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Victor Silvester Jr.English dancer, musician, writer and bandleader
Date of Birth: 25.02.1900
Country:  France |
Content:
- Biography of Victor Silvester
- Revolutionizing Ballroom Dance
- Orchestra and Media Success
- Legacy and Recognition
Biography of Victor Silvester
Early Life and Military ServiceVictor Marlborough Silvester, an English dancer, musician, writer, and leader of a ballroom orchestra, was born on February 25, 1900, in Wembley, Middlesex. He attended four schools, but ran away from all of them. He also studied music at Trinity College in London and took private piano lessons. In September 1916, during World War I, Victor concealed his age and joined the British army, even though he was only 16 years old. As a young boy, he had to witness the execution of deserters, some of whom undoubtedly suffered from shell shock. When his true age was discovered, Silvester transferred to a medical unit and served in France until June 1917. At the age of 18, he rejoined the army after being demobilized. Victor spent a year studying at Oxford, and then he was offered a place at the Royal Military College in Sandhurst. However, he quickly realized that military service was not his calling.
Revolutionizing Ballroom Dance
Meanwhile, Silvester became interested in dance. He was the first English dancer after World War I to introduce the right turn in the slow (also known as English) waltz. This innovation was one of the factors that helped him win the World Ballroom Dancing Championship with Phyllis Clark. Shortly after their victory, Victor married Dorothy Newton. Victor and Phyllis competed again in the Championship in 1924 and finished second. Silvester founded the Ballroom Committee of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, which unified the theory and practice of ballroom dance, now known as the international style. In 1928, he published his first book on new dance standards, "Modern Ballroom Dancing," which became an instant bestseller and underwent numerous reprints, with the latest edition published in 2005. Silvester opened a dance academy in London, which eventually developed into a network of 23 dance studios. In the early 1930s, he gained fame as a dance instructor and taught many celebrities, including movie stars.
Orchestra and Media Success
In 1935, feeling a lack of quality dance recordings, Silvester formed a five-member orchestra, later expanded and named "Victor Silvester and his Ballroom Orchestra." Their first record, "You're Dancing on My Heart," sold 17,000 copies. The Silvester orchestra was always distinguished by its unique sound, achieved through an unusual lineup and incredible sense of rhythm. By 1958, when he published his autobiography, Silvester was the most successful leader of a dance music ensemble in British musical history and a star of British radio and television. His TV show, "Dancing Club," aired for 17 years on BBC Television. Additionally, from 1948 to 1975, he had a weekly program on BBC Overseas Service. Silvester's record sales were so enormous that competition was unavoidable. Other dancers were inspired by Silvester's success and formed their own ensembles. Dancers such as Henry Jacques, Maxwell Stewart, Josephine Bradley, and Wally Fryer were of the highest caliber, honing their skills and competing with Silvester.
Legacy and Recognition
In 1961, in recognition of his contributions to the country, Victor Silvester became a member of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), allowing him to wear a special badge and add the abbreviation to his name. He authored 13 books, including works on the history, theory, and technique of ballroom dance, as well as an autobiography. Collections of his arrangements were also widely published. Silvester passed away on August 14, 1978, at the age of 78, while on vacation in the south of France. The orchestra he created continued under the leadership of his son until the 1990s.
