change of direction

[Dr Dance]

Closed syllabus three step is SQQ. But you CAN dance a three step as SSS if the music is "that way," your choreography is better for it, or any other myriad of reasons. Closed syllabus change of direction is SSS; but, my teacher had me dance this SQQ for our routine to fit the musical timing.

 

[Joe]

SQQ is not an alternative way to do a change of direction.

Only if you need to adhere strictly to the syllabus.

 

[flying_backwards]

SQQ is not an alternative way to do a change of direction. SQQ Fwd Side Fwd... is a legitimate hover telemark.

Hover Telemark is not bronze so if we use SQQ for our Change of Direction will we get invigilated in closed bronze slow foxtrot? We stay down, with no foot rise, like a Change of Dir. We do not rise up like a Hover Telemark.

 

[Joe]

...well and only if you don't want to sound like a goofball and call a telemark by some other pattern's name. I certainly wouldn't go to an auto mechanic that called my steering column a tale pipe, even if I am not going to put my car in a car show. But hey... that just me.

But a HT and COD have different technique and footwork. There is no mistaking the difference when those are done properly.

You might. Because as an invigilator I am going to assume you are doing a hover telemark.

Now if you are desperate to phrase your choreography by changing timings, instead of picking smarter amalgamations I would suggest you take 4 slows. That way there is no mistake that you are doing a bad change of direction instead of a bad hover tele. lol

If you're going to ding someone for incorrect timing using SQQ, why wouldn't you ding them for SSS(hold S)?

 

[Mengu]

If you're going to ding someone for incorrect timing using SQQ, why wouldn't you ding them for SSS(hold S)?

I believe 1 extra slow in change of direction is legit for invigilation in both NDCA and USADance (they both have the exception spelled out).

Now if you are desperate to phrase your choreography by changing timings, instead of picking smarter amalgamations I would suggest you take 4 slows. That way there is no mistake that you are doing a bad change of direction instead of a bad hover tele. lol

Is it a "bad change of direction" because it's not the way it's written? Or something else wrong with it?

 

[raindance]

Right SSSS is just given a pass.
Bad as in not the way it is written or intended.

So can you please give a good example of an amalgamation that includes a SSS change of direction as it would be done in context of a syllabus routine, say for silver? We haven't found a great solution for it yet. (I'm sure we just haven't looked/asked in the right place.)

 

[Mengu]

So can you please give a good example of an amalgamation that includes a SSS change of direction as it would be done in context of a syllabus routine, say for silver? We haven't found a great solution for it yet. (I'm sure we just haven't looked/asked in the right place.)

This is like solving a puzzle, to figure out the pieces that fit... First we figure out the pieces we need (Bronze/Silver foxtrot steps that put us off phrase):

Change of Direction
Natural Turn
Hover Feather
Natural Telemark
Open Telemark, Natural Turn, Outside Swivel and Feather Ending

Put any of these in close proximity to each other and you're back on phrase. For whatever reason, these connections work great at corners (when solving puzzles we start with corners right? )

One example, dance Change of Direction at the end of a line, to go DW of new LoD, and follow it with a Natural Telemark. (I think I remember Larinda giving this example in another thread few years back, but I can't find it)

Another example, if your short line ends with Open Telemark, Natural Turn, Outside Swivel and Feather Ending, the Feather Ending will head to DW of new LoD, and you could follow it with a Change of Direction to go DC of new LoD.

 

[snapdancer]

According to my copy of the "gray book", a legal follow for CoD (SSS,LRL for man) is a Feather Step (SQQ,RLR for man). Four slows in a row.

 

[flying_backwards]

According to my copy of the "gray book", a legal follow for CoD (SSS,LRL for man) is a Feather Step (SQQ,RLR for man). Four slows in a row.

Yes that is four S in a row but that is not the same thing as a COD using 4 slows. The 4th S of a (non-standard) COD is still the leader's left ht. That remains the same no matter the timing. Note a SSSS COD followed by a Feather means having 5 slows in a row. Now that's musically languid. Delicious.

I do enjoy a 4-slow COD. That is the way my teacher likes to lead it when we "just dance", not a class choreo. My partner and I have this as an alternative to the SSS and the SQQ. We will cease using SQQ on Larinda's advice.

Since my partner has already been practicing with the SSSS version of the COD, it is not too late to sub that into our choreo for our upcoming comp. The challenge for my partner with a SSSS COD is the need to continually, gradually, rotate with CBM through the entire SSSS, not just freeze for 2 extra counts!

Is there a thread specifically for "Ask The Invigilator?"

 

[vit]

Another example, if your short line ends with Open Telemark, Natural Turn, Outside Swivel and Feather Ending, the Feather Ending will head to DW of new LoD, and you could follow it with a Change of Direction to go DC of new LoD.

Or you can put weave in between, ending DW of old LOD and proceed with change of direction in the corner ...

 

[DL]

OOO LET'S START ONE!!

(This is off-topic but I assume the new thread actually already started and just hasn't been re-homed yet. )

I actually never heard of anyone actually being invigilated. My experience was mostly with college comps. I would be curious to hear stories of people who had this experience *at all*.

I've seen plenty of comments on DF of people saying, "oh we just fudge such-and-such to fit choreography, it's clearly within the SPIRIT of the rules," or "so-and-so [who beat me at that last comp] clearly broke the rules [in a way less acceptable than any way I ever did] and should have been invigilated". But I have yet to hear of an actual invigilation.

 

[snapdancer]

I observed it happening, the chairman of judges talking to a male pro about a violation dancing with his female student. This confirmed with female student who is a friend of mine. Wasn't clear about the specifics.

 

[ballroomdancertoo]

what's an invigilator?

 

[RiseNFall]

The first year of strict(er) invigilating, Pro got called out a lot on Bronze steps. I only know of one time he was told he couldn't do something in Silver at an NDCA comp (and when I looked it up, I'm not sure the invigilator was even correct). Much better after the first year. An invigilator told him at one comp that he would allow something, but warned him that he would be/could be invigilated for it at another comp (Pro dropped the step immediately, even at that comp--issue was actually something he did in the step, not something I did).

Just last year, he was warned at a comp about several elements in a Bronze routine that he had done at many other competitions without any issue. He made the requested changes before the championship. I was not the student and I never asked what the issues were.

 

[snapdancer]

The deal is that you SHOULDN'T hear or see invigilation happen. No one likes being called out in front of your peers and competitors. It is done privately.

In this particular case, it wasn't blatantly obvious. I was visiting friend who was sitting with her pro when the chairman of judges came up to talk to him. I couldn't hear what was going on, but their demeanor appeared professional. I thought the chairman coming over to talk to the pro in the middle of the session was unusual and suspected invigilation, then confirmed it with my friend.