Questions and Answers with Darren and Lilia

"Listen to what the professionals have to say about our "Spend the Weekend with..." dance breaks, then come along and discover the magic for yourselves."

So, what satisfaction do you get from a weekend like this?

Darren: Previously when we have appeared at events, we’ve done a show or lecture and left. This is the first one that we have a part of the whole process – the teaching, cabaret and question and answer session. We’ve been fortunate enough to have been quite involved in planning it over the course of a year. The weekend has given us the opportunity to meet people and help them with their dance in a way that our usual commitments don’t allow.

"It’s great testament to what we do as a business that everyone can mix and enjoy such a sociable environment."

Darren Bennett

How does this vary in style from how you usually teach?

Lilia: We got a real sense of achievement from seeing the improvement of those relatively new to dance because they were able to make such a huge improvement. They might have come here knowing little or nothing about a dance such as samba, but left with a basic routine that they can continue to use and progress.
We teach and choreograph for all sorts of dancers – competitors, professionals, ice skaters – but the thing that is evident at these weekends is a commitment to learning. It’s not just about meeting us. They demonstrate their commitment throughout the weekend and that is really satisfying.

Darren: There is quite a variety of age groups on this weekend, from a girl of 17 who has never danced before to a couple of 80 years plus who have danced for years and years. It’s great testament to what we do as a business that everyone can mix and enjoy such a sociable environment.

Most people here are between 30-50 years of age but Latin is often deemed a young person’s dance. Have you had to modify your teaching accordingly?

Lilia: Much of what we teach beginners, we would continue to teach at all levels. As dancers become more advanced they can evolve those elements to make them more elaborate but the idea is still the same. So for example, a rotation of 30 degrees may be the norm for most dancers but a professional couple may undertake the same movement to 50 or 60 degrees with exaggerated effect.

Darren: To me it should be the same dance. Your juvenile, amateur or professional should have the same technique but the choreography will be modified within their boundaries and if they think they can achieve it, why not?

What advice would you give people attending dance weekends on how to progress once they return to their usual dance environments?

Lilia: Ah, that’s a difficult one. Learning is a continuous process and retaining a weekend’s worth of training can be difficult but if you go away with one thing, such as standing up and maintaining good posture, then that is a valuable element that will bring significant rewards.

Darren: Stand-alone weekends provide a kick start and help the progression of change. They also give people opportunity for finding out new information and meeting new people. It’s a social weekend with the emphasis on dance and although teaching is a significant part of it, it is also much more than that. This has not been a stylised approach but about the dynamics of movement that would not affect any natural progression that you would have with your usual teacher.

Finally Lilia, on a (slightly) lighter note, we all want to know about Strapgate – your wardrobe malfunction in the 2005 “Strictly” semi. Do you favour a conspiracy theory and did you check the other contestants’ dressing rooms for nail scissors?!

Lilia: (laughs) No, the strap didn’t actually break. It was attached to the costume with a press stud and hook. With “Strictly” being a live show, there is somebody backstage helping you in and out of costumes. Unfortunately, the person helping me to dress didn’t attach it properly and moments into the dance, of it went!

Darren: It was really unfortunate. The semi was probably more important than the final for Lilia because that’s where she went out the previous year. To get through gave her such a sense of achievement and winning the title with Darren and the Christmas special were added bonuses.