Domen Krapez and Monica Nigro

from Slovenia

We met Domen and Monica in Italy during the wonderful training camp in Guardia Piemontese - a small town in the Calabria region of Italy - which took place in June 2005. Monica and Domen worked very hard during the day, taking lessons and practising in the dance hall, despite the beautiful sunshine and quite immense heat outside!

Who are they?

Monica Nigro (from Italy). I started dancing Standard 14 years ago. I started competing when I was 6 years old, but in Italy it is quite different. We start with traditional dances. I was the Italian champion in traditional dances. The system is as follows: you start with traditional dances and when you improve, you can start Standard. I think that we do not have a Latin dance culture. I think there are more couples in Standard and national dances, than there are in Latin.

Domen Krapez (from Slovenia). I started to dance when I was 7 years old. I remember, on a national television there was a Fred Astair film every week. I watched them, and kept asking my Mum 'When will the next one be?'. And she asked, ‘Do you like it? Do you want to go to a dance club?’. So I went to school when I was seven and did classes twice a week. It was not just in Ballroom, but there was a little bit of Step, a little Jazz, and we had a kind of exam to show a little bit of this and that. My teachers told me I was the most talented in Ballroom and Latin. So I decided to go on with Ballroom and Latin. I was 12 years old when I did my first competition.

Professional Ballroom dancers. Represent Slovenia - see their results page

How did you get together?

Domen: Actually, I was at a certain point in my career. I was not happy with how things were going on then. So I decided to change, to dedicate a little bit more. So I went to live in Verona and I made plans to be in semi-final in Blackpool in two years' time. I was dancing with a girl - not Monica - and seven months later, just one month before Blackpool, we split up. So I felt like the world had collapsed, I had some goals in my mind and the dream was suddenly over. I did not know what to do. My teacher, Caterina [Caterina Arzenton - Ed.] told me that she had one girl whom she had been watching for a long time, that she was very talented and I should call her for try-out. So I called her, we tried and we decided to dance straight away. It was Monica of course. At the time she was in full time employment, so I told her, 'If you want to dance with me, you should leave your job and in two days we will leave for England’.
Monica: I loved that job!
Domen: But I told her 'In two days we will leave for England'. Caterina and I wanted to check how commited Monica was! So after few days she came with luggage and said 'Let's go!' It was like, wow, good beggining!
Monica: I was at the time searching for a partner. Caterina told me there was a free partner... so I went for it.

... and you got to the final in Blackpool...

Monica: It was a surprise...
Domen: Not a surprise. It was a shock! Because I had this in mind, that after two years of hard work, maybe, if everything goes well, I can be in a semi-final.
Monica: When I went to Blackpool last time We were placed 90th. So when when Domen and I were called to the quarterfinals I though, great, well done. When we were called to the semi-finals I though 'Oh my God, what happened?!' In the final I did not understand anything. Anything.
Domen: I did the UK Open earlier this year and I was in the 24, so it would have been very good to get the same result. I thought I wouldn't be unhappy if it didn't happen because it was a new partnership, we didn't know each other. So as the Blackpool competition went on, when we were recalled to the 48th all the tension went, and in the 24th the smile came out, we were just enjoying the music and dance. In the semifinal I remember I was dancing and I was whistling because I was so happy...
Monica: When they called our number to the final everybody else went on the floor... but Domen had already taken his tailsuit off because we never expected to be called! I had my shoes off. So we had to hurry to put it on.
Domen: I can remember looking at the first rows, all the big names, famous teachers sitting there and watching us!
Monica: Everybody went silent when they called our number, it was suddently this buzz... who are they? Who are they?
Domen: I lifted up my arm I saw my arms and I saw Monica’s... then we were dancing... I did not remember anything from the first lap, I was in a dream like state. And when I came to the other side of the ballroom I saw Caterina and I woke up!

How old were you then?

Domen: It was two years ago so I was 23 and Monica was 21.

Monica, you were 21 when you gave up work and everything because of dancing...

Monica: I had danced Blackpool earlier with another Italian guy, I was already committed. We had been dancing together for two years. When we split up I had not danced for a year - then I started to dance again with an Italian guy and we were together for eight months and then Domen came and we started dancing together.
Domen: You need experience to get results like this, you need to understand how to grow from it, how to use it. We were really very lucky because we didn't have experience but we had a very good teacher, an excellent coach, Catarina. She is always there for us, giving advice and her own experience.

How did you manage to do the choreography in such a short time?

Domen: We went to have lessons in England. We were staying there for 3 days and had our first lessons with Bobbie [Bobbie Irving - Ed.]. We didn't have any choreography then, nothing. But we could dance together, that was important.
Monica: Bobbie was smiling all the time...
Domen: We asked her what to do and she told us not to do anything else, just some basics steps, something that we feel natural with. Actually we had one month before the competition and we had just started learning each other! Dancing together was natural for us. It was not difficult at all
Monica: Perhaps the judges in Blackpool could see that freedom of movement, no tricks, the simplicity of our dance... that we felt so natural together.
Domen: Usually when you get to the round you would like to be in, the stress comes. That time we were lucky because we didn't expect anything! We were relaxed and enjoyed the dancing, it was our first competition together. Quite often you see that when a couple passes from Amateur to Professional - they don't know yet what to expect so there is no tension and you can see they simply enjoy the competition.

Opinions, views....

You are a couple in private life as well. How does your relationship affect your dancing?

Monica: It depends really... Sometimes it can affect practice sessions when we are angry at each other. But other times it doesn't affect us at all.
Domen: We are two different characters. You can imagine that! I am from Slovenia and Monica's family is from the South of Italy! There are differences between us. She is very strong, you know, headstrong! Sometimes... we have discussions [laughs]. It is understandable, we both want to improve all the time, but one wants to do it one way and the other in another.

What is the best country to dance competitions in?

Domen: We enjoy dancing very much when you have a nice audience, where you have a good floor and good music. I will say Blackpool - because it is special.
Monica: Competitions in England are very good, lots of people come to see us. I like that.
Domen: It is great when lots of dancer come, lots of beautiful dresses, nice surroundings. This sort of thing is more important that the country.
Monica: The Dutch Open is very nice.
Domen: We won this competition. The public is really great there. People were clapping and shouting. When you dance the final, the last dance Quickstep, and when the audience applauds and cheers you, it is so much easier!
Monica: You don't think about the stress then, all disappears.

What would you be doing if you were not dancing?

Monica: The job I did before I met Domen! I worked in a gym, I danced funk, I did everything in a gym which was about music, body, muscles. Fitness.
Domen: I would probably study. I'd started a Mangement course some time ago. I actually wanted to study Psychology but I've knew already that it wouldn't be possible with dancing, it was too demanding. So when I was choosing the university I had that in mind and chose Management which wasn't that demanding. But I had moved to Italy to be close to Catarina, my teacher. I live in Italy now. I was trying to continue my studies, commute between Slovenia and Italy, but it was too much, I had to quit. I just said to myself that if I ever wanted to have an university education I could do it when I was forty, now I enjoy dancing so much and that's what I want to do now.

What do you think about the popularity of dancing?

Domen: I think everyone is speaking a lot about it. The Dancing with the Stars idea [also known as Strictly Come Dancing - Ed.] started in England and now it is in Italy, too.
Monica: Ballando con le Stelle.
Domen: I am not so happy about the popularity of dancing in Slovenia. I remember when I was young the children of my generation started to dance because there was a film on television about dancing and every kid wanted to be like the dancer in that film. So lot of people started to dance because of that film. Now it is different.

So you think young people are not interested in dancing?

Domen: If you want to make someone interested in dancing you have to show them the dancing in the right way. People that I know and are involved in dancing such as professionals or others should make something special. This way the audience, normal people, kids in school would get interested and come. It would be nice to have something like Ballando con le Stelle in Slovenia.

Do you think that generally around the world or in your countries dancing is more popular than it was some time ago or less popular?

Domen: I think in Italy is more popular. Now if you go to the airport and you say I am a Latin and Ballroom dancer... they know what you mean!
Monica: Yes, they are starting to understand but I think it’s not so popular. It it changing because of that TV programme.

So you think it is getting better because of TV?

Monica: I do not know, there are some programmes in the afternoon about dancing but only for about 20 minutes, some competitions, some films and not quite clear things about dancing. I think there was a programme in Italy with Standard and Latin competitions in the evening and it was the period when something started to happen... but five years later... nothing... and now it is coming back again
Domen: In Italy if you open a newspaper sport section, you usually see football only. If you go to Dance World Championships, the following day a journalist may call you and ask how it went. Sometimes the radio calls you and you can speak on the radio about your results. Occasionally they invite you in television programmes and if you have good results, they speak about you but it is not really popular. I hope that it will change. You have to work with small kids.

What about the other dances, Monica mentioned funk?

Domen: In Slovenia funky or hip-hop are quite popular. So dancing, yes, it is popular. But not Latin and Ballroom dancing. However, lots of people are dancing there. Also Seniors, whole families are dancing jazz, many people do choreographic dances but not Latin and Ballroom.
Monica: Yes, hip-hop kid groups and choreographic teams do exist in Italy, too.

Personality....

What is your favourite dance?

Monica: Hmm... Tango
Domen: Foxtrot. You can see our different characters, can't you!

Favourite latin dance?

Monica: Latin dance? Oh, my God! Samba.
Domen: When I was dancing Latin I always liked Paso Doble.

What is your biggest dream?

Monica: I think it is to be the best dancer in the world.
Domen: If I tell you my dream, my dream will not come true, so I should not tell you my dream, I should keep it for myself. If not, it would disappear!!

What is your biggest nightmare?

Monica: Water!
Domen: No!
Monica: This is true, but Domen likes water very much so he cannot understand.
Domen: That the dreams, the goals I want to achive won't come true.

Monica, your nightmare is water? In what sense?

Monica: I am a little bit afraid of water. Deep water. I can swim but I get very uneasy when I cannot touch the bottom.

What are you afraid of?

Domen: I am afraid of Monica when she gets angry!

Your favourite food?

Monica: Pasta. Pasta and Nutella. Chocolate.
Domen: Not put together!
Monica: No, of course not mixed together
Domen: I cannot tell you one thing only, I like a lot of things.

Any food you hate?

Domen: Yes, I hate tripe!
Monica: Cheese.

Really? An Italian who hates cheese?

Monica: Yes, I can eat only Mozarella
Domen: I can eat everything
Monica: I can eat pizza, I can eat Mozarella but I cannot eat any other kind of cheese.
Domen: Gongonzola... I like it
Monica: God! No, I cannot smell it... brrr...no.
Domen: When we go to the supermarket I have to put the cheese in another shopping basket!
Monica: I like chocolate but he does not like it. He likes cheese a lot, and I hate it!

What is your favourite pet?

Domen: I have a big dog at home. I do not see him a lot. When I went away he became like a son to my father. He speaks to him a lot [laughing]. He is a big dog - 70 kg Lancer. I don't know whether you have heard about it. It is a black and white dog. His name’s Alex. I did not choose this name, he was named like that when he was a puppy.
MOnica: I like dogs, I like cats but I have never had one at home but I would like maybe a dog.

What is your favourite hobby?

Monica: Dance. Funky, hip-hop
Domen: I like underwater fishing.

What is your partner's biggest virtue and biggest flaw?

Monica: The best is that he can make you feel like you are the most important person in the world, he can understand, he can listen, he can help you all the time. The worst is when I say something, some critiques, he does not receive them well.
Domen: What I like a lot is that she is very altruistic. She helps you with everything; speaks with you when you are in bad mood she helps you to get over it. What I do not like is that she does not understand that you need time to achieve something. Sometimes she does not give enough time to things to develop. She wants everything straight away. She is impatient!

What is your biggest virtue and biggest flaw?

Monica: The best is that I can listen a lot, for hours and hours and hours... The worst in me is that I have problems making decisions. Sometimes I am not sure. I cannot decide. Which toothbrush to choose... I take both or nothing!
Domen: Best thing: I am good-looking. Worst side - I do not have it!

Passion....

Was the biggest argument about?

Domen: Biggest argument about? I do not remember. Anyway, I wouldn't call it an argument, normally it is more of a discussion.

So you do not fight? You do not argue? You do not have problems at all?

Monica: Sometimes when we have different opinion about dancing it can be a problems.
Domen: I remember, once we went to Slovenia to take part in the National Championship that was on Saturday we were driving in the morning to Slovenia my mum phoned me and she said, ‘What are you doing? You have a competition today!’. I said, ‘It's not today, it will be tomorrow.’, ‘No, today, today!’ And Monica started to blame me that I wasn't organised, blamed me for not checking the details. I tried to explain but she didn't listen and she started to get her hair ready. She was so angry, so I took the phone to call the organisers. And they said 'No, no, it is tomorrow'. So it was a very nervous half an hour for me, especially because I had to drive the car at 200 km/h on the motorway at the time.
Monica: He sometimes does not remember well... Domen, you don't remember it as it was!

Friendship....

What is most important for you in friendship?

Monica : Truth.
Domen : Trust.

Are your best friends dancers as well?

Monica: My best friend is not a dancer. I think friends are everything.
Domen: Mine are dancers, yes. But not just one... a group.

Are they Latin or Ballroom dancers?

Domen: Both. Actually we are very lucky because we live with dancers. We practise dancing every day together. It is nice because it is sometimes hard to motivate yourself on your own, if you are in the hall but being with your friends and trying to achieve the same goal is like motivating one another.

So you have no problems with some of them being your competitors on the floor? No rivalry?

Domen: It is good because we have friendship on one side and competition on the other, but we do not mix them up.

Fun, holidays, relaxation....

Do you have time for other things than dancing?

Domen: Not a lot lately. We enjoy dancing. If we relax, we usually go home.

What do you like doing for fun?

Domen: I like going to the sea, go underwater fishing.
Monica: And I go dancing with friends! No, of course I am joking, I go with Domen and sit in the boat.
Domen: Monica likes everything with computers. She likes technology!

What is your favourite book or film?

Domen: My favourite book is Mario Puzo’s Godfather. Lot of people usually say, it is a film but I liked the book very much. After this book I started to read all the books of this author. I enjoyed all of them. He was a very good writer.
Monica: I like psychological films, and books. When the end is absolutely different then expected. They want you to think one thing but it is absolutely the opposite. I like it. I remember one film I was surprised by, The Sixth Sense.
Domen: And A Beautiful Mind. I also liked it.

Could you describe your dream holidays? The best holidays you can imagine?

Monica: I do not like water but I like the sea. To lie in the sun on the beach.
Domen: I can describe the best holidays because I was lucky to already have them! When I was young about 6-7-8-9 years old and I was not involved so much in dancing my family and I used to hire a boat and spend a month every year by the sea. We usually went to Croatia and sailed from one island to another. For 15 years I didn't have such holiday. It is a memory of childhood, we had time for everything then...
Monica: For me, the best time during the day is on the beach but at night - clubs and discos!

Do you have time for holidays now?

Domen: The problem is when we find some time we try to earn some money. So when we have free time we are working.
Monica: If we have couple of days, we can sleep a little bit more!
Domen: We go to Slovenia and teach. In Slovenia, Amateurs can teach [At the time of the interview, Domen and Monica were Amateurs - Ed.] in the club. The logic is that an Amateur has to get the money from somewhere so they teach small kids. When the kids get better they are sent to the club teachers. That way everyone can benefit from this system.

You compete abroad a lot. Do you also try to make it holidays, e.g., if you go somewhere?

Both: Yes. Domen: Usually if we have time, we like to go and do some sightseeing. It is nice, when travelling to a lot of countries, not just being in the dance hall all the time.
Monica: But often we do not have a lot of time.

Are you happy to try foreign exotic food?

Domen: Yes, I like to try a lot of new things.
Monica: Hmmm, sometimes in the beginning you are not sure. Maybe because I am Italian and I like Italian food so not all the tastes are to my liking. But I am trying becase I have to really, we travel so much.

What is the most exotic you have ever tried?

Domen: Nothing comes to mind...

Future...

What are your plans for the future?

Domen: We have various plans in dancing, such as technique, music, choreography, how to make your practise better, how to make better competitions, so we have many plans in both our dancing career and in private life.

The next 5-10 years?

Domen: 5-10 years for sure we want to improve our dancing as much as possible. We want to get as much experience as we can.
Monica: and as a competitor the best results... to produce good quality dancing.

What do you think about this training camp?

Domen: Well. I think it is nice. I think we both like training camps. We always try to come because the atmosphere makes you work very hard and makes you enjoy a lot of dancing. You get a lot of experience from lectures and you make new friends.

From Latin workshops, too? You've attended all the workshops, also Latin ones.

Domen: Also from Latin workshops. You can get a lot of information from Latin. The experts know a lot about dancing and music, the character of dancing and about the history of dancing, interpretation. The more information you acquire, the more you can use it in your own dancing, develop your own style.

Thank you very much and good luck for the future!