Smooth – one year in Russia. Interview with Olga Krasnyanskaya and Eldar Dzhafarov.

A year ago, thanks to Olga Krasnyanskaya and Eldar Dzhafarov, the first American Smooth Congress took place in Russia. It was after him that professional couples began to join this interesting trend, many of whom had already achieved great results in the international arena.

We talked with Eldar and Olga about the path traveled and the future plans of the SRDS company.

- All American smoothie tournaments this season were very bright. But only a year has passed since the last congress. How do you now evaluate the path you have traveled?

Olga: The path we traveled was very interesting and unexpected. He was not only successful, but also successful. A year ago, when we held the first congress, we could not even imagine that today we would have almost 15 professional couples who want to pursue this field. We also did not think that our couples would be able to perform a discipline that was born in another country, with an absolutely Russian soul, aura and direction. Of course, we could not think that our couples would be able to achieve the results that they achieved: this is the European Championship in Cervia, and the Russian Cup in Yekaterinburg, and the Russian Championship. And the most important thing is our participation in the legendary tournament in Assen, where our couple beat the world vice-champions.

We understand that success can last a long time if the first successful performances of our sports couples do not turn our heads. Eldar and I came to the conclusion that we want to devote the next year to dance theory so that our couples can perform at a truly high professional level.

Eldar: The first congress a year ago was the first event, and we did not think that it would give such an impetus to the development of American smoothie in Russia. We thank the GallaDance company and Alexey Mikhailovich Mindel for supporting the idea, excellent cooperation, providing a platform and the first teachers in this area. This year the congress will again be timed to coincide with the Moscow ball tournament, where American smoothie will be part of the competition program. The direction will be represented by Russian couples, as well as from the UK and the USA, including finalists and winners of the Blackpool Festival and the World Championships. I think that our Russian sports couples will give them serious competition, and just a year ago we watched the first congress at which it all began!

This year the congress will be repeated, but with the Moscow Ball tournament result. In the spring, the first tournament was held as part of the Champions Ball, where a large prize pool was announced to attract couples. But now we can confidently say about the base of professional dancers who are ready to perform not for financial gain, but for the sake of achieving results and promoting this direction in our country and the world.

This year there were many interesting events related to this style: the first congress in December, the first tournament in Russia among professionals - Champions ball, after that there was the Red-White Cup, then the Blackpool Dance Festival. In June, the European Championships were held in Cervia, where more than half of the participants represented Russia, and all of them performed in the finals. In August, the St. Petersburg Dance Vacations tournament was held, which became the first SRDS American Smooth tournament. Next was Autumn Moscow, where the Russian duo won. It was a WDC World Super Series tournament, which means that Russian pairs have already begun to occupy leading positions in the WDC world rankings. Then two tournaments took place in London: Killick Royal and London ball. And the first Russian Cup, the first Russian Smoothie Championship. Moscow Ball is ahead of us!

Olga: The tournament schedule for 2019 is already available on the SRDS website srdsrussia.ru, where tournaments in Germany, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Hong Kong and Azerbaijan have been added. The geography is expanding, there is interest on the part of the WDC in holding official championships, and on our part there is an interest in the development of American smoothie in Russia and Europe.

- Please tell us about the SRDS rating.

Eldar: The SRDS rating tournament bracket has been created. This is important for couples, since in addition to benefits in the form of lessons, congresses and participation in tournaments with a prize fund between participants in the SRDS rating, the annual prize fund will be distributed among the 12 strongest couples according to the rating.

Olga: That is, they will fight not only for cups and medals at individual competitions, but also for a place in the ranking.

- How to join SRDS?

Eldar: At the congress on December 3 and 4, we will talk about how to join SRDS and participate in the organization’s rankings. We will have cooperation with both individuals and clubs on the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as international relations with federations. Our company’s policy is not only to develop individual athletes, but also to develop clubs and children. The regions of the Russian Federation are also very important for us. At the moment, representatives of different countries are already contacting us who would like to develop American smoothie, and we have friendly international interaction.

Olga: Retaining is much more difficult than attracting. It is very important for us that the dancers feel that there is someone behind them, and are sure that this will not burst like a soap bubble.

We are trying to do everything in the interests of our country. It is no secret that even in the Olympic Games a new concept is currently being developed at the intersection of sports, physics and art. Thus, we are also trying to create some kind of movement where there is both sports and art.

I think that we will also develop rehabilitation programs not only for dancers, but also for people not associated with dance. Smoothies are very well suited for this - together with music, physical recovery occurs faster.

Eldar: This is very effective, since it is based on the same concept as in Pilates and Gyrotonics.

- If you look at the results of past competitions, it becomes clear that without Russian couples these events would have looked completely different. How do you feel when at such tournaments with history, most of the couples in American Smooth are from Russia?

Olga: I'm very worried. It’s easier for me to dance myself than to watch. It’s not me who trains them, but Eldar, but when I stand at the floor, I really want them to be the best. We charge them emotionally, and it’s mutual! Because the energy on the parquet floor is off the charts. And, of course, I feel proud and happy. Because they are happy when they dance, and the more happy people there are, the more beautiful and kinder the world is.

- With whom did you start developing American smoothie in Russia?

Eldar: First of all, we would like to thank the GallaDance company, which heard us, was not afraid and followed us along the path of smoothie development. We are very grateful to all the trainers who came to the first congress and worked with us throughout the year: Taliat Tarsinov, Nick & Elena Kosovich, Olga Foraponova, Michael Mead, Jonathan Robets, Peter Perzhu, Nick & Victoria Cheremukhin, Izabella Jundzill.

- What other plans do you plan to implement in the near future?

Olga: Our company’s plan is to develop children’s and youth’s performance of smoothies. Because the future can only happen when the younger generation dances. And for those who dance American Smooth today, this is their future job. And if everything works out, then very soon we will give the next interview, about the successes of our young dancers.

Eldar: Kids need to start with the basics, everything starts with the basics, otherwise it will look like a corps de ballet. Creating and laying the foundation is what needs to be done.

Olga: This is also important for professionals. In order to become authoritative rivals for the world's leading pairs, and not just beat them “in the moment” at individual tournaments, it is now necessary to work more on technique. This is what we want to do at our congresses and seminars. We have created a beautiful shell - now we need to fill the dance from the inside.

Eldar: I now work with most of the couples who have joined American Smooth. And my first task was to create a product that the market would want to buy. Now we need to work on quality. At the very beginning, it was necessary to do exactly this - they learned about Russian smoothie, they started talking about it. I would like the level of my students to be very high, so that they can continue to teach this direction, and not bring “collective farm smoothie” to the masses.

Olga: But a beautiful apple doesn't always taste as good. Now our task is to ensure that our apple tastes no worse than it looks. We want to make American smoothie an exclusive destination; it should be elitist in its content.

- At what age and at what level of training do you think it will be possible to join the smoothie?

Eldar: At the moment we are focused on Juniors, Youth and Amateurs. As for Children-1 and Children-2 (Juveniles), this will be very important for them in group classes as a variant of the standard in solo performance. In childhood, due to the fact that it is difficult to immediately find a partner, soloist competitions are especially popular. Using an asymmetrical position in the European program in this case is wrong. This entails scoliosis and many other problems.

Olga: In addition, a child, especially a teenager, may be embarrassed to dance alone and will eventually give up dancing. Smooth, with its open positions, close to ballet (and who among the girls would not want to become a ballerina?!), brings more creativity, which can be very interesting at any age.

Eldar: Plus, close contact is not always ethical in childhood. I can say the same about the children's Pro-Am, when the teacher dances with a young student in contact. Therefore, smoothie can be a good alternative to dancing to the music of the European program.

- Juniors and Youth are exactly the age when many choose which program to continue dancing: Latin or standard. Can smoothies help maintain this balance?

Eldar: This is a very correct idea. I myself, being a ten-manager before the Professionals, understand how difficult it is to deal with two programs. Very often, couples who dance 10 dances cannot achieve great results in certain categories, and after finishing their performances in 10 dances, they essentially only have to dance in show tournaments, and their sports career stops.

Smoothie is a great alternative to make yourself a career, a title, a job.

Olga: Smooth can be danced regardless of which program is leading; in the variation you can emphasize your strengths both in the European program and in the Latin American one.

- In addition, smoothie elements can be very popular in the show.

Olga: Of course, smoothie elements can make any show more lively, interesting, flexible, and athletic. The list can be endless.

Eldar: If couples who compete in the European Sequoia begin to use techniques from Smooth, then these tournaments could reach a new level. I see that the passages inside the rooms are very empty, and this understanding came along with my acquaintance with American Smooth.

Olga: It is not enough to have good technique, it is important to understand why you move your body, what meaning you convey and what you want to tell through the language of dance. We have just returned from Assen, where the lectures repeatedly emphasized that it is necessary to master not only the technique of the legs, but also to develop artistry in a couple, reading the music with their choreography, to return dance to choreography, where there is a place for feeling, interaction and freedom in a couple. And this concept was offered to couples dancing both the European program and Latin dancers. And this innovation - it is in smooth, this is smooth.

Smoothie is something worth trying!