Riot and Frolic

a mostly ballroom dance, but also a bunch of other stuff, blog

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I own and rock people’s faces off teaching ballroom dancing at Dancers Studio in St. Paul, MN. My husband and I compete professionally in American style and wrangle eight children in our spare time. I’ve been teaching and competing in ballroom dancing for over 25 years and have lots of opinions on it. I am an expert by any means, but there are quite a few dancers who are better than me and I have a solid knowledge of basic technique, so suck it.

A Little Explanation of Judges’ Marks – Characteristics of the Dance

Here we are again.Screen Shot 2014-03-02 at 7.52.04 PMLet's say you've conquered the correct timing, posture, and footwork for a dance.  

WHAT ELSE COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE?! 

Well, if you ever want to be more than an average dancer (definition: an adequate social dancer; more talented than a beginner, but less talented than some one who wins), there are many, many things.

Characteristics of the Dance

If you're in a huge heat of dancers, the first three areas of critique are MUY IMPORTANTE.  They are necessary.  But once you're getting down to quarterfinals and semifinals, I want to see some extras:

Physical Characteristics

  • body flight in the swing dances (God, no, not like West Coast and Lindy; WALTZ, FOXTROT, AND VIENNESE… because they have swing… and sway)
  • no body flight in Tango
  • Latin motion in Rumba
  • hip swing in (wait for it) Swing
  • blah blah blah [read: I'm not your teacher {maybe?!}; get thee some learnin']

 Performance Characteristics

  • romantic looks/gestures in Rumba, Bolero
  • sass in Foxtrot
  • unadulterated joy in Viennese
  • blah blah blah [see above]

NOTE: these characteristics have to enhance your already established correct timing, posture, and footwork.  

Please do not work the pyramid top to bottom.

Pretty please?

One year ago: LLLL, in which I predict the ownership of books.  

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