RICK VALENZUELA - JUST A NORMAL GUY
Rick was three times U. S. Latin Champion with former partner, Melissa Dexter. He's featured in the movie, Dance With Me, starring Vanessa Williams, which is due to be released July 31st. Dance Notes will talk with Rick in our July issue about his experience making the movie.
Tell me about your back ground: I went to a dance studio when I was fifteen because I had nothing else to do. I dropped out of school and that was the only job I could get. IBM wouldn't take me! I tried to get other jobs, but I was too young and I didn't have enough education. So, I went into a training class. I was the slowest person there. The class started with me and twenty-nine people and it went to me and twenty people then me and ten people to me and the teacher! They wouldn't even let me in the parties. I was so bad. They thought I would hurt a student or something! It was a little depressing, I have to admit. They were going to ask me to leave, but they didn't have the heart because I was too dedicated. I took a bus across town and it took me an hour to get there. I was on time every single day of training class. I stayed after and practiced by myself for a few hours. I never missed a single day of training, ever, for weather, for sickness, for anything. It was my perseverance that made it impossible for them to ask me to leave!
Why were you so driven? At first it was because they said they were going to pay me for the parties and I thought, "Damn, I'd do this for free!" It wasn't that I thought I was destined to be the next Baryshnikov or anything like that. I usually get pretty obsessed with whatever I do just because I want to be good at it. But somewhere along the way I saw Vernon Brock and Linda Dean do a show and that was it! I was hooked. I was obsessed with the love of dancing after that.
How long after that did you start competing? Probably another two or three years. And then, I don't know that I would call the first few years of my competitive career actually competing. I was really just in everybody else's way. It took me a few comps to figure out which way line of dance went.
Did you continue competing because you were driven to be successful? I didn't even notice the lack of success. That's what amazed people. I always look at the future. I don't look at immediate results. I have an inner confidence; this gut feeling that things are going to be successful. So, as the little things get thrown in front of me and create barriers, I hardly notice them, because I have that big picture in mind.
Did you believe you would be the U.S. champion from the start? In 1983 I believed it. That was when I got involved enough in competition to know what goals I wanted to have. Before that I only knew I wanted to dance like that guy who was in that show and blow the crowd away the way he blew them away. That was Vernon Brock. To me that had nothing to do with a trophy, and maybe to this day, carries over to why I don't see the trophy as being that important.
Do you ever regret not finishing school? Absolutely not for a second, ever! In my case, I was straight A for as long as I was in school. Once in awhile a B would pop up and I would be obsessed with it until l got it back to an A. I was just bored to death in school. I think things would be different now.
Are you a rebel? No, I'm not, but looking back I can understand where people might interpret my actions as being rebellious. I've never been motivated to make a decision based on either creating controversy or going against the system. I just have a very strong sense of where I want to go, what I want to achieve and how I want to go about it. It's very seldom I allow myself to be interrupted.
You coach the U.S. American Rhythm champions, Bob Powers and Julia Gorchakova. Rhythm dancers have been criticized lately for stealing too much from Latin. Do you agree? I would agree that the two styles are looking very much alike. When you have a group of couples dancing a rock step and chasse to cha cha music with a guy wearing black and a girl in fringe, it would be slightly difficult to avoid a resemblance to each other. Both styles seem to be striving for that "authentic Latin" look and feel. Having the same goal in common would make it impossible not to cross over into that "controversial" gray area. History states that the first dancers to land in Europe and start ticking, grinding and rippling were the Americans, namely Sodano, Medieros, Brock, Donahue and later, Linda Dean. We can only assume that they were acting on American influenced instincts because they were supposedly "untrained" in the international style of dancing. At that time international style was cute and bouncy. I include myself on a very long list of Latin competitors who have used lots of west coast swing in jive, tons of mambo in samba and have seen both styles incorporate flamenco into their choreography. Right t off the top of my head, I can think of three instances in the last year when I was really inspired by another dancer, and, you guessed it, none of these guys had anything to do with my category. The first guy was the owner of the Phoenix Arthur Murray's. He showed me the coolest foot release thing off a forward mambo basic. I'm telling you, I was ready to take on the whole Latin Quarter in New York! Second was Antonio Vargas, (the flamenco dancing father in Strictly Ballroom), who showed me a back spin off a press line in Paso. He could do it in Reeboks, no less. Third was a Cuban guy on the movie set who could pulse his back like I'd never seen. (Okay, I haven't got it yet, but I will!) Talk about an eclectic group of guys! My point is, we can all learn something from each other if we stop concerning ourselves with who has the copyright.
Another criticism of American rhythm is that it is not a very competitive category because the stronger couples gravitate to Latin. I wouldn't say that any category actually attracts the stronger couples more so than another. Every category has its share of brilliant couples and is balanced by the newer, developing dancers. My advice to any couple faced with choosing either category would be to look at the list of dances, listen to the music played for those categories and let your gut instinct decide. Is your goal to look like a matador or a mambo king? I really think we, as participants and representatives of Dance Sport, have to start thinking of ourselves as one unified group. We're in the Olympics!!! And guess what? The Olympics don't have enough time to split us into one hundred different categories. We have been claiming for years to have this great dance/art that we're sure will set the world on fire if we are just given the opportunity to display it. Well, it's time to put up of shut up. They, and for that matter, the world population couldn't care less if we bend or straighten our legs or whether we're doing waltz or mambo. I have every confidence that we have the discipline, the knowledge and definitely the talent to give them what they're expecting and more.
You have been criticized… and couples that you train have also been criticized for focusing too much on speed. Is that a fair criticism? I have never felt that anyone is out to get me. That being the case, I have to assume that any criticism directed at me or my dancing is based on what that person feels at that moment. In the development of my dancing I have focused and sometimes over focused on a hundred different elements. I always go way over the edge, try and find the max and then adjust from there. I don't really bother to address criticisms for one simple reason; I consider myself a work in progress and you shouldn't judge that which is not finished! (Narrow escape, Huh?) Seriously though, I never stop experimenting. Coming from absolutely no dance background, there were a lot of things I didn't understand, like how not to look like a complete idiot getting from point "A" to point "B". (Okay, I'm still working on that one!) But more valuable was the fact that I didn't know there were limits. It was that freedom that let me figure out I could swivel a girl about fifty times faster than she could do on her own. Once I developed the the ability to manipulate a person's body weight, I never wanted to let go of my partner again. I wanted everything to be partnered, connected and, when appropriate, lightening fast. l've never played it safe. I refuse to interrupt my work on that elusive, ultimate thing just to go out and win a trophy. There are times I have had a piece of choreography that my partner, whoever that poor soul happens to be that month, is struggling to get through. On top of that, the audience is looking at us with that, "What was that horrible thing they just did?" look on their faces, but you know what? All that stuff is so not important to me, even if we were dancing a world final. What is important is the day I walk out on that floor, nail that move and the crowd goes crazy. If I'm really at the end of my rope, I make Bob and Julia try it!
Are you inspired by the crowd? Absolutely! Especially if they're looking at me or clapping for me. Otherwise they inspire me to put their names on a hit list! (Just kidding!) I've been lucky so far. I've usually felt pretty strongly supported by the audience.
You told me once that you never look at your marks. Why not? Because I can't do anything to change them. Anything that I can't change I don't want to know about. I wouldn't change anything about the way I approach dancing in order to get a better mark. I know what I want my dancing to be. I know the people who I want to influence that and keep me on the right track. Then, I just put myself out on the floor and I'm open game. If the audience loves me, they love me and if they don't, they don't and believe me, I've had both!
Are you a responsible person? If it's based on how much ##!*@ I've been held responsible for in my life, then yes, I qualify to be in the Responsible People's Hall of Fame. (Good one, huh?) But really, I have always accepted responsibility for my actions. If I mess up, I'm the first to admit it. Sometimes people misinterpret my disregard for clocks and schedules to be a sign of irresponsibility. In Japan, when couples ask organizers for their lesson time with me they are clearly told, for example, "Three o'clock Rick time." That means somewhere between three and six. One couple recently described to me a lesson they had with a coach who literally clicked a stopwatch on his first word and then had an alarm set for forty minutes later. "Rick Time" must have been the lesser or two evils because they came to San Diego for three solid months of lessons after trying both ways. Basically, I wake up when my eyes open, go to sleep when I'm sleepy, eat when I'm hungry, etc., etc., but when I get with you, I'm 150% there, and you never get the feeling I want to be anywhere else, 'cause if I did, I'd be there.
Why didn't you show up at Blackpool the second time you were the U.S champion? Oh, the ultimate question! No one remembers the fourteen years I was there, only the one year I didn't go.
Then the next question is why did you break up with Melissa Dexter three times? I've never actually broken up with Melissa. She's always made the decision to break up with me. The causes of the break-ups would probably be listed as First Time: I was too demanding, (Does the name Hitler ring a bell?) a kind of know-it-all who knew nothing. Second Time: I didn't show up for Blackpool and maybe I was too demanding. Third Time: She was so over me that she actually told me by fax! If my memory serves me correctly, I think it insinuated that I was, oh, I don't Know, something like I was too demanding. We're still friends. Who knows, maybe we'll end up married with ten kids someday! (Uh oh, somebody get Melissa an ice pack, she just fell down!) Of course, if you're the current champion of your country, your split-up will always be high profile and blown out of proportion. We had the same problems as any other couple, different temperaments, different levels of insane, obsessive behavior, (Guess which one I was!) and the pressure of maintaining your dance quality amidst a hectic and exhausting schedule. Melissa never showed signs of depression with suicidal tendencies when we were getting close to leaving for England. I should have known we were a mismatch!
Why did you get back together again after two breakups? I have this problem with giving up. It follows me in every avenue of my life. Sometimes, if I step away from a situation long enough, I get my hope back. Or I think I might have a new angle and I have to go back and try again If I don't feel like I've broken through or accomplished what I wanted to accomplish I just have trouble letting thing go.
Do you throw tantrums? Are you a difficult person? If your definition of a tantrum includes the flinging of a few thousand cuss words and maybe kicking a chair, then sure I've had a tantrum or two. I feel sorry for anyone who has never felt passionately enough about someone or something to have one. It's no an everyday occurrence and it usually has something to do with standing up for either my rights or someone else's rights. One of my partners used to sarcastically call me the "All American Hero". As far as being difficult, no, I wouldn't consider myself difficult.
Do you have any role models? I would say it started with Vernon Brock and Linda (Dean)… when I saw them dance. I didn't know anything then, but I knew I liked it. And then next with Ron (Montez) and Liz (Curtis), who were my coaches for a lot of years.
If you could have a conversation with anyone, who would It be and why? That's a rough question. There are a lot of people that come to mind, all attaining supposedly unattainable achievements and I would probably ask them all the obvious, "star struck" questions.
The one person that currently comes to mind is actually someone I have had the opportunity to meet, Vanessa Williams. Here is a woman who really has broken down barriers and left people choking on the dust. In addition to making history by winning the Miss America title, she stood tall while the media took each and every low blow they could take at her, and then blew them all away by making herself a successful recording artist, followed by starring in a hit Broadway show and topping it off by becoming a major film actor. I always thought she'd be an interesting person to talk to, and guess what? I was right!
Did you learn something from her that you can adapt to your own life? I learned that we have a lot of things in common. Neither one of us places much importance on the glitzy, superficial things associated with our respective careers. I think the most important thing I learned is that I'm on the right track. I realize it doesn't matter what level you're at. It's important to just keep yourself grounded.
Are you going to dance again? I will definitely continue to dance. I do not know in what capacity. If the question is am I going to dance competitively again, at this very moment I am not inspired to do that. But that doesn't mean that I couldn't be.
What would inspire you? I'm not sure. I would have to see it. I'm not looking for anything in particular right now. Something would have to walk by and strike me for me to feel inspired.
Many competitors say they want to judge because they feel a responsibility to give something back to the dance community. Are you going to judge in the future?
In our business, you are never given anything At the beginning you scrape for your airfares, hotel bills, coaching, costumes and probably, most difficult, the time and energy to practice after a long day of work. The higher you move up the ranks, the more expensive it gets, and unfortunately, the increase in prize money doesn't compensate for trips to Europe, flying in coaches, etc. So, I don't feel obligated to give anything back. But I do feel an artistic responsibility to do what I can to encourage and inspire the up and coming set of competitors. The most valuable things I can contribute to couples have nothing to do with judging. My coaches, Ron (Montez) and Liz (Curtis), inspired a confidence and belief in me, that American dancers have everything it takes to be as good as or better than dancers in any other part of the world. I can't tell you how valuable that has been to me. My talent is in the development and producing of couples, to sweat it out in the studio with them at any ridiculous hour of the day or night and try to evaluate what they look and feel the best doing, to develop a strong base underneath their talent that will allow them to take on any challenge or scrutiny they are confronted with. I thank God that my talent and interest are both in the same place.
Do you work with a lot of youth now? Yes. I think any couple who has the body to twist and knot themselves up into the positions I come up with have to be pretty "youthful". On top of that, I can be pretty mentally exhausting on people as well. (No write ins, thank you.) I think now that we're in the Olympics, people will start at a much younger age and clearly be able to see a future in this career. It's really important to get in before you have the you have the intelligence to have "limiting" thoughts and panic attacks.
Do you see yourself in dance for the rest of your life? As long as I'm effective. I don't know how long that will be. It might be the rest of my life, it might not. To me that's number one in anything I do.
Of which of your accomplishments are you most proud? I can't say that I'm really very impressed with what I've done...Yet. The big stuff is yet to come. What I am proud of is the way I've gone about achieving whatever successes I've had. It's a great feeling to be able to say that I never "sold-out" in any capacity to climb the ranks or make money. I've never involved myself in back stabbing or game playing. I've had couples pay dressmakers not to make my outfits, so we made our own. Couples have told blatant lies to get a coach not to train me, so I trained myself for that time, etc. And all the while I just kept practicing. Okay, okay, I take back the first sentence. I am pretty proud of all that!
What would you like to say about yourself? I think I've said it all. I'm just a normal guy who is after all the same things in life that everyone else is after. If I'm partners with, friends with, married to, coaching or in love with you, I look for all the same qualities; that you're sincere, trustworthy, residing on this planet, and that you worship me! Okay, just kidding! I'm willing to negotiate the earth residency requirement!
- Originally published in Dance Notes on February, 1998 by Christine Zona: added to ADN: Sunday, Feb 01 1998
Kathy Pinna 
