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Hi
Dan...I'd like you to address the subject of whether
your audience thinks a judge should be proficient
in the dances they are judging. The reason for the
question is because there are judges judging dances
they have never danced, if they have danced at all,
or if they did they never made their mark. Also there
are judges, I am told that only hold competitions,
and have learned what they know from books. Don't
you believe if you're going to be judging others,
a judge should be 100% proficient by "having
been there done that".
I remember my first judging job.
It was a year after I had retired from competition.
I spent that year off studying to take my exams in
the International Standard and Latin. I already had
my American Style degrees, but I wanted to be able
to judge it all. The only division I had never competed
professionally in was the International Latin. I just
felt that the dance world wasn't quite ready for my
interpretation of the hip twist! But seriously, I,
like all serious competitors, eventually picked the
styles of dancing that suited, not only my physique,
but what I enjoyed learning as well.
Does a judge need to have competed
in every style of dance in order to be a good judge
for that division? I don't think so. Should they have
to study the style of dance that they are judging?
Absolutely! We can all agree that there are universal
techniques and elements such as good posture, footwork,
movement and control, that apply to all styles of
dance but, at the same time, there are things a judge
should be looking for that are unique to each division.
I really must address an issue that
has received some attention this week and goes along
with this topic. It has to do with a comment that
I heard was made, regarding past champions and current
judges who performed on Championship Ballroom Dancing.
Some person wrote in to an internet chat room saying
something to the effect of, "These people who
are coaching and judging me are no where near the
dance standard of today...blah, blah, blah".
I think this was an outrageous comment. All sports
have their past and present champions. The past champions
become the coaches of today, paving the way for even
greater degrees of excellence. I think that is the
sign of a healthy sport. Do the dancers of today really
believe they will always be able to dance at the level
they enjoy now? Well, I do, but I guess I may be the
only one......seriously, I have had to face the fact
of the big 4-0 and someday they will too. I am certain
that the dancers' of today would want to train the
dancers' of tomorrow, and be respected for the experience
and seasoning they have achieved.
Did you ever watch a comp and find
it easy to pick the winner, only to have the judges
select someone else? Of course you have! You think
to yourself "What were those judges looking at?",
"What planet did these guys come from"?
I remember one of my coaches saying to me, "You
just wait until you have the pen in your hand, you'll
see how different it is". They were so right!
It's the judge's job to analyze and critique. It's
the job of the judge to go beyond the showmanship,
which is what the spectator tends to see first, and
focus on the other elements in a couple's performance.
Now, I didn't say ignore it, a judge is human too,
and they like to be entertained by the couple as well,
it's just that they can't base their whole decision
on one element.
I remember one time I thought my
results were so off. It was easy to see the winner,
which was of course ME! I knew I should have won because
my students told me so. :) Anyway, I happened to walk
by one of the judges, who did not quite seem to agree
with my assessment. So, we strike up a conversation
and I ask him how his dog is." Dog?" He
says. "I don't have a dog!" To this I reply;"
WHAT! Blind, and you don't have a dog?!"
Seriously though, I think
overall that a judge needs to be visually keen. Judging
is a visual job and knowing what to look for is the
most important qualification required of the judge.
They need to be able to assess and know what they
are looking at in a quick period of time. We all know
that the best dancer doesn't always make the best
teacher. Well, the same holds true in judging. Just
don't ask a judge how their dog is and you'll do alright!
Dan Messenger
02-12-2001
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