what are judges looking for?

[elisedance]

[I made a new topic out of your post C ]

[cornutt]

Excellent!  Thanks.

[dlgodud]

[I made a new topic out of your post C ]

A good girl!!!   

[elisedance]

[thats a relief, I thought I might get into trouble... ]

[catsmeow]

their students

[Rugby]

their students

Sadly enough some of them yes, some are also looking to get new students by being a judge. 

[QPO]

their students

Sadly enough some of them yes, some are also looking to get new students by being a judge. 

I have heard of that before but that would not be all of them....it is highly competitative to have the best students at your studio so it will attract others.

[elisedance]

their students

LOL!

Then we are at a distinct disadvantage... but on the bright side, when we do well it MUST be becaues of our dancing!

[Dora-Satya Veda]

 It is important to remember that a judge is asked to compare the couples that are on the floor to each other.  The judge may not like or agree with anything that the couple he/she marks to win is doing but they were the best that day/evening.  You also have to remember that what you may feel is great dancing, may not look great.  I think one of the most important things to remember is to be consistent. It is better to dance simple steps that you know inside out and you can do really well even in your sleep than try to something that is exciting. You are not trying to entertain yourself or the audience when you are competing.   You are dancing to win which means you must make it easy for the judge to mark you. Doing simple and easy recognizable steps is easy for a judge to compare.  If you dance intricate steps the judge may not have time to find another couple to compare what you did with.  This means you lose the mark as the judge couldn’t compare you to the other couples.  When I was taught to judge I was told that I should look for principles and not fashion. Below I have listed the principles that my teacher taught me to use when evaluating the couples.

1.  Timing
2.  Posture/Poise
3.  Shape/Swing/Sway/Lines/Rotations
4.  Centers and Body Actions
5.  Male/Female
6.  Footwork and Leg use
7.  Choreography – Balance/Character of dances
8.  Floor craft
9.  Grooming/Etiquette
10. Personality/Musical Interpretation

My teacher told me it would probably be very seldom that I would use all the points on the list to separate the couples.  He told me that he normally separates the couples within 3 or 4 of the points and doesn’t need to go further. Mind you, he was a very experienced judge.

DSV

[elisedance]

It is important to remember that a judge is asked to compare the couples that are on the floor to each other.  The judge may not like or agree with anything that the couple he/she marks to win is doing but they were the best that day/evening.  You also have to remember that what you may feel is great dancing, may not look great.  I think one of the most important things to remember is to be consistent. It is better to dance simple steps that you know inside out and you can do really well even in your sleep than try to something that is exciting. You are not trying to entertain yourself or the audience when you are competing.   You are dancing to win which means you must make it easy for the judge to mark you. Doing simple and easy recognizable steps is easy for a judge to compare.  If you dance intricate steps the judge may not have time to find another couple to compare what you did with.  This means you lose the mark as the judge couldn’t compare you to the other couples.  When I was taught to judge I was told that I should look for principles and not fashion. Below I have listed the principles that my teacher taught me to use when evaluating the couples.

1.  Timing
2.  Posture/Poise
3.  Shape/Swing/Sway/Lines/Rotations
4.  Centers and Body Actions
5.  Male/Female
6.  Footwork and Leg use
7.  Choreography – Balance/Character of dances
8.  Floor craft
9.  Grooming/Etiquette
10. Personality/Musical Interpretation

My teacher told me it would probably be very seldom that I would use all the points on the list to separate the couples.  He told me that he normally separates the couples within 3 or 4 of the points and doesn’t need to go further. Mind you, he was a very experienced judge.

DSV

thats a fantastic - if a bit surprising (the order), list DSV - I think we fell to the first two points;  if the judges go no lower they wouldn't even have seen our movement and togetherness...

[SwingWaltz]

It is important to remember that a judge is asked to compare the couples that are on the floor to each other.  The judge may not like or agree with anything that the couple he/she marks to win is doing but they were the best that day/evening.  You also have to remember that what you may feel is great dancing, may not look great.  I think one of the most important things to remember is to be consistent. It is better to dance simple steps that you know inside out and you can do really well even in your sleep than try to something that is exciting. You are not trying to entertain yourself or the audience when you are competing.   You are dancing to win which means you must make it easy for the judge to mark you. Doing simple and easy recognizable steps is easy for a judge to compare.  If you dance intricate steps the judge may not have time to find another couple to compare what you did with.  This means you lose the mark as the judge couldn’t compare you to the other couples.  When I was taught to judge I was told that I should look for principles and not fashion. Below I have listed the principles that my teacher taught me to use when evaluating the couples.

1.  Timing
2.  Posture/Poise
3.  Shape/Swing/Sway/Lines/Rotations
4.  Centers and Body Actions
5.  Male/Female
6.  Footwork and Leg use
7.  Choreography – Balance/Character of dances
8.  Floor craft
9.  Grooming/Etiquette
10. Personality/Musical Interpretation

My teacher told me it would probably be very seldom that I would use all the points on the list to separate the couples.  He told me that he normally separates the couples within 3 or 4 of the points and doesn’t need to go further. Mind you, he was a very experienced judge.

DSV

Fantastic DSV!

But may I ask, what is the ONE thing that is most important. 

[elisedance]

It is important to remember that a judge is asked to compare the couples that are on the floor to each other.  The judge may not like or agree with anything that the couple he/she marks to win is doing but they were the best that day/evening.  You also have to remember that what you may feel is great dancing, may not look great.  I think one of the most important things to remember is to be consistent. It is better to dance simple steps that you know inside out and you can do really well even in your sleep than try to something that is exciting. You are not trying to entertain yourself or the audience when you are competing.   You are dancing to win which means you must make it easy for the judge to mark you. Doing simple and easy recognizable steps is easy for a judge to compare.  If you dance intricate steps the judge may not have time to find another couple to compare what you did with.  This means you lose the mark as the judge couldn’t compare you to the other couples.  When I was taught to judge I was told that I should look for principles and not fashion. Below I have listed the principles that my teacher taught me to use when evaluating the couples.

1.  Timing
2.  Posture/Poise
3.  Shape/Swing/Sway/Lines/Rotations
4.  Centers and Body Actions
5.  Male/Female
6.  Footwork and Leg use
7.  Choreography – Balance/Character of dances
8.  Floor craft
9.  Grooming/Etiquette
10. Personality/Musical Interpretation

My teacher told me it would probably be very seldom that I would use all the points on the list to separate the couples.  He told me that he normally separates the couples within 3 or 4 of the points and doesn’t need to go further. Mind you, he was a very experienced judge.

DSV

Fantastic DSV!

But may I ask, what is the ONE thing that is most important. 

I can answer that.  #1!!

Without being on time you are not even dancing.

[QPO]

I agree that timing is everything.....and if you are out of time to get quickly back into time..... which leads to me to something else that I will post elsewhere.

I would say that on a crowded floor one of the first things to weed people out, is top line and shape? would that be correct?

[Dora-Satya Veda]

Fantastic DSV!

But may I ask, what is the ONE thing that is most important.  

When I took my adjudicators exam in Europe they were very adament t that #1 was the most important rule. They actually said that "out of time" was an automatic last place.
  
DSV

[minor edit ee]

[QPO]

I agree with the timing. but on a crowded floor and you only a few seconds to view everyone.. would you first go for top line?