A couple I was training in ballroom English style, always came back from a comp and told me they are all dancing this. They would then try to show me a line or body shape, or trickstep. I usually ended up by telling them, that when they have a reasonable foot and leg action, which could be acquired by using basic and standard variations, we could experiment to see what suited them. The inevitable happened, they left me and went to another coach, and paid almost double my fee. After about 10 minutes into the lesson, the coach (The late Constance Grant, of Sheffield, UK) stopped them dancing, and told the dancers to come back when they could dance the basics. Would that happen today?

Ah....... Con. Grant, one of my first teachers for my Assoc. level exam ( seems like 100 yrs ago ! ) .

If anything, she was by the book and strict .

Would/Could it happen today ? possibly, but highly improbable ( if for an exam,, Yes ).

NB.. The term " English style ", hasnt been in use for many yrs..
"International" , is currently the term used world wide .( Connie probably would dis agree with that !! )

Hi Terence2,
Yes, I remember at an Official Board meeting (now named the British Dance Council) the representative for Scotland,(Alex Warren) asked the question,isn't time we dropped the name 'English Style' and started calling it 'British Style' The chairman of the Council (Philip J. S. Richardson) replied that he had no objection to that, providing that he had no objection to the name 'British Whisky'.

I actually do have something that may be comparable..

Just remembered about a Comp i was judging ( states-side ). I, and another judge, were at a Pro/Am comp. One male student danced uncontested, and we both decided to give him a 3rd place.

I was present at a competiton in which Len Scrivener was the sole judge in a one dance Waltz event. He called a halt and declared it a no contest. In his opinion none were worthy of a place. Another not that long ago, a gentlman whos name would be known by any serious dancer. Threw his score card in the air and walked off the floor in disgust at the way some couples were dancing with no regard for the other dancers.