Straight from Layne to Double Drummer

Our good friend Layne Beachley is now sending her thoughts about her involvement in Dancing With the Stars directly to DD for inclusion in our blog. Here’s what she had to say about her near-elimination this week:

In the world of dancing, the Rumba is ‘the dance of love and eroticism’ between a man and a woman. The dance relies on the age-old premise of a lady trying to dominate her chosen gentleman by means of her womanly charms. Incorporating all the elements of teasing and withdrawal, it is considered the most sensual of all the Latin dances. That being said, I do have a tendency to always try and lead or dominate the dance, but my 37 year old hips and rotated pelvis were feeling far from sensual last week.

Confidence and conviction are two very important elements to any dance and I have to admit that it took me a while to feel confident performing the Rumba. Teasing and dominating certainly weren’t issues… more the fact that I had 90 seconds to essentially rub myself up, roll through my hips and remember the routine, all while trying to convince the judges that I was totally into it and knew what I was doing.

Layne dancing the Rumba

Initially I was completely intimidated by the dance but once I embraced the characterisation of it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. But being a natural competitor and a very harsh self-critic, I went from being in character to self-analysing and repeated that process many times throughout the routine. I started and finished strong, fell out of character mid-way and neglected to rely on my partner to reconnect me to the dance. I can be such a stubborn, independent woman! (Guess that’s how I won 7 world titles. ) But dancing is all about the connection between 2 people and learning to trust in it.

Unfortunately the judges clearly identified that and with the delivery of pretty average scores I found myself on the chopping board for the first round of eliminations. Todd did say that he expected me to be atrocious and was surprised that I wasn’t, which was encouraging…. (in a backhanded kind of way).

Standing there at the end of the show next to Spida Everett was heart breaking! I couldn’t believe Dannial and I could be about to be eliminated after only one week! There is still so much more dancing left in me! I was confident that Spida was going to go before me, but the fact that we were there with him made me realise how much harder I need to work on my self-analytical attitude and how much more fun I need to bring to the performance each week.

Surviving Week One has certainly provided me with an opportunity to step it up a gear, embrace the opportunity with a more relaxed attitude and has also made me realise that I do not have the authority to analyse my dancing while I’m performing it. My job is to have fun, be confident and remain grateful for all the lessons that this amazing journey has given me so far. No matter how great I dance, the journey won’t continue without your support and votes so please Double Drummers, take the time to keep me in the show!

Cheers,

Layne x

Have you voted this week? To keep Layne going in Dancing With The Stars, just text ‘LAYNE’ to 1917 771 … it could WIN you a brand new Nissan DUALIS 2WD ST Manual Hatch!

Layne Beachley, the Dancing Queen

Who’dathought? That spindly legged kid I coached tennis when she was 10 went on to become a surfing legend – seven time World Champion. That was mind-blowing enough. Now she’s a dancing superstar too!

Layne Beachley - Dancing Queen!

Layne Beachley made her debut on 7′s Dancing With The Stars last Sunday night, waltzing into viewers’ hearts (if not all those of the judges). Still her overall score saw her finish equal 2nd on this first night and knowing just how damn competitive Layne is, I have no doubt she’ll be training overtime to make an even better impression next time out.

Layne’s a great friend of Double Drummer, representing us at this year’s NSW Corporate Games… in the Open Mixed Doubles tennis. Only just missed out on a medal too. She’s never knocked back a challenge and when asked to appear on DWTS to help raise money for her Aim for the Stars Foundation, Layne immediately agreed. (She’s since admitted it’s one of the toughest tasks she’s ever set herself.)

So vote for Layne so she can continue to provide  financial assistance for girls and young women who need some extra help to achieve their dreams and ambitions. You could even win yourself a Nissan Dualis Hatch!

Simply SMS ‘LAYNE’ to 19 17 77

Read more at http://www.doubledrummer.com/promo/VoteforLayneforyourchancetoWIN!.aspx

Not the greatest match, but THE greatest player

Federer flies at Wimbledon

Still trying to figure out how Roddick lost the Wimbledon Final. Up a set and 6-2 in the 2nd set tiebreak and Fed not able to break him… it was all over. That one shanked high backhand volley was the turning point. Amazing how a 4 hour match with a 30 game final set can come down to just one shot.

But The King won… that’s why he IS The King and THE best player of all time. No arguments. 15 Grand Slam singles titles… and counting!

The grittiest Aussie ever?

Well he didn’t make it to a semi-final showdown with the great white British hope, but Lleyton Hewitt had his best tournament and played his best tennis in years.

He cruised through the first week then came from 2 sets down to beat Stepanek in 5, winning the last three 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Then he steps out in a Quarter Final against the massive serving Roddick and just fell short – 6-3, 6-7 (12-10), 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted three hours and 55 minutes! You gotta hand it to Lleyton… he is all heart.

The Hewitt "C'mon" at this year's Wimbledon

Now Roddick gets to dent Murray’s aspirations in one semi, while The King takes on surprise semi-finalist, Tommy Haas in the other. Federer was awesome against Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic in his straight sets win, while Haas knocked off that perennial disappointment Djokovic. Can’t see anyone stopping Fed from becoming the greatest Grand Slam Singles winner ever on Sunday.

15 Slams seems a certainty for Fed.

After just one match he may already have played the shot of the tournament. Did you see that point towards the end of the 2nd set against Lu from Chinese Taipei? Lu hit a brilliant angled high backhand drop volley with Federer well behind the baseline. The Swiss genius chased towards the spectator stands, hit the ball below the height, yet around the net post, just missing the ballboy’s head for an outright winner down the line. Unbelievable!

Early days, but with Nadal not playing, the expectations of a nation weighing Murray down and Djokovic being Djokovic, you’d have to say Federer is almost a near certainty to break the all-time Men’s Grand Slam Singles record held by Pete Sampras. Winning the French has to have lifted a load from his shoulders and he looked like he was really enjoying himself back on ‘his’ court at the All England Club. Go Fed!

Sam looking good ahead of Wimbledon

First a semi-finalist on clay at the French and now a first-up straight sets win on grass at Eastbourne… Slammin’ Sam Stosur’s looking good ahead of next week’s start of the greatest Grand Slam of all.

After knocking off German Sabine Lisicki 6-2 6-1 on Monday in the first round at Eastbourne, Sam now faces world No.9 Caroline Wozniacki. They’ve met twice before and honours are even. What a buzz for the Aussie (now ranked 18 in the world after Paris) if she can take out another ‘Top Tenner’ in the lead up to Wimbledon. (Maybe another quick call from Layne Beachley might help add to Sam’s new ‘take no prisoners’ attitude.)