How many hours do you practise a week?

[SwingWaltz]

What styles and level do you compete in? What do you feel about the amount of hours you practise? Any factors influencing the number of hours you practise? etc

[SwingWaltz]

Partner and I dance international standard and new vogue. We compete in level 2/3 (Lowest = level 1, highest = level 5)

We practise about 3-4 hours a week. Would really like to practise more, even double the amount now. But limiting factors include study, part time job, and distance (I live 45 mins away from studio)

[elisedance]

we've slowed up some since DP's op and currently practise only ~3 hrs week (but I voted 5-10 cause thats what we usually do). 
We compete in senior syllabus gold and pre-championship.  Not sure how that measures on your scale.  If the division between two of your grades represents is a break between proscribed steps and open then thats where we are   I would guess we are 3/4 on the aussie scale...

[SwingWaltz]

we've slowed up some since DP's op and currently practise only ~3 hrs week (but I voted 5-10 cause thats what we usually do). 
We compete in senior syllabus gold and pre-championship.  Not sure how that measures on your scale.  If the division between two of your grades represents is a break between proscribed steps and open then thats where we are   I would guess we are 3/4 on the aussie scale...

Level 1 is prescribed syllabus steps. Level 2 and above is open choreography.

[emeralddancer]

I do international standard and practice a little less than 5 hours a week and have 3 lessons a week. oh I am at bronze level

[Lioness]

We are in bronze Standard, new Vogue, and latin, and we practice about 2-3 hours a week. We want more! Especially seeing as we're moving up to silver next year (eek.)

[QPO]

I an not sure what level we would be considered, Level 1 so I would think it is bronze/sliver...  have two private and one group lesson per week, practice three times a week and go to two social dances per week that we use as practice..

[elisedance]

we've slowed up some since DP's op and currently practise only ~3 hrs week (but I voted 5-10 cause thats what we usually do). 
We compete in senior syllabus gold and pre-championship.  Not sure how that measures on your scale.  If the division between two of your grades represents is a break between proscribed steps and open then thats where we are   I would guess we are 3/4 on the aussie scale...

Level 1 is prescribed syllabus steps. Level 2 and above is open choreography.

then you must all be much better than us!! 
Perhaps a better comparision would be approximately how long you dance before you move up.  I suppose 5-6 years is about average to get to Gold Standard (our highest syllabus level). 
Level 1 is prescribed syllabus steps. Level 2 and above is open choreography.

[SwingWaltz]

Perhaps a better comparision would be approximately how long you dance before you move up.  I suppose 5-6 years is about average to get to Gold Standard (our highest syllabus level). 

Well I don't know if that's accurate either. Because here, a win at a national championship is straight elevation. So I elevated to level 2 just 3 month after my first competition as a registered competitor cause I won the nationals as level 1. And also the quality of dancers in the same level can vary greatly between the different states.

[elisedance]

then maybe there is no comparison.  perhaps we should come and compete at all the levels and see how it worked out!

[QPO]

Well I don't know if that's accurate either. Because here, a win at a national championship is straight elevation. So I elevated to level 2 just 3 month after my first competition as a registered competitor cause I won the nationals as level 1. And also the quality of dancers in the same level can vary greatly between the different states.
[/quote]

We also heard tht this week. will be itneresting when we go to Canberra, all our local competitors said the same thing they entered Level 1 and got elevated instantly to level 2 and then one that as went to level three.  so you would certainly need  level 2 clothing on standby just in case 

[elisedance]

I think the latter is true everywhere - you can only do better or worse than the competition on the floor at that time - which is why its so important to enter large events every now and then to find your actual placing.

Still, there must be some comparison between here and australia!  How about technique.  At what level is it assumed that the couples have maybe not mastered but can at least go beyond basic technique?  (for example teh correct rise and fall in waltz, remaining in contact throughout the dance, propper alignment, a stable frame etc etc)  maybe thats a better comparator?

[SwingWaltz]

Well in our New Vogue lesson, we no longer look at techniques anymore. Our coach assumes we know all the techniques by now, and if we get told off big time if we make a simple technical mistake. There's a technical book in the studio for us to refer too if we need.

We mainly focus on the expression of the dance, developing characteristics, musicality, styles and so forth.
We're in Level 3 for New Vogue. I don't know when do you introduce those things over there.

New Vogue is a bit like american smooth.

[QPO]

I think the latter is true everywhere - you can only do better or worse than the competition on the floor at that time - which is why its so important to enter large events every now and then to find your actual placing.

Still, there must be some comparison between here and australia!  How about technique.  At what level is it assumed that the couples have maybe not mastered but can at least go beyond basic technique?  (for example teh correct rise and fall in waltz, remaining in contact throughout the dance, propper alignment, a stable frame etc etc)  maybe thats a better comparator?

I agree but I don't know if judges will look at that as a comparator. I have come to the conclusion that judging is not a science and very interpretive. So it will be up to your coach to advise you how your technique is going. And the amount of hours it takes for you to get there? depends you your ability as a dancer to retain the information given to you.

[elisedance]

something wrong with this topic - SW is listed as the last poster but PQO is the last post...
this is a test post