Judging Multi-Group Heats

[Indiana_Jay]

How does it work when judges are told, "Call back 48 couples from four groups?" I saw this happen at the Purdue comp. and the collegiate comp. at OSB.

Do the judges simply call back the best 12 dancers from each of the four groups?

And if so, doesn't that make it possible that if the best 15 dancers of the entire heat happen to end up in the first group, three of the best 15 dancers of the heat don't get called back?

 

[Laura]

How does it work when judges are told, "Call back 48 couples from four groups?" I saw this happen at the Purdue comp. and the collegiate comp. at OSB.

Do the judges simply call back the best 12 dancers from each of the four groups?

No, they call back the 48 couples they want to see the most, regardless of what group they are in. Although, I'm not really sure how they keep track of it all while in the middle of judging, especially the first dance!

 

[Indiana_Jay]

No, they call back the 48 couples they want to see the most, regardless of what group they are in. Although, I'm not really sure how they keep track of it all while in the middle of judging, especially the first dance!

Yeah, you anticipated my next question. At the OSB collegiate comp., one heat had six groups! I can't imagine how the judges can decide who the best 72 couples are out of, what, 144 or more? Not a job I'd want!

 

[delamusica]

I would think that in such a situation it would be lucky to be in one of the later heats, when they're not saving callbacks in hopes that someone better will come along.

 

[mamboqueen]

I would think that in such a situation it would be lucky to be in one of the later heats, when they're not saving callbacks in hopes that someone better will come along.

No kidding! This happened to me in Hotlanta...there were 3 groups. Oddly, after we went out the first time to dance, they had everyone come out and we had to repeat that dance (so Heat #1 did cha twice), then it went to Heat #2 and #3. I was thinking exactly what you're saying because I figured they have to save some spots just in case. I made it to the next round, but unfortunately, not beyond.

 

[redhead]

I think it's nice to be in later heats because they usually play exact same music... I do think it's an advantage.

 

[mummsie]

Normally what they do is for example if there are 3 heats - they usually have to bring back half to the next round. If there are 3 heats of 6 couples they try to bring back 3 from each heat. They scribble down the back numbers in the first heats at the side of their score sheet of people who they think are ok - so if there is someone really good in another heat they substitute. I have been a helper at many comps and this is fairly common. They sort them as they go. its amazing how they do it. Mummsie

 

[White Chacha]

No, they call back the 48 couples they want to see the most, regardless of what group they are in. Although, I'm not really sure how they keep track of it all while in the middle of judging, especially the first dance!

Is that USA Dance rules? I thought this could be decided as a policy for the comp by the chairman of judges. If it's as you say, AND the same music is played for each heat in a multi-heat round, then there's a definite advantage to being in a later heat. Doesn't seem fair.

 

[NielsenE]

Is that USA Dance rules? I thought this could be decided as a policy for the comp by the chairman of judges. If it's as you say, AND the same music is played for each heat in a multi-heat round, then there's a definite advantage to being in a later heat. Doesn't seem fair.

Well I know that a few CoJ's around the New England collegiate circuit like to direct the judges to call back N from this heat, and M from this heat, etc. However I've also know several judges to disregard and still mark N+M+... across the heats. I've also known several judges to get very confused when the CoJ starts "micromanaging" their callbacks in this manner.

I understand why some of the large events do it (herding cats, inaccurate line counts, etc don't want to end up with the judges expecting to average 8 couples in each heat only to end up with only 8 on the floor... -- there's an even further advantage to being late in the line as often the odds favor you if the judges weren't keeping a 'maybe recall" list going. But I'd still rather it be done like "Recall 48 from 5 heats, be prepared for a slight adjustment on the last hear" instead of each heat being re-instructed

 

[Laura]

Is that USA Dance rules?

No, USA Dance doesn't have any particular rules on this, just that the judges have to bring back half the couples total from all the groups to the next round. There are no rules in the NDCA or USA Dance about how the couples are picked out of the various groups.

If it's as you say, AND the same music is played for each heat in a multi-heat round, then there's a definite advantage to being in a later heat. Doesn't seem fair.

Yes, if you are a borderline case, there is a definite advantage to being in a later group. However, if your dancing greatness stands out from the start, you will get marked through no matter what group you are in.

 

[NielsenE]

No, USA Dance doesn't have any particular rules on this, just that the judges have to bring back half the couples total from all the groups to the next round. There are no rules in the NDCA or USA Dance about how the couples are picked out of the various groups.

Actually aren't the only governing rules
a) the judges must call back the number specified by the chairman
b) the chairman must specify the number of couples to callback which can not be less than 1/2 of the couples participating in the round.*

* I beleive there is an exception for cases where ties caused a round to be larger than requested-- the chairman can direct to judges to callback half of the original target(in the following round) even if becomes of ties the number in this round is larger....

 

[tangotime]

selection

It is not as difficult as one would imagine-- there are generally couples who are borderline for next round that i generally make mental notes about .I cannot speak for other adjudicators, but I think they all do much the same. By the way, am not saying its easy !!!