Cabaret, OK- but what is "Showdance?"

So now I understand the difference between "cabaret" and "theater arts" (I think)- but when I look on the websites for the competitions it seems like now they are all calling it "showdance." I guess since we can't call it "ballroom dance" any more, but "dancesport" it was felt that "cabaret" and "theater arts" were obsolete terms as well. But which one exactly then is "showdance?" :snake:

I believe showdance is something different to cabaret and theatre arts. Its similar to american smooth in some ways

Your right there is a difference. When a pro gets hired to do a show we usually add more to our competition routines. Our shows have a theme to them, lifts and extra costumes to make a 'show' out of it. So a showdance is a normal ballroom dance that has been expanded. So there are showdance, caberet and theatre arts catagories. Each competition you go to has their own rules for these entries.

Showdance

I just rewatched my 1999 Championship Ballroom Dancing tape (I think it's the Ohio Star Ball?) and the categories shown were: International Standard and Latin group competion (ie. 6 couples danced standard all at once, 6 couples danced latin) and Showdance Standard, and Showdance Latin.

After the "group" competition, each individual couple performed a "Showdance" in their category, for example one couple did Quickstep, with "All that Jazz" theme and music, costume changes, lifts, drops, etc. They're putting on a "show", but they are still judged and ranked 1st to 6th.

Hope this might answer your questions.

OK- Thank you Samba- This jives (no pun intended) with my impression of what Showdance is- each couple has four minutes, more or less, and is "solo" on the floor during their performance time. The couples are, I think, judged at least equally on artistic merit as well as technical execution, so it's kind of like ice dancing. I'm going to give it a go, if and when I find a partner. Perhaps a samba, perhaps a paso doble- but lots of jazzy moves- Yay!