Question About College Comps in the Northeast

[ChaChaMama]

Do adults compete at college comps?

My partner and I are in our late 30s, and I am wondering if we would stick out like sore thumbs if we participated in college comps.

I have a cousin at The College of the Holy Cross and a best friend teaching at Boston University, both of which have comps during the spring semester, and this struck me as a possible way to combine a comp and a visit.

We attended MAC this year; would these comps be like MAC, or would they be almost exclusively 18-22 year olds?

ChaChaMama

 

[skwiggy]

It depends on the competition. But no, you would not stick out like sore thumbs. It just might be more fun if you research the competitions first and select the ones that are well attended in your category, whatever that may be.

A lot of alumni keep coming back well into their 30's and beyond. Although most of the "older" crowd is usually dancing in the open categories.

The college crowd is warm and welcoming, and I'm sure that no matter what, they will support and cheer for you and you will be glad you attended their competitions. They're generally inexpensive, well-run, and very energetic. I'd recommend them in a second!

 

[Laura]

My partner and I are in our early 40's and we love going to college comps in the San Francisco Bay Area. We dance Standard -- we started on the gold syllabus level, then moved to the "Advanced" level (like USA Dance's Novice), and we've never been the oldest couple there either.

 

[Katarzyna]

Definitely recommend college comps. They are inexpensive, and usually much better contested than average NDCA comps.. (although the level of open might be substantialy lower)

 

[Kitty]

you'd be very welcome to compete. And there are a lot of adults who do. One thing, there is only one age category offered, so you won't be able to compete in over 35. (not sure if you want to, but just letting you know).

Cheap (registration usually about 30 bucks per person for unlimited entries). Very contested trough silver. (gold and open might be not so contested, though sometimes even at smaller comps gold latin has a quaterfinal)

 

[wyllo]

I can only speak to the college comps in the Midwest, but I imagine the experience in the same in the Northeast. Adult couples are not uncommon or out of place. One thing to keep in mind is that there are no A/B/C age divisions - just syllabus and open levels. Often the bulk of competitors are in bronze, a few in silver, one or two in gold and maybe a handful in the open levels. But for a $30-40 entry fee, even if you have no competition I'd say getting performance experience in front of an enthusiastic crowd is worth it.

Colleges often get free/inexpensive use of student union rooms, which often have beautiful hardwood floors and sometimes are extravagent ballrooms.

Some of the college competitions are able to get fantastic judges and usually have workshops the day after that are either included in the competition fee or are very cheap.