Virginia State Championships, 2019
This is the third year in a row we participated in this event. Jim Larkey and Terry Bussard danced Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Jim's girlfriend, Bonnie, joined us as the main cheering section. The four of us visited Elegant Dancing, a studio in Vienna, VA, owned by Chris Thompson, for social dancing on Friday after the events.
The competition is run very efficiently by a friendly staff. What was good? The floor, the timetable, the atmosphere. I have a few things to say about the music. It was good overall. I plan to make a request to my teacher organizations about the music for Viennese waltzes, sambas, tangos. The introduction should be consistently four bars. The phrasing should be regular--8 bars per melodic phrase. Is this picky? NO.
Why is competition appealing to some dancers?
It's a goal. You have a finite amount of time to 'get ready.' 'Get ready' has different meaning to different dancers. To most it means become prepared to look your best on the dance floor. Work on your fitness, get something to wear that flatters your shape and makes you feel special, get your hair ready, practice your make-up application, get some contact lenses, clean up you dance shoes. Most important: HAVE A PLAN for the dancing. Routines with which you and your partner are very familiar allow the dancers to have focus on technique, music, partnering, body line, movement. If you are spending the largest part of your thinking on deciding what to do next, you can't possibly perform at a high level.
Why is competition unappealing to certain dancers?
We know that without any pressure, without any stress, we as humans, will do less. Pressure is a motivator. Stress is the best way to sense the need to figure out what to do to improve a situation. You can practice and develop teamwork by trying to fulfill your partner's needs and vice versa.
Some people claim they just want to have fun when they dance. Guess what? IT'S FUN TO DO WELL, TO LOOK GOOD, TO FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IMPROVING and TO FEEL YOU ARE PART OF A TEAM..
This is the third year in a row we participated in this event. Jim Larkey and Terry Bussard danced Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Jim's girlfriend, Bonnie, joined us as the main cheering section. The four of us visited Elegant Dancing, a studio in Vienna, VA, owned by Chris Thompson, for social dancing on Friday after the events.
The competition is run very efficiently by a friendly staff. What was good? The floor, the timetable, the atmosphere. I have a few things to say about the music. It was good overall. I plan to make a request to my teacher organizations about the music for Viennese waltzes, sambas, tangos. The introduction should be consistently four bars. The phrasing should be regular--8 bars per melodic phrase. Is this picky? NO.
Why is competition appealing to some dancers?
It's a goal. You have a finite amount of time to 'get ready.' 'Get ready' has different meaning to different dancers. To most it means become prepared to look your best on the dance floor. Work on your fitness, get something to wear that flatters your shape and makes you feel special, get your hair ready, practice your make-up application, get some contact lenses, clean up you dance shoes. Most important: HAVE A PLAN for the dancing. Routines with which you and your partner are very familiar allow the dancers to have focus on technique, music, partnering, body line, movement. If you are spending the largest part of your thinking on deciding what to do next, you can't possibly perform at a high level.
Why is competition unappealing to certain dancers?
- Pressure to excel
- Pressure to be on display whether the dancing turns out well or not
- Pressure to feel unworthy while under scrutiny
- Pressure to look good
- Stress over whether your partner will perform his or her role in an way that works for you
We know that without any pressure, without any stress, we as humans, will do less. Pressure is a motivator. Stress is the best way to sense the need to figure out what to do to improve a situation. You can practice and develop teamwork by trying to fulfill your partner's needs and vice versa.
Some people claim they just want to have fun when they dance. Guess what? IT'S FUN TO DO WELL, TO LOOK GOOD, TO FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IMPROVING and TO FEEL YOU ARE PART OF A TEAM..