How is ballroom dancing judged when everyone is doing something different?
fredsredhead66 asked:
I mean, I’ve watched actual ballroom dance competitions on public television , and also the movie ‘Shall We Dance?’ What I would like to know is why are each set of dance partners doing something different, and how can the judges see it all?
I mean, I’ve watched actual ballroom dance competitions on public television , and also the movie ‘Shall We Dance?’ What I would like to know is why are each set of dance partners doing something different, and how can the judges see it all?
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:14 pm
They are judged based on their technique, artistism, and sportsmanship. They are judged on how well they are dancing the steps they chose. Even though the steps appear different, there are basic technical points that make the dancing look good ot bad, advanced or beginner-ish.
Judges are familiar with all the steps that are out there in the ballroom dance, and from the “sampler” steps that the couple shows they can judge their overall skill level.
A couple that dances really nicely but purposely bumps into other couples might not get recalled to the next round. “Shall We Dance” movie presents a distorted picture in this regard. Dancers are usually pretty nice to each other on the dance floor either because they are simply nice people or because everyone can see what’s going on, and being mean doesn’t look good. Despite what the movie showed, competitors are usually good friends among each other.
Yes, it always amazed me that in 90 seconds or less, judges can see it all. High level competition have 7 or more judges working at a time, and amazingly enough, their marks are usually similar. When I watch judges work, I notice that most of them are done marking the couples in the fist 20 seconds of dancing, not even 90 seconds.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:38 am
All the judges know all the spins, turns, jumps and steps so they know what they are doing and if its right. They also have good eyes!! X-D
January 6th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Thats the hard bit, sometimes judges have only 5-10 seconds to look at each couple before they decide which ones are the best