2nd Feb 2012
...we have a time and place for the LUKAS Awards gala ceremony!
By amaranta
But first of all...a message from a very special friend, Carlos Acosta, Principal Dancer at the Royal Ballet, who says:
"I’d like to wish all the finalists in the LUKAS Awards the very best of luck. No one deserves recognition more than those, whether originating from Latin America or not, who have dedicated years of creativity and hard work to contributing our wonderful arts and cultures, our perspectives and energy to British society.
The LUKAS Awards are a great way of celebrating this collective effort and I am looking forward to the ceremony, which will no doubt become a permanent attraction in the annual London diary.
The opportunity to celebrate Latin American achievement in the UK resonates for me personally. I will always be grateful for the acceptance and encouragement I received from the people of London, the world’s greatest city for multiculturalism and art, which helped me grow as an artist."
and finally...(you thought the time would never come right?!)...we are proud to invite you to the Gala ceremony for the LUKAS 2011 at Floridita on March 12th
We are really happy that Floridita have allowed us to use their venue. We were looking for something classy and stylish, but offering the Latin flava, and Floridita was exactly what we hand in mind. Details on ticket availability and schedule for the night will be released shortly. But you can engrave the date in your diary now!
MEANWHILE, there is still ONE WEEK TO GO before voting ends on Feb 9th and some finalists are neck and neck, SO KEEP SUPPORTING YOUR FAVOURITE NOMINEES. Vote here
also...
PLEASE USE US!
A note to all nominees. If you have events, news etc that you would like us to put in the what's on section or other content elsewhere on the site. Please contact us via the contact form on the home page
Can't wait till March 12th...hope to see you there!
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COMMENTS
Posted by amaranta on Feb 12 21:34
Many thanks for all these comments. It's really great to have an open debate. And I would like to invite any one from the Brazilian (or any other) dance scene to submit an opinion piece, which I will gladly publish (as long as it meet the basic editorial standards). It should be informed and well backed up, as opposed to a rant. See Kerry Ribchester's piece on the salsa scene on the home page. She replied to a piece I had written, giving a different opinion.
Thank you also for investing your passion in this process. I can see some people feel things weren't as tight as they should have been considering there was so much at stake for candidates. We did this on very few resources, and so feel pleased it ran as smoothly as it did. It sets a base that next year we will improve on and perfect, making everything as tight as possible. And thank you also for all the positive comments, it is a real encouragement for us to make the LUKAS bigger and better.
Posted by goldeneye on Feb 11 19:09
and so why do you think Dancemyway has no idea?The person who runs it - Monika Molnar has a strong Latin training background and also dances several different latin dance styles. she is a brilliant dancer, choreographer with amazing teaching skills too. She knows her stuff and understands well her students needs. I haven't actually met a brazilian dance teacher on the scene who can teach so well the dance style they teach. And only because she decided to dedicate her time to Latin Jazz - which is actually her very special style of many different Latin dance styles and also brazilian samba that does not disqualify her from being a Brazilian dance school at all. Go and see her teach or even dance. name it: salsa, zouk, samba, forro, merengue, kizomba, chacha, gafiera, lambada,tango.,rumba...not talking about other dance styles she dances..go and see her students...go and see her shows and then decide. She is not from Brazil nor from South Amerika. But that is why she deserves an even bigger respect. For a hungarian being so far from the culture she mastered it well. she is someone to admire and we all should be proud that people who are not even from South America has such interest, dedication, love for our culture. We should be more respectful towards those artists. In most of the cases they are doing a much better job then we do. and she didnt even need to change her name to a brazilian sounded name just to be accepted on the scene as some other teachers did who teach samba and also qualified for being a brazilian dance school. Dancemyway is bringing something amazing into the Latin and Brazilian dance scene and their followers are growing day by day. One of the greatest schools on the scnene. well done Dancemyway and go Monika!!!
Posted by teodoro on Feb 11 13:55
Actually, I quite unterstand this point of view. I am a accoustic guitar player and to get a job in a music school I have to bring the minnimun of 3 music styles on the the table. I have to say that the "fashion thing" in the Latin Music brought a lots of less prepared professionals in the scene. Charging less money and breaking the market a little. And guys, just because somebody doesn't like the aproach of your favorite dance school, It doesn't mean that they are competition. It was very stupid to assume that beforehand and talk about hate??!! It is like to state that everyone loves your dance style, apart of the competitor. Very arrogant posture, indeed! I am very tired of this "politically correct thing" that nobody can express a contrary opinion. That is not criticism. Somebody thinks that the school is the best and somebody else thinks that is not. Punto! Those are opinions. Everybody is entitled to have one and to express It. The last time I've checked we still live in a democracy. And to be honest, It looks like she knows what she is talking about.
Posted by gloria300 on Feb 10 15:11
First of all, my comment was not personal. I am not a competitor, I am not a nominee and I am not even supporting any other nominee in that category. I am supporting a musician friend who It is not even in a Brazilian category. I am a musician based in London for the last 15 years and my concern is that, if tomorrow as a music teacher, I decide to open a Brazilian Music School and teach just Chorinho or a Latin Music School and teach the students just how to play Salsa, I wouldn't get away with that. How should be different for professional dancers? For me, narrowminded people are the ones who think Brazilian music, rhythm and culture can be reduced just to samba. I have nothing against people advertising their businesses and embracing the culture. In any moment, I have said that Brazilian dance and music should be taught just by Brazilians. My husband is Hungarian and a jazz piano player and plays salsa beautifully. I am part of a band who plays Brazilian music as well and I am the only Brazilian in the group. My background of samba comes from my father who was part of the direction of a samba school in Rio for 18 years. I grew up playing and dancing samba and the samba I was refering was samba enredo (Rio Carnival Samba). When people talk about technique is when the best professionals musicians and dancers get It wrong. You can't count samba enredo as you can't write that music as well. It is like a musician who can play and compose but doesn't write or read music. He plays by ear. Samba enredo is played and danced by ear. So, if you want embrace the culture, do It , but do It properly. That is what I believe. Our responsability being musicians and dancers is that if we teach people, we have to think that they can became professionals one day and I do agree that Latin and Brazilian can be a lots of fun, but certain kind of attitude in this field unfortunately made the quality of professionals (musicians and dancers/latin and non latin) lower in the last years. About the "rhythm people know and want", Brazilian gafieira is being so well promoted that even the show Brasil Brasileirinho was in the theatre, Forro is playing in many radios in Italy ( Zeu Azevedo playing all around Europe), Lambada with the African influence- Lamba Zouk is all around the world (the Russians are breaking the legs) . I don't expect a Brazilian Dance School to teach all the rhytms, but at least some of then. I just mentioned as an example. To finalize, if in any moment I caused any offense, I personally do apologise to Dancemyway, but I keep my position that not just them but any Brazilian or Latin Dance/Music School should provide many options of Dance and Music and you can create and innovate that music in many different styles, but please learn well and respect the origins.
Posted by Richelle on Feb 10 15:53
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Posted by Sarah_f on Feb 10 11:47
It is such a shame that people are criticising other nominees, shame on you. Everyone in this category shares a love for Brazillian culture, music and dance. These awards are a celebration for everyone that wants to learn more about another culture, please don't ruin this celebration with derogatory comments. As other people have said, Brazil is multicultural, London is multicultural, narrow mindedness only leads to intolerance and hatred and I for one will not be going down that path. Good lcuk to ALL the nominees, keep up the good work and sharing this amazing culture collaboratively with Londoners like myself.
Posted by Jools on Feb 10 9:05
As mentioned already, it is not about winning, but taking part, but the rules should always be adhered to. So why did voting go on well past midnight? The deadline was suppose to finish on the 9th, not 10th...So who actually won now?! I know it is only the first year of the awards (and well done for organising it), but you would think you would get the most important thing as the deadline sorted!! So unprofessional. Any votes given past midnight are unfair!! What are you going to do about it?
Posted by carlos saldana on Feb 10 3:55
no entiendo esta clase de eventos entre parentesis democratico pero si en mi banda son 10 y si votamos cada dia por tres meses yo creo k eso es medio tonto o estupido y a la ves porke haser competir a los artistas si el arte y la musica se hizo pa compartir y pa curar alegrar el espiritu .. y ..bueno es parte del sistema de mentiras en la k vivimos y creo k hasi no cambiaremos nada. y tratar de vivir en armonia con el universo .. sienpre buscando ganadores y perdedore k no existen somos iguale calatos nacemos e igual nos vamos sin nada jajaj positive energy compartir es mas lindo k competir es el lema y la meta dejar huella ..igual palante hermanos si estan felices respeto y pido disculpa por kerer esa linea de vida ... abrazos y pal frente positivamente
Posted by e_gamman on Feb 10 8:03
Verdad ! It's just a competition ! We have to remember it's the taking part and 'doing' that counts ! :-)
Posted by dusko on Feb 10 1:38
Voting should have stopped at midnight as this is now the 10 February. All the extra votes coming in after the 9 Feb midnight should be ignored. take screen-prints so you have the proof of where your candidate stood by the end of the day of the 9th February. Everyone knows that was the deadline but with them one never knows.
Posted by frances mckay on Feb 10 1:12
Has voting closed? Please advise why its still allowing people to vote. Do we have winners??
Posted by Joana Monteiro on Feb 10 1:02
Brazil is one of the most multicultural countries, founded from and developed by lots of different cultures and influences. There is not one Brazilian samba. So why should it be different in London?
Posted by kerrineb on Feb 09 22:36
I am really happy that Dancemyway have a chance to win this award. This school has introduced me to Samba and given me the confidence to try other brazilian dance classes around London. For those of us who thought it was too late in life to dance and perform, this school has given us a chance to forfil our dancing dreams. I have now tried quite a few brazilian dance classes at different schools, but without Dancemyway I wouldn't have known anything about these styles of Dance! Thank you Monika. You go girl!!
Posted by gemmamorton on Feb 09 22:03
Carlos Acosta sums it up when he says it doesn't matter whether you originate from Latin America or not. This award isn't about trying to publicly criticise the competition!
Posted by lhtaz on Feb 09 17:40
It is so great to see DanceMyWay at the top of the Dance School category. They are the best and I hope they win.
Posted by gloria300 on Feb 09 20:58
With all the due respect, I do believe Dancemyway is probably a very good latin balroom dance school, but being Brazilian myself, I don't agree with a school holding the name of "Brazilian School", just doing samba workshops. A proper Brazilian School should teach forro, lambada, gafieira, samba de roda, maxixe, maracatu, macule, etc. By the way, I've been
to one of the workshops and It was not bad at all, but forgive me to say that, that was not the real Rio Carnival Samba. That is what we call in Brazil: European Samba. But for people who never danced samba and doesn't know the real thing, that should be enough. Anyway, good luck to them. But, being the best...Not really.
Posted by betinha.miller@... on Feb 09 22:09
Hi there,
With all due respect... I wouldn't agree that a Brazilian dance school needs to offer 'gafieira' or 'macule'. This would be like saying that the Royal School of Ballet doesn't deserve its name or category unless it offered Morris Dancing !!
There are no English, Spanish, French, or any other Nationalities who would know what 'macule' is !.... I am Brazilian, therefore, I do know, however... I would definitely not even think of these styles as 'traditional/ popular Brazilian dancing. In a multi cultural city like London, the purpose of a Brazilian dance school is to offer Brazilian dancing (that the people who live in this city would know, recognize and want to do!)
I believe that any good dance school has to be able to promote the type of dancing which they provide and improve the students technique and ability. If they can do this and in addition bring excellent creative flair then that makes a good dance school. This is what Dancemyway is about! I have been a student for many years so I am speaking from experience.
Dancemyway is one of a kind and certainly not a ballroom dance shcool ! It It definitely does not just offer samba workshops! I have seen very few Brazilian teachers who can teach better Samba than Monika!! Her technique is excellent and she is one of the only teachers who has managed to make Samba not look vulga !
I hope they win the Brazilian dance shcool of the year as they deserve it !
Betinha
Posted by bastosdomingo on Feb 08 15:46
Hi Amaranta,
Although you clearly stated that the voting will end on the 9th February, it would be very useful if you will let everybody know exactly until what time the voters will be able to give their support, i.e. 12.00AM or....
I think this should be posted ASAP seen the approaching deadline. Thank you.
Posted by anajob on Feb 08 11:10
One would only hope people were a bit more patient... I would like to congratulate Amaranta and her team for all the hard work! As she said it before: they are only humans and trying to make a difference for a change so well done you all for your efforts.
Posted by amaranta on Feb 05 21:46
I am sorry for any inconveniences. We were putting up a lot of content on Friday so perhaps there were a few moments when things were interrupted, but everything should be working fine.
Posted by albina on Feb 03 22:05
Hi Guys,
Sorry for your troubles. I have one nominee in the page 1 and one in the page 2. I discovered that if you click any category in the page 1, immediatly the page 2 is shown. Try that for now, until the problem is solved to not loose any votes for your nominees. Hope this helps. Good luck!!!!
Posted by olivia32 on Feb 03 17:46
hi Amaranta, voting is not working!, it is disabled for the past couple of hours. can you please sort this out?
Posted by amaranta on Feb 03 14:32
Calm down everyone! The web editor was just putting some content and made a mistake. We are only human! The voting is working fine though...
Posted by mauro on Feb 03 15:49
it is not working!!, i just spoke to 5 people asking them to check the web and they all have same problem, no 2 page, can't click on nothing, please remove the picture of the dancer and the Mayor ,since you put it we cant do nothing and loosing time.
Posted by olegovna on Feb 03 14:11
what is happening, now second page of the votes is missing!!!!, csn you please stop changing the setting on your system please.
Posted by salsadancer on Feb 03 9:43
amaranta, lots of us have problems with voting. my team is complaining that they can not send their votes as it says it is blocked. our nominees are loosing votes as a result. why is this happening?
Posted by anja1 on Feb 03 0:39
same for us!!!!!
Posted by amylee on Feb 03 0:33
Hello I have just logged in to vote for my nominee and you "ADVERTISE WITH US" just popped in and It is exactly on top of the names of the nominees, not alowing us to vote. What is going on?!!! The votes suppose to finish on the 9th of February according with your blog and newsletter. First all the polemic about the votes. Now, to vote we have to buy an advert in the magazine as well?