Greatest ballroom dancers of all time

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pygmalion

Well-Known Member
Who do you think they are/were? Why? And/or, who do you think are the best ballroom dancers out there today? Why?

(Anything's fair game here -- could be living or dead, ancient or modern, dancer, coach, or choreographer. Just gotta be ballroom, ond, of course, your opinion :wink: :D )
 
The first couple that comes to mind has to be Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. They may or may not have been the best ballroom dancers of all time, but they popularized the genre and created a framework in culture that changed everything.
 
I like Fred Astaire too. I wonder if there's anyone out there today who's ttransforming the industry and the perception of ballroom dance as effectively as he did.
 
I thought/hoped that the show "Burn the Floor" would have done that but it does not seem to. :cry: For those who haven't seen it, I guess one way of describing it is - the production "dragged" dancesport into the 22nd century with some gorgeous costumes and very futuristic/modern music. So, it would have shown the "young folks" that you don't have to waltz to Strauss only etc.
 
The problem with Burn the Floor, IMHO, was a lack of public relations ad promotion. You know when I heard of it? After I started ballroom dancing, and joined DF. That's crazy. I was culturally literate before, but never even heard of the show until I was in the inner circle, so to speak.


I think mass media, like movies or television, has to be the way to go, if you want to re-popularize ballroom dance.
 
I think the "powers that be" here in the UK forsee a resurgence in partner dancing as the BBC is planning to relaunch "Come Dancing". "Come Dancing" was a programme that showed the various competitions eg. Blackpool

It was thanks to "Come Dancing" that I got to see Donnie Burns and Gaynor Fairweather competing/exhibition performances.

I was aware of "Burn the Floor" although I sometimes call it "Burn the Dancefloor" :lol: because it was on in London and I saw it then. I have the programme somewhere :wink: and then subsequently bought the video :oops: :lol:
 
I'm going to start a thread on that idea --what it takes to make ballroom popular. I'm trying to get some ballroom fire started locally, and, while I have a few ideas, I'd welcoem many more.



I think there always will be a resurgence after a big movie or TV project. The only issue is keeping people active after the novelty wears off. Hmm.
 
When I started dancing over 20 years ago I attended two competitions; one here and another in Phoenix. There was this gold level dancer from San Diego who just dazzled everyone with her performance. Her name was Mimi Smyth. Is anyone familiar with her?
 
I actually spent some time thinking about this, and I think there are a couple different approaches one could take to ansering the question. Best dancers from a technical slant, best dancers in terms of personal/aesthetic preference, and best dancers from an influential standpoint.

From the last perspective, shoot me for saying this, but some of the best "dancers" may not have been good dancers at all, but teachers who made dancing fun and approachable for many students.
Like my franchise teachers whom I've vilified quite a bit, but who have made dancing a fun apart of life for thousands of students. Hmm.
 
My alltime ballroom heros are Jason Gilkinson and Peta Roby (the people who put together Burn the Floor). Australian champions in the 80's / 90's. While they were still competing as amateurs, no-one could beat them. I heard that the others competing against them sighed with relief when they turn professional!
 
Hmm. Somehow I suspect your tune will change once you move to NY and are working with a top coach.


Then you'll be singng the Wayne's World tune, I bet ... :wink:

:notworth: :notworth: :notworth:
 
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