Are social dancers intimidated by competitive ones?

T

tanya_the_dancer

Well-Known Member
As I suggested in the other thread, this probably merits a thread of its own. So here is some copy&paste from there:

Quote:
Originally Posted by elisedance
Thats what we do - try to practice at a social studio - but since we do not have a formal 'home' studio we have to do this at a friendly but not entirely accomodating studio (can't blame them). There seems to be a love-hate relationship between social and competetive dancers. On the one hand, a lot of social dancers seem to love to watch trained dancers on teh floor and we get lots of compliments and encouragement. on the other hand some (a minority) get scared and intimidated when they see a couple bearing down on them at a rate of knots - even if there is no danger of a collision. Thus, sometimes there are complaints. I wish the social studios would have at least the occasional dance where just competitors and the stronger social dancers were invited on the floor - they could call it a 'showcase dance'. It would benefit all...

Actually, I think I am going to suggest that the next time I am there...
end quote

You know, this probably merits a whole thread of its own: to what extent social dancers are intimidated by competitive ones? I had a lesson the other day and we shared the floor with one other teacher working with a social couple, and at one point I think they were not too happy when they were doing foxtrot and I was doing foxtrot with my teacher, and ours looked a lot different than theirs.
 
moderator note:...this subject has had a history of becoming inflammatory....let us make sure that it doesn't...thanks and happy holidays ;)
 
Thanks, F.

Speaking only for myself...hell yes. Absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, yes.

Not so much from a getting mowed down on the floor standpoint (although I'll admit to cringing and flinching), but purely from a personal insecurity/self esteem standpoint. Nothing like being amongst competitive dancers to take the ego down quite a few pegs, and undo most of any progress made on that front in the AT realm.

But that's just my insecurity, and nothing that any competitive dancer should be concerned about. It's entirely my issue to deal with, not theirs. (I'd just ask/trust them to have good enough floorcraft to not run me over, is all. Don't think that's too much to ask.)
 
At some places I've been to, the showcase performances were ordered from less experienced to more experienced, so there was less contrast between consecutive performances. I think that sort of helps with self-esteem issues.
 
I only felt uncomfortable at the very beginning stages. Since I hardly knew where I was, I didn't feel comfortable knowing where the better dancers would be going. Nice words either as they danced past or after the dance as we were leaving the floor really made a huge difference in my confidence. Now that I'm better, I always try to pass on the same good will.

It doesn't stress me that lots of dancers know way more than I do. I dance better than I ever even imagined being able to. There is lots and lots to learn. So I just try new stuff as I learn it. After messing it up 5 million times, it suddenly becomes easy :D
 
I think some less experienced dancers are intimidated by some more experienced dancers, social or competitive having nothing to do with it. "Competitive" doesn't neccesarily mean "better." I would say my husband and I are better dancers than quite a few competitive couples in the area that show up at the occasional social. And I know one other primarily social couple that is a LOT better than a lot of the competitive couples in the area.
As far as barreling down the floor, I do get annoyed with a few competitive couples mowing down the floor, because they have NO FLOORCRAFT and can't veer off their routine. That wouldn't be because I'm intimidated by them, but because I think they have things they need to work on before they get on a social floor. I'd be happy for them to have a competitive couple only social to go to, so they aren't making a mess of our floor!
 
wooh said:
I think some less experienced dancers are intimidated by some more experienced dancers, social or competitive having nothing to do with it. "Competitive" doesn't neccesarily mean "better." I would say my husband and I are better dancers than quite a few competitive couples in the area that show up at the occasional social. And I know one other primarily social couple that is a LOT better than a lot of the competitive couples in the area.
As far as barreling down the floor, I do get annoyed with a few competitive couples mowing down the floor, because they have NO FLOORCRAFT and can't veer off their routine. That wouldn't be because I'm intimidated by them, but because I think they have things they need to work on before they get on a social floor. I'd be happy for them to have a competitive couple only social to go to, so they aren't making a mess of our floor!
Click to expand...
very good points and distinctions
 
Peaches said:
True. And to some of us it doesn't matter. Competitive is still more intimidating.
Click to expand...

To make it worse from that point of view, part of the object of competitive dancing IS to be intimidating - you are trying to intimidate the competition with your superior skills, confidence, expression etc etc. Perhaps competitive dancers would be more easily accepted on the social floor if they left that aspect out even if they are dancing full tilt.
 
hmmm...I have honestly never considered that to be part of my goal...I want my dancing to beat them not my potential at mind games
 
Why should they leave it out just b/c some of us have confidence issues? Again...it's not their problem.

Like I said, the only thing I ask is that they put their superior dance skills towards floorcraft, so I don't get run over.
 
frankly my only mental condition is enough of a chore without tryin' to mess w/ theirs...plus, I would feel guilty for that sort of behavior...and I have enough guilt already
 
I don't see that it's anything to feel guilty about. From what I gather, competition is as much about performing as it is about dancing. Part of that performance is, I would imagine, walking out projecting confidence. How others interpret it is up to them.
 
walking out projecting confidence for my own sake is one thing...doing anything to deliberately intimidate someone else is, IMO, not acceptable
 
*shrug* Would seem to be a matter of intent, but the end result (confidence projection) the same.
 
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