Margaret Lonsdale
‘Dance City Porch Thoughts’
Twenty years ago, actors Paul Mercurio, Bill Hunter, Tara Morice, Barry Otto and Pat Thompson captured the nation’s heart in Baz Luhrmann’s multi award-winning movie Strictly Ballroom. Baz's parents were professional Ballroom competition dancers and by growing up in a passionate community of colourful characters, sequenced dresses, hair-spray and savvy dancers, the entire dance industry in Australia and around the world was given a quickstep image boost. Who could forget Bill Hunter’s character Doug Hastings memorable line, “We had the chance but we were scared. We walked away. We lived our lives in fear!’
Millions of viewers around the world have continued to tune into programs such as the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in the United Kingdom and Dancing with the Stars in the United States and Australia; many attributing the surge in the sport’s popularity to Strictly Ballroom.
On Friday (Nov 23) 3AW’s Mark Wilson and ‘Mann About Town’ David Mann, together with Dancing With The Stars personalities will be kicking up their heels alongside talented young dancers on the corner along Little Collins and Swanston Street to launch Australia's Premier Dancesport Event - the 2012 Australian Dancesport Championship. The event will be held from Thursday November 29 - Sunday December 2 and will also feature the World DanceSport Championship Standard (WDSF) at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena.
Our city will welcome the Crème de la Crème of Dancesport competitors in the Standard style from around the world where we will have the opportunity to be up close and personal with brilliant dancers all competing to be crowned the No.1 dancer in this style. On her sporting Porch in Albert Park, I caught up with Event Director, Margaret Lonsdale, to learn more about the 67th Australian Dancesport Championship and who is tipped to be crowned the WDSF 2012 champions.
When did you become involved in the championships?
I have been involved with the ADS on the Executive Committee since 1983. The Australian Championship had previously been held at the Melbourne Town Hall, Sydney Town Hall, Festival Hall the Glasshouse and Broadmeadows Town Hall. It was decided in 1983 to move the event to a more central location and develop its profile into a truly international event.
What was your drive to achieve this?
My primary focus was to lift the profile of the sport, and to market the event far and wide and attract television and corporate sponsorship. It was this drive that really got me involved on a long journey.
What is your background in the world of competitive dancing?
I had been an international delegate for 12 years to the international member body for the World DanceSport Federation who are members of the International Olympic Committee. I was a top competitor in both amateur and professional events in Australia. We trained with the great Alf Davies (a world champion) and multi Australian Champion Kevin Gibson.
What is involved putting together the winning bid?
We won the bid in 2010 against some stiff competition. Prior to the presentation we worked with Victorian Major Events Company on the bid document. Melbourne is considered to be located far away from Europe, so we had to push hard to encourage member federations to make the journey to visit Melbourne. There is a lot of hard work involved, ensuring that everything is in place such as sponsorship and a great team of people to assist in delivering a the world standards and quality of the event to Melbourne. This is our 3rd world championship in 8 years and by far the biggest. The event is a Festival of Dance, so there will be different mini events within the programme.
How many athletes will be competing this year?
We have 44 countries competing and 148 athletes in the World Championship. In the Australian Championship which includes two international ranked events we have 1500 athletes. It is going to be huge.
What are the competition dance disciplines?
The disciplines in the sport are Standard include; The Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep, Vienesse Waltz, Latin American and New Vogue. New Vogue is the traditionally Australian style.
How were the ‘all Australian’ panel of adjudicators selected?
There are a number of adjudicators consisting of 9 judges on each day for each category from all states of Australia. Adjudicators are selected by criteria of either having been a former champion, or having trained Australian champions with technical accreditation in the style they will be officiating.
What are entrants competing for?
The World Championship title and medals. There is a purse of $10,000 which is divided between the 12 Semi finalists. This year you will also be celebrating 70 years of the Australian Dancing Society with all proceeds raised from your Gala Dinner going to the Alfred Foundation.
What will be presented to celebrate this milestone?
Over the past 4 years we have raised about $140,000 for the Alfred Hospital and hope to significantly add to this amount. We will have two current professional world champions dancing on the night and we have a very talented singing group Aussie Boys performing. We are also showcasing the talented young musicians from Blackburn High School Senior Stage Band. At the Gala Dinner we will officially welcome the international Presidium Members and overseas adjudicators and our special guests.
Who are the favourites to win the 2012 championship?
The World Championship will be hotly contested between Germany and Denmark. Whilst it is an outstanding field, these two couples, Benedetto Ferrugia and Claudia Koehler (Germany) and Emanuel Valeri and Tania Kehlet (Denmark) are the hot favourites.
What is your Porch Thought of The Day?
“This world class event will be absolutely brilliant with outstanding athleticism, colour and excitement.”