Dancing Irishman
Forum Master
I saw one couple do the same routine in Latin (jive) as they did when they competed in rhythm (swing). They placed really well in "swing."
THAT is why there is a need for more rhythm adjudicators on national panels. There will always be judges' bias in one form or another, however, get adjudicators on the panel who recognize the significant changes to rhythm over the past several years that separate it from Latin. Level the playing field for those of us who've committed to the American style.
Meh. Most of the things that make one couple mark better than another are the same regardless of whether you're talking Rhythm or Latin, such as clear timing of the feet, coordination of the leg actions with the body, coordination / synchronization between the partners, coordination of the arms with the body, aesthetically appealing arm designs, coordination of head focuses between partners, and choreographic structure are shared between the two genres and there are just a few pieces of technique which really distinguish between the two styles. So the couples marking well in rhythm despite being "inauthentic" in their technique might just be nailing the common pieces so much better than the couples with "authentic" technique that it doesn't make sense to mark them anything but 1st or 2nd.
Another thing might be that they're marking well because the people doing "proper" rhythm technique just aren't doing it that well. When I watch amateur Rhythm competition videos, I'll notice many dancers who are doing some of the *what* to distinguish their leg technique from Latin*, but I very rarely, if at all, notice a couple who are connecting that *what* to the *why*; that is, use of the leg technique in rhythm should lead to a more rhythmically full look in the dancers (at least an action or reaction every quarter beat of a whole beat walk / step, if we're talking championship), not merely a means of showing that they know "Rhythm technique."
*I don't know enough about the style to know if the Hip Lift Technique is just a branding phenomenon or a real distinguishing feature in the use of the hips between Rhythm and Latin, so I've neglected to comment on hips intentionally.
ETA: Also, hasn't swing in recent years evolved to be more like jive in styling and approach anyhow? When I (briefly) was planning to compete in rhythm, my coach and I talked about differences and he definitely wanted me to keep the bounce in my leg action from jive, just kill some of the flicks in my chasses and slips in my links.
