Riot and Frolic

Otherwise known as:

How to Get Seen on the Dance Floor… the Easy Way

Are your results all over the board?  Do you place well in small heats, but never make it to the next cut in huge heats? 

Are you sure the judges saw your number? And the dancing that goes with it?

But are you really sure?

Let's make sure:

Don't Start Right Next to the Judges

I've seen more than a few couples think they're sooooo smart by starting up in the judges' grillz.  For Rhythm.  And they never rotate.  

Well.  Your face is reaalllllllly pretty, but that doesn't help the judges see your number.

Even if you start your Smooth or Standard directly in front of the panel, your stellar moves will probably be lost on the officials. Because it's too close.  TOO CLOSE.  

like alex clare sang

Most judges aren't so much Watching Your Dancing, as they are Getting a General Impression, especially in those first rounds.  It's hard to see the whole picture when A) they can only see your shoulders, because you're dancing so close, your lower half is blocked by their clipboard B) they can't see other people because your beautiful fat head is blocking the rest of the field.

Make Sure Your Dances Rotate

There's a lot of great dancing that you can do that doesn't rotate.  And sometimes you choose, or someone else chooses for you, to do a lot of that non-rotational loveliness in your competition routines.  And then these poor, over-worked, eye-strained judges try to mark you and can never see your damn number.

Get an extra crossbody lead, natural turn, or just rotating basic in your routine to ensure some back time to the judges.

Move Around

If you are dancing in a multi-dance event, don't sit in the same square foot of the floor, or start in the same spot every time.  Choosing different (but still good) positions on the floor guarantees all the officials will see you and learn to love you.

Stay in the Light

Sometimes there's a dark spot on the floor.  Inevitably, the MC will say something amusing to the competitors about how they should "feel free to use the whole floor".  DON'T LISTEN TO HIM.  You might as well go dance in the supply closet in the hall if you choose to dance in that unlit black hole of unjudgeable floor space.  

The Sweet Spot is on the Opposite Side from the Panel

Want the judges to easily see and be able to easily mark you?  Stand directly across the floor from them, with your number to them.  Then don't do anything stupid!  Easy A!

To repeat the oft-told statistic about how judges see each couple for an average of seven seconds during each dance, JUDGES SEE YOU FOR AN AVERAGE OF 7 SECONDS EACH DANCE.  

That's about 2 boxes of American Rumba, 4 patterns in International Quickstep, and a reverse turn and change step in Waltz.  On average. 

Make those wee measures of music count by showing your numerical identification as much as possible.

Please.