I've been to half a dozen dance competitions this year and I've seen some amazing dances and few more thrilling than Gary Stubbs and Jen Hoy who have - it seems to me all the technique one could want to see, the good taste to realise that dancing isn't all about flash moves and the spooky sense of a telepathic link which ensures spontaneity and congruity.
But - much as I love them both - they are not the norm
So I think it's time I wrote about three things...Connection, Musicality and for want of a better word Reputation. Not because I know much about dancing or competition but I am happy to write about things talk to me about as issues - this seems to be worse this year than any other.
So first, Connection
The Ceroc champs website has a lot on it - though it's not called connection - it covers all of those things that we'd pretty much agree we'd want to see, I think, but some which seem to me to be outside of what we mean by connection - here's a link to the full detail:
http://www.cerocchamps.com/faq.php
Whilst I think there will be arguments about whether grooming, musical expression, innovation and quality of dancing are components of connection, this probably covers the key elements of bones of what I consider to be connection.
And one wonders as judges talk a lot about connection what they are looking for and what they see that is so different from what we see. Some of this is technical manifested, but much of it is obvious to the viewer. In my book many of the deficiencies in connection don't take much observation to work out.
For example, I'm pretty sure most of the judges know a Duchenne Smile when they see one - why are they rewarding dancers who scowl at their partners, seek to dominate with dour expressions, the icy expressionists and the panting athletes? Or worst of all, the painted-on smile which wouldn't get them a job in the local burger van, let alone should be impressing the judges.
The posture, synchronisation and showmanship (sic) are pretty obviously out of line when two dancers are dancing for themselves. The togetherness should be obvious and obviously enjoyed by the couple.
The rapport with the audiences and the judges cannot come from neither or from just one half of the couple. The sheer enjoyment must show through - and if nerves are a problem they must be conquered or hidden - but that's for both dancers to facilitate.
The team work required in dancing is often overlooked as a visible facet of dance in anything other than the technical control and achievement. Couples working hard to impress I think should be showing that they are working for each other. The one couple two dance styles option here only works if one is seeking, visibly (for that's the only sen by which we can judge) to combine with and make the most of the others style.
So smiles (real ones), togetherness, a chosen and demonstrable style shared between the couple, rapport, sharing, assisting, something bigger than than two halves when it is put together: you'll have your own views on how it's best to express the connection necessary for a competitive partnered dance. And some of you might disagree with my analysis of course. But I hear it's a big problem - I hear from competitors, those watching and sometimes I hear it from judges.
For me - along with musicality - connection should be the given in any semi or final - and it's not, from what I've seen. Grabbing someone and flinging them through gymnastics routine is not what it is about, nor is it about two people occupying the same space and doing their individual thing and not their collective thing. And judges say this is important - but that's not coming through in the competitions I see nor - incidentally - in the feedback they give people.
And one last thought: there is a very big problem with the way judges think about connection if they are not taking into account unconscious bias, and some of them are not.
But I'd value your thoughts on this and where a renewed valuing of connection might takes us.
But - much as I love them both - they are not the norm
So I think it's time I wrote about three things...Connection, Musicality and for want of a better word Reputation. Not because I know much about dancing or competition but I am happy to write about things talk to me about as issues - this seems to be worse this year than any other.
So first, Connection
The Ceroc champs website has a lot on it - though it's not called connection - it covers all of those things that we'd pretty much agree we'd want to see, I think, but some which seem to me to be outside of what we mean by connection - here's a link to the full detail:
http://www.cerocchamps.com/faq.php
Whilst I think there will be arguments about whether grooming, musical expression, innovation and quality of dancing are components of connection, this probably covers the key elements of bones of what I consider to be connection.
- Timing
- Musical Interpretation & Expression (which I'll leave to another
rant, I mean day) - Grooming & Presentation
- Showmanship
- Floor craft
- Quality of Dancing & Choreography
- Synchronisation of Dancers / Togetherness
- Style
- Innovation
And one wonders as judges talk a lot about connection what they are looking for and what they see that is so different from what we see. Some of this is technical manifested, but much of it is obvious to the viewer. In my book many of the deficiencies in connection don't take much observation to work out.
For example, I'm pretty sure most of the judges know a Duchenne Smile when they see one - why are they rewarding dancers who scowl at their partners, seek to dominate with dour expressions, the icy expressionists and the panting athletes? Or worst of all, the painted-on smile which wouldn't get them a job in the local burger van, let alone should be impressing the judges.
The posture, synchronisation and showmanship (sic) are pretty obviously out of line when two dancers are dancing for themselves. The togetherness should be obvious and obviously enjoyed by the couple.
The rapport with the audiences and the judges cannot come from neither or from just one half of the couple. The sheer enjoyment must show through - and if nerves are a problem they must be conquered or hidden - but that's for both dancers to facilitate.
The team work required in dancing is often overlooked as a visible facet of dance in anything other than the technical control and achievement. Couples working hard to impress I think should be showing that they are working for each other. The one couple two dance styles option here only works if one is seeking, visibly (for that's the only sen by which we can judge) to combine with and make the most of the others style.
So smiles (real ones), togetherness, a chosen and demonstrable style shared between the couple, rapport, sharing, assisting, something bigger than than two halves when it is put together: you'll have your own views on how it's best to express the connection necessary for a competitive partnered dance. And some of you might disagree with my analysis of course. But I hear it's a big problem - I hear from competitors, those watching and sometimes I hear it from judges.
For me - along with musicality - connection should be the given in any semi or final - and it's not, from what I've seen. Grabbing someone and flinging them through gymnastics routine is not what it is about, nor is it about two people occupying the same space and doing their individual thing and not their collective thing. And judges say this is important - but that's not coming through in the competitions I see nor - incidentally - in the feedback they give people.
And one last thought: there is a very big problem with the way judges think about connection if they are not taking into account unconscious bias, and some of them are not.
But I'd value your thoughts on this and where a renewed valuing of connection might takes us.
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