what are those levels?

[Kitty]

Looking to ompete over the summer, I found that some competitions have like 4 different bronse levels: newcomer, pre-bronse, bronse1 and full bronse. and then there are multiple silver and multiple gold categories, and then there is distinction between "am-am" and "student-student" couples. I was told I might end up competing against myself:-).

So is it possible to end up competing against myself there? And how do I select my level?

[Porfirio Landeros]

I think when they said competing against yourself, they meant you won't be dancing against anyone (no other entries in your heat). In that case, the judges base their marks on how well you are executing your dances based on the level you are entered in. I have witnessed people that have had no competition get 2nd place trophies because they danced off time.... d'oh!

[Chris Stratton]

My understanding is that the wide variety of overlapping levels (and age categories) is to allow pros to dance with several students who may be at a similar ability level in the same competition. It may also incerase the number of events someone can enter - if most of the events are small, most would only be a single round, so there may not be much dancing to do unless you enter several. Of course this increases entry fees and what the pros get paid, too.

I believe Am/Am events are traditional "amateur" competition, which has a bit of an overall standardized structure between comps (and to a degree internationally), and requires the dancers to be registered with a governing organization - this used to be USABDA, but for most of the comps you are talking about you now need to be registered with the NDCA.

Student/Student is a bit less organized competition, is typically scheduled near the pro-am events, and as in pro-am the students do not need NDCA numbers.

[DancePoet]

Now, now, Porfirio, some of us newer dancers have goofed on the beat of the music. It does happen, and I am one of those who received a 2nd place in an uncontested Am/Am event because we were off the music. It's likely a good lesson learned the hard way. For my partner and I, it was probably just nervousness, and I do recall finishing better then we started. Yet I'm much more concious of this now.

P.S. Edits for punctuation and spelling, and this P.S.

[Porfirio Landeros]

I think the fact that you earned a second only brings more integrity to your dancing. If they automatically gave 1st places, just because there was only one couple all the time, how could you monitor your improvement? I have complete respect for the judges and dancers in the situation I spoke of - ::d'oh aside:: :D

[Kitty]

I believe Am/Am events are traditional "amateur" competition, which has a bit of an overall standardized structure between comps (and to a degree internationally), and requires the dancers to be registered with a governing organization - this used to be USABDA, but for most of the comps you are talking about you now need to be registered with the NDCA.

Student/Student is a bit less organized competition, is typically scheduled near the pro-am events, and as in pro-am the students do not need NDCA numbers.

Thanks a lot. We were totally lost: the registration form didn't include any description of the differences between am-am and student-student. We were thinking about registering as student-student, since those were single dance events and entry fees were much lower. We'll have to look at it again now.

By the way, do you know any good competitions during the summer that our team could attend?

[DancePoet]

Porfirio:

I was intrigued and impressed with what the judges did in the situation my partner and I experienced. Integrity is a good word to describe it. I was disappointed with my mistake, recognized it immediately, took action to correct it, and we got what we earned.

Regarding your respect for the judges and dancers, that is good to hear.

[Chris Stratton]

We were thinking about registering as student-student, since those were single dance events and entry fees were much lower. We'll have to look at it again now.

It still may be a reasonable idea if you just want to dance a bit without spending much money. For am/am, getting an NDCA number isn't too much for students, but is I think $30 for adults.


By the way, do you know any good competitions during the summer that our team could attend?

Where is your team located? I don't think there is much over the summer that compares to a collegiate comp for size or competition at syllabus levels, but there are some things that might be worthwhile.

[Kitty]

It still may be a reasonable idea if you just want to dance a bit without spending much money. For am/am, getting an NDCA number isn't too much for students, but is I think $30 for adults.

Where is your team located? I don't think there is much over the summer that compares to a collegiate comp for size or competition at syllabus levels, but there are some things that might be worthwhile.

We'll think again about am-am or student-student.

We are at Stony Brook (Yay, yay Stony Brook, We got Third!!!). We got some money left over in our budget (since Yale was cancelled in the Fall, and Rutgers was scheduled on the same weekend as MIT) so we thought we could pre-pay entry fees for a comp over the summer. If we find a decent comp.

[pygmalion]

Ah! :idea: Now I understand the Rutgers/MIT issue better. :?

[Warren J. Dew]

Kitty, I would recommend the Yankee Classic in June in Boston - they have a collegiate special priced at $80 per couple ($40 per person) for up to 8 amateur events and ballroom entry for the amateur session. (Nonstudents are only slightly more expensive at $100 per couple). Search on "yankee classic" to find the website. Deadline is May 10, so you need to act fairly quickly for this one.

The Manhattan Championships in NYC in July is also a very nice competition, but I don't know if they have any amateur/student specials.

[Chris Stratton]

The Manhattan Championships in NYC in July is also a very nice competition, but I don't know if they have any amateur/student specials.

I have a somehwat crumpled "college special" form for Manhattan that was being distributed at Harvard. It says $80/couple for up to 10 dances.
Notable thing is that they seam to affer American Style only at Champ level, wheras international has 5 levels.

Stony Brook is on Long Island, right? So you might also think about the NJ Dancesport classic just across the river from the city. The spring version was fairly small, but they said the summer one is larger. This one requires USABDA cards rather than the NDCA cards of the others (though again student rates are reasonable, and you may want to join USABDA for the Manhattan Amateur Classic next January anyway)

It's also worth keeping in mind that the sanctioned adult-circuit competitions permit only conventional partnerships, and almost always ban costumes (rhinestones, feather, tailsuits) in the syllabus divisions.

[SDsalsaguy]

Kitty, I would recommend the Yankee Classic in June in Boston....
In case this might play into your thinking process Kitty, the Yankee may also be the site of a DF East Coast "reunion (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3050)."

[Kitty]

Thank you everyone. Yesterday we allocated money to go to two comps in NJ - and we got some collegiate special.

It's also worth keeping in mind that the sanctioned adult-circuit competitions permit only conventional partnerships, and almost always ban costumes (rhinestones, feather, tailsuits) in the syllabus divisions.

I can deal with that:-) I've only competed with a girls once, at samba:-).

And my costume is more like an abscence of a costume - it shows off as much of me as it can:-), so no stones, no feathers, no nothing:-).

[pygmalion]

No nothing?!? :shock: :lol: I assume there is some fabric, right? :wink: Just kidding.

Anybody care to specuate on why collegiate competitions allow non-conventional couples, while other competitions ban those partnerships?

[Warren J. Dew]

Anybody care to specuate on why collegiate competitions allow non-conventional couples, while other competitions ban those partnerships?
I'd guess it's mainly because college students don't tend to be fond of having a lot of rules.

[Porfirio Landeros]

Because nothing is hotter than seeing two chicks dancing together :twisted:

[Kitty]

Anybody care to specuate on why collegiate competitions allow non-conventional couples, while other competitions ban those partnerships?
I'd guess it's mainly because college students don't tend to be fond of having a lot of rules.

:-)))))))))))
That's what I was gonna say!!!

Because nothing is hotter than seeing two chicks dancing together

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:-)

[Kitty]

Kitty, I would recommend the Yankee Classic in June in Boston

Thank you for advice.

That would be nice, but it is too far away + we'd need a hotel. We are registering for something smaller and closer to home (not the Manhatten Championships one).

[SDsalsaguy]

That would be nice, but it is too far away + we'd need a hotel.
Kitty, keep in mind that the Yankee seems to be the front runner for an East Coast DF gathering... so chances have it that there might be others interested in/willing to go in on a room with you. I shared a room with Vince and his wife Carolyn at the Reno DF gathering for instance...

[pygmalion]

I've gotta bring the DF reunion East to closure this week. I suspect a bunch of folks are confirmed already. Hmm.

[Chris Stratton]

I've gotta bring the DF reunion East to closure this week. I suspect a bunch of folks are confirmed already. Hmm.

I'll probably be around and will likely try to catch Chris & Hazel's show seeing as I could walk there. Would be fun to enter, but not sure if that's in the cards right now.