Dancing in the Big Apple
Despite being somewhat opposed to the idea of competitive dancing (and music for that matter), I briefly dipped into the dance sport world while living in Melbourne. I recently, quite by accident, discovered that this world also exists in New York...
I was not a V.I.P. but I did have a terribly professional-looking camera... no press pass necessary, just casually walk to the front and sit down.
Spectacular costumes... pity about those numbers though.
The ballroom dances are among my favourites, possibly owing to my background in ballet.
Dancers from far and wide made the trip to New York for this competition. The venue was very impressive, far more impressive than any of the competition venues I've seen in Australia.
This is, of course, the reason that I own a tailcoat - in order that I may knock over a small child while skipping my way through a Viennese waltz.
Every now and then there were short breaks while the judges did their judging thing so they had some random social dancing. After some convincing that my camera wasn't going to be snatched, I took to the dancefloor for a bit of jive.
A bit too much spinning for me... I must make a mental note to spot next time.
The judges and their clipboards at the edge of the dancefloor. As a photographer, as well as a dancer, it pays to gravitate towards these people - it is where all the action happens.
Despite the seemingly cut-throat nature of the whole affair, most of the dancers seemed to enjoy themselves, just as well, I wouldn't want to be suffocating under all that make-up for nothing.
The latin dance categories had the most amusing costumes... all the guys seemed to have misplaced their shirt buttons
Did I mention that the dancing was very intense?
...and that's all it takes to make it - strength, flexibility, an outfit which uses half the material necessary to cover your body properly... and a hot partner. Oh... and it probably helps to know how to dance... almost forgot that one.