Lifts - are they necessary?

[dancin_feet]

At the higher levels (say gold or equivalent) are lifts a necessary part of an exhibition routine? I haven't done any myself and don't particularly plan to, but there are a couple of people at our studio who have "done it all" and I have been told that for them not including a lift in their routines is just not possible.

To me lifts are a special thing, only to be done at the absolute most maybe three times in any one routine. Anything more than that, and to me you are no longer dancing, but producing a balancing act with a few steps in between to fill in time.

Thoughts anyone?

[SDsalsaguy]

Heya d_f... I'm not sure how things may be different in Oz, but here in the U.S. lifts are in *no* way needed in exhibition routines of ANY level. There are special divisions (theatre arts & showdance/cabaret) where they are sort of required, but those are styles, not levels. Hopefully some of your fellow Aussies can be of more help...

[dancin_feet]

Didn't think it was a "country specific" thing, though I could be wrong. Maybe these particular people just like lifts in their routines, I'm not sure. As I say, to me if you overuse lifts, it ruins the flow of the routine.

Maybe if I rephrase - can a high level routine be created focusing on technique and step patterns, without the use of lifts, or are they expected?

[tasche]

Coming from a ballet background I find most lifts expect performed by top level theatre arts participants offensive. They just look sloppy and wrong. You ahve to have so much technique under your belt before you should be thinking about lifts imho

[SDsalsaguy]

Maybe if I rephrase - can a high level routine be created focusing on technique and step patterns, without the use of lifts, or are they expected?
I agree wholeheartedly with tasche. And, specificly in response to your currently worded question, I think that the best routines show themselves as such through the quality of their basic actions, not "bells & whistles."

[dancin_feet]

Thanks SD, knew that I would word the question wrong!! :oops: :lol:

I agree with you 100%. I wasn't sure if I was just unconsciously prejudiced because I haven't done a lift before, but I really don't like them in a routine. Maybe a "throw" or counter balance movement, but lifts are a special thing and should be used sparingly.

Reminds me of a routine I saw at the start of the Australian Dancesport Championships last year to "Diamonds are forever". The whole thing was one lift, put her down and take a couple of steps then lift again. She would have spent 20% of the routine with her feet actually on the floor! I was not impressed by that at all! :x

[jdavidb]

Some girls, I'd rather just pick 'em up & haul them around rather than put up with dancing with them. :lol:

[SDsalsaguy]

Absolutely d_f! If you watch those who are truly superb at using lifts than what stands out as the most impressive is *not* the lift on its own but, rather, the seamless transitions into and out of it. If they cannot be executed in such a manner they're better off being left behind. This dynamic actually holds true for all dips, tricks, and drops as well... if it disrupts the flow of the dance it actually detracts more than it adds.

And, in a different but closely related vein, is the issue of telegraphing. When everyone can see/guess what's about to happen the lift (or trick or dip, etc.) loses much (most?) of its impact. The trick to using such elements to maximum effect is seamless and unexpected transitions into them, followed by seamless transitions out of them (to maintain the continuity of the performance).

[twnkltoz]

To me lifts are a special thing, only to be done at the absolute most maybe three times in any one routine. Anything more than that, and to me you are no longer dancing, but producing a balancing act with a few steps in between to fill in time.

Thoughts anyone?

I think even three times in one routine is excessive! I've never understood the place of "cabaret" routines (all lifts) at ballroom competitions, either.

Anyway, I've seen many fantastic routines that brought the crowd to their feet that had no lifts at all. Who needs them?