Judges: Would you frown upon a Lady dancing Standard with her hair down?

[caw]

My partner has bra-strap-length hair. It's straight, heavy, not frizzy, never gets in her face, and looks great when down. We always practice with it down, but in competition all the Ladies wear buns. I think her hair would look great down while we are spinning around at a competition, but I know judges can sometimes be unhappy with anyone not following tradition.

What do you think? Answers from everyone are welcome, but please include in your response if you're actually a judge.

 

[JudeMorrigan]

This is focused on smooth rather than standard (although there are posts that touch on standard) and is a bit old, but had you seen this thread:

http://www.dance-forums.com/threads/hair-down-in-back-for-smooth.40240

 

[caw]

I have worn my hair down successfully many times. ALTHOUGH the effort I put into getting it healthy and ready, and the effort I put into it THAT DAY instead of just having regular hair and paying Boyko or someone to do it for me, and the effort that I put into it as I am dancing in between heats (keeping it dry and brushed and neat) is FAR more monumental than anything else. In fact even when I wore it down it still had a thing going on, still styled, and sprayed, and pinned.

I would definitely frown if I saw anyone come out with their hair down and just pulled back in clip or elastic. My hair was far more polished than anyone else's even though it was down. And I would really HATE for women to think that it is just an easy way out of actually doing their hair. If it looks like crap I just going to think she is being lazy.

Unfortunately the college crowd in the Boston area followed my lead and now we have tons of girls wearing their hair down and it looks AWFUL.

So, as long as it still looks like it was a pain in the knat to do, hair up or down is fine? Got it.

Edit: pain in the "knat"? Nice auto-censoring, DF!

 

[Dancing Irishman]

I think it's supposed to look effortless (Larinda's does) but that doesn't mean it *is* effortless (when it's down, that is).

 

[Dr Dance]

As a guy, I personally like her hair down. But as a performer, I want my partner to be as comfortable as she can possibly be. Therefore, I vote "bun."

 

[JudeMorrigan]

At caw's level, I'm skeptical that comfort is too much of a factor.

Anyways, while I'm certainly no adjudicator and not on your level, my general impression from previous threads and from outside the forum is that if one wants to make an unconventional grooming choice, the grooming had best be immaculate. If I were going to try something like this, I'd definitely do a fully costumed dress rehearsal beforehand and have a friend tape it. Then I'd sit down, watch it and be really honest with myself about whether or not the choice was distracting.

And even then, I'd feel like I'd need to be prepared for blowback from the judges and try it out at a small competition I wasn't overly concerned about.

 

[mindputtee]

I wore my hair half up/half down for DCDI last year:

My hair wasn't quite as gorgeous and immaculate as Larinda's, but I really liked the effect. I thought it worked well with my costumes (one is mermaid theme, the other has a kind of Aztec feel to it) and made sense with the complete look. We did better than we expected in both our events (prechamp standard and open smooth) so I don't think it really effected anything. It was a lot of work to do still as the hair has to be perfectly flat ironed and then retouched up between every round.

 

[danceronice]

I wouldn't even think about "does it look super-styled even when down", I'd wonder "Do I REALLY want to stand out that much?" It's like going out for Standard with no floats and a plain skirt--there's nothing wrong with it, but you are jumping up and down and screaming "LOOK AT ME RIGHT HERE!"

And just from an annoyance factor I almost never wear my hair down at all (it's very, very long and thick) as I then am compulsively pushing it back or getting it caught on things and B. gets his hand caught in it. It's just easier to have at least a VERY strict ponytail that's been ironed within an inch of its life, if not an updo.

 

[fascination]

even then, I know for a fact that some judges will likely be negatively impacted...if that matters

 

[j_alexandra]

One of my dance buddies used to wear her hair down, with all Larinda's provisos: groomed to death, ironed, sprayed, totally even, etc., but still, down. A very prominent judge -- long career, lots of experience, high profile -- told Teach that he should tell "his girl" to put her hair up.

 

[snapdancer]

.... Smooth is a whole 'nother kettle of fish and I think I spend a cray amount of time learning how to move in and out of frame just so in order that his hand has a clear shot at my back.

Ah yes. Some ladies go for the glamour: the hair, the makeup, the jewelry, the dress. My personal rule of costumes and grooming for social dancing: you can wear whatever makes you happy -- unless I notice it while we're dancing. Because if I notice it while we're dancing, it's in the way of dancing, therefore something is wrong it it.

 

[nikkitta]

Larinda, I'm very glad to hear you say that you don't like the "hair down" trend in the New England collegiate scene these days. I personally can't stand it either, and I recall you saying how much effort you put in to making your hair look extremely healthy and groomed on the occasions that you wore it down while competing. Seems like a lot of ladies around here don't spend enough time on that aspect of their competitive "look". I'm not that surprised to see newbies and bronze dancers with sad ponytails, but I really cringe when I see the upper-level dancers do that. You don't have to create Boyko-worthy masterpieces, but at least keep it as neat as possible.

 

[tangotime]

It really depends upon HOW long the hair is.. Would I object. Possibly not..( and yes, I am an Adjudicator )

 

[s2k]

Unfortunately the college crowd in the Boston area followed my lead and now we have tons of girls wearing their hair down and it looks AWFUL.

Larinda, I'm very glad to hear you say that you don't like the "hair down" trend in the New England collegiate scene these days. ...Seems like a lot of ladies around here don't spend enough time on that aspect of their competitive "look". I'm not that surprised to see newbies and bronze dancers with sad ponytails, but I really cringe when I see the upper-level dancers do that. You don't have to create Boyko-worthy masterpieces, but at least keep it as neat as possible.

YES. Gorgeous dancers up there - incredibly talented. Could watch for hours. They've clearly spent a lot of time practicing, and their dresses fit well and are flattering. But then it's like the ladies just stopped at the neck. And that takes me, as a spectator, out of the "illusion," and - and it shouldn't be about this - but it feels like there's a lack of care. And that may be entirely untrue, the ladies may care A LOT, but it doesn't come across that way in casual hair and makeup and a sparkly poof of a gown.

 

[Joe]

I wouldn't even think about "does it look super-styled even when down", I'd wonder "Do I REALLY want to stand out that much?" It's like going out for Standard with no floats and a plain skirt--there's nothing wrong with it, but you are jumping up and down and screaming "LOOK AT ME RIGHT HERE!"

But don't you want judges to look at you right there (without having to do the jumping and screaming)?

And just from an annoyance factor I almost never wear my hair down at all (it's very, very long and thick) as I then am compulsively pushing it back or getting it caught on things and B. gets his hand caught in it. It's just easier to have at least a VERY strict ponytail that's been ironed within an inch of its life, if not an updo.

Why not just get a short cut then?