It's very simple.
Stop complaining.
Be better.
One year ago: Let's Meditate
Two years ago: Interesting Fact
Riot and Frolic
a mostly ballroom dance, but also a bunch of other stuff, blog
Posted in Dancetastic
9 responses to “Be Better”
-
I’ve been telling people for years to stop sucking…..
LikeLike
-
This can be applied to many things in life. Preach, my friend.
LikeLike
-
I like it!
LikeLike
-
Blame is definitely crappy, but I’d (predictably) say it’s destructive to ignore inefficiencies where they exist. There’s a middle ground between being a whiny special snowflake and acknowledging problematic circumstances. Instead of “be better,” I’d go with “learn from it.” Also, as usual, I invite you to write an article. ;-D
LikeLike
-
“Learn from it” or even “deal with it”. There are certain things that happen in a competition that you have no control over, namely what other people do. You have control over YOURSELF (your hair, makeup, costume, attitude, training, stamina, nerves, execution). If you don’t like that, you should find another way to showcase your dancing, of which there are many (performance categories at competitions, studio showcases, formation teams, solo routines, etc.).
I’ve heard a lot of dancers lately (pro, pro-am, am) blaming their result on various factors outside themselves. My questions are these:
– if you’re better than so-and-so, are you better at everything all the time by a lot, or do you just have slightly better footwork sometimes?
– if it’s not okay when so-and-so wins, why is it okay when you win?
– if you are, far and away, the best dancer in the floor, do you REALLY think it matter that no one knows you, that one judge doesn’t like you, or the floor is slippery?
If you have valid complaints about blatant favoritism, rule violations, or ballroom conditions, be helpful! You should contact the chairman of judges or the organizer. Otherwise, the problems will go unnoticed or unaddressed.
In the meantime, practice! Learn! Improve! Be better!LikeLike
-
I think people are often bad at communicating what they mean, and I don’t think most people who are upset about comp conditions that led to confusing results think they deserved to win. Often it seems to be a result of having one expectation of what judges mark based on and then having the results reflect a different, unknown set of criteria. It’s not as simple as getting a ball into a net, and I think the variation in judge values/preferences is difficult for some people.
I don’t like creating a situation where people are expected to accept everything at face value and “respect authority” AKA never ask questions, and so I try to create an environment that inspires discussion and consideration. People submitting themselves to being judged are placing themselves in an incredibly vulnerable position and are offering the judges a lot of trust, and I don’t think it’s inappropriate to, at times, believe genuinely that that trust has been betrayed. People are welcome to their experiences and their feelings, and I hope they can do something productive with them. Where we fail is when people just whine aimlessly.
I’ve heard from a few people who did report issues to comp organizers and felt they had been totally brushed off. In that case, becoming bad PR is a good option. If submitting your story to a widely read publication can get you results when quietly asking in person couldn’t, I say do it. Lots of people don’t like what I say, and I publish their angle, too. We’s be fostering discussion, which is, you know, the greatest thing ever.LikeLike
-
Lest you think this post was a veiled criticism of amateur events and the Dancing Times, I interact with students who dance pro-am and other professionals 97% of the time and this post was meant for them. It’s really meant mostly for me, since I have complained about all things and wanted change without first thinking how I could get better.
Obviously, if a complaint is made and nothing is done about it, write a letter or article or make a petition or do something.
If you don’t understand your marks, or anyone else’s, ask a judge. Note: ask a judge. Ask nicely, but ask them (when you’re done dancing). Don’t ask your friends or family; they either don’t know or they’re biased.LikeLike
-
Nah, I didn’t take this as a response to the Dancing Times, but it is a discussion currently taking place in the Dancing Times, so I’ve been thinking about it a lot and have ~things to say about it. :-p
LikeLike
-
Blurg. Now I’m going to have to write an article… 😛 back atcha! 🙂
LikeLike
Riot and Frolic 
Leave a reply to Diane Cancel reply