2021 competition opportunities
- Thread starter ProgressNotPerfection
- Start date
I’d you’re really a competitive dancer, one day comps aren’t going to be what you want.
Warren J. Dew
Forum Master
I can understand that feeling. It might be interesting to tentatively decide on a comp that could offer the "full experience", then consider whether this one day comp would help you prepare for that bigger comp, or whether the mini matches are sufficient preparation. Attending the one day comp to see what it's like might be useful too, as someone mentioned.
There's a comp coming up in a couple months that I believe my studio is planning to attend, and which I was seriously considering. That said, I'm leaning away from it now because it involves flying (driving of any sort is out of the question). With all the cancellations/delays, bad passenger behavior, and other air travel shenanigans I keep reading about, I'm thinking it's going to take more time than that to get settled back in to any sort of normal/reliability on that front. I'm still going to request pricing, but mostly for my own edification.
wahoo_foxtrot
Well-Known Member
While we are talking about a comp this fall, Pro says I should consider going to USDC next fall. I realize this thread is about comp in 2021, and the convo is about 2022, but I will just put it here...
The moment he brought up the topic, I was like... seriously... this is a very serious comp! While I am happy with my progress, I am not mentally ready to go to a super-serious comp (USDC or Ohio). I look forward to doing them, say in 3 years, but I wasn't expecting this so soon.
I appreciated he brought it up. It made me feel more confident (altho I am already a quite cocky person with illusional confidence out of nowhere...), and I appreciate the idea of having a goal to aspire to. How's your first USDC or Ohio feel like for those of you who been there?
The moment he brought up the topic, I was like... seriously... this is a very serious comp! While I am happy with my progress, I am not mentally ready to go to a super-serious comp (USDC or Ohio). I look forward to doing them, say in 3 years, but I wasn't expecting this so soon.
I appreciated he brought it up. It made me feel more confident (altho I am already a quite cocky person with illusional confidence out of nowhere...), and I appreciate the idea of having a goal to aspire to. How's your first USDC or Ohio feel like for those of you who been there?
Warren J. Dew
Forum Master
Okay, you asked. Here are my opinions. Be aware that my impressions are a decade or two out of date.
Ohio felt like a very big pro-am competition with an unusual show. Since I went there as a syllabus amateur competitor, that it was primarily a pro-am competition was not a good thing: our event was scheduled for 8am. Obviously somebody has to take that least convenient time slot. It took longer than expected to get from the competition hotel to the ballroom, so we were late by less than 5 minutes, and they started exactly on time, so that meant we missed one of our, if I recall, two events. That pro-am is prioritized should be a positive for pro-am competitors, who will get more convenient time slots and such.
Watching the filming of the television show was very fun; in addition to good dancing, including the best of the American style pros, we got to see a lot of things that don't show up in the finished television show. I don't know if the show is still going, but I expect spectating at the evening events is still a lot of fun.
Ultimately, it felt like the difference between OSB and a typical NDCA competition was that OSB was much bigger. That wasn't really what I was looking for, and I haven't been back. If I were doing pro-am American style, though, I might feel differently.
USDC - then USBC - was also bigger than a typical NDCA competition, but to me it felt like the main difference was that the USBC was much better, rather than especially bigger.
My first time there as a pro-am competitor in the gentleman's championship, so I got a reasonably nice time slot to dance in; I don't think there were any syllabus amateur events available at all. To save money, I did not stay in the competition hotel, but at a less expensive hotel down the street. There was no hurricane that year so the walk wasn't an issue.
Spectating at the prime events was extremely fun. Not only were the best American competitors there, but in International style, the best competitors in the world were there.
I've been back a couple times, albeit to compete in amateur rather than pro-am. If I had more money, I'd still be going, just to spectate.
wahoo_foxtrot
Well-Known Member
@warren, thank you for sharing your experience!!
I also like your idea of spectating. If I don't end up with a good amount of progress that I am happy with next year, I will at least try to go and see either of them esp USDC. It sounds like USDC has a bigger crowd from your experience.
I also like your idea of spectating. If I don't end up with a good amount of progress that I am happy with next year, I will at least try to go and see either of them esp USDC. It sounds like USDC has a bigger crowd from your experience.
raindance
Forum Master
I did OSB as a very small bronze pro-am fish in a very big pro-am pond. It was almost 10 years ago, and was within a year of when I first started competing. I went in knowing I would be very small fish in a very big pond, and I was. I probably underestimated by how much, but I got through it. I will say, after getting through my first OSB, no other pro-am comp was intimidating. So it was good to get it under my belt in that way. I did it later as a low level am-am (bronze), and I think it helped that I had been there before as a pro-am so I was used to how the event runs, etc. The am-am fields were smaller than my ladies pro-am heats, but contested, and we had trouble finding contested heats at times, so it was a good experience. I did another year as a small silver pro-am fish and actually placed a bit better than I was expecting. The fields in my silver division weren't very big for whatever reason that year, so I didn't have to catch the judges' eyes out of two heats of twenty couples each or whatever like I'd had to try for in bronze.
In bronze pro-am, I think all of my heat times were 7 or 8 am or similar.
The main floor was really long. Sometimes they would split it and it would feel quite crowded. Other times they wouldn't split it and you'd have a really huge floor to try to fill and get around. Other times the judges stood across one end to effectively shorten the floor a bit when the floor wasn't split. So it helped to be prepared to adapt to that. I don't know if the venue is still set up the same way these days.
If I had really wanted to belong my first year (like, get out of the first round, let alone have a shot at placing), I would have needed more years of dancing, a pro that was experienced in taking ladies to OSB (mine was not a top pro, so it was his first time with a student there), and probably prior experience in some other pretty big name pro-am comps.
The TV show taping had ended by then already, PBS hasn't done that in years now. But the evening events were worth seeing if you love seeing lots of high quality pros in big heats. Lots of showdances from top couples, too. The evening events also went very late, so if you were competing the next morning, you had to decide between watching the evening events and getting any sleep before your morning heats. Finals and other highlights were near the end of the evenings of course.
I haven't been to OSB in recent years, so my experience is out of date, but not by as much as Warren's
. If you're not ready to compete there yet (for financial or whatever other reason), go spectate if you can. Plan to watch some of the daytime pro-am heats in your style(s) as well as the big evening events so you can see what things are like in the sorts of heats you might compete in. If you're not in the top levels yet, watch some of the levels above you, and/or the other age groups that might be more competitive, etc.
And check out the vendors. When I was there years ago, there was a huge vending area, actually a couple of big areas, I think. Great chance to shop for dresses or just get to know the various vendors (shoes, jewelry, etc) so you can figure out who you may want to work with in the future.
Whether you need a few more years before you're ready to try it depends on your goals. If you want to place really well, you'll need advice from pros that know how to evaluate how you are dancing compared to current competitors in your style/age/level, and how to get you there. If you want to get into the big pond and see what it's like, and then build from there later, just pack your dress, false eyelashes, shoes, etc, and go.
In bronze pro-am, I think all of my heat times were 7 or 8 am or similar.
The main floor was really long. Sometimes they would split it and it would feel quite crowded. Other times they wouldn't split it and you'd have a really huge floor to try to fill and get around. Other times the judges stood across one end to effectively shorten the floor a bit when the floor wasn't split. So it helped to be prepared to adapt to that. I don't know if the venue is still set up the same way these days.
If I had really wanted to belong my first year (like, get out of the first round, let alone have a shot at placing), I would have needed more years of dancing, a pro that was experienced in taking ladies to OSB (mine was not a top pro, so it was his first time with a student there), and probably prior experience in some other pretty big name pro-am comps.
The TV show taping had ended by then already, PBS hasn't done that in years now. But the evening events were worth seeing if you love seeing lots of high quality pros in big heats. Lots of showdances from top couples, too. The evening events also went very late, so if you were competing the next morning, you had to decide between watching the evening events and getting any sleep before your morning heats. Finals and other highlights were near the end of the evenings of course.
I haven't been to OSB in recent years, so my experience is out of date, but not by as much as Warren's
. If you're not ready to compete there yet (for financial or whatever other reason), go spectate if you can. Plan to watch some of the daytime pro-am heats in your style(s) as well as the big evening events so you can see what things are like in the sorts of heats you might compete in. If you're not in the top levels yet, watch some of the levels above you, and/or the other age groups that might be more competitive, etc.And check out the vendors. When I was there years ago, there was a huge vending area, actually a couple of big areas, I think. Great chance to shop for dresses or just get to know the various vendors (shoes, jewelry, etc) so you can figure out who you may want to work with in the future.
Whether you need a few more years before you're ready to try it depends on your goals. If you want to place really well, you'll need advice from pros that know how to evaluate how you are dancing compared to current competitors in your style/age/level, and how to get you there. If you want to get into the big pond and see what it's like, and then build from there later, just pack your dress, false eyelashes, shoes, etc, and go.
raindance
Forum Master
What's bigger or smaller will depend on your style, level, age group, on pro-am vs am-am, and also how each comp has changed in recent years. I've only been to OSB - it was huge. I was in some bronze pro-am heats with 25-40 couples. But of course some divisions were small.
OSB also used to (not sure if they still do) have pretty tight restrictions on age divisions and how much you can dance. So I think in any given style I was limited to 2 or maybe 4 sets of singles. It's partly to keep the comp from running even longer - it's already 5 or 6 days long. And I don't think there was even a scholarship or multi in pro-am bronze, though I may be misremembering.
wahoo_foxtrot
Well-Known Member
@raindance thank you for sharing your (repeated and wonderful) experience at OSB!! I learned a lot from your posts. I also like your idea of getting advice from other pros to evaluate if and when I should go to the OSB and USDC. So I'll bring this up to outside coaches maybe next spring and see what feedback I get.
singndance
Forum Master
Both USDC and OSB are such big, glamorous, competitive comps. I've met so many great people and good competitors at both. My last experience with both comps is 5-6 years old now, but when I participated, I just loved the experience. The photographers were great, and there were a lot of them to snap your photos--I always consider it a successful comp if I get a few pictures that I'm proud of.
Ohio is a great place to watch the pros, particularly their show dances, as they pull out all the stops. Bring binoculars if your seats are high up, you are far from the floor! It's a great comp to spectate, and to shop! On the last day, some of the dress designers may make you a good deal, so they don't have to pack so much back up....and I've never seen quite the array of jewelry, shoes, practice wear, hair ornaments, etc..... Just rhinestone overload.
On the downside, both comps are really big, and at that time they split the floor for the single heats, which was a challenge especially for smooth. And the last time I attended USDC, the heats were so short (we timed them at 50 seconds), and the floor was split, and I felt like I was being herded on and off the floor like an elephant at a circus. Just not the greatest experience, but it may be different now. I don't know if this is still the case, but because USDC had so many entries, they had to hold the single heats and the multidance events for the styles I dance on different days, which effectively doubled my cost to attend because of my pro's fee structure. So now I concentrate on smaller comps where all my events can be held in the same session, or at least on the same day. But I don't regret attending either USDC or OSB. For a pro-am competitor like me, they are really great events.
Ohio is a great place to watch the pros, particularly their show dances, as they pull out all the stops. Bring binoculars if your seats are high up, you are far from the floor! It's a great comp to spectate, and to shop! On the last day, some of the dress designers may make you a good deal, so they don't have to pack so much back up....and I've never seen quite the array of jewelry, shoes, practice wear, hair ornaments, etc..... Just rhinestone overload.
On the downside, both comps are really big, and at that time they split the floor for the single heats, which was a challenge especially for smooth. And the last time I attended USDC, the heats were so short (we timed them at 50 seconds), and the floor was split, and I felt like I was being herded on and off the floor like an elephant at a circus. Just not the greatest experience, but it may be different now. I don't know if this is still the case, but because USDC had so many entries, they had to hold the single heats and the multidance events for the styles I dance on different days, which effectively doubled my cost to attend because of my pro's fee structure. So now I concentrate on smaller comps where all my events can be held in the same session, or at least on the same day. But I don't regret attending either USDC or OSB. For a pro-am competitor like me, they are really great events.
sukiphoebe
New Member
Looking for some recommendations. I'm competing ProAm but also want to compete Am/Am w/ my husband. It doesn't look like there are a lot of Am/Am or student/student adults who compete in Latin. Am I right? Do you know which competitions usually have a lot of adult student/student competitors so we can join those? Thank you!
ProgressNotPerfection
Forum Master
When my teacher first suggested we attend OSB this November, I thought he was joking. I've never competed in a live, in-person comp before. And I've been taking lessons only two years. But he said, "what's the difference? A bronze waltz is a bronze waltz, whether you're in Ohio, or Atlanta, or Vegas, or anywhere else. What matters is how YOU feel about your dancing. You don't have any control over placements, because you can't control who else will be on the floor that day. So why does it matter exactly where your first competition is?"
Anyway, I decided I like that approach. I'm not willing to give OSB or any other comp that much power over my emotions or my actions. It's just a dance comp - my career, life, and happiness are not riding on the outcome. I'm not going to postpone entering it, or USDC, Millenium, or Emerald, just because it has an aura of "the best of the best of the best of the best" when you hear the name. I am going to dance however I am going to dance. I would rather do it somewhere I can also watch lots of really good advanced dancers and visit lots of vendors, and come home with lots of exciting memories that will last the rest of my life.
Therefore, for my very first live in-person comp ever, I have registered to compete at OSB, in Bronze Rhythm & Smooth (all 9 dances; as many singles & multis as the rules permit...which isn't many).
- Would I like to place well? Of course!
- Do I expect to place well? Absolutely not!!! I will be very surprised if I even make it to any quarterfinals, much less any semifinals.
- Do I expect to get absolutely creamed and come home in shame? Well, yes to the absolutely creamed part, just being realistic. But I won't come home in shame, as long as my pro and I are happy with the way I danced. WE will know if I should be proud of my performance, regardless of the scores.
- Will I learn some lessons that might be easier/less painful to learn at a smaller comp? No doubt.
- If I place 23rd out of 24 entries (for example), will I cry and tear out my hair and quit taking dance lessons? Nope. Will I think my dancing sucks and that I lack talent? Nope. Will I think my teacher sucks and that he lacks talent? Nope. Will my enjoyment of learning to dance be lessened? Nope.
raindance
Forum Master
What level, and what age group? (And what country? I'm guessing USA in my post below.)
I used to do am/am, and USA dance events on the east or west coast (NQEs or Nationals) had more latin competitors in the older adult age groups (30 or 40 or 50 years old or older, etc) than anywhere else (e.g Midwest, South, or non-USA Dance events) about 5 or more years ago. But the latin events for older adults were often still smaller than other styles even on the coasts, even at nationals. Small straight finals, etc. I did syllabus, but the pattern seemed to hold to some extent even through open levels.
In the younger adult age group (over 18 but not by much) sometimes the heats were bigger, depending on the comp.
It's been a few years since I've competed, so I don't know if things have changed. But I sort of doubt the change would have been an influx of older am/am adults competing in latin.
Depending on your goals, it isn't a bad thing to be uncontested or lightly contested. You can still go out on the floor and do your events, get some video, go over it with your pro to evaluate and set new goals, etc.
But if you and your husband want more couples to compete against, maybe start by spectating at local comps where there are am/am couples in your age bracket and current level, see what they're dancing, and see if you two are interested in trying the style(s) that are well contested in your local area.