Bryan Watson & Carmen VS Slavik Kryklyvyy & Karina Smirnoff

We offer now online private Dance Lessons with Szymon Kalinowski & Grazyna Grabicka
If you are Interested email us: [e-mail] Video from 2002 Blackpool Dance Festival and great ChaCha

[@joetesta8754]

Two of the very best the dancesport world has ever produced and at a time when there were so many exceptional pro couples around. The competition during this golden era of dancesport Latin dancing what absolutely fierce and something to behold. As a dancer I feel truly fortunate to have seen it all over those years and in particular these two supreme couples..

[@DanceAffectionist]

I never preferred dance style of Brian and it took me many years to appreciate it. I always preferred more masculine presentation. Anyway, it is interesting that Slavik used to copy a lot of routines from Brian in his young amateur years. Slavik told this in Ukraine during show programme when he reunited with Karina and Brian was listening in the audience :) But, actually, I wonder what is your opinion about Malitowski. For me, his dance quality was always noticeably below that of Brian, Paul, Allan, Slavik, Franco, Riccardo, Timokhin. I kind of always felt that Malitowski's technique is not as natural/fluid, kind of "engineered", more artificial if that makes sense. But perhaps I'm misunderstanding something about him and his technique is comparable to those other superb dancers and it is simply his dance styling that bothers me...

[@joetesta8754]

@@DanceAffectionist I totally understand what is behind your feelings about Brian''s style. His natural flamboyancy and showmanship at times took over, Hence the masculinity issue but I didn't mind that from him so much because he never failed to entertain, without coming across cheesy and in some ways even to this day he is incomparable. His dance style never showed strain of any kind and looked effortless and so energy efficient What I love most about him was how he could produce speed, power, control and precision but yet look so free and loose in his body actions and rhythm. All the guys you mention were much that way and I would definitely add Surkov to that illustrious list of names As for Michael. yes I feel much the same way as you about his dance style. However he was a great partner to an extraordinary lady in Joanna and together a well suited, balanced and complementary combination. For me Michael and Joanna took Latin dance in a whole different direction ( for better or worse) They introduced a level of technical proficiency and dynamic movement, speed and power that hadn't been seen before to that degree, but in the process their style felt as you worded it well (somewhat engineered) and didn't always look and feel as fluid and free as it could have. Personal, preference I guess. Riccardo and Yulia then took the dynamic and technical aspect of dance to another stratosphere (great for competitive dance style) but I felt especially in the latter years their style was technically without equal, but they too for me sacrificed easy movement for power and precision and often looked quite physical and I could see and feel the effort in their dancing when compared to someone like Slavik or Brian who were so loose and rhythmical that I sometimes wondered if they had any bones in their body. Anyway they're my feelings and opinions since you asked for them. Thank you, keep safe and well.

[@DanceAffectionist]

@@joetesta8754 Thanks for the detailed response. Overall, I share your viewpoint. It's really interesting to return these days to those older videos of Slavik and Brian at their prime in order to rediscover and appreciate how effortless and fluid their dance movements actually were. I wish you well.

[@anjasteinbauer6957]

Bryan!

[@andreanobre3605]

Both couples are wonderful, but Slavik and Karina are my absolute favorites.

[@marioavila1235]

2 bad ass male dancers , Yet I have 2 give it 2 my man Brian Watson. He was so fluid , relaxed ...his body action was perfect. I strive everyday 2 dance like him

[@teddyramagole1904]

Brian and Carmen were more crisp....they had clarity of timing figured out....they were confident in the speed and execution.

[@user-wy5cy3dy7k]

Fav

[@lanerope4482]

Love Bryan and Carmen, particularly Carmen. Their couple dynamics are great . Love Karina Smirnoff. Slavic always leaves me cold, and I perhaps unsure why other than I think it’s just all about him.

[@Happylife28777]

BRYAN #1.

[@markopavlovic353]

Incomparable. Judges in Blackpool read leading/communication skills to determine the quality of dancers. As a couple Bryan&Carmen were way ahead at that moment. Slavik and Karina just weren't on that level yet.

[@helgechristophersen7665]

No doubt Brian and Carmen are brilliant in this cha cha cha. I like his style, his flamboyancy, his calmness. In the rumba at the World Super Star ("Memory") same year (2002) he was so relaxed when coming in, so natural in control. This cha cha cha is brilliant timing, technique, brilliantly synchronized. Karina is NOT top level synchronized this time.

[@joetesta8754]

Helge Christpherson. Perhaps you memory is short but mine isn't. Is this not the same couple you said on another video that Brian's technique and timing was so poor that he should have never become world champion? Oh yes, it was this couple! As for Karina, please point out where you see a problem with synchronization as I don't see any issue that is remotely worth passing critical comment on. Also tell me, is she not synchronized to her partner or the music, or what? This is just another of your vague and obscure, unsupported, unqualified criticisms on the worlds best dancers. Shame on you. Don't do it Helge you only make a complete dickhead of yourself. or are you too blinded by you enormous ego and arrogance to see that!

[@helgechristophersen7665]

@@joetesta8754 There is no existing comment by me as you refer to. A comment was DELETED long ago, and referred to my criticism of the timing of one jive. This timing is better with Riccardo and Yulia and with Salvo and Victoria. Salvo and Victoria are VERY PRECISE in starting exactly on time and with back step when they start, and Vic waiting for S to start. I still, in one dance jive, have difficulties with Bryan in not all, but some of his performances. As I do quick comments, many of them are deleted and changed, when I see the video again. The judgement of video is not always easy. The specific jive performance comment is long ago deleted totally, and it is unprofessional by Joe Testa not to check the video before bringing out non-existent material. No one have written more praise of Karina and Slavik than me. This is mostly after they reunited and started shows. Then they became completely fantastic. Karina was changed after the Dancing with the stars years. The particular performance here I think is not her best. Both to him and the music she could have been more synchronized, is my impression. The point is that it is very clear to me that Bryan and Carmen reigned supreme in the video above here in cha cha cha. And it would be wrong for me not to point our their brilliance and being clearly, in my view, the best couple in this cha cha cha. I have many times written that Karina´s rumba in Kiev 2015 is the best in world history, and, in fact, the cha cha cha same year, too. (I have written that about the cha cha, too.) Unlike you I have included not only the rumba, but the cha cha by Karina and Slavik in my list of the highest masterpieces in world history of dancing. I equally judge Bryan and Carmen 2002 WSS rumba and their show in China 2008 as unique masterpieces, in addition to a few cha cha´s and sambas, and others. Carmen in 2008 is brilliant as the star of the show, Bryan only very calm presenting, Carmen became a new dancer and even much more fantastic after the 2007 retirement. I request that Szymon give us on this channel the China rumba show (Bryan/Carmen 2008), it is completely unique, and Carmen completely fantastic. This video has Chinese text and few have found it, it is a completely new presentation of Carmen and Bryan, it can be found very long down on the B & C video channel list. Commenting this video I wrote: "A more lovely lady is not to be found in the world." It may inspire thousands of young dancers on the Szymon channel. I am sure Sczymon gets permission to present it. I am also sure that Szymon will be deeply impressed and stunned by seeing this unique hidden video after their retirement.

[@joetesta8754]

@@helgechristophersen7665 I suspect strongly this most derogatory comment was deleted by you due to me and others very strong criticism of it and to avoid any further loss of face. Now that your few favoured couples R&Y, S&V, K&P are no longer on the dance floor, I notice you have been systematically revisiting past videos and changing and sanitising other derogatory comments you have made of other couples as well. Don't try to fool people Helge because there are many that see through the falseness.

[@lisenkoevg]

What is the name of melody?

[@Happylife28777]

КРИКЛИВЫЙ КАК СТРАУС ДЛИННЫЙ И НЕ ГИБКИЙ.

[@aidepaul534]

I adored Carmen with Sandro and Allan, but with Bryan she looked stiff and heavy.

[@kylekurt7144]

Carmen was incredibly sensational with Sandro and with Alan, because those were the years that made her a star! But it was with Bryan, were her true qualities were really produced xx in my opinion, her dancing as evident by the way the young ladies perform today, she is the most influential female in the history of Latin American dancing... Dancers cannot copy Joanna, Gaynor or Yulia... but what Carmen gave us, is something so special, that it immediately influenced the Amateur Era when she retired... 2007 - 2009 Melinda Torokgyorgy and Anna Melnikova, very clear Carmen influence... and it has just grown more and more throughout the years.

[@aidepaul534]

@@kylekurt7144 No, I stand by my original comment.

[@teddyramagole1904]

AidePaul I agree with you...Carmen was free and fierce with Allan....Allan made dancing fun and relaxed...he entertained,which Carmen is very good at.....with Brian she was grounded..still fabulous but not as fierce