On the comp floor - what do you think about?

[elisedance]

On the peformance topic Cornutt asked the question:

If I may, Elise: I suspect that, based on what you wrote above, you're worrying too much about what the audience thinks of your performance while you're dancing.  Are you conscious of doing this?  What do you think about while you're dancing?

And I thought (not competing at the time) it would make an interesting issue.

What do I think of?  I'm sitting here now struggling trying to answer that question.  The reason, I think , is that I think way too much and about too many things   Mostly it really is about what I am doing but all sorts of other thoughts come to mind that vary between comps, how well we are doing and also what I am trying to focus on.  Most comps I have one main dance issue that I am working on and a couple of ancilliary ones - last one was ballance together with an expanded frame. 

However, its the other stuff that can be less constructive.  To be honest, when it is not going well I sometimes wish it would end - and obviously then I am not dancing my best.  But I don't think I spend a lot of time worrying about the audicence reaction nor about what the judges are thinking.  At best I am into the dance but not TOO into it.  The latter is actually my biggest danger - I can start enjoying it so much that expression becomes more important than technique.  I think thats when we do our worst - which is a bit sad really!

What do others think of??

[SwingWaltz]

At some of the comps, "Boy the light is bright!"

Most of the comps, "Don't fall over, don't fall over, don't fall over....."

And if I see a really cute girl sitting in the front row, "What do I have to do to get her attention? In a good way!" 

[etp777]

"Don't run pro into anyone...Don't run pro into anyone"

[elisedance]

where's BTMs? I'm guessing 'zeno's paradox'...

[Dora-Satya Veda]

I am not sure I should publicly say what I think about or not think about.

[drj]

"Boy the light is bright!"

That was the most overwhelming thought when I walked out for my first comp. Boy, the light is bright! After that, I stopped thinking.

[elisedance]

I am not sure I should publicly say what I think about or not think about.

OK.  So now you have us interested....

[elisedance]

"Boy the light is bright!"

That was the most overwhelming thought when I walked out for my first comp. Boy, the light is bright! After that, I stopped thinking.

  thats great if you can 'go zen'.  Yesterday I thought a lot less than usual - maybe it was the flu meds! 

[Dora-Satya Veda]

That was the most overwhelming thought when I walked out for my first comp. Boy, the light is bright! After that, I stopped thinking.

  thats great if you can 'go zen'.  Yesterday I thought a lot less than usual - maybe it was the flu meds! 

Being sick is one way to stop thinking and just doing. Not a way that I would recommend on a regular basis but it does work.

[etp777]

heh, been sick this week (still am) and certainly posed a problem on my thinking. 

[elisedance]

H1N1?  Join the leper colony...

[skipper]

Breathe - exhale - exhale - exhale

Sit1 Sit! Sit!

[cornutt]

When it's going well for me, it's like what athletes describe as "being in the zone".  Everything seems effortless; technique is automatic, and I have the luxury of focusing on anything that I want to focus on.  That might be the feeling of dancing with my partner, or it might be catching the eye of a judge or audience member, or it might be the music, or it might just be how cool dancing is.     In the zone, posture is tall, strides are long, and floorcraft is never a problem.

When it's not going quite as well, I'll probably be trying to limit my thinking to one particular point of technique or expression that I had previously set as a goal for improvement.

When it's not going well at all, it's the opposite of being in the zone: I have tunnel vision; I can't process all of the sensory inputs I'm getting or control all of the motor functions that need to be controlled.  Fortunately, this doesn't happen very often.

[elisedance]

When it's going well for me, it's like what athletes describe as "being in the zone".  Everything seems effortless; technique is automatic, and I have the luxury of focusing on anything that I want to focus on.  That might be the feeling of dancing with my partner, or it might be catching the eye of a judge or audience member, or it might be the music, or it might just be how cool dancing is.     In the zone, posture is tall, strides are long, and floorcraft is never a problem.

When it's not going quite as well, I'll probably be trying to limit my thinking to one particular point of technique or expression that I had previously set as a goal for improvement.

When it's not going well at all, it's the opposite of being in the zone: I have tunnel vision; I can't process all of the sensory inputs I'm getting or control all of the motor functions that need to be controlled.  Fortunately, this doesn't happen very often.

I think you nailed it C ....
may you have the power of the PDOzone

[ZPomeroy]

I don't really think about anything too much, my mind is in a relaxed state which seems very strange when you think about what should really be running through my head on the floor

Zac