"If you have won all World Masters you must win the World Championships!"

An interview with the current World Champion Rock´n´Roll David Felip

(deutsche Version)

The World Championships 1999 were the culmination in their career up to now. David Felip and Mónica Martínez won the competition held in Castellon/Spain on December 18th 1999, and are now the World Champions in Rock´n´Roll. David Felip was so kind to answer some questions about himself and his partner, and he sent me some photos taken at the World Championships.

It is very different to dance "at home"

Competing for the World Championship in Castellon was surely different from dancing in Germany or the Netherlands. The audience seems to have been very enthusiastic for the spanish couples. Did this help you or did it make you nervous?
Of course it is very different to dance "at home". For us the result has been perfect, but not so easy. For example, one month before the World Championships, all people said to Mónica and me: "You will be the World Champions" or "if you have won all World Masters you must win the World Championships". All this makes you nervous and puts a lot of pressure on you.

When did you and Mónica start dancing Rock'n'Roll?
Mónica and I dance together for five years now. Our first competition was the European Championship in Duisburg in 1995. Before I danced with another partner for four years, and we won the Spanish Championship in 1994. Mónica danced two years with another boy in B category.

What were the most important steps in your dancing career?
About this question we have talked a lot of times with our trainer (and my brother) Javier. First, the victory of the European Championship 1997 in Castellon has been a great success for us. After this competition we have always stayed on the podium at 25 international Competitions - except at Munich 1999, were we where falling in the first KO round. And of course the victory at the World Championship is the maximum success, and even more if you win at home.

What titles did you win up to now?
Our titles are: Spanish Champions 1997, European Champions 1997, Champions in the French Open 1998, Champions in the World Masters Munich 1997, Lyon 1997, 1998 and 1999, Paris 1998 and 1999, Vienna 1998 and 1999, and Zurich 1999, World Champions 1999.

Who are your trainers?
Our trainers are Javier Felip (acrobatic figures and technique), and Robert Esteban (footwork and choreographies).

Do you work as trainers for other spanish couples? What do you think is the near future of spanish Rock'n'Roll?
Yes, I am training a lot of couples (youth, junior, C and B). In two weeks the season here begins with a competition in Castellon, in April the Spanish Championship in Madrid. I think that the future of Rock´n´Roll here is very good, in the last years we had only one or two competitions, this year we have seven (included the World Cup Juniors in September).

Has your international success had influence on the popularity of Rock´n´Roll in spain? How many Rock´n´Roll clubs (or couples) do you have in spain?
Yes, our success was very important for Rock´n´Roll in Spain. Six years ago only 10 or 12 couples were dancing Rock´n´Roll in the whole country. Because Rock´n´Roll was only a show, the people did not understand that this dance is a sport. And now step to step, there are 100 couples in all categories. We and Javier have helped for this and are very happy.

Where do you live, how old are you?
We live in Almazora, a little town 2 km in the south of Castellon. Mónica is 19 years old, and I am 26 (my birthday was the lovers day - February 14).

What do you do when not dancing (if there is time left)?
Mónica is student. It is very hard for her to do all together (study and trainings), especially last year. For this reason we work along the year (four times a week), except in the summer when we are training more hard (morning and afternoon). I have a Dance School in my town (Almazora), I am a ballroom and Rock´n´Roll teacher. I work in the dance school all days from 7 pm until 12pm. In the summer we work in a Rock´n´Roll group (Boogie Show).

Do you do any other dancesport besides Rock'n'Roll?
Here in spain, we dance social ballroom (salsa, merengue, tango argentino) no sportive, but now, in our country the sportive dance is booming. I am learning with a russian teacher in Valencia. Monica likes to dance salsa.

You have won everything there is to win - World Championship, European Championship. What are your plans for the future?
In this moment we are training for some shows (may be we will go to Singapur in June) and for the World Championship in Bremen.

Many thanks to David for answering my questions and sending me the photos used in this article.