Has anyone ever achieved gold status on most of the 10 styles in 1 year?

[MaggieMoves]

It is an ISTD competition and the level is Social Dance Test. I'm excited about it and have practised a lot. It's only the floorcraft part of quickstep that I am getting used to. I was obsessed with doing a spin turn in every corner and have toned it down to just angle a good basic into it.

My routine consists of basics, lock steps, spin turn, double reverse spin, chasse right, back lock, tipple chasse.... not much is needed and partner is instructor.

Good luck!

 

[DL]

I respect our mods too much to go here.

I privately cleared that with the moderators back in 2014. (I asked specifically about 'upsilon' u+03C5 as a substitute for 'u'.) Then I posted the workaround publicly for the first time (can't remember which thread).

Above I used a math symbol instead of upsilon, only because I was too lazy at that moment either to find my own research or repeat it, when looking for the 'best' unicode look-alike for 'u'.

 

[RiseNFall]

Best wishes! I hope you and your instructor are pleased with your dancing AND that it helps set the next bunch of work/goals/etc.

 

[carlosyabrudy]

Thanks guys. All is being worked on strictly. Frame issues are being ironed out.

I'm investing in steel rodded jackets so my frame never falters
and camouflaged latin heels that are sandalwood colour so that the judges can never see my latin heel leads!

 

[Requiem]

I'm investing in steel rodded jackets so my frame never falters
and camouflaged latin heels that are sandalwood colour so that the judges can never see my latin heel leads!

Forgive my noobness, but I've never heard of people using things like these in a competition before. I've heard of a sort of bar used to keep the frame up, but only in the context of building muscle memory while training. Does anyone know if they work, i.e., can they actually fool the judges?

 

[JudeMorrigan]

I am *pretty* sure he was joking.

 

[Requiem]

I am *pretty* sure he was joking.

OK, thanks~ I must be a little slow today, but I thought I might be missing out on some sweet tech

 

[twnkltoz]

Yeah I'm guessing that was a joke.

 

[carlosyabrudy]

Haha. Please don't go buying the above shoes.

It is certainly a joke. I'm creating my own dance humour early into things. I like seeing the funny side of life too....

P.s. Cedarwood also available just in case they try to trick you with darker floors too!

 

[carlosyabrudy]

Ok. So I competed. Closed in Quickstep and Cha Cha on Sunday and here is what happened.

Quickstep - Social Dance Test Level (Pre Bronze and Bronze also on this day) as soon as I started, my frame started to falter 30 seconds into it and was noticeable. There were only 7 of us. 6 were female in the U35 and one was male (me) the others dancing I know and some I didn't but all had years of experience (2+) it seems like people don't compete this fast. I have 2 months experience. So I didn't qualify for blackpool on this one. My observation after watching the video playback was that every other males frame was perfect as they were instructors so to not stick out like a sore human in 2 weeks when I compete again, my frame must be immaculate and not dip at all. Strides must be longer to compensate for the slower tempo of music that I wasn't expecting. I had been practicing to faster stuff.



Cha Cha - larger category and 12 couples. 6 chosen for final. I didn't get through on this one. I was lacking some upper body work which is seen by other dancers and the sharpness of placement legwork. I had the occasional bent knee though I have been working hard on this for hours by myself in the unused studio. The routine is autopilot but I struggled on the hand to hand as I wasn't winding my hip back into it enough until recently. On the day I was shown how to better it prior to going up.



I had no nervousness on the day and simply wanted to show people what I can do. I will do everything much better to a higher standard on 4th June.

This is Carlos signing off.

 

[carlosyabrudy]

Current progress 2 months in: anything ticked is now not needed to be thought about to demonstrate.

LATIN SYLLABUS



Cha Cha

PRE-BRONZE

1. Basic Movements (Closed, Open, In Place)
2. New York (to Left or Right Side Position)
3. Spot Turns to Left or Right (including Switch and Underarm Turns)
4. Shoulder to Shoulder (Left Side and Right Side)
5. Hand to Hand (to Right and Left Side Position)
6. Three Cha Cha Chas (Forward and Back)
7. Side Steps (to Left or Right)
8. There and Back
9. Time Steps

BRONZE

1. Fan
2. Alemana
3. Hockey Stick
4. Natural Top
5. Natural Opening Out Movement
6. Closed Hip Twist

SILVER

1. Open Hip Twist
2. Reverse Top
3. Opening Out from Reverse Top
4. Aida
5. Spiral Turns (Spiral, Curl, Rope Spinning)
6. Cross Basic
7. Cuban Breaks (including Split Cuban Breaks)
8. Chase

GOLD

1. Advanced Hip Twist
2. Hip Twist Spiral
3. Turkish Towel
4. Sweetheart
5. Follow My Leader
6. Foot Changes

Rumba

PRE-BRONZE

1. Basic Movements (Closed, Open, In Place, Alternative)
2. Cucarachas (LF and RF)
3. New York (to Left or Right Side Position)
4. Spot Turns to Left or Right (including Switch and Underarm Turns)
5. Shoulder to Shoulder (Left Side and Right Side)
6. Hand to Hand (to Right and Left Side Position)
7. Progressive Walks Forward or Back
8. Side Steps (to Left or Right)
9. Cuban Rocks

BRONZE

1. Fan
2. Alemana
3. Hockey Stick
4. Natural Top
5. Opening Out to Right and Left
6. Natural Opening Out Movement
7. Closed Hip Twist

SILVER

1. Open Hip Twist
2. Reverse Top
3. Opening Out from Reverse Top
4. Aida
5. Spiral Turns (Spiral, Curl, Rope Spinning)

GOLD

1. Sliding Doors
2. Fencing
3. Three Threes
4. Three Alemanas
5. Hip Twists (Advanced, Continuous, Circular)

Samba


PRE-BRONZE *

1. Basic Movements (Natural, Reverse, Side, Progressive)
2. Whisks (also with Lady's underarm turn)
3. Samba Walks (Promenade, Side, Stationary)
4. Rhythm Bounce
5. Volta Movements
6. Travelling Bota Fogos Forward
7. Criss Cross Bota Fogos (Shadow Bota Fogos)

BRONZE

1. Travelling Bota Fogos Back
2. Bota Fogos to Promenade and Counter Promenade
3. Criss Cross Voltas
4. Solo Spot Volta
5. Foot Changes
6. Shadow Travelling Volta
7. Reverse Turn
8. Corta Jaca
9. Closed Rocks

SILVER

1. Open Rocks
2. Back Rocks
3. Plait
4. Rolling off the Arm
5. Argentine Crosses
6. Maypole
7. Shadow Circular Volta

GOLD

1. Contra Botafogos
2. Roundabout
3. Natural Roll
4. Reverse Roll
5. Promenade and Counter Promenade Runs
6. Three Step Turn
7. Samba Locks
8. Cruzados Walks and Locks

Jive

PRE-BRONZE

1. Basic in Place
2. Fallaway Rock
3. Fallaway Throwaway
4. Link
5. Change of Places Right to Left
6. Change of Places Left to Right
7. Change of Hands Behind Back
8. Hip Bump (Left Shoulder Shove)

BRONZE

1. American Spin
2. Walks
3. Stop and Go
4. Mooch
5. Whip
6. Whip Throwaway

SILVER

1. Reverse Whip
2. Windmill
3. Spanish Arms
4. Rolling off the Arm
5. Simple Spin
6. Miami Special

GOLD

1. Curly Whip
2. Shoulder Spin
3. Toe Heel Swivels
4. Chugging
5. Chicken Walks
6. Catapult
7. Stalking Walks, Flicks and Break

Paso Doble

PRE-BRONZE

1. Sur Place
2. Basic Movement
3. Chasses to Right or Left (including Elevations)
4. Drag
5. Deplacement (also Attack)
6. Promenade Link (also Promenade Close)
7. Promenade
8. Ecart (Fallaway Whisk)
9. Separation
10. Separation with Lady's Caping Walk

BRONZE

1. Fallaway Ending to Separation
2. Huit
3. Sixteen
4. Promenade and Counter Promenade
5. Grand Circle
6. Open Telemark

SILVER

1. La Passe
2. Banderillas
3. Twist Turn
4. Fallaway Reverse Turn
5. Coup de Pique
6. Left Foot Variation
7. Spanish Lines
8. Flamenco Taps
9. GOLD

1. Syncopated Separation
2. Travelling Spins from PP
3. Travelling Spins from CPP
4. Fregolina (also Farol)
5. Twists
6. Chasse Cape (including Outside Turn)

BALLROOM SYLLABUS


Waltz


PRE-BRONZE

1. Closed Changes
2. Natural Turn
3. Reverse Turn
4. Natural Spin Turn
5. Whisk
6. Chasse from PP

BRONZE

1. Closed Impetus
2. Hesitation Change
3. Outside Change
4. Reverse Corte
5. Back Whisk
6. Basic Weave
7. Double Reverse Spin
8. Reverse Pivot
9. Back Lock
10. Progressive Chasse to R

SILVER

1. Weave from PP
2. Closed Telemark
3. Open Telemark and Cross Hesitation
4. Open Telemark and Wing
5. Open Impetus and Cross Hesitation
6. Open Impetus and Wing
7. Outside Spin
8. Turning Lock
9. Drag Hesitation

GOLD

1. Left Whisk
2. Contra Check
3. Closed Wing
4. Turning Lock to R
5. Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot
6. Hover Corte
7. Fallaway Whisk

Quickstep


PRE-BRONZE

1. Quarter Turn to R
2. Natural Turn
3. Natural Turn with Hesitation
4. Natural Pivot Turn
5. Natural Spin Turn
6. Progressive Chasse
7. Chasse Reverse Turn
8. Forward Lock
9. Quarter Turn to Left (Heel Pivot)

BRONZE

1. Closed Impetus
2. Backward Lock
3. Reverse Pivot
4. Progressive Chasse to R
5. Tipple Chasse to R
6. Running Finish
7. Natural Turn and Back Lock
8. Double Reverse Spin
9. Zig Zag, Back Lock, Running Finish
10. Cross Chasse
11. Change of Direction

SILVER

1. Quick Open Reverse
2. Fishtail
3. Running Right Turn
4. Four Quick Run
5. V6
6. Closed Telemark

GOLD

1. Cross Swivel
2. Six Quick Run
3. Rumba Cross
4. Tipsy to Right and Left
5. Hover Corte

Tango


PRE-BRONZE

1. Walk
2. Progressive Side Step
3. Progressive Link
4. Closed Promenade
5. Natural Rock Turn
6. Open Reverse Turn, Lady Outside
7. Back Corte

BRONZE

1. Open Reverse Turn, Lady in Line
2. Progressive Side Step Reverse Turn QQS, SS, QQS, QQS
3. Open Promenade
4. LF and RF Rocks
5. Natural Twist Turn
6. Natural Promenade Turn

SILVER

1. Promenade Link
2. Four Step
3. Back Open Promenade
4. Outside Swivels
5. Fallaway Promenade
6. Four Step Change
7. Brush Tap

GOLD

1. Fallaway Four Step
2. Oversway
3. Basic Reverse Turn
4. The Chase
5. Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot
6. Five Step
7. Contra Check
   

Foxtrot

PRE-BRONZE *

1. Feather
2. Three Step
3. Natural Turn
4. Reverse Turn with Feather Finish
5. Closed Impetus with Feather Finish

BRONZE

1. Natural Weave
2. Change of Direction
3. Basic Weave

SILVER

1. Closed Telemark
2. Open Telemark and Feather Ending
3. Top Spin
4. Hover Feather
5. Hover Telemark (and to PP)
6. Natural Telemark
7. Hover Cross
8. Open Telemark, Natural Turn, Outside Swivel, Feather Ending
9. Open Impetus
10. Weave from PP
11. Reverse Wave
12. Natural Weave from PP

GOLD

1. Natural Twist Turn
2. Curved Feather to Back Feather
3. Natural Zig Zag from PP
4. Fallaway Reverse and Slip Pivot
5. Natural Hover Telemark
6. Bounce Fallaway with Weave Ending

Viennese Waltz

• BRONZE
  1. Natural Turn
  2. Reverse Turn
  3. Closed Changes Forward
  4. Closed Changes Backward

• SILVER
  1. Reverse Fleckerl

• GOLD
  1. Natural Fleckerl
  2. Contra Check

 

[carlosyabrudy]

If anyone uses Instagram, I have the same username there

 

[j_alexandra]

Ok. So I competed. Closed in Quickstep and Cha Cha on Sunday and here is what happened.

Quickstep - Social Dance Test Level (Pre Bronze and Bronze also on this day) as soon as I started, my frame started to falter 30 seconds into it and was noticeable. There were only 7 of us. 6 were female in the U35 and one was male (me) the others dancing I know and some I didn't but all had years of experience (2+) it seems like people don't compete this fast. I have 2 months experience. So I didn't qualify for blackpool on this one. My observation after watching the video playback was that every other males frame was perfect as they were instructors so to not stick out like a sore human in 2 weeks when I compete again, my frame must be immaculate and not dip at all. Strides must be longer to compensate for the slower tempo of music that I wasn't expecting. I had been practicing to faster stuff.



Cha Cha - larger category and 12 couples. 6 chosen for final. I didn't get through on this one. I was lacking some upper body work which is seen by other dancers and the sharpness of placement legwork. I had the occasional bent knee though I have been working hard on this for hours by myself in the unused studio. The routine is autopilot but I struggled on the hand to hand as I wasn't winding my hip back into it enough until recently. On the day I was shown how to better it prior to going up.



I had no nervousness on the day and simply wanted to show people what I can do. I will do everything much better to a higher standard on 4th June.

This is Carlos signing off.

Well done, you, on so many levels! Especially for learning from the experience. Best of luck on your next!

 

[snapdancer]

Glad you're progressing. But I've found that in dancing, when you reach the top of a mountain what you discover is that there's another mountain that was hidden by the first mountain. Hopefully you like "climbing mountains".

There are similar levels in learning figures. It's one thing to dance it with an instructor who knows the routine and has the ability to "fill in the blanks" for a beginner's less-than-ideal lead. It gets progressively difficult if you're trying to lead an amateur follow who knows her part but doesn't know yours and how to follow a deficient lead.

For my own dancing, I don't consider that I have a figure mastered until I reach the point that I can lead a follow who hasn't studied the figure and achieve a result that it's either recognizable as the figure or I'm able to recover and keep dancing even if they don't quite follow correctly.

 

[twnkltoz]

Good for you for getting out there and learning from the experience.