"The DF Salsa Competition"

[Pacion]

As mentioned in the PR Salsa Open Results competition, there will always be controvesy in dance competitions.

If you were involved in organising a salsa competition, what are some of the key points/areas that you would like to see in the competition rules?

- A limit on "elements"
For myself, there would be a list of "elements" and the competitors would be limited to the number of times these "elements" can appear in their routine/dancing. For instance, in the PR Salsa Open Results video, which may not be a good example, as the couples were "freestyling", one couple (or was it two?) had the girl doing a number of multiple spins throughout the song. In another performance, a couple did two or three neck drops. :roll: So that the dance is not all about multiple spins or neck drops, a limit on an "element" would be set, so that the couples have to demonstrate greater versitility and not just be "one trick ponies"...

[SurfSalsa]

Personally I think too many rules would stiffle exactly what salsa is supposed to be: a free dance! Too many rules would push into the ballroom direction...

I would have a pannel of 5 judges (eliminate highest and lowest score per dance - no friends, no enemies) and have them give 3 marks to each dance:
- Music interpretation
- Technique
- Styling

And that's it!

Now if you want to make it interesting - keeping with salsa flava - let them dance on random songs (i.e. not pre-choreographed)

Now if you want to make it REALLY interesting - let them draw partners from a hat...

[DancingMommy]

Since I know nil about Salsa competitions, I'll just give my two cents and say that any kind of dancing that is all tricks and no substance is dead boring to watch and really no indication of one's talent. That said, I'd like to see the following:

Dance whatever you like to random music provided that you have at least 50% dancing - ie no more than 50% tricks and NO lifts/acrobatics.

[Pacion]

Since I know nil about Salsa competitions, I'll just give my two cents and say that any kind of dancing that is all tricks and no substance is dead boring to watch and really no indication of one's talent.

:lol: there are people who know nought about nought yet still have tons to say, so please don't be any different :wink: Very valid points! :applause:

[Ms_Sunlight]

I think that even those of us who know little recognise what we like. I'm not hugely impressed by showy tricks, because once you've seen them once, you've seen them. But sometimes, when someone is just an elegant, stylish dancer, connecting well with their partner, they can be doing something really simple and you can't stop watching and enjoying it.

Organise a salsa competition? I'd rather break my own legs. What a nightmare! :shock: :shock: :shock: Watch a salsa competition...? Maybe. Especially if there was a bar :wink:

[Pacion]

Especially if there was a bar :wink:

A bar? Serving drinks or to prop you up? :wink: :lol:

[SurfSalsa]

Dance whatever you like to random music provided that you have at least 50% dancing - ie no more than 50% tricks and NO lifts/acrobatics.

That is why I thought dancing to random music and even with random partners would bring out the true salser@s' core dancing and musical interpretation, and not the pre-choreographed lifts and tricks.

But I must agree with Ms_Sunlight:

Organise a salsa competition? I'd rather break my own legs. What a nightmare! Watch a salsa competition...? Maybe.

As a very bad spectator (read impatient, quickly bored by sitting and watching), I would much rather just go "free-dancing" instead!!

So I'm not pushing for salsa competitions - I just wanted it judged in such a way that the ballroom type competition rules would not attempt to reign in the salsa free spirit (at which it would never succeed!). But then, just as I do ballroom competitions for the sole reason it gives me an opportunity to dance a lot for a long time on a night I would have sat bored at home, maybe I would do the salsa comp for the same reason (that is, if they have a low profile lower intermediate level where you get the opportunity to dance lots...)

[Rosa]

But sometimes, when someone is just an elegant, stylish dancer, connecting well with their partner, they can be doing something really simple and you can't stop watching and enjoying it.wink:

I agree. It's not what you do that matters... it's how you do it.

Rosa :)

[IsaacAltman]

Well Martin, we have that opportunity at the WSF event in Oct.

[SurfSalsa]

Well Martin, we have that opportunity at the WSF event in Oct.

Isaac, ... the WSF event in Oct???
You've lost me somewhere...

[IsaacAltman]

yes Martin