2016 USA Dance Nationals

[JudeMorrigan]

I figure mixed marks are all part of the competition experience at this point. Not necessarily fun, but it is what it is. I had a conversation with a judge on the topic once (not at a competition, obviously). Since I was dancing in syllabus, I posited it was a matter of different judges have different technical pet peeves, so to speak. One might not be able to get over the hitch in one couple's topline, another might not be able to get over the lack of musicality in a different couple's, etc. He said there was some of that, but was quick to note that sometimes, it's just differences in stylistic preferences from the judge. Even at that level.

 

[stash]

I figure mixed marks are all part of the competition experience at this point. Not necessarily fun, but it is what it is. I had a conversation with a judge on the topic once (not at a competition, obviously). Since I was dancing in syllabus, I posited it was a matter of different judges have different technical pet peeves, so to speak. One might not be able to get over the hitch in one couple's topline, another might not be able to get over the lack of musicality in a different couple's, etc. He said there was some of that, but was quick to note that sometimes, it's just differences in stylistic preferences from the judge. Even at that level.

I've heard similar things from people. It's really interesting to hear, but kind of a catch 22. You will never be able to please all the judges.

 

[Mr 4 styles]

Also the requirement of 50 percent wdsf judged at nques and nationals changed the judging pool radically the last two years. Looking ahead(coz I have ) you will see the majority of judges at the nques will be pulled from this same nationals pool so if you dance enough nques they will have seen you by nationals. Heck Inna Brayer is at almost all of them lol. Which is good coz she seems to like our dancing and always looks pretty and has a smile on her face. It's easier to dance toward smiling judges than frowning ones

 

[stash]

Also the requirement of 50 percent wdsf judged at nques and nationals changed the judging pool radically the last two years. Looking ahead(coz I have ) you will see the majority of judges at the nques will be pulled from this same nationals pool so if you dance enough nques they will have seen you by nationals. Heck Inna Brayer is at almost all of them lol. Which is good coz she seems to like our dancing and always looks pretty and has a smile on her face. It's easier to dance toward smiling judges than frowning ones

You just gotta be good enough to have the frowny ones smile when you dance by #dancegoals.

 

[Bailamosdance]

Am I the only one around here... that thinks that a Dancesport Delegate also judging you is a conflict? If your rep to the organization also holds power over your marks?

 

[raindance]

Well, there are many conflicts in dancing ... there is massive overlap where the same individual might be a judge, and/or coach, and/or competition organizer, and/or studio owner, etc, and this is all normal and within the rules. This seems like just another example to add to the list, to me.

 

[Mr 4 styles]

Hence the reason it can never be an Olympic sport.

 

[middy]

From what I heard, the competition floor was from Dance Jam and brand new and felt great; I'm pretty positive they also provided the floor in the practice room like they usually do, though, and it was indeed pretty slippery.

I personally found both floors quite slick, to the extent that it was dangerous to dance on them. I think as the weekend went on, the main floor got to be not so slippery as it wore in a bit. When you see champ level people slipping around and almost falling, you know that it's a real problem. :/

 

[dlliba10]

I personally found both floors quite slick, to the extent that it was dangerous to dance on them. I think as the weekend went on, the main floor got to be not so slippery as it wore in a bit. When you see champ level people slipping around and almost falling, you know that it's a real problem. :/

Now that I think about it, you're right -- I didn't dance until Saturday evening / Sunday afternoon, and I heard from the photographers that people had slipped on the comp floor over a dozen times by that point.

 

[Dancing Irishman]

Hence the reason it should never be an Olympic sport.

FTFY. Clearly they've already let ice dancing / figure skating slide.

 

[raindance]

Clearly they've already let ice dancing / figure skating slide.

Well, they let them stay with massive changes to the judging system (not for the betterment of the sport, IMHO). And in skating, the judges and teachers are NOT the same people. Whatever problems they have in skating are not the same as in dancesport regarding direct conflicts of interest.

Politics is a whole different matter, and much harder to quantify/control/eliminate.

 

[Mr 4 styles]

There was one spot on the floor everyone was slipping on

 

[Joe]

Also the requirement of 50 percent wdsf judged at nques and nationals changed the judging pool radically the last two years. Looking ahead(coz I have ) you will see the majority of judges at the nques will be pulled from this same nationals pool so if you dance enough nques they will have seen you by nationals.

It's not the 50% WDSF requirement that has changed the judging pool radically--it's the USA Dance-NDCA split.

If you'd said the 50% WDSF requirement had biased the panels more towards International Style, that would be a different matter.

 

[Mr 4 styles]

Well that too ,Joe

 

[s2k]

It's not the 50% WDSF requirement that has changed the judging pool radically--it's the USA Dance-NDCA split.

If you'd said the 50% WDSF requirement had biased the panels more towards International Style, that would be a different matter.

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.