl... is this what's come to be called "The Italian Style" as far as Waltz goes? It does look like how my instructor & his partner waltz, and they've been coached by Giampiero for the last year.

I'm not sure if I'm perceiving the nuances of this style correctly, but what I sense are these strong movements into a very lush, soft pause while the two stretch away from each other quite ecstatically. I've seen Giampiero coax his students into this beautiful holding type of energy (he often taught during my practice time -- normally I am extremely focused during practice, but dancing next to him for a couple hours stretched my focus-ability LOL).

My instructor did this type of movement with me for the first time the other night during Tango practice and the only point of reference I had for it was watching Giampiero or my instructor's comp videos.

Your video clip so gorgeously demonstrates that technique. My god, it is gorgeous!

[samina]

omg... I've started watching the whole lecture from the 1st part and I'm absolutely engrossed. Did you watch everything, waltzgirl?

I so vibe with what this guy is saying -- I just want to drink him in! :D
And he sounds so much like my instructor, I would be he's in the "lineage" of the instruction he has received/is receiving. I'll have to ask him...

Anyway, back to the lecture...!
Samina

[waltzgirl]

Isn't it? I've actually never seen anything quite like it. It's part of a lecture Luca was doing and the whole lecture is very interesting--lots of stimulating ideas about form vs. function of technique, individual/couple balance, using all of your joints, and thinking of your body as a series of spheres (rather than the usual "blocks lined up" image). Fascinating stuff. In one part of the lecture, they dance tango and foxtrot to rumba music, showing that it's how they use their bodies that makes the dances work. I'm so inspired!

[waltzgirl]

Do we say "bread and butter" or something when we cross-post like that :D ?

[samina]

Oooo yeah... one of us has to buy the other a Coke, I think. LOL Not sure how to determine the winner, tho!

Not that I drink Coke. Make it Virtual Coke! :D

I called my instructor and told him I'd emailed the link to him, and I asked him if he knew of Luca Barucchi. Most definitely, it turns out. Cool.

Do ya wanna dance like that or what, Waltzie? :)

Sami

[waltzgirl]

If I didn't need it for dancing, I'd give my right leg!

[samina]

Here is a site with a fuller version of the waltz I posted above, plus the tango, foxtrot, & vw from the same competition.

Also, there is an earlier set of videos of the pair (from 1994).

A bonus: some nice vids of Slavik & Karina dancing by themselves in the studio!

http://www.danceuniverse.co.kr/

Samina

[samina]

And he sounds so much like my instructor, I would bet he's in the "lineage" of the instruction he has received/is receiving.

Seems I was on the right track in perceiving a thread of connection from Baricchi (found out that's the correct spelling) through Giampiero to my instructor: On the baricchi.com website, Giampiero is the NY contact for Baricchi's dance company.

I think that's pretty cool, that one can see technique being passed down through a "family" of dancers.

And let me say, wild dogs and a rabid snow beast couldn't dislodge me from this instructional loop I happened to step into.

Reminds me of Laura when she said she got to start out with Jonathan Wilkins -- what an auspicious start! :D

Those "lecture" videos just blow me away. Certainly Waltzie & I can't be the only ones???

Samina

[Anna]

Their dancing blows me away too, my favorite clip is this foxtrot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gQEik74U7k

[waltzgirl]

Their dancing blows me away too, my favorite clip is this foxtrot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gQEik74U7k

That was great! I really like the understated music, too. It gave the impression that the music was accompanying the dancers, the way it accompanies a singer.

But the thing that blows me away about the lecture demos is the fluid, passionate way they use their upper bodies. They don't do that nearly as much in the comp videos.

Now I wish I'd given the thread a more intriguing title, so more people would look at it!

[Anna]

Yeah, that's what caught my eye too, especially since over the summer I was just introduced to the concept of using the upper body in standard. I think you can see that develop in their videos across the years. For example on youtube there are the 1998 Blackpool finals, and they seem to be using their upper bodies much more in that foxtrot show from 2002.

By the way, I think they had both been quite succesful in amateur Latin, so I suppose their latin training contributed to some of how they dance standard?

[samina]

Their dancing blows me away too, my favorite clip is this foxtrot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gQEik74U7k

Beautiful! Thanks for the link -- it led me to this one, would is definitely worth checking out. It's a waltz, in Japan.

Check out the beautiful spins Loraine does at both the beginning & the end of the routine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0rhEOoXYCM&mode=related&search=

Samina

[waltzgirl]

Wow!

(I wish the announcer hadn't broken the spell quite so quickly at the end!)

Maybe we should just keep bumping this thread every day until some other folks take a look at it.

I don't dance standard and haven't paid a huge amount of attention to it, so maybe they are old news to other people here.

But if so, why don't we see more people dancing like that (or trying to)?

[dancesportgirl21]

I LOVE Luca and Lorraine! I've been watching these videos for while and they are my favorite standard couple- to me they present an entire package- grace, artistry, athleticism, etc. Plus the lectures are enlightening and their shows are incredible- they really feel complete, seem to tell a story, and they have that great intangible quality to reach an audience's emotions. Not enough couples do that in their show routines today.

[Anna]

Also they are one of the very, very few couples I watch as a couple, rather than focusing on either the man or the lady. They match each other so perfectly...

I also like that their shows have no gimmicks. A lot of shows seem to really on props and theatrical introductions rather than purely excellent dancing.

[samina]

Wow!

I don't dance standard and haven't paid a huge amount of attention to it, so maybe they are old news to other people here.

But if so, why don't we see more people dancing like that (or trying to)?

I'm no expert on the subject, but I'm thinking that probably knowledge of the technique of using such fluid upper-body movement in standard isn't so widespread, and therefore hasn't trickled down through instructors into students.

Samina

[samina]

I LOVE Luca and Lorraine! I've been watching these videos for while and they are my favorite standard couple- to me they present an entire package- grace, artistry, athleticism, etc. Plus the lectures are enlightening and their shows are incredible- they really feel complete, seem to tell a story, and they have that great intangible quality to reach an audience's emotions. Not enough couples do that in their show routines today.

I agree on every level!!! They B.L.O.W.M.E.A.W.A.Y. 8D

Samina

[Chris Stratton]

I'm no expert on the subject, but I'm thinking that probably knowledge of the technique of using such fluid upper-body movement in standard isn't so widespread, and therefore hasn't trickled down through instructors into students.

Part of the issue is the challenging of hitting the precise balance between fluidity and body alignment. There was some discussion here a while back about the "wriggly puppy" effect in students, and that is a quite real risk the minute fluidity is contemplated. On the other hand, alignment can easily become impeding stiffness. In Luca's lecture when he warns about form, his demonstration of why it is a problem is danced unrealistically rigid, well beyond what someone trying to teacher the concept of form would want.

In the strictess sense though, it's not about amount of fludity vs stiffness, but about the precise location - this part of the torso must remain aligned, this part should stretch to accomodate the partner, etc. Instead of playing with words like more or less, it's really worth talking (or feeling) specifics with a teacher prepared to be specific.

[samina]

I thought you would have a good comment on this subject, Chris! :)

There was some discussion here a while back about the "wriggly puppy" effect in students, and that is a quite real risk the minute fluidity is contemplated...

Yes, from beginning to work with my own body to train it so that it has both the flexibility & the control to move like that, I can definitely see what you mean.

In the strictess sense though, it's not about amount of fludity vs stiffness, but about the precise location - this part of the torso must remain aligned, this part should stretch to accomodate the partner, etc. Instead of playing with words like more or less, it's really worth talking (or feeling) specifics with a teacher prepared to be specific.

I gathered from listening to Luca that an understanding of how to achieve the beauty of that fluidity lies in understanding the nuances of how to subtley articulate the spheres of movement around each joint. Not something I understand. But I look forward to getting to the point where I can start to absorb that information.

Have you studied this kind of movement much, Chris?

Samina

[waltzgirl]

In the lecture, Luca talked about the need to maintain vertical balance and, re-watching the demos, I could see them maintaining that in their torsos. Clearly, their fluidity is the result of the technique they use, not an abandonment of technique.

[JANATHOME]

thanks so much for posting the link. I am not at the point where I can take apart the technique, however I knew that the waltz was just amazing, and watched the clip over and over again.

Non related, but I then watched a waltz from 1994. Funny but I was just so distracted by the poof dress with feathers that I could not really enjoy the dancing as in the first waltz. I am so glad the costumes have taken a turn for the better.

[Chris Stratton]

I gathered from listening to Luca that an understanding of how to achieve the beauty of that fluidity lies in understanding the nuances of how to subtley articulate the spheres of movement around each joint. Not something I understand. But I look forward to getting to the point where I can start to absorb that information.

I'm not sure about the 'spheres of movement' idea, but a clear challenge is to learn where each part of the body should be to enable a given action. Often times the places where an untrained body wants to be fluid or stretched are the places where it really should be toned and aligned, wheras the places where it tends to be stiff are the places where it should be soft and accomodating. For a trained dancer of course this is all natural, and it's probably even true that students get in their own way at times by worrying too much - but still, there needs to be some specific guidance to learn where the strength goes and where the softness goes. You have to train your instincts before you can just go with the flow.

And I don't see that level of detail to do that being covered in lectures, though the basic elements would not be too complex to address in that setting.

[samina]

Often times the places where an untrained body wants to be fluid or stretched are the places where it really should be toned and aligned, wheras the places where it tends to be stiff are the places where it should be soft and accomodating.

Yes, that's definitely my experience. I never received dance training before studying ballroom, and most of my effort revolves around developing strength & control in some areas and looseness & extension in others. Getting that into my body is my primary focus every day. Trying to add another dimension would be so confusing to me right now.

But the desire to be able to dance like that is the inspiration that keeps me plugging away! :)

Samina

[DeniseG]

They are just fabulous. Thanks for the link.

[aliceyyy]

Hi all,

I am the one who posted the clips to youtube. It is so exciting to share info across borders on ballroom dancing, esp knowing that so many people were inspired from these wonderful clips.

Just wonder what will happen if Luca himself browse youtube and found his lecture there one day.......

aliceyyy

[dancesportgirl21]

Hi aliceyyy! Thank you so much for posting all of your video clips! I'm a subscriber to your videos on youtube :)

[samina]

alice, i could kiss you... here, i will: :kissme:

i never knew of the baricchis until i saw these lecture videos, which created apowerful domino effect for me, personally... do a search for the dance bible thread and you'll see ... ;)

so... were you at the event? do you study with them? what's your story, luv?

[Peaches]

OK. Normally, I don't care to watch ballroom dancing. Can watch AT all day long, but ballroom performances and competitions and whatnot just leave me cold.

I've got to say, these performances were the first ones I've ever seen which I've truly enjoyed. They are mesmerizing and inspiring.

And rather depressing, from a personal standpoint.

[White Chacha]

Hi all,

I am the one who posted the clips to youtube. It is so exciting to share info across borders on ballroom dancing, esp knowing that so many people were inspired from these wonderful clips.

Just wonder what will happen if Luca himself browse youtube and found his lecture there one day.......

aliceyyy

As others have already done, I thank you for posting the clips.

Do you know whether the full lectures are available for purchase somewhere?

[aliceyyy]

Hi,

The Luca lecture came in a DVD called "Standard Trends 2" featuring a lecture held in Germany. Actually there are Standard Trends 1 and 3, and also a series on Latin!

My friend purchased it from Casa Musica and here is the website:
casa-musica.de/asp2/home.asp?sprache=e
(go to the DVD section and you'll find it)

[White Chacha]

Thank you!

[dancesportgirl21]

Videos on posture:

kr5Fgy3on3c



MRYl6u2F3KM

[samina]

thanks DSG... appreciated these clips. i do plan on getting the rest of their videos soon... interesting that these are still on youtube considering they are copyrighted, but it's sure nice to see them

[dancesportgirl21]

yeah- let's hope they don't get pulled! I like the concept of shortening the left side muscles rather than only stretching the right side.

[chachachacat]

They move so smoothly and fluidly! I love how slowly their feet move.
They are mesmerizing! I have always loved the Italian style, for the fluidity and slowness.

I was blown away seeing Caterina Arzenton and Augusto Schiavo at the Embassy last century.
Molto fabulouso!

[anp73ga31]

Thank you for posting those. I am having such trouble getting the topline I want from myself. Videos like these certainly help. I need to watch like 50 times all the while practicing along with them! lol!

[Dapenda]

The videos aren't on anymore

[anp73ga31]

The videos aren't on anymore

They are for me. Weird...:confused:

[black_light]

The videos aren't on anymore

yep. :(
Anyone have an idea where could I find them?

[anp73ga31]

The only one that didn't work for me was the very first poster's links...said private or something. But the other videos and the lectures posted directly from youtube, they still work...I guess thats as good as we can do without buying his video. I am fascinated by the two parts of the lecture posted on posture....been watching those over and over again in the hopes it will sink in. lol!

[Some guy]

I gathered from listening to Luca that an understanding of how to achieve the beauty of that fluidity lies in understanding the nuances of how to subtley articulate the spheres of movement around each joint. Not something I understand. But I look forward to getting to the point where I can start to absorb that information.
Samina

Samina, for someone who doesn't understand it, you sure know how to explain it! It's exactly that: articulation of spheres of movement. Opposition. If your upper wants to project forward, you project your lower body backwards, if your upperbody wants to project left, your lower body projects right, put the two together, and you have "promenade" position in waltz for the man. The counterbalancing occurs as the two main spheres (upper body and lower body) rotate off of each other within your body. Counterbalancing gives you control by preventing side loading, forward loading, or back loading (depending on which way you're trying to project). Loading usually causes a person to fall in the direction of the load. If they counter-balance they don't fall: they project.

My coach explains it perfectly, and makes it that much easier to understand how Luca produces his movement. It's no cake walk, but I no longer watch him dance in total disbelief. :D

[samina]

some guy, i'm so glad you bumped this thread up. have been wanting to return to consciously exploring these principles -- it was on my mind just this week. :)

these principles figured so prominently in my mind all last year, and they helped me diagnose some remediation i needed to sort out in my physique to free certain areas up for better articulation, or to allow deeper movement without throwing my weight off. really powerful concept -- as simple as they are, they seem to apply everywhere and all the time!

the last few months i put those ideas aside and focused on remediating problem issues, but i'm so ready to regard them a-fresh.

maybe i'll start with a re-watch of luca's dance bible -- have you seen it?

[operabob]

FYI,

Joel Marasigan & Clara Shih are bringing Luca to Vancouver, BC, Canada for a series of workshops:

http://www.joelandclara.com/home.htm

OB

[White Chacha]

FYI,

Joel Marasigan & Clara Shih are bringing Luca to Vancouver, BC, Canada for a series of workshops:

http://www.joelandclara.com/home.htm

OB

Brought might be a more accurate tense. It *was* 3/31-4/3/2008.

[operabob]

That's why I'm the president of our local chapter of "The Procrastinators Guild of Canada". ;-)

LOL!

OB

[Some guy]

these principles figured so prominently in my mind all last year, and they helped me diagnose some remediation i needed to sort out in my physique to free certain areas up for better articulation, or to allow deeper movement without throwing my weight off. really powerful concept -- as simple as they are, they seem to apply everywhere and all the time!


If Luca ever writes a book you should be the one to help him do it! You really know how to articulate your ideas: deeper movement without throwing one's weight off, applying it everywhere and all the time. So simple, but like you said, very powerful!

I watched the Dance Bible. My coach noted that Luca has gotten a lot bolder and is taking more risks with his dancing since he stopped competing. I had to agree. It's as if he's trying to evolve ballroom dancing into something a lot more advanced and sophisticated than others get away with presenting. Years ago, when my focus was Latin, I never thought much of Luca because everything he did was so effortless that I thought there was not much to his dancing! Then my focus shifted and I felt pretty silly. A part of me wants to go back in time and kick the old "me". :bkick:

[White Chacha]

My mind was racing with thoughts of "how the heck can we get him to stop in Boston on his way back to Italy?" Oh well, fat chance.

[operabob]

Joel & Clara spent a year studying with he and Lorraine so I gather there was a bit of a personal bond getting him out but why not just contact him and ask what it would take to get him to Boston.

If there's a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit in you...eg.

My wife is bringing in Myles Munroe & Tessa Cunningham for a 2 day workshop series April 19/20. Besides being Canadian Champs in WCSwing they are ranked top 5 in the world.

http://www.dancingdragon52.com/WCS.html

We couldn't afford them ourselves but we talked our local association into going big this year and bringing in Misa Cigoy and Alexandra Malai as our demo couple for our community competition this year (advertising isn't up yet). After expenses they'll be double what we normally budget but they'll put more butts in seats too:

http://www.vbds.org/dpintro.htm

There's always a way to do these things if you've a mind to.

OB

[samina]

If Luca ever writes a book you should be the one to help him do it! You really know how to articulate your ideas:

pass that on to him for me, okay? ;)

I watched the Dance Bible. My coach noted that Luca has gotten a lot bolder and is taking more risks with his dancing since he stopped competing. ...It's as if he's trying to evolve ballroom dancing into something a lot more advanced and sophisticated than others get away with presenting.

when i have heard my own instructor and another speak of luca, it is that he has sort of invented his own thing... that he discovered it on his own. i have a high regard for that type of independent thinking from someone who asks questions beyond what is normally accepted, and follows an inner compass to find the answers. :)

[star_gazer]

According to the website, they are doing the show in July at the Desert Classic.

[Josh]

i have a high regard for that type of independent thinking from someone who asks questions beyond what is normally accepted, and follows an inner compass to find the answers. :)

It's my view that ANY great (not famous necessarily, just great) champion of his or her art must at some point come into this way of being. Maybe it will be a great movement, maybe a smaller movement, but whatever the case, to truly speak with conviction of a philosophy or methodology, it *MUST* belong to the person. Obviously Luca's ideas were formed by those who influenced him, as they weren't divinely planted there--but to take the ideas of others, recompose them in one's mind, is to truly be original, IMHO. It's "standing on the shoulders of giants," as all great ones have done.

[samina]

It's my view that ANY great (not famous necessarily, just great) champion of his or her art must at some point come into this way of being
yes. any unique & great achievement, period.

[contracheck]

My mind was racing with thoughts of "how the heck can we get him to stop in Boston on his way back to Italy?" Oh well, fat chance.

Please don't despair, there is ample hope. Luca Baricchi will conduct a 90 min low cost workshop at a studio in Nutlely, NJ, at 6 - 7:30 pm on coming Saturday April 12, 2008. In this session, you can ask him any questions about dance and he will answer. Not surprisingly to any one, I usually engage in heated debates with him every time he conducts this workshop, and he handles me like a statesman.
You can either come to Nutley or ask him to swing by my old hometown of Boston. If you need more info PM me.

[GJB]

Wish the workshop was on Sun. I want to go to the Philly Festival on Sat. night.

I wonder why Nina didn't advertise the workshop it on the Starlight website?

[contracheck]

Wish the workshop was on Sun. I want to go to the Philly Festival on Sat. night.

I wonder why Nina didn't advertise the workshop it on the Starlight website?

I guess that this was an imprompotu decison. My haunch is that Luca was passing by from Vancouber and decided to stop by to see his old deciple Giampiero. Nina announced it last night to a small inner core people. I couldn't believe my ears, so I called her again today to make it sure it was true, and it is true. But don't dispair, my precious friend, Luca and Lorrane will perfom the full showcase on August 16 at the same place. It hasn't been announced either, but I hear that top NY dancers have already reserved all of the front tables. One heavily snowing night a couple of yrs ago Luca dropped by, so stopped dancing, walked toward him, and asked him, "do you remember me?" He answered, "How can I forget you?" This exchange made Nina puzzled. She did not know he and I needle and jab each other every time we had encountered. This time will not be an exception. I'm good at insulting people but I have had no success with him yest, but will keep on trying.

[GJB]

Let me know when the tickets go on sale !

[contracheck]

Let me know when the tickets go on sale !

A sure thing. Nina has not decided the price yet.

[samina]

Wish the workshop was on Sun. I want to go to the Philly Festival on Sat. night.

Yes, am choosing same although would have loved to attend the workshop.

[contracheck]

Yes, am choosing same although would have loved to attend the workshop.

Luca's workshop was quite memorable. Upon my bold request, he demonstrated a number of picture lines with no less than Ieva Pauksena, who was partnered with Giampiero and was taking coaching from Luca before the workshop. Obviously, Ieva was not his regular partner, but his demonstration was breathtaking; it was incredible. The speed, flexibility and fluidity were just magical. When I made my request for the demonstration, I kissed his boots by saying to him, "as far as I am concerend, you display the best picture lines in the world, if not in history." He proved to us that this was not an over statement.

[Arkturus]

it looks like the lecture videos are blocked.

[samina]

Yes, I noticed that awhile back. Disappointing... My two favorite dance sequences from that are still available on youtube, a lovely waltz and a slow fox to rumba... And there's another fox-to-cha-cha there from the dance bible. The Perfect Foxtrot. :)

[contracheck]

Let me know when the tickets go on sale !

As promised, I tell you that Luca/Loraine Baricchi performance will be at 7 pm on August 16, 2008 at Starlight in Nutley NJ, USA. The tickets are on sale at $100.

[samina]

thanks for the heads-up, CC!

[GJB]

Yeah, thanks CC. I have to call a get a ticket !

[Standarddancer]

The speed, flexibility and fluidity were just magical.

that's so true...Luca/Lorraine's movement such high quality. I"ve seen a blackpool congress video where they demonstrated 3 fallaways in foxtrot. The fluidity of movement and free swing just breathtaking!!!