How often do you change your comp routines?

[JANATHOME]

How often will your pro change your routines? I don't mean little "tweeks", I mean re-do the entire routine?

Since starting open this is the third time my tango routine was completely done over, in a 6 month period(I think). With my previous instructor I think we went 2 years in syllabus with never changing the routine, while with my present instructor changes are made often.

I think each re-do there was an improvement but I find it sometimes frustrating that I am back to learning a new routine rather than working on a known routine. Then this... it creeps into my mind that pro is thinking I cant handle the routine as is and that is the reason for the re-work...

So how often do your comp routines get redone?

 

[novemberecho]

I did however think "how can I arrange this to better show students abilities without exposing their weaknesses"... not quiet the same thing as "they can't handle this".

AWESOME.

 

[debmc]

We don't change entire routines but tweak things here or there.

 

[GGinrhinestones]

Previous pro changed routines All The Time - little tweaks here and there, but over about four lessons it would basically be an entirely new routine. Can't say anything about current pro, since we're still creating the routines, but he's made it pretty clear that everything is basically a "suggestion" at this point and subject to change as we dance it more and find out what really works and what doesn't.

Larinda's point about everyone reworking routines because of the changing rules is a really great one, and something I had not even considered. There are lots of other reasons, too...one of my favorites (seriously!) is when pros come back from competitions where they watched awesome and current dancing and are now inspired to make their routines better. There is a point when you just have to stop changing and dance already, but it also kinda works as a constant reminder not to get to stuck on a routine - you never know when you'll have to change it on the fly in the middle of a competition, anyway.

 

[ctbXVIII]

Back in October I received new choreography for the big 10 dances, as well as the international dances I dance, (I compete in American style).
My instructor tells me these will be my open routines which I will grow into for the next year to two years, which I am more than happy with!

 

[Joe]

Larinda's point about everyone reworking routines because of the changing rules is a really great one

It's not the rules that are changing--it's the laxity of the enforcement that is changing.

 

[dbk]

I did however think "how can I arrange this to better show students abilities without exposing their weaknesses"... not quiet the same thing as "they can't handle this".

This is how our choreo has always been planned, too. And I think this is exactly what will tell you that it's time for new choreo... when you don't have the same weaknesses to hide, and instead the choreo is isn't letting you show off your improved abilities.

 

[Groove On]

I did however think "how can I arrange this to better show students abilities without exposing their weaknesses"... not quiet the same thing as "they can't handle this".

That's the way my pro also thinks, she's constantly changing my choreography routines to the point that they're completely different by the end of each week! She's always saying, well you've improved here, so let's change this, and now your partner seems better here, so let's change this, don't do that, you're not ready, let's work on fixing it first, whoops! now we can change the choreography again. It was a big pain in the beginning, but the learning curve was worth it, I'm so used to it now, that I don't think twice anymore about in-the-moment choreography changes, and I'm grateful for that.

Her and her partner are notorious for changing their choreography last minute, even in the middle of a competition. The screaming and anguish that comes from the sidelines, is balanced by their ability to pull it off like they've been dancing it for months.