A disturbing experience

Live2dance said:
Within or outside the Intern BR Latin framework?
Click to expand...

OUTSIDE.... They have just announced that, next year, there will be a 2 Divisions of American style Smooth and Rhythm . One for prof. the other for, ( I think Pro./Am ) .

The Rhythm will include Mambo, Cha cha and Samba .

My only concern is , WHO will the judges be?. Most English Profs at adjudicating level, have very little knowledge about the Amer. style sylab.
 
Chris F said:
On a more positive instructional note I've noticed a trend of increased social dancing quality in many dancers owing to doing heats competition. It seems that forcing yourself to prepare to be judged improves your dancing. Who knew? ;) :p

Here are a few videos from February this year at the World Salsa Summit which is to my knowledge the largest heated salsa competition in the world.

The Amateurs:

The Pro-Am advanced girls final; both of these divisions started with over 50 (fifty!) girls:
(small warning - contains loud high pitched cheering)

The Professional Semi-Finals featuring top talent from all over North/South America with a bit of Europe in there as well:
Click to expand...
Donde esta la Salsa? Jesus wept. It's like being in the B$#&%&@M twilight zone...Blackpool indeed.:p:)
 
I get where you guys are coming from but having done both BR comps and salsa heats are not at all the same beyond "everybody on the floor at the same time and the judges decide"

Salsa heats: non choreographed, no syllabus, simple rules (no dips, no lifts etc..). The judges have an agreed on (but not formalized) definition of the basic step, timing and other essential concepts. There is a lot of leeway for individualism in patterns, use of the floor.. The DJ picks the music and you are expected to display musicality by hitting the breaks, picking a good time to do a little shine etc...
BR comp: 100% choreographed, fully formalized syllabus, everybody does the same thing etc... The DJ picks the music and you blindly do your choreo while ignoring the music... maybe if you are a pro you can switch it up on the fly.

Obviously not all the competitors are going to be amazing but they are working on self improvement and I think that has merit. Many of them really are beginners (esp the novice category) with less then a year dancing etc...
 
Yeah, I was talking about local girls - didn't actually ask them how it looked like, watched only the videos, but now that I checked complete list of results, I see there were competitions in heats (as you posted) and showcase, which was the case here, each couple danced individually and it looked choreographed. I agree that competition in heats is closer to social dancing, but anyway, it still looks half BR ... If it is about competitions, I like the concept of J'n'J, frequently used on WCS events - dancing with random partners, in usual, non competitive cloths. There, you indeed have to show some serious social dancing skills
 
Chris F said:
Salsa heats: non choreographed, no syllabus, simple rules (no dips, no lifts etc..). The judges have an agreed on (but not formalized) definition of the basic step, timing and other essential concepts. There is a lot of leeway for individualism in patterns, use of the floor.. The DJ picks the music and you are expected to display musicality by hitting the breaks, picking a good time to do a little shine etc...
...
Click to expand...
Phew!!:). Hopefully the judges for the salsa competition will be salsa dancers.
 
Last edited:
kbitten said:
I just watched the amateurs video but it is salsa. Saw no relation to black pool..
Click to expand...

Blackpool is one word...unlike Bra zil..:D

B/Pool is the designation for world class comps. That is where it would get the most exposure .

I just checked the dances listed for next year ; Bolero, Mambo. Cha cha Samba, Swing and Rumba ( NOT the English version ) .ALL Amer. style dances .
 
Watching some clips of am. smooth recently, it looks like it's already too late - I suppose it used to look different, but now it is de facto int. latin with with mostly ex. int. latin competitors trying hard not to step on the straight leg ... I doubt many SF members would actually spot the difference ...
 
vit said:
I agree that competition in heats is closer to social dancing, but anyway, it still looks half BR ... If it is about competitions, I like the concept of J'n'J, frequently used on WCS events - dancing with random partners, in usual, non competitive cloths. There, you indeed have to show some serious social dancing skills
Click to expand...

Another option is to have all competitors dance the same song and same routine to see who does it better. Like these competitors ...:D:D:D

http://ballroomdancetube.com/no-one-expected-cha-cha-formation/
 
Chris F said:
I get where you guys are coming from but having done both BR comps and salsa heats are not at all the same beyond "everybody on the floor at the same time and the judges decide"

Salsa heats: non choreographed, no syllabus, simple rules (no dips, no lifts etc..). The judges have an agreed on (but not formalized) definition of the basic step, timing and other essential concepts. There is a lot of leeway for individualism in patterns, use of the floor.. The DJ picks the music and you are expected to display musicality by hitting the breaks, picking a good time to do a little shine etc...
BR comp: 100% choreographed, fully formalized syllabus, everybody does the same thing etc... The DJ picks the music and you blindly do your choreo while ignoring the music... maybe if you are a pro you can switch it up on the fly.

Obviously not all the competitors are going to be amazing but they are working on self improvement and I think that has merit. Many of them really are beginners (esp the novice category) with less then a year dancing etc...
Click to expand...
Chris, you have absolutely no idea about Ballroom competitions. A very uninformed view of the competitions in competitive ballroom! You have a wide a variety of types available for people to compete. Please do some research on Closed syllabus vs Open level pre-championship and championship competitions. There are rules for those who want to compete in a syllabus competition. Syllabus comps are focussed to enhance the knowledge of basic fundamentals amongst newcomers. Open level comps are for more advanced dancers. There is a choice based on your proficiency level, which is what it should be. In championship level, musicality and rhythmicality is at its best. Please study and spend time on understanding the structure of music, different rhythms, changing rhythms, phrasing etc...You would have to learn not just one type of music but at least 5 to compete in a championship of any sort in the ballroom world.
 
Chris F said:
On a more positive instructional note I've noticed a trend of increased social dancing quality in many dancers owing to doing heats competition. It seems that forcing yourself to prepare to be judged improves your dancing. Who knew? ;) :p

Here are a few videos from February this year at the World Salsa Summit which is to my knowledge the largest heated salsa competition in the world.
Click to expand...

I will tend to disagree given that a good number of people from my local scene go to that event. A general statement that it increases social dancing quality is outright wrong (at least in my scene). If we take two people who start at the same time with similar talent and skills. One who social dances more often, is more likely to be a better social dancer than one trying to compete.
 
Chris F said:
Salsa heats: non choreographed, no syllabus, simple rules (no dips, no lifts etc..). The judges have an agreed on (but not formalized) definition of the basic step, timing and other essential concepts. There is a lot of leeway for individualism in patterns, use of the floor.. The DJ picks the music and you are expected to display musicality by hitting the breaks, picking a good time to do a little shine etc...
Click to expand...

Sounds very similar to West Coast Swing's J&J competitive format.They have been doing it for years. They make sure that similar skill level people are competing. Avoids mismatch.

If someone wants to start something that you have described, there is already well established template to follow - from the WCS world. No need to reinvent the wheel.
 
vit said:
I agree that competition in heats is closer to social dancing, but anyway, it still looks half BR ... If it is about competitions, I like the concept of J'n'J, frequently used on WCS events - dancing with random partners, in usual, non competitive cloths. There, you indeed have to show some serious social dancing skills
Click to expand...

You stole my words before I said them :)
 
LadydancerSF820 said:
Chris, you have absolutely no idea about Ballroom competitions. A very uninformed view of the competitions in competitive ballroom! You have a wide a variety of types available for people to compete. Please do some research on Closed syllabus vs Open level pre-championship and championship competitions. There are rules for those who want to compete in a syllabus competition. Syllabus comps are focussed to enhance the knowledge of basic fundamentals amongst newcomers. Open level comps are for more advanced dancers. There is a choice based on your proficiency level, which is what it should be. In championship level, musicality and rhythmicality is at its best. Please study and spend time on understanding the structure of music, different rhythms, changing rhythms, phrasing etc...You would have to learn not just one type of music but at least 5 to compete in a championship of any sort in the ballroom world.
Click to expand...
So you are primarily a Ballroom dancer, who dances salsa and not the other way round. It would be interesting to hear your views on the Salsa scene in general. We know what you think of Boise.The reason I ask is that by a lot of people who danced Ballroom to a certain level seem to have a very negative view of salsa dancing in general especially with regard to technique and posture. We've even been accused by one poster of being bad Ballroom dancers. So what's your view? Enquiring minds want to know.
 
Last edited:
MAMBO_CEC said:
We've even been accused by one poster of being bad ballroom dancers. So what's your view, inquiring minds want to know?
Click to expand...

<I don't know how to make strikeout work>

But isn't it true that by and large an average salsa dancer would indeed fall into a category of a bad dancer? :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top