Can a pro who dances pro-am events, judge other categories at the same comp?
Just curious. I guess they probably would not be allowed to judge amateur events at a comp where they competed as pros(???) but with pro-am it might be different. Is it?
I don't know if it's allowed, but I've never seen it happen. Aside from the conflict of interest issues - which aren't necessarily that major, since pros don't generally take pro-am results very seriously - there's the simple scheduling issues of when you need to be available for judging versus when you need to be suited up for competition.
Warren said: "... since pros don't generally take pro-am results very seriously..."
I'm not sure in what context he meant this. I am pretty sure the pro's who dance Pro-Am in my area do take results seriously. They are trying to keep current students and gain new ones. If they are not placing in events or at least improving over time, the students will migrate to other teachers. That said, these Pro's aren't actively competing in Pro-Pro partnerships.
Warren also said: "...there's the simple scheduling issues of when you need to be available for judging versus when you need to be suited up for competition."
I think this would be a major reason why most Pro's dancing Pro-Am wouldn't be judging.
Our comps aren't major, but I do know that the organizers always bring in judges from outside our area. Our comps follow a set format. The organizers invite current high ranking Pro's in International & Standard styles to judge, perform, and teach. They judge the competitions during the day, give a show during the evening, and teach group classes and private lessons on the final day. To round out the judging list, other judges are invited from outside our area. They are also tapped to give private lessons when available. I doubt any of them would have time to bring in pupils and dance Pro-Am even if they wanted to.
Some judges do judge pro/am comps, but not at the same time. That is, they can judge a comp, but not compete in the same one, for the logistical reasons Warren has already mentioned. But there's no reason a judge couldn't judge one weekend and "compete" the next. I don't know very many judges who still do a lot of pro/am, though.
Anyone working pro or pro-am at a competiton may not judge at [u]that event[/].
Any pro cometitor may judge pro-am or am-am at [u]other events.[/u] Usually these are high level competitors like Gary and Diana, in their competing days.
Any pro-am competitor may judge pro or pro-am or am-am at [u]other events[/u]. Foresst Vance, retired champion and big time pro-am teacher, is a classic example. Dancing pro-am one weekend, judgng pro and pro-am the next.
But in NO CASE does the NDCA allow someone to judge and work pro-am or pro at the same competition.
Quote: I don't know if it's allowed, but I've never seen it happen. Aside from the conflict of interest issues - which aren't necessarily that major, since pros don't generally take pro-am results very seriously - there's the simple scheduling issues of when you need to be available for judging versus when you need to be suited up for competition.
Since you know nothing about dancing pro or dancing pro-am I think your comment is worthless and insulting.
I am sure you did not mean to be insulting, but pros, even very, very top pros, take their ProAm events seriously, and are out to beat each other. It's matter of competitiveness and pride, and they boast about it too. In fact, it puts extra pressure on the Am half because the Pro really wants that result.
It never ceases to amaze how arrogant and ignorant some folks on this board are...saying that most pros don't take the pro-am results seriously is like saying I don't take my job seriously, I don't take my stock investments seriously, I don't need money to pay the bills. Wake up and smell the coffee Warren...pro-am keeps these comps and the ballroom dance industry in business...where do you think the purses come from to pay the professional winners? where do you think the monthly dance studio rent comes from (especially for studios that run few or no group classes)......Puhleeeze! When an amateur enters an event and pays $9- - $150 in entry fees, vs. the pro-am who pays anywhere from $600 - $2,000 for the day, you've got to be kidding that the pros don't care. If they don't win, they don't keep or attract new students...it is a business honey.
Quote: I am sure you did not mean to be insulting, but pros, even very, very top pros, take their ProAm events seriously, and are out to beat each other. It's matter of competitiveness and pride, and they boast about it too. In fact, it puts extra pressure on the Am half because the Pro really wants that result.
Very, very, very true. Outsiders sometimes don't appreciate this, but pro-am results really mean a lot to the pros who do pro-am.
Just think of a possible pro-am event that would include this very likely lineup: Giampierro Giannico, Giacomo Agrello, Francesco Flumiani, Erminio Stefano, Paul Holmes, and Ben Ermis. You think these guys wouldn't take their results seriously? Ditto for an event that might include Diana McDonald and Adriana Chessa, or Tony Dovolani and Jose DeCamp.
