Judging specific STYLES of Swing
Skippy Blair © 12-9-97
Updated 3-99, 2- 03, 12-04
NOTE: This was written in
1997 – Updated through ’04 – and still stands today. Skippy Blair
Judging ”Swing technique” includes a wide variety of elements,
based on the STYLE of Swing being judged.
In addition to the standard elements that cover EVERY form: Timing - Teamwork - Technique - Variety &
Contrast - Entertainment Value - Footwork - Showmanship, there are additional, “specific” elements
when judging different styles of Swing.
WEST COAST SWING: Look for "Anchors" at the
conclusion of many step patterns. Expect a degree of leverage & compression in the appropriate places. In upper level competitions, expect a
variety of syncopations and a large
amount of innovative musical
interpretation (for which the dance
is noted). Part of the
"science" of the dance is the "elastic
response" that moves in and out of specific moves. Look for both partners to be traveling in the
same direction at the start of most patterns. Because of the variety of tempos, it is
important to note that some dancers have difficulty with slower tempo ranges. "Body Flight" is created by the
action/reaction of two partners, along with solid centering that exudes a
confidence, characteristic of this dance.
EAST COAST SWING & LINDY: Look for the "spring" action of the "Rock Step". Look for some degree of Body flight and circular or oval travel
with a great degree of centrifugal force and leverage. Watch for synchronization in the partnership. Both
partners should still be in time, even to the rapid tempos of the
music. Measured movement allows partners
to land from a jump - in time to the
music.
CAROLINA SHAG: Look for the smoothness of the lilt that allows the upper body to stay
still while the legs literally float from
one rhythm to the next. “ Mirror-steps” are popular where one partner mimics the other.
HAND DANCING:
Has been included in many recent competitions - particularly down south. This form includes a solid foundation gleaned
from East Coast Swing in the form of “Rock Steps” - but recently includes a
wide variety of musical interpretation, gleaned from West Coast Swing. Like
most emerging forms of swing, Hand Dancing has a rich and solid history that is
rapidly absorbing the best of both East and West Coast Swing, along with a bit
of Shag influence. Keep your eyes on
this one. The rules are there but they
are still developing.
STEPPIN’: 2013 NOTE – Steppin’ has recently been
added to our dance community. Quite a
few Steppin’ instructors attended a special GSDTA Steppin’ Intensive, designed
to discover real musical count – and Rhythm Units for this historic dance. Rules for Judging are still in the stage of
development and will be included in this list when complete.
An OPEN SWING Competition: Unfortunately, many
of our swing competitions are not “style” specific. Contestants can mix all
kinds of Swing. The "Dance
Elements" will be the same. We are
still able to judge "technique" because we do not judge the style of
the dance when it is an OPEN competition.
Even if you have a preference for one style over another, a judge's
responsibility is to judge each performance by the elements presented,
according to the rules.
There are MANY forms of Swing - and that should not be surprising. We recognize several kinds of Cha-Cha -several kinds of Waltz – and there are many varieties of
most social dances.. Still, in each
different dance style, we should be able to identify the ROOT BASE of that particular dance. Otherwise,
the "essence" of the dance has disappeared. In order to become a good judge of all kinds
of dance, a judge needs to be able
to IDENTIFY the various forms of each
dance.
Analogy for thought: Let's assume that several ladies
wear the same basic black dress. One
adds pearls - Another wears a lace
collar - Another puts rhinestones around the edges, and still another sews
polka dots from top to bottom. Looking
at each one, we can still identify the basic black dress. If we put the lace collar, pearls, polka
dots, rhinestones and whatever else we can find, all on the same black dress, we could NO LONGER identify the basic
BLACK DRESS. It has become something
else.
If we take a SWING presentation - and we add 4 beat
rhythm breaks in one place - spins in
another - stops and poses in another
- and maybe even a lift to open and
close the routine, we have still created a Swing routine. However, if we compose a routine entirely of "4-Beat" Rhythm Breaks, Spins, Slides and Stops, then
the SWING itself has disappeared. It has
become yet another dance performance, but NOT a Swing dance performance.
For those who are involved in the Judging Program: I think
you will be amazed at the confidence you feel, once you are able to identify
the Root
Base of the different kinds of Swing - as well as the foundation of other Social
Dances. You certainly don't have to
be proficient in every dance, but you should be able to identify all types and styles of both the MUSIC, and the DANCE that accomodates that particular music.
If you are only familiar with Swing Dancing - you will have a tendency to hear all music as Swing music. A good Swing dancer can dance Swing to any kind
of music that plays. That does NOT make the music “Swing Music.” All social dance music, with the
exception of Waltz, has the same number of beats per measure. It is the OTHER properties in the music that define the dance. Those subtle
DIFFERENCES allow us to identify the dance that should accompany specific
music. If we do not know about a
particular dance, that dance does not
exist for us. Our computer (brain)
will fit whatever music it hears, to the closest form that fits our personal
frame of reference. Our frame of reference is only as good as our education. Educational
observations of various dance forms, gives us the confidence that comes with any form of education.
MUSIC is crucial.
A really good dancer will adapt
to whatever music is being played.
However, if the music being played is NOT the music of the dance being
danced, the dance will take on the character
of the music being played. To some
degree the dance will LOSE some of the “essence” and characteristics of the
dance being presented.
Starting in the late 1990s, newer swing
dancers seemed to assume that all
music being played at a swing event - was Swing music. Anyone who has been around for a while knows
that swing dancers will dance swing to any 4/4 time music that is played.
There are several DJs who have suggested that they would
like to announce the kind of music being
played - particularly when the music is NOT swing. Others claim that everything is swing if you
can swing to it. GSDTA and the WSDC agree that the kind of music being played either HELPS or INHIBITS the development of
West Coast Swing dancers coming up. They
agree that the kind of music should be announced. That would be particularly beneficial for those
who are not familiar with all of the various forms of social dance music.
Announcing the music would be educational for all - and at least give
the dancers a CHOICE. They could still dance
swing to a Samba, Rumba, Hustle or Cha-Cha if they so desired, (particularly if
that’s the only dance they know) - OR,
as their expertise advances, they could dance the dance that belongs to the
music being played.
Please Note:This article was included in the Judges Training program, approved by WSDC,
because several trainees had read the material and told us that it was helpful for them
personally - and they thought it should be included. Several articles have been
included for some of the same reasons. Do let us know your thoughts as you review
the material being presented. Thank You.
posted by Skippy Blair @ 11:29 AM
