Has Competitive Dancing Improved I'll say it has.Find your way to the World Professional Latin and Ballroom from the Royal Albert Hall in London 1963.I doubt if the winners would have got past the first round today. The Posture was lousy. And that dropped right elbow might be forgiven . In those days the man's right hand used to be below the ladies left shoulder blade instead of as is today where the the ladies armpit is resting on the man's wrist just above the thumb.

There is no comparison .Compare any clip from around the 60's ( they are black and white ). Then Google Dapenda's Channel. You will be looking at Bizokas and Demidova dancing a Waltz International Style to Brian Watson singing Amore Musica. It is very noticable about the man's right elbow being held much higher which gives a bigger right side when compared with those olden days.
As for the Latin. In the 60's was pretty ordinary and in some cases laughable. Imagine men wearing tails and the ladies in a dress which resembled a Bell Tent. And that Cha Cha and Rumba Has it improved. Just look for yourself.

So you are convinced that Irvines , Eggeleton et al, wouldnt make the finals ??.... are you nuts or what !!!... Will concede that Latin took a different route, thats why it looks "different ".. however, the skill etc was there, and matched the requirements of the day .

And, what, in your considered opinion,in Standard, is better today ?

Then consider this... True talent can be transplanted to any period of time ( good costuming or bad has little or nought to do with execution.. window dressing at best )

Terence. I know you have looked at some of the clips otherwise you couldn't have come up with the names which I didn't mention.
In one under, Ballroom Championships in the Sixties. The Walks and the Reverse Fallaway into a Throwaway in the Tango by the winners No 2 would not today make a judge put his pen to paper, ( count 16 bars in ). Then there was a Latin Final which can be found under World Professional Latin and Ballroom Championships 1968 . The same couple in the Cha Cha were not good by any standard, The just didn't have the technique of todays dancers, and their interpretation of the music left a lot to be desired. No I am not nuts. Neither do I wear rose coloured glasses.
I would say that untill Richard Gleave and Michael Barr in Modern and Alan Fletcher in Latin came on the scene poise and posture use of the knees for the modern style and musical interpretation in both wasn't there.
I shudder when I see how they used to cling onto each other in their Pivots with very little knowledge of where the head should be . Google Dapenda's Channel and look at " Arunas Bizokas " and compare today with yesterday.
As I say again. Those early Champions would be hard pressed today to get out of the afternoon sesions at Blackpool

There has been much discussion of late about phrasing in todays dancers.. they seem to be more obsessed with the "smaller " picture than the larger one .

No.. I didnt read the article, but when you state NO one from before the 70s would make a final, then I find that statement absurd .

Todays "style " has become cookie cutter and predictable ( standard ) and the Latin, is a caricature of stage proportions.. it has lost its way in definition and character ( this is not just my prof opinion.. many top prof feel the same way )

As to techn,...of course it had to change in latin ,due to the absurd nature( in some cases )it became ! .

And do you believe that all the current top pro,s are more perfect in techn ?.. I dont think so .