Three Dance Standard Events?
- Thread starter GJB
- Start date
Chris Stratton
New Member
The official recommendation for amateur novice is a three dance waltz foxtrot quickstep. The name novice is somewhat confusing - it is a level with no minimum proficiency, which permits full open choreography, so its not really a beginner level.
Syllabus events are sometimes three dances. It's not uncommon for that to be Waltz Tango Foxtrot for silver, or perhaps Waltz Tango Quickstep for bronze where people may not yet be comfortable with foxtrot.
It's not uncommon for competitions to offer more than the recommended number of dances. Sometimes it will be two two dance events for four, maybe plus and extra viennese waltz as a single dance. Or maybe three dances as the recommended event, plus two single dancers... or pretty much any combination that makes sense has been tried.
Syllabus events are sometimes three dances. It's not uncommon for that to be Waltz Tango Foxtrot for silver, or perhaps Waltz Tango Quickstep for bronze where people may not yet be comfortable with foxtrot.
It's not uncommon for competitions to offer more than the recommended number of dances. Sometimes it will be two two dance events for four, maybe plus and extra viennese waltz as a single dance. Or maybe three dances as the recommended event, plus two single dancers... or pretty much any combination that makes sense has been tried.
Laura
Well-Known Member
As far as Pro/Am goes, the events are grouped a couple of different ways.
First there are the "groups" or "freestyles" or "single-dance" events. These are all one dance events, so you go out there and dance Waltz or whatever and are just judged on that one dance.
Then there are the "scholarships" or "championships" or "DanceSport Series" or "multi-dance" events. These are multi-dance events, where a combination of 3-5 dances are contested all in a row and the final placings are based on the combined results from the dances (just like in regular amateur or pro events). The number of dances often depends on level, and although Waltz is always present and Viennese Waltz is usually only danced at the highest level, the other dances seem to depend on the preference and whim of the organizer. Bronze-level events are usually three dances, Silver are usually four, and there aren't often Gold-level multi-dance events. The Gold-level dancers are expected to dance up into the "Open" (meaning "no syllabus restrictions") level. The Open level is usually all five dances, although every once in a while you'll find a comp where they leave out Viennese Waltz for some reason.
First there are the "groups" or "freestyles" or "single-dance" events. These are all one dance events, so you go out there and dance Waltz or whatever and are just judged on that one dance.
Then there are the "scholarships" or "championships" or "DanceSport Series" or "multi-dance" events. These are multi-dance events, where a combination of 3-5 dances are contested all in a row and the final placings are based on the combined results from the dances (just like in regular amateur or pro events). The number of dances often depends on level, and although Waltz is always present and Viennese Waltz is usually only danced at the highest level, the other dances seem to depend on the preference and whim of the organizer. Bronze-level events are usually three dances, Silver are usually four, and there aren't often Gold-level multi-dance events. The Gold-level dancers are expected to dance up into the "Open" (meaning "no syllabus restrictions") level. The Open level is usually all five dances, although every once in a while you'll find a comp where they leave out Viennese Waltz for some reason.
Laura
Well-Known Member
Has any USA Dance sanctioned competition actually offered mixed-proficiency events yet? There are rules on the books for these events, but I haven't heard of them actually being contested yet.
For mixed proficiency, you need to dance in a designated mixed proficiency syllabus event with a "DanceSport Athlete" (i.e., another competitive member of USA Dance) who is at Pre-Championship level or higher. I believe only the syllabus-level dancer is to be judged.
For mixed proficiency, you need to dance in a designated mixed proficiency syllabus event with a "DanceSport Athlete" (i.e., another competitive member of USA Dance) who is at Pre-Championship level or higher. I believe only the syllabus-level dancer is to be judged.
wooh
Well-Known Member
Wasn't at SRC on Friday to know if they actually danced, but the program listed a few women dancing with Russ Wilder in mixed-proficiency.
ACtenDance
Active Member
I heard that Russ Wilder danced with several young girls in mixed proficiency events down at SRC. I think that we're running mixed proficiency events at the Triangle Open this year.
Laura
Well-Known Member
That's so cool! Glad to see that someone is actually doing something with this.
I wish I were officially Pre-Champ level because I think it would be way fun to dance a guy or two through his first bronze-level competition. I've been dancing and competing for 9 1/2 years, but because of the way points accumulate, I could still dance in Bronze if I wanted to!
I wish I were officially Pre-Champ level because I think it would be way fun to dance a guy or two through his first bronze-level competition. I've been dancing and competing for 9 1/2 years, but because of the way points accumulate, I could still dance in Bronze if I wanted to!
little_mouse
Member
Would that mean if I am not proficient in one of the 4 dances in the scholarship event, it's best to enter those dances as freestyle?
Laura
Well-Known Member
By "not proficient" do you mean "not so great" or "flat out am not ready to compete in them?"
If it's the former, and you feel up to trying, do the Scholarship. It's a great experience, and those events are run like the regular Amateur and Professional events are. To me it's a more satisfying competitive experience.
If it's the latter, then yes, do the single-dance events and skip the ones you aren't ready to compete in. Or, you can just keep working on all your dances and not enter a competition until you feel that all the dances in your style are ready to go.
If it's the former, and you feel up to trying, do the Scholarship. It's a great experience, and those events are run like the regular Amateur and Professional events are. To me it's a more satisfying competitive experience.
If it's the latter, then yes, do the single-dance events and skip the ones you aren't ready to compete in. Or, you can just keep working on all your dances and not enter a competition until you feel that all the dances in your style are ready to go.
Chris Stratton
New Member
Yes, I think that is a problem with the design of the system.
However, if you are still technically bronze elgible I think you would be justified in mailing in a registration to dance it with a bronze guy, accompanied by a cover letter saying that you feel it would be more appropriate to dance the mixed proficiency event, and a registration form for that as well. Then if anyone complains you can say - "look, we tried to register for mixed proficiency but they wouldn't let us".
As for fixing the system, I think all that is really needed is a rule saying that the same two people cannot dance a regular event together in that competition. With the majority of the pre-champ field still technically syllabus-elgible, this would mean that pre-champ, gold, and even in some cases strong silver dancers would be available as non-judged partners for the program.
Laura
Well-Known Member
Oh, what a smart idea! Well, if it ever comes up that there are (a) mixed-proficiency events in my area and (b) that there's a guy, then it's worth a try. Like I said, I think it would be a blast to dance a guy through his first competition. He'd be all nervous and stuff and all I'd have to do is look pretty and be encouraging. Well, and dance decently, but that's a given.
