I'm new to pro/am comps and was wondering if you think it's an absolute necessesity to have a routine vs. just following the lead. I know all the moves that will be done, but is it imperative they be in a certain order?
No, there is no imperative at all. That's why the single-dance events at Pro/Am comps are often called "freestyle" events.
From your handle I'm going to assume you are female and following :-) In my opinion I think it's good to have "sections" that give you something to work on in lessons and practice, but that they should really only be taking as starting points. I believe it is much better to be able to follow what is led, so it's a good idea to have time in your Pro/Am lessons where all you are doing is following and not using set routines. That way, when you're in a competition and your teacher has to make a change due to other couples (or just plain forgets) you aren't suprised and you just keep dancing along nicely.
Thanks, Laura. I figured that being able to follow is the better course so that when I dance with others, my brain isn't programmed to think the next move is supposed to be "x". I think it's easier to go that route in latin vs. smooth, though. BTW, I read some of your previous posts on practicing along (with Jools, I think) and appreciate that info, too!
I agree with Laura about having sections, especially in Smooth or Standard. I usually section this off in long and short sides of the floor. But I like having some sort of plan in place so my partner has some idea what to expect.
I see some Rhythm and Latin dancers do well in open events without routines, but the winners all seem to have routines. A well choreographed routine will have light and shade as well as a variety of patterns and lines that show the full spectrum of your abilities.
This has been debated before and the pitfalls of routines are risky. Knowing what is going to happen could hamper your follow. Crowded conditions on the floor could make the execution of routines almost impossible.
But regardless of using a routine, planned patterns or winging it, practice should mimic what you are going to do on the comp floor.
Since you're new to pro/am, let me tell you a bit about how it works. If your teacher's main source of income is pro/am and his charges are reasonable, he must have several students in order to support himself. Most likely some of those students would be dancing same level, but different age categories. In order to keep his sanity (you do want your teacher to stay sane, don't you?) he sets up a routine for each level. This way he only (heh) has to remember like 7 or 8 of them.
If this is a case of having a hard time remembering the routine, try videotaping. Or if you wish to work on lead and follow, you might want to consider that within the set routine, there is plenty of opportunities for that. A simple fan to hockey stick will look quite different depending on who leads it and who follows.
I don't mind that couples have set routines, but what I wish is that they begin their routines in different positions on the floor. It is so boring to see the same couple always have to start in the same place each time they dance. Since they usually do the same routine no matter what level they are dancing, it gets a trifle boring, to say the least. One funny thing that happened involved an amateur couple who danced pro/am with their instructors. They did the same routine that they did for their am/am round, starting within a few feet of each other. It looked like sequence dancing! Everyone at our table was laughing, including some judges.
<mamboqueen>
Posted
It's not so much that I would have a problem remembering a routine; I think that routines do have a place, especially in standard or smooth. Maybe you're less likely to make a mistake doing a routine than following ad hoc (thoughts?)
I do agree with you (me too) that they can start to look a little boring when everyone is doing the same routine. That scenario you described must have looked like synchronized dancing.
So, if you had to give one tip on how to stand out (other than a wardrobe malfunction), what would it be?
quote:Originally posted by mamboqueen: It's not so much that I would have a problem remembering a routine; I think that routines do have a place, especially in standard or smooth. Maybe you're less likely to make a mistake doing a routine than following ad hoc (thoughts?)
I think it all depends on your experience level. For me, I could dance any closed syllabus Standard competition and be completely comfortable not having a routine. But then I've been dancing Pro/Am Standard with the same teacher for over six years. However, put me in a Latin, Rhythm, or Smooth event and I need the routine because it's all so new to me. I recently started working on Smooth for the first time with my Pro/Am teacher and there's no way I could do it without routines. If I ever get to the point where we can ad lib I'll be amazed that I was able to progress that far :-)
quote:So, if you had to give one tip on how to stand out (other than a wardrobe malfunction), what would it be?
(In Pro/Am, the cynical answer would be to have a multi-time Pro champion as your partner.)
The best answer is to not make any grooming mistakes (not even dirty shoes) and to dance impeccably. Good dancing stands out, especially in syllabus events, be they Amateur or Pro/Am.
Not sure what the "parrot upon the shoulder" method is. Do I want to know??!!
Laura - my instructor is very well credentialed. I think being a well known person in the field can cut two ways, however. I'll just ask him kindly not to piss anyone off within a week or so of the comp
Grooming; tough for a new person. I compete pretty early in the morning and having to pull off the look that early is foreign to me. I'm doing the fake tan (blech...), massive make-up (double blech), probably some kind of fake hair color (well, I can commit a crime and probably be unrecognizable, right?). The one problem I will probably have is shoes. All set for smooth, but my latin shoes are either silver, taupe, gold or black. I was told by a fellow classmate that I should have nude shoes. Eeek! I don't have time to get a new pair because I have narrow feet and it takes too long to get them. Do you think I should go with the taupe? My dress is blue.
