San Francisco DanceSport Championship 2004...

[Oaktown Dancer]

:) Hello. I am brand new. I just wanted to know if anyone would be attending this event?

Is it a do-not-miss?

How many events on average do spectators attend?

Any other information would be great!

Thanks

[pygmalion]

Hi Oaktown Dancer. Welcome. I'll find out what I can about that event and events nearby. In the meantime, there are a couple of CA-based DF members that I hope will chime in.

Again. Welcome. :D

Jenn

[Oaktown Dancer]

Thank you so much.

I am excited about the event and am looking forward to learning all about the wonderful world of competetive Ballroom and other dancing.

My Best,
Oaktown Dancer

[Adwiz]

How many events on average do spectators attend?

Are you asking what size a typical crowd is, or how many events a typical dancesport competitor attends?

Every event is different. There are small competitions where only a couple hundred spectators may attend, or large ones with thousands of spectators. Much of it depends on the quality of the competition. Those events that attract international or top-quality competitors will have more spectators than the smaller local events.

Competitors attend events depending on a complex formula that includes how serious they are about their performance and the amount of budget they have available, since dancing already takes every spare penny and then some. Some will only attend those events within a hundred miles or so, while others don't mind travelling thousands of miles to compete, especially if it includes the ability to compete against or view top dancers at a larger competition.

[Sagitta]

Welcome to df Oaktown dancer!! Am pretty far away from the States at the moment!

How many events on average do spectators attend?

So, you are just going as a spectator?


I'm curious...How long have you been dancing, and what is your favourite dance? What is motivating you to attend one of these dancesport events?

[Oaktown Dancer]

Thank You Adwiz and Sagitta!

Yes, I was asking all of those questions. Your response was helpful.

I am going as a spectator. I will be staying in SF for three nights and I have tickets to all 6 sessions and all three evening sit-down dinners.
I have formal clothes an a really nice women's tuxedo. My hubby will join me on Sat. night for the dinner and evening competition.

I love dancing, grew up dancing, performing and later...just loved dancing.
My hubby does not like dancing like I do. I have decided to go ahead and pursue my passion in this manner.

My mom and I attended a competition in San Jose a few years ago.
We were two of less than fifty people but enjoyed ourselves.
We watch it on tv and thought that we would be attending an event such as what we saw on tv.

This year I took the time to search and found The San Francisco Dancesport Championship which looks like a fairly large and formal event in the evening. That is what I was looking for.

I am also attending an event in July/August in SF. It is an International
Championship.

I want to learn from instructors who are fun an up to date. I took lessons two summers ago at night at an Adult Day School. It was painful. The instructors lectured lots and things were repetitive. They also taught stereotypes about cultures which I could not take so I dropped out.

I would love to find a neat instructor, get into the fun, dance 4 nights a week and eventually compete!

Ballroom, Tango, Salsa and some swing are my interest.

Sorry to be so long winded.

My Best,
Oaktown Dancer

[pygmalion]

Yay Oaktown dancer! A woman after my own heart. Let's see.

Did you look at the comp website here? http://www.sfopen.com/

I've never been, but perhaps someone else in DF has and can share some info with you.

Are you looking for dance teachers? Or are you currently taking lessons? Umm. Actually, I didn't find your post long at all. I found it intriguing. Lots of questions here, but I don't want to overwhelm you. LOL. 8) At any rate, another welcome to the forums. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help point you in the direction you want to go. Take care.

Jenn

[SDsalsaguy]

Well, I haven't been to the SFO in a couple of years but, as I recall, the pro Latin event tends, unfortunately, to be a little small since it's on Easter, but most of the other nights are well attended by competitors and spectators alike. To balance this out though, there are some really good Ams in Latin who live in that general area so that championship is often a lot of fun to watch.

Enjoy! :D

(FYI, I also know that the UCSD team is going up, as it has for several years now, to do the formation event...)

[compdancer]

Attendance at comps? I do not know much about the big US comps, but at the majotity of "smallish" comps I go to in the greater Toronto area, there are very few spectators. It seems Dancesport has limited appeal outside of the competitors and their families. Makes it difficult for promoters / event organizers. :cry:

[pygmalion]

I see what you mean, compdancer. Other than a few serious dance students, the compeitors, local dance studios, and family members, the audiences are pretty bare.

Then again, I have to wonder how much promotion gets done in the community at large. I've rarely seen any newspaper coverage of locally held comps, and there are quite a few where I live. Perhaps a potential audience exists, but they're unaware of the comps in their own backyard. Who knows? *shrug*

[Oaktown Dancer]

Everybody...THANKS!

I have been to the website for Dancesport. It is hard to know about these comps as you have all pointed out.

I would like to get an event of this magnitude under my belt and then I will know more of what I want in an instructor...how does that sound?

Which events have the larger appeal and which events are the ones that get the television coverage?

My Best,
Oaktown Dancer

[pygmalion]

I won't attempt to answer everything, Oaktown Dancer, because my experience with comps is somewhat limited as well. So I'll leave some answers for the more experienced folks to make.

Going to a comp as a spectator is, IMO, always a good idea. You'll get to see beautiful dancing, and you can network and socialize with people like you, who love dancing. You may also meet some local instructors that interest you. On the other hand, some of these comps attract teachers and students from quite far away as well, so the teachers that you see dancing may not be available to you.

Going to this comp is as good a way as any to start. Have fun. It's the weekend of Palm Sunday, April 2 - 4, right? I hope you check in and let us know how it went. It will be interesting to hear your perspective.

[Oaktown Dancer]

Believe it or not I am soooo nervous about this event even though I am just a spectator!! Laugh-laugh...

Imagine how the competitors must feel? Tomorrow I begin the primping and packing process. I get the mandatory pedicure and manicure and take a few hours with the hairdresser...

I will then begin the packing process. Spectators have dress codes too.
I have the nights figured out. The first night I will wear a red evening St. John with a smashing Manolo Blahnik shoe that matches.
The second night I will wear my Women's Tuxedo by Linda Allared. The third evening I will wear a ice pink evening St.John. I hope I make the Spectator "cut"!

The days are designated "dressy casual". I am stuck! Any ideas?

I am excited but so glad that I am doing this. Is bringing a camera to take pictures of the dancers "bumpkinish"?

I will keep you posted.

My Best,
Oaktown Dancer

[pygmalion]

Hey Oaktown Dancer. Are you still out there? How did the event go?

[SDsalsaguy]

Yeah, what did you think? What were your impressions? How did you find/like everyhting?

[Enquiring DF minds want to know! :wink:]

[Oaktown Dancer]

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am still processing, digesting, thinking, researching, dreaming and glowing from the three INCREDIBLE days and nights.

I brought the right clothes...WHEW!! I met a few folks and I saw some FABULOUS competitions.

I learned LOTS about the "dance world" and its many "republics" if you will.

This competition was extreamly well organized and had a really positive vibe. I took in all 6 sessions, never got bored even after watching some of the same dancers work through numerous and various competitions, costume changes and partner changes.

The dancers that I met were great. They were "honest" about the industry and complimented me for attending the competition FIRST before taking lessons. I have a VERY clear idea of what I want and where I want to go with this LIFE change.


I was told about studios, teachers, judges, competitors, costumes, eyelashes, politics, shoes, bumps, crashes and on and on...

I am also real clear that I will need to part with major "benjamins" to go where I want to go. I am also clear that I have to TONE up and in the process loose some weight...this is for me. I saw dancers of all sizes competing beautifully...placing high and simply wowing the crowd.

The FUN came through loud and clear. For the most part dance folks are out for a good time. Now I did "meet" some stone faced "divas and dudes" and that was ok too. I heard a minimum of "dissing" of competitors from those who did not progress but, nothing major.

The judges are intimidating as a group. On an individual basis they do smile and have mischevious eyes. I even caught some of them quietly laughing and some of them trying very hard not to laugh... I thought they were cool and they definately added that "this IS serious" element to the competition.

I am still quite excited about EVERYTHING!

Thanks for asking.

I do not know the "names" so I can't go on and drop them for you to oohhh and aaahhh...wish I could because there were many dynamos who took the crowds down!

If you go to their web site I think all the rankings and winnings are posted.

Oaktown Dancer

[Adwiz]

I do not know much about the big US comps, but at the majotity of "smallish" comps I go to in the greater Toronto area, there are very few spectators. It seems Dancesport has limited appeal outside of the competitors and their families. Makes it difficult for promoters / event organizers. :cry:

That is true in so many cities across both the USA and Canada. We're fortunate that in Vancouver there is huge interest in DanceSport. The comps are generally well attended, with over 2500 spectators at the annual Snowball Classic. We also have several very large ballroom dance schools with thousands of customers each, that make it a pretty successful dance city in terms of DanceSport. In contrast, Seattle just a couple of hours to the south is a much larger city but doesn't have nearly the same interest in dancing.

Sure makes you wonder what the magic ingredient is that makes a city come alive for dance. Personally, I think it boils down to one school or even one couple that lights a spark. In Vancouver, it was Andy and Wendy Wong who set the pace many years ago and are still setting new standards that keep the sport vibrant. Calgary has a school that is equally influential in making that a dance-friendly city, led by Martin Lefebvre and Diana Matiaszow. All it takes is a dynamic couple or two and you have magic.

[pygmalion]

I agree, adwiz. Often, it's one or two people of vision that make all the difference. 8)