Blackpool 2010 Ballroom Dancing Pro Final - Waltz

Is this a formation or a competition? These two couples at the start look like they may be working with the same coach. I understand trends and in my competitive career I fell into the same trap, only I was dancing in the American division so starting trends were no quite as obvious. It even seems the camera man pulls away as if to say, "This has gone on long enough." In fact, if you were to pull back the camera you might find there were more more than two couples doing that opening, but that is especially the nature of Standard. Having poked fun enough, you can't deny the enjoyment in watching such flawless technique danced side by side, and the skill to manage their floor craft so effortlessly. You less seasoned competitor would have become flustered in that corner I assure you.

If you watch the rest of the video you will see that pivots, double locks both forward and backwards are trends of that year. It was clear that the object was to show grand and constant movement across the floor with less time spent on picture lines.  But trends change, and I thought it would be interesting to look how just a few years makes a difference.

The 2017 NYDF Pro Ballroom Waltz

You'll notice a lack of pivots in 2017, with the exception of one or two, but certainly no long combos of them, and a tremendous growth in the use of not only picture lines, but a great deal more pliability and flexibility through the use of the stretching of ones sides. Something that at one time was considered the awful, "Breaking of the sides." Although they bend this rule with perfection in my opinion.