Split Floor at Competitions

[Becca]

I don't know if they do this at competitions outside of the US or outside of pro/am even... but... sometimes competitions divide the ballroom in half so they can judge several events at once. It isn't so much of a problem for Latin and Rhythm, but for Smooth and Standard (if you have choreography) you really have to change things up! I've only ever seen it done for single-dances, but it's still irritating...

So.... What do you do? Do you have different routines for small floors? Do you make everything small to fit the floor? Or do you just scrap the routines altogether and lead/follow?

Just wondering...    

[cornutt]

This is another reason I don't do routines.  I've run into split floor situations before where it turned into something almost like a social dance -- the short side isn't long enough for a natural turn, and you'd better keep your elbows in.   

[QPO]

no I have not seen it here. the oly thing they might do is combine events, I am sure then you are still judge for your grde but it saves time and space. If split floors is a regular thing I believe we would have to reevaulate our routines also. But we are changing the angles so we can get around people

[mummsie]

I think they tried it here at Canberra or Souths a couple of years ago.  But I think they got a lot of complaints.  It really throws you out if you lose your orientation of the floor.  mm

[QPO]

I think they tried it here at Canberra or Souths a couple of years ago.  But I think they got a lot of complaints.  It really throws you out if you lose your orientation of the floor.  mm

Just as well I did not go those years, I would have freaked out!

[elisedance]

Routines are terrific for doing complex step sequencies - but surely they should not be the only way to dance (excepting of course if you are doing sequence dancing) IMO if you can't adjust to a different floor - you really can't dance.

The classique has a very long floor and often splits it - the result is one that is not quite a full length - they then sometimes put multiple heats on there so the floor is also crowded.   The best dancers just carry on!

[QPO]

then I cant dance... I might as well give up

[elisedance]

then I cant dance... I might as well give up

but I thought you wrote elsewhere that you now don't think of steps and only follow  
what difference does the floor length make then?

[QPO]

well I do, but still know the routine, I am getting better at following but we are still routine based. Our skills are developing, but we would not be fluent..

[Becca]

We have routines but i've never had a problem having to change it up on short floors, I just noticed that a lot of people do... they tend to get flustered and forget to look where they're going or something like that. And for higher level smooth, routines are kind of necessary you know..

[elisedance]

And for higher level smooth, routines are kind of necessary you know..

good point.
I'm beginning to see smooth as something between standard and NV ...

Funny thing was at the classique we had 7 couples in our pre-champ heat and then (I guess to torture them) they threw in a pre-championship smooth couple.  It was hard on us with all those arms flying around - but it must have been torture on them!

[samina]

I encountered split floors a few times. Certainly a moment for lead-and-follow to show its beauty. Just keep it simple, relax... dance your energy like you're still on a big floor... and c'est la vie. Just like life, it's all about what you make of it.

Am recalling I nearly got 1st in Silver Standard at Manhattan on a split floor (lost by rule 11... I consoled myself by knowing I received the most 1sts, lol). But split floors do feel like second-class...

[Rugby]

An advantage that my DP and I as well as ee and her DP have is that we still social dance.  This means we have to be able to lead and follow 90% of the time and adjust to different size floors and the amount of people to dance around. 

I think in Montreal ee and her DP were able to adjust due to this whereas the rest of the competition could not.   

[elisedance]

I think in Montreal ee and her DP were able to adjust due to this whereas the rest of the competition could not.   

[QPO]

NV would not be an issues on a split floor. as long as everyone is doing the same dance as they can go against line of dance and not at the same time.