BIG competition moves

**Gus** · 28th-January-2003, 05:03 PM

With the Open Champs fast approaching .... I'm still struggling with some advice I was given...

Aside from the usual 'tactics' of playing to the judges, always smiling etc etc ... the main advice was to have at least 3 really BIG moves to impress the judges.

So ... with a little over 4 weeks left I must admit that I've got no idea on this score. Most of my better moves are 'close' and intricate ... not really BIG moves..... and everybody and their dog does the usual spinning death drops .... so what kind of move do you think counts as a BIG move?

TheTramp · 28th-January-2003, 05:10 PM

Hmmm. Good question. Depends on who you ask.

For example:

It's a comb, right Franck

I'm not so sure that it's necessarily the right advice though. Since the judges are likely to be watching you for about 20 seconds, chances are, you're not going to do your 'big move' when anyone is watching anyhow.

You did pretty well last year as I recall without them....??

Steve

**Gus** · 28th-January-2003, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheTramp

You did pretty well last year as I recall without them....??

Steve

We were lucky and there were a number of couples who I thought were hard done to not to be in the final.

Considering I was dancing with one of the best female dancers in the North and the two tracks in the Final were Club Music (right up my street) ... methinks I should have done a lot better ..... if I can't get placed when they're playing Club I don't really fancy my chances if they play a Swing or faster RnR track

*Bill* · 31st-January-2003, 03:25 PM

I'll take any advice going as well Gus

Like you I tend to do and prefer closer moves and if they play any club stuff then I'm stuffed !!

What about they just play 'blues' stuff all the way through . I might not get any further but I'll have enjoyed it even more !!

And I suppose we should both try and smile this year............as you say it appears to help. Now big moves......... for me that'a a travelling return...........

Anyway fourth in a national comp ( and poor judging in my opinion !) isn't bad. Start moaning when you only get as far as we do !!!!!!!!!!!

Look forward to seeing you and the lovley Helen at Blackpool.

**Jon** · 31st-January-2003, 10:51 PM

Not that Im an expert at all in the competition arena but I don't think it's about having big moves up your sleave unless your doing a cabaret or something.

The judges won't be watching you much anyway, so I think it's more about the interaction they see between you and your partner and the way you both are interpreting the music.

I've had a number of people say 'that move looked great what was it', and I've said it was a side to side with style. So even simple moves look great if you have good interaction with your partner, are relaxed, smiling and are having fun your'll be noticed.

**Gus** · 1st-February-2003, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon
Not that Im an expert at all in the competition arena but I don't think it's about having big moves up your sleave unless your doing a cabaret or something.

Sorry but these words of wisdom came from one of the top UK judges .. talking about the Advanced category dancers!

Also the rules for both C2D advanced and Ceroc Open have (regretably) been changed so that more emphasis has been placed on technical complexity of the moves, rather than dancing ability. Maybe we will see the day where there the marking is separated into 'Technical' and 'Artistic' merit, a la Ice Dance

**DavidB** · 1st-February-2003, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gus
... the main advice was to have at least 3 really BIG moves to impress the judges.

Spot several reasons why I don't do Advanced
- I don't have any 'big' moves.
- I don't stand out enough to be noticed
- I dance for my partner, and maybe the audience, not the judges
- I try to dance to the music - not to when one person may be watching me.

Sad to say that this advice is probably correct...

It is easier in Showcase/Cabaret - you have the whole song to let the judges see you, and can do something to fit the music all the way through. And you can do aerials without anyone getting in your way (which helps me a bit...)

David

**DavidB** · 1st-February-2003, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gus
.... so what kind of move do you think counts as a BIG move?

Look at what you normally get in an advanced class - long moves, with wierd double hand holds and wraps, usually with a signal to lead (because otherwise they are impossible), and it has to have a drop.

**Gus** · 1st-February-2003, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidB
Look at what you normally get in an advanced class - long moves, with wierd double hand holds and wraps, usually with a signal to lead (because otherwise they are impossible), and it has to have a drop.

Uuugggghhh

That counts me out then! What happened to the halcyon days when advanced dancers where the ones that could interpret the music and just 'looked good'?

Funnt though ... was trying to get some ideas about 'big moves' and so was looking through my copy of the 2001 C2D competition. So much for lead and follow! One couple in the final seemed to dance just a completely choreographed rouitne from start to finish (the music was obviously just incidental) and they didn't come last .... even more deeply puzzled. The upside was seeing Dan and Lisa dancing ... forgot just what an awesome dance couple they were!

**DavidB** · 2nd-February-2003, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gus
What happened to the halcyon days when advanced dancers where the ones that could interpret the music and just 'looked good'?

I think these days are now - I see more musical interpretation now than I have ever done before...

... except in the finals at competitions.

Years ago the only competitor who would give priority to musical interpretation above anything else was Kieran Loftus. Now a lot of dancers will do this - both socially and competitively. But it doesn't seem to get rewarded by the judges. I don't necessarily blame the judges - they have so little time to make any objective decision. Neither do I blame the organisers - they don't have time in the schedule to let everyone dance individually. Unfortunately the effect is that you will get rewarded more for doing eye-catching moves rather than interpreting the music. And this is not the way the dance seems to be developing.

David

**Gus** · 2nd-February-2003, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidB
I don't necessarily blame the judges - they have so little time to make any objective decision
David

But isn't it easier to spot dancing interpretation rather than spot the odd 'big' move?

Gus

TheTramp · 3rd-February-2003, 12:45 AM

Not sure. To see musical interpretation, you have to be watching for a while, to see the difference between the rhythmic changes etc (unless the musical interpretation is just hitting the break). To see a big move, you just have to be watching at the time the move is done. Which may bear no relation to what the music is doing at the time (depending on which couple you're watching).

Steve

*Bill* · 3rd-February-2003, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidB
Spot several reasons why I don't do Advanced
- I don't have any 'big' moves.
- I don't stand out enough to be noticed
- I dance for my partner, and maybe the audience, not the judges
- I try to dance to the music - not to when one person may be watching me.

David

That sounds like what I've been trying to do for a few years now

:sorry

but believe me David having seen you and Lily dancing you do stand out !!! Some of the best men I've seen look to be doing very little but 'allow' the women to look great. Quite often I do too much:sorry but I think most experienced dancers can easily spot the men who can lead and dancce without 'showing off'. We just have to look at people like you and Nigel. Well maybe we don't all want to try what Nigel gets away with but you know what I mean

In all the competitions I've been to ( 6 I think !!) I thought hiding at the back near the audience was the thing to do. No-one said you should move around the floor ( hardly any space anyway!) but I danced 'with' Avril and now with Fran and we didn't really think about where the judges were or what they might be looking for although I did always assume dancing to the beat might help.

Dancing Veela · 11th-February-2003, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill
but I danced 'with' Avril and now with Fran and we didn't really think about where the judges were or what they might be looking for although I did always assume dancing to the beat might help.

What do you mean 'with' Avril??????!!!!!!!!! And we did think about what the judges were looking for - we just couldn't give them it (apart from the smile

). But you've moved on a lot since then sweetie

Niall and I are going for the 'hope the judges notice how much fun we are having' route at Blackpool - especially when I miss the signals he is giving me :sorry

TheTramp · 11th-February-2003, 10:18 AM

Quote:

'hope the judges notice how much fun we are having' route at Blackpool

Hey. Who said you could steal my strategy.....!!

Steve

Dancing Veela · 11th-February-2003, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheTramp
Hey. Who said you could steal my strategy.....!!

Steve

And who's going to stop me?????? xxxx

TheTramp · 11th-February-2003, 10:47 AM

Ummmm....

Good point.

Everyone I know is scared of you.

Including me

Steve

Jayne · 11th-February-2003, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheTramp
Everyone I know is scared of you.

Is she 6'10" with two heads, sharp pixie teeth and eats small children for breakfast too?

J

TheTramp · 11th-February-2003, 11:14 AM

6'11"

So, even scarier than you Jayne.

Though, I didn't think that was possible!

Steve

Dancing Veela · 11th-February-2003, 12:09 PM

I have left a trail of broken men (and body parts) in my wake - and that was before I took up Karate!!!!!

28th-January-2003, 05:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Manchester Posts: 4,932 Rep Power: 5 Reputation Total: 958	BIG competition moves With the Open Champs fast approaching .... I'm still struggling with some advice I was given... Aside from the usual 'tactics' of playing to the judges, always smiling etc etc ... the main advice was to have at least 3 really BIG moves to impress the judges. So ... with a little over 4 weeks left I must admit that I've got no idea on this score. Most of my better moves are 'close' and intricate ... not really BIG moves..... and everybody and their dog does the usual spinning death drops .... so what kind of move do you think counts as a BIG move? __________________ Perfectly Flawed

31st-January-2003, 10:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jon Taxi Dancer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 283 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 10	Not that Im an expert at all in the competition arena but I don't think it's about having big moves up your sleave unless your doing a cabaret or something. The judges won't be watching you much anyway, so I think it's more about the interaction they see between you and your partner and the way you both are interpreting the music. I've had a number of people say 'that move looked great what was it', and I've said it was a side to side with style. So even simple moves look great if you have good interaction with your partner, are relaxed, smiling and are having fun your'll be noticed. __________________ It's only one dance. What's the Worst that could happen!

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28th-January-2003, 05:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheTramp The Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dundee, Scotland Posts: 10,470 Rep Power: 6 Reputation Total: 1692	Hmmm. Good question. Depends on who you ask. For example: It's a comb, right Franck I'm not so sure that it's necessarily the right advice though. Since the judges are likely to be watching you for about 20 seconds, chances are, you're not going to do your 'big move' when anyone is watching anyhow. You did pretty well last year as I recall without them....?? Steve

31st-January-2003, 03:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bill B.T.C. Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Queensferry Posts: 2,158 Rep Power: 4 Reputation Total: 83	I'll take any advice going as well Gus Like you I tend to do and prefer closer moves and if they play any club stuff then I'm stuffed !! What about they just play 'blues' stuff all the way through . I might not get any further but I'll have enjoyed it even more !! And I suppose we should both try and smile this year............as you say it appears to help. Now big moves......... for me that'a a travelling return........... Anyway fourth in a national comp ( and poor judging in my opinion !) isn't bad. Start moaning when you only get as far as we do !!!!!!!!!!! Look forward to seeing you and the lovley Helen at Blackpool.

3rd-February-2003, 12:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
TheTramp The Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dundee, Scotland Posts: 10,470 Rep Power: 6 Reputation Total: 1692	Not sure. To see musical interpretation, you have to be watching for a while, to see the difference between the rhythmic changes etc (unless the musical interpretation is just hitting the break). To see a big move, you just have to be watching at the time the move is done. Which may bear no relation to what the music is doing at the time (depending on which couple you're watching). Steve

11th-February-2003, 10:47 AM	#17 (permalink)
TheTramp The Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dundee, Scotland Posts: 10,470 Rep Power: 6 Reputation Total: 1692	Ummmm.... Good point. Everyone I know is scared of you. Including me Steve

11th-February-2003, 11:14 AM	#19 (permalink)
TheTramp The Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dundee, Scotland Posts: 10,470 Rep Power: 6 Reputation Total: 1692	6'11" So, even scarier than you Jayne. Though, I didn't think that was possible! Steve

11th-February-2003, 12:09 PM	#20 (permalink)
Dancing Veela Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Dundee Posts: 218 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 29	I have left a trail of broken men (and body parts) in my wake - and that was before I took up Karate!!!!!

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