| In the syllabus levels of a Latin and Ballroom dance | | | | day out. This begs the question: Why is there no set |
| competition, there is a series of dance steps that | | | | system in place to handle this consistently? |
| couples must adhere to and dance only the steps that | | | | Let us take a brief moment to look at Dancesport's |
| are appropriate for their level. Having been competing | | | | closest comparison in sport and art, figure skating. In |
| in the pro/am (teacher/student competitions) syllabus | | | | figure skating, there is a whole judging panel dedicated |
| levels for the past 2 years, there had not been a single | | | | to watching and identifying the different elements being |
| competition where I did not spot at least 1 | | | | executed. At the same time, there is a separate panel |
| out-of-syllabus incident. Is there someone on the floor | | | | that actually judges and scores the performances. |
| monitoring this? For most competitions, it looks like | | | | These judges also have access to video footage of |
| there is not sufficient oversight. | | | | the performances if extra review is needed. If the |
| Most would agree that couples often need to grab the | | | | figure skating committee is going out of their way to |
| judges' attention in order to get noticed and place well | | | | insure that the best and fairest practices are being |
| in Dancesport competitions. Couples that incorporate | | | | implemented to judge their competitions, why cannot |
| dance steps from the higher levels will often have an | | | | our associations do the same? |
| advantage because they will be more visible on the | | | | Possible Solution: There are many solutions to this |
| floor. They would be performing the faster, more | | | | problem. The simplest is to appoint at least 10 syllabus |
| intricate, some would say more interesting dance | | | | experts to act as the "syllabus monitoring board" |
| routines. This is not fair to the couples who stick to the | | | | (separate from the judges) at every competition. I say |
| rules. One of my competing students had also spotted | | | | at least 10, because 2 or 3 will not get the job done. |
| couples dancing "all these cool" moves in her category | | | | There could be as many as 24 couples on the floor at |
| and began implying that I should be letting her do them | | | | the same time and so to make sure all the couples get |
| as well. "No one cares for the rules, Leon", she said. | | | | watched, we need a sufficient number of experts |
| Here I am, a professional dance instructor who | | | | working at the same time. Their only job is to sit there, |
| teaches his students stick to the syllabus and I found it | | | | monitor each heat, and watch out for out-of syllabus |
| hard to justify why the syllabus rules matter (other | | | | moves. The "syllabus monitors" would then have a |
| than that I stick to it for myself as a teaching method). | | | | meeting with these out-of-syllabus couples to explain |
| Mind you, these pro/am students pay very well in | | | | the specific violations. These couples would be given |
| competition fees to at least expect a fair competition | | | | two options: To either move up to the next level |
| system in place. | | | | (where they really belong with their fancy moves!) |
| At the 2008 Manhattan Dancesport championship I | | | | immediately or to remove the out-of-place dance |
| went as far as complaining about it. I told the chairman | | | | moves for the subsequent rounds in their current level. |
| of the competition that I had witnessed about 5-10 pro | | | | If they were to violate the rules again, they would be |
| am couples dancing out-of syllabus steps! He replied | | | | disqualified for the day. Lastly, these competitors' |
| that he was very aware of the problem and that the | | | | names would be kept on record to watch out for in |
| officials were monitoring it very closely and giving | | | | future competitions. |
| appropriate penalties. They made an announcement | | | | In conclusion, Dancesport competitions clearly need |
| about it shortly after and that was it. I heard that in | | | | more oversight to make sure that the syllabus is |
| some competitions, sometimes they may have come | | | | followed by all competition participants. Otherwise, |
| up to one or two couples to warn them about their | | | | what is the purpose of having syllabus level |
| syllabus violations, but clearly it did not change anything | | | | competitions? |
| as this continues to happen in competitions day in and | | | | |