Local competition frequency?

[elisedance]

There are many factors that affect how often you compete in distant comps but the main one for local comps is a personal choice

Some couples go to every comp they can locally whereas others just compete once or twice a year at the most prestigious top comps.  Here we have a number of private competitions of all sizes and then a few large province-wide or international ones (I suppose about 3 or 4).  For about 4 years DP and I have attended just about every local comp there is to develop our comp skills but now we are reconsidering this.   

One possible issue is that the judges can get used to you and typecast you "oh here's * and * again" for how they remember you dance and hence not see any improvement.  Another is that because there is a comp just more frequently than every month you are always in prep mode and don't have a chance to make large changes to technique or routine and get used to them.

How do others time comp frequency?

[skipper]

At one time I used to compete about every 6 weeks.  That was when I was very new and "wide eyed". I stayed in the ballroom late and was so tired the next morning before my heats.
Now I am older and wiser ---the comps are chosen by size (mixed) and what part of the country it is being held. We try to do both east coast and west coast.
I think its best to mix it up, so you are not pigenholed  in to one kind of competitor.

[elisedance]

At one time I used to compete about every 6 weeks.  That was when I was very new and "wide eyed". I stayed in the ballroom late and was so tired the next morning before my heats.
Now I am older and wiser ---the comps are chosen by size (mixed) and what part of the country it is being held. We try to do both east coast and west coast.
I think its best to mix it up, so you are not pigenholed  in to one kind of competitor.

What do you mean by 'mixed' size - you do some large and some small?  surely you don't travel accross the country to compete in a small comp?  You must have some favorite comps too
And the pigeonhole-ing is something I believe we have to break out of. 

[skipper]

I like to feel as if there will be some competion. Mixed size means 4,500 entries up to 15,000 entries (this weekend in Millenium).

[elisedance]

I like to feel as if there will be some competion. Mixed size means 4,500 entries up to 15,000 entries (this weekend in Millenium).

Do you avoid the superlarge comps then?  Can't remember if you compete at Ohio for example...

[QPO]

we have six local comps in a year plus a half comp......out of those 7.  4 are eligible to earn points to be able to elevate.  We do all these as well as four interstate and this year of those those is in NZ.

Not many people are a  position to do that, but we don't do any more than what we can afford. Dancing is getting very expensive and I feel if they could review costs and venues (which we have discussed before), it would allow people to be involved and travel more.....

Numbers dancing here, is falling and I dont think that all the comps we currently have will survive. which will be a shame.

[elisedance]

Ah, you raise rather an important issue: the rules for promotion (elevation).  If it is a point system then the more comps you do the more points you will get.  However, here you only elevate for wins - so if promotion is the goal, doing comps where you have no chance of winning is, well, pointless . 

I suppose our association hasn't figured out the advantage of the point system yet (for getting participation)

[QPO]

not sure why they have comps that do not accrue points. they are called festivals..... the system is changing here from January 2012. It will be a passport system where you will need to attain 60 points (not sure if that is the correct figure) to elevate, but you get points for participating and also points for a placing.

there are advantages and disadvantages for both systems. but in places where competitions is tight and you are unlikely to win it gives you an option to get points for a placing.

[elisedance]

not sure why they have comps that do not accrue points. they are called festivals..... the system is changing here from January 2012. It will be a passport system where you will need to attain 60 points (not sure if that is the correct figure) to elevate, but you get points for participating and also points for a placing.

there are advantages and disadvantages for both systems. but in places where competitions is tight and you are unlikely to win it gives you an option to get points for a placing.

I suppose one issue is that very weak dancers can and will still advance to higher levels even if they make no effort to improve.  OTOH the same can easily happen here since there are no rules against self-advancement.  You can put yourself anywhere you like - but then you can't go backwards...

[QPO]

not sure why they have comps that do not accrue points. they are called festivals..... the system is changing here from January 2012. It will be a passport system where you will need to attain 60 points (not sure if that is the correct figure) to elevate, but you get points for participating and also points for a placing.

there are advantages and disadvantages for both systems. but in places where competitions is tight and you are unlikely to win it gives you an option to get points for a placing.

I suppose one issue is that very weak dancers can and will still advance to higher levels even if they make no effort to improve.  OTOH the same can easily happen here since there are no rules against self-advancement.  You can put yourself anywhere you like - but then you can't go backwards...

Often people are in a hurry to play with the big boys...but the stakes are high and you have to do your utmost best every time......It is a journey after all enjoy it I say