1.) ANYONE KNOW OF A pro who does online coaching regarding strategy on winning an NDCA national title? Particularly cabaret?

[GingerSnowB]

1.) I’m a pro am student competitor pursuing a national title in Showdance, Cabaret, or Theater Arts. I need an unbiased advocate/coach who understands the NDCA competition circuit to consult on advice & strategy. (The ballroom studio does small closed competitions and do not have tons of information. Plus, the strategy they’ve given me to win the USDC cabaret championship… well I’d like a 2nd opinion.)

2.) Is there an online or printed guide on understanding NDCA pro am competitions? Or a YouTube? There’s a lack of universal information out there, and anytime I Google all I find is the NDCA Rule Book

 

[raindance]

Have you competed in those categories before? How have you done so far with your current pro?

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

I have no idea. But if I wanted advice on strategies for winning a national title in a specific event/category, I would do some research to find out which pros have previously won pro/am titles in that specific event/category. Then I would contact them directly and request an appointment to talk with them (either by phone or zoom, if they were not close enough to visit with in person), and I would expect to pay upwards of $300 USD for that initial conversation.

IF one of them agreed to talk with me, I would explain my goals, and ask if they would be willing to provide online coaching to help me achieve those goals, at whatever schedule and hourly rate they requested.

However, if the pro already has a PASC entering that event, they probably won’t want to help their own student’s competition. But the much bigger problem is that strategies for winning anything are almost entirely subjective. If you ask 20 different people what you can do to increase your chances of winning, you’ll likely get 20 different answers. AFAIK, there’s no such thing as “universal information” about NDCA comps, other than the rule book and other info on their website.

IMO (and IME), DF is by far the best resource there is.

 

[raindance]

Given that you are doing pro/am, you are not going to be able to execute a competitive strategy without the help of your pro. You can work on individual technique via video lessons with anyone. You can get a second opinion from anyone, etc. But in the end, you are going to be performing with your pro. It's your performances on the floor with your pro that will be judged.

If you can identify the coach(es) that you want advice from, perhaps you could convince your pro/studio to bring them in for in person coaching with you and your pro.

 

[singndance]

Choosing the right pro for you is the most critical step, echoing what @raindance said above.

 

[j_alexandra]

1.) I’m a pro am student competitor pursuing a national title in Showdance, Cabaret, or Theater Arts. I need an unbiased advocate/coach who understands the NDCA competition circuit to consult on advice & strategy.

Not sure there is any such thing. I'd add "who understands cabaret/showdance/theater arts" to your wish list. Theater Arts is a whole different ball game.

In your position, I would look at the score sheets from the winning Cabaret/Showdance/TA events from NDCA comps this year and evaluate which judges consistently marked the winners well, as well as who marked them poorly. Those names would give me an idea of who knows what kind of performance wins -- and who doesn't. I would then approach the knowledgeable judges and ask. PnP gave some pretty sound advice above:

"... contact them directly and request an appointment to talk with them (either by phone or zoom, if they were not close enough to visit with in person), and I would expect to pay upwards of $300 USD for that initial conversation. IF one of them agreed to talk with me, I would explain my goals, and ask if they would be willing to provide online coaching to help me achieve those goals, at whatever schedule and hourly rate they requested."

2.) Is there an online or printed guide on understanding NDCA pro am competitions? Or a YouTube? There’s a lack of universal information out there, and anytime I Google all I find is the NDCA Rule Book

The rule book is the only written guide I know of, although I have seen blog posts that say "how to go to a pro-am comp" or wtte. What's different from a closed-studio competition? DF is an invaluable resource, as others have pointed out.

 

[Warren J. Dew]

Choosing the right pro for you is the most critical step, echoing what @raindance said above.

Except maybe for Showdance, where learning to dance well may be as important.

 

[singndance]

Except maybe for Showdance, where learning to dance well may be as important.

Exactly! My thought about the pro is -- they are the one that will be with you on this important journey, not only partnering you, but teaching you to dance, which in my book is what makes the difference between a good couple and a champion in these divisions. All the fancy lifts are great, but the couples who stand out can also dance.