There are times when one person’s energy and another person’s energy sync up in a way that creates magic. It’s a type of chemistry needed for certain creative endeavors and the type of chemistry that can’t be forced or made.
This kind of chemistry is necessary for dance partners to be successful.
The right chemistry
Bryn Anderson and Kenneth Rutland have that kind of chemistry.
That’s how they ended as 2017 Rising Star first place winners in the USA Grand National Dance Championships.
According to The Chicago Classic, Bryn has been dancing since she was 12-years-old and loves all kinds of genres of dance.
Though West Coast Swing is her favorite and “occupies a special place in her heart.”
Knowledgable in various different styles
She has studied Contemporary and International Latin, Ballet, and Jazz and prides herself on her quality of movement, stage presence, and musicality.
Kenneth began his dance career dancing solo Hip Hop.
He started couples dancing in 2011.
Discovering swing
He enjoys many styles, such as Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba but Kenneth says he fell in love with West Coast Swing in 2015.
That’s probably how he and Bryn decided to become partners.
History together
They started dancing together in 2016 and have won lots of titles in the Rising Star division.
One of those titles was at the 2017 USA Grand National Dance Championships.
The USA Grand National Dance Championship was started in 1995 and is the largest and most diverse Carolina Shag and West Coast Swing Dance event in the world held annually on Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta, GA, according to their website.
Their mission is to “provide a fun, friendly, and organized competitive dance environment where separate dance communities can become inspired by the other to share, create, and merge into one dance while maintaining the integrity of each dance individually.”
Excelling in the fun department
It seems that their mission to provide “fun” really worked when it came to Ken and Bryn’s 2017 performance.
Matching outfits
The team was decked out in black, red, and silver sequins matching outfits for their dance routine to “Play That Funky Music,” a song written by Rob Parissi and performed by the band Wild Cherry.
That song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1976 and was certified as platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
It’s listed as number 93 on Billboard magazine’s list of All-Time Top 100 songs in 2018. But played a top song of all time isn’t what got Bryn and Kenneth their title. It was their chemistry and commitment to dance.
Totally in sync
What stands out the most from these two is how incredibly in sync their bodies are with each other.
“They flow together like two streams of water,” wrote one YouTuber.
And I couldn’t have said it better myself because that’s exactly what these two look like!
Their rhythm is impressive and flawless from the moment they step out on the dance floor until they leave it.
Their moves provide incredible build-up and deliver on that build-up every time in exciting ways as they twist, turn, and flip across the stage.
A touch of modern moves
While their moves provide a modern twist on swing, their swing moves are classic and impeccable. They are truly a joy to watch. And the fans think so too.
“FANTASTIC job! Love it! I am very picky (I judge competitions and cast musicals) and this couple hit the mark and it was perfect! Great music choice, great costumes. It was strictly GREAT dancing all around. I would pay them to choreograph for me! The popular well known ‘pros’ need to learn from this… Awesome!” wrote one YouTuber.
Watch Bryn and Kenneth for yourself in the video below. Their performance is so much fun to watch!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Source: Bruce Gleason, The Chicago Classic
