Online Dance Trends Newsletter

PART 1
Seasons greetings everyone! Hope your holiday has been safe and that, if you believe in Santa (I still do :)!), that you got everything that was on your list. So, 2005 is coming to an end and now, of course, it is time to reflect on this past year and to make our new resolutions for 06. Why does everyone put down the idea of making New Year's resolutions? You hear it all the time from the "experts". They say "Whatever you do, don't make a resolution for New Year's because you will only set yourself up to fail". Excuse me? So, if I commit to losing those extra pounds on, let's say July first, I've got a better shot at sticking to my goal? Or, is it just that no one is going to ask me what my July 1st resolutions are so I don't have to feel guilty when I have a couple of burgers and a beer on July 4th? When did we all get so sensitive?

Speaking of sensitive, I saw something on TV a few days ago that really got under my skin. It was a commercial for another reality show called "Skating with the Stars". Did you see it? Well, at the end of the promotion the announcer says in his beefed up voice "THIS IS NOT BALLROOM DANCING". What the h-e-double hockey sticks is that supposed to mean?! Are they implying that "ballroom dancing" isn't as tough as "figure skating"? Excuse me while I roll on the floor laughing. I mean, come on, your sport has the word "FIGURE" in it! How manly is that?! If I am correct, I believe it is skaters who take lessons from ballroom coaches. I have never heard of a ballroom couple taking lessons with a skating coach. Now, now, relax Dan, you're getting a little too uptight about this don't you think? (I hate when I talk to myself). Like I said from the beginning, this is a sensitive subject and I'll tell you why.

Ballroom dancing is better than figure skating. Dancing to the music in a pair of shoes, on a wood floor allows the couple to give a stronger interpretation of the music. When I watch skaters skating to music, it looks more like a simulation because they cannot create the true musicality of the song, at least not throughout. It's like they do something that looks like it fit the phrase and then they leave the music and have to spend the next eight measures getting up enough speed to do a jump. I think our couples are more exciting, our costuming and grooming is much more advanced and I even think we have better looking judges :)!

So then, why has it taken this long for ballroom dancing to finally get some recognition from the media and the general public while skating is still a regular event watched on televisions and reported on by the media throughout the year? The simple fact is that skating has its act together.

First, they have elements, and some difficult ones at that. This allows the viewer (non-skater) to be a participant in a way. We hear from the announcer that the skater is preparing to do a triple lutz and we have some idea of what is about to happen before it happens. If we like the skater, we sit in front of our televisions and try to send good vibes so they nail it. Our adrenaline is right there and when they hit it we are happy for them and when they miss we feel their despair (especially when they have to keep skating for several more minutes).

Required elements in figure skating is, to me, the number 1 reason why ballroom dancing/dancesport isn't number one. We need required elements and not wimpy ones either! Until then, our viewing audience, Olympic committee and other sports organizations will not take us seriously because it is all based on opinion. I love our sport/art, whatever you want to call. I know it is more exciting than many other sports but we have to add required elements while we are the current darlings of the media or we will be back to square one, trying to convince people that ballroom dancing is as worthy as ice skating.

Ok, speaking of required elements, I came across this bit of information from the PDF website (The Professional Dancers Federation). If you are a competitor you need to know this information because it is a huge change in the way that we will be judging you in the future. Professionals! Please Read!

Beginning in July of 2006 the Closed Bronze divisions at NDCA competitions will be required to use the American Style Bronze list of allowable figures and elements. PLEASE review the list carefully and make your suggestions for improvement known at this time. We would like as much input as possible before this new rule goes into effect. You can also find and submit suggestions for improving this list at ….PDFUSA.ORG. The full elements list follows this report.

The new Bronze Elements/figures list was passed at the NDCA meeting last January. This will mean uniform bronze elements and figures at NDCA events were closed syllabus competitions are held. This will be in effect for a trial run January 1 st, 2006. and will take effect officially in July of 2006.

This is a big change folks so please get onto the PDF website and look at the list of required steps. Share your opinion if you like them or not. Here is what I would ask myself...Do I feel the patterns are a good representation of the American Style? Are there any patterns missing that I would like the NDCA to consider? Do I want required elements or should we leave it as is?

Hi Dan: Got this scoring from your website - have a question about it below
Professional American Rhythm (Ch,R,Bol,Sw,Ma )

1st place    Tony Dovolani and Elena Grinenko                  New York        1|1|1|1|1|
2nd place   Felipe Telona and Carolina Telona                  New Jersey     2|2|2|2|2|
3rd place    Jesse DeSoto and Jackie Josephs                 Illinois              3|4|4|3|4|
4th place    Gleb Makarov and May-Ling Hutchins             New Jersey     4|3|5|4|5|
5th place    Emanuel Pierre Antoine and Joanna Zacharewicz       New York         5|5|3|5|3|
6th place    Michael Neil and Danielle Wilson                     Florida             6|6|6|6|6|

I was just wondering - how can the judging be so consistent with 1st, 2nd and 6th place, but 3rd, 4th and 5th scores were all over the place? Also, why aren't the scores averaged (added up and then divided by the number of scores) For example, 4th place: 4+3+5+4+5=21, 21/5=4.2, then 5th place: 5+5+3+5+3-21, 21/5=4.2 - Done this way that means 4th place and 5th place were tied. Or, do they not do it like that because they don't want a tie to happen - I don't know. Yes, 5th place got more 5s than 4th place, but 5th place also had more 3s than 4th place as well. I don't know - the judging system in ballroom dancing is a bit unusual and confusing. Other sports they average, but in ballroom they do not, only except for solo routines.
Was just wondering, that's all ... Faye/Illinois

Dan Writes Back: This is why I am not a scrutineer. I will have to turn this one over to one of our best, Leroy Walters. Here is his response:

I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music.
~ Billy Joel ~

Here's The Question:
Should we have required elements in our professional divisions?

The Last Survey's Results

The question was: Do you think the word "Dancesport" is effective or should we go back to simply "Ballroom" to describe our sport?

►Dancing was never a sport. Just because it's athletic, that doesn't mean it's a sport. Sport is a subset of athletic events, where scores are kept (points, elapsed time, distance, etc.), and the score, not the way you got it, is all that counts. Ice hockey is a sport; figure skating is not! Both are athletic events, but throwing them into the same category demeans both. Competitive ballroom dance is an athletic event, but calling it a sport just sounds pretentious, and, in my opinion, turns off more people than it attracts. Gerald Cosby/Portland, OR

►At the USADance/USABDA nationals, I was interviewed by a local Minnesota news television station for an inside perspective on competitive ballroom dancing. Naturally, I was asked the question about the Olympics and whether these are really athlete's competing at a sport. My response? You try it and then tell me if you think it is a sport!
Bridget Knickerbocker/St. Paul, Minnesota

►Dancesport is what I do at a competition. Ballroom dancing is what I do at a social. ~ Joey

►I think the term Dancesport is more appropriate for those who dance competitively, whether at the amateur or professional level. For those who dance without competing Ballroom works great! ~Toledo, Ohio

►I've always thought "Dancesport" was a stupid name. Ballroom was a social activity long before competitions ever started and it should remain a social activity at its core. That's what drives this industry, not competition. That's what drives people to take lessons. That's what we should emphasize. ~James/Minnesota

►I always thought that the word "dancesport" was kind of weird. ~Randy/ Santa Barbara

►Dancesport doesn't mean anything to the average person. Thanks to TV they now know what ballroom dancing is -- and it's something they can relate to.

►Because "ballroom" tells it the way it really is. Dancesport could be any kind of dance....jazz...hip hop...any kind...it doesn't state what kind. Ballroom does. It is something to be proud of...not to hide behinds a word like "dancesport".

►I prefer the name of Ballroom. However, the name Dancesport is all inclusive - non dancers tend to think of "Ballroom" as waltz and foxtrot!

►The public doesn't connect "Dancesport" with Ballroom Dancing. When we have an event and advertise Dancesport we always get the comments, "OH! This is Ballroom Dancing, I thought it was .......". We know what we are doing but we must let others know what it is in terms they can identify with. Ballroom dancing was good enough for my parents and grandparents so it is great for me.

►I think with the current focus of so many people being that of fitness, that it is important that dance be recognized not only as a sport, but as an incredible way to stay fully fit. I have tried many types of workouts in my life and nothing has kept me more fit and toned than dancesport. Not only is my body at age 49 more in shape than it ever has been, but I feel that dancesport keeps my mind and spirit young and creative as well.

►How about Ballroom Dancesport?

►I don't think the name Dancesport has done a great deal for our industry. With the new TV shows, Ballroom is now a much cooler word.

►Yes, even though the average viewer can't relate to the high quality of dancesport...it keeps ballroom dancing in the public's eye. maybe a good thing that the media could do is compare the expertise of the dancing to that of the Olympics. Most people can relate to the difference of jumping into a pool and the expertise to do a triple flip pike.

►People will take dancing more seriously as a real sport.

►There are two types of ballroom dancers: Competitive ballroom dancers and social ballroom dancers. They are very different. I perceive the name Dancesport to represent the competitive dancers and the term ballroom dancers to encompass both the social dancers and the competitive dancers. I think having a term to differentiate the two to be helpful.

►I think the general public understands what Ballroom means. I don't think they relate to Dancesport.
All the recent media attention has been for 'Ballroom' dancing.

►Ballroom conveys the meaning very well. Dancesport may be more macho sounding, but I don't think it brings more dancers in.

►"Ballroom" has a social essence to it, while "dancesport" is more competitive and athletic.

►Ballroom is social for me. Dancesport is competitive and overall an sport. I think both term should coexist.

►I still have hopes of seeing ballroom dancing in the Olympics. I think using Dancesport for competitive dancing makes sense. "Ballroom" works just fine for social dancing.

►I say we use both; both are appropriate to describe our chosen activity. Dancesport brings to mind the competitive and athletic side of what we do, while Ballroom evokes the image of the more social side of dancing. Dancesport appeals to the younger crowd, while Ballroom appeals to the older generations. I believe their is room in our world for both descriptions.

►At work, many knew that I danced, but they really became excited about ballroom dancing after 'Dancing with the Stars'. They have been watching Ballroom boot camp, and feel that they too could try to dance. The biggest drawback is the cost of good lessons.

►Dancesport should refer to competitive ballroom dancing and social dancing should remain ballroom. They are different and should be recognized as such.

►It describes the athletic and artistic in one. plus it is a cool word....glad we got it first for our sport....Thank God for the gift of dance !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

►Ballroom says it all! Dancesport comes into play when it gets really serious.

►DanceSport officially describes competitive ballroom dancing as opposed to social dancing.
I like the distinction.

►I feel that as competitive ballroom and Latin dancing become more of a mainstream event the term ballroom athlete or ballroom dance competitor will be a little more user friendly. When we mention Ballroom or Latin dancing to people outside of our world, they immediately have an image come to mind. However, when we say dancesport competitor, they usually have a pretty blank stare.

►Call it what it is--lets be proud!

►If you tell a person you are involved in "Dancesport" they ALWAYS say, "What's that?" If you tell a person you are involved in "Ballroom dancing," they ALWAYS say, "Wow, I love that!" Try it.

►Ballroom dancing is classy, not just a sport. Calling it a sport takes away from what it's suppose to be. It degrades it.

Music for Movement...

I have the dubious honor of writing a column to address the "issues" some of you may have concerning music for dancesport. Well, let's pull out the couch, lie down and get it all out, because I'm taking a chance on opening up Pandora's box when it comes to talking about music preferences, styles, trends or whatever else has to do with the subject of "music" to dance to. However, I'm going to jump in and take a shot of possibly helping out those that may need some insight or assistance on music for dancesport, competitive or social.

So, let's start by making sure you all know this is an open forum. Which means that I want you, the readers of this fine magazine, to let me know what your "music issues" are. Every month I will select questions that are submitted via Dancetrends.org and do my best to answer as best I can. If I don't know the answer, I'll find it. So, please feel free to email me any question you may have about anything pertaining to dancesport music, even general questions as to the structure of music or assistance with identifying music to dance to.

While playing music for competitions, many people come and talk to me about music trends. These trends, musically, have nothing to do w/dancesport as the majority of musicians (99.9%) are not making music for people to dance to. An artist may hope that someone may like their song enough to dance to it, however, I can assure you that the artist does not have "the dancers" best interest in mind. So, when you talk about "trends", you're talking about a dancer's tendency to lean (no pun intended) towards certain characteristics about music that make them move better, or perhaps, worse. So, we all have our opinions about what we like to dance to.

Believe me, being the music-director for these major competitions, some dancers have no problem telling me what they don't like. You would think it would be the opposite? Nope! I can play 150 heats in a day and the one song that someone doesn't like, they will climb through hell and high water to seek me out to let me know, "that song sucked!". Really. Forget about the previous 149 songs you enjoyed...I'm sorry, I'm venting now, I'll get back to the issue.

So, let's just talk about where music is going for Dancesport. For both styles, music has gone through some changes, mostly in part to tempo. I found this out while playing the music for the World Latin Dancesport Competition. The dancers were wanting a slower Cha Cha. What? The NDCA says it needs to be 31 measures per minute (more about what that means later) so that can't be right. Well, it was and their (the professionals) justification was that, when the tempi was "officially" established back in the dark ages, they (the dark-age dancers) were not dancing at the same level that the professionals of today are. So, they need the Cha Cha to be slower so they can do all they want/need to do (technically and choreographically) and thus, get the best possible result. Needless to say, I was shocked, but I changed the tempo risking everything that the chairman of judges was going to come down on me for playing the music too slow.

To get to the end of a very long story, similar trends went wayward to slow down the Samba, Paso and Jive. I thought that the American style was safe from this trend, but, I was wrong. I've had requests that the Rumba and Swing be slower. Now, I, as a retired professional always felt that Rumba needed to have an "edge" in the music to distinguish it from the Bolero. Also, I believe that the personality of the Rumba, in basic terms, has a more intense drive and chemistry, as the Bolero is the true dance of love and affection. Now, knowing this as a dancer, I try to seek out music that will match these characteristics of all the dances. This is the risk that I take as not all dancers have the same "opinion" that I have. However, I really base my "opinion" on the facts and history of where and why the dance has evolved. I go by common sense as to how the five dances are sequenced to bring the viewer more of theatrical experience, with a beginning and an end. The funny thing is that dance trends are changing all the time. Costumes, make-up, hair, technique and choreography, etc...However, music has been at the bottom of the list to keep up with the times and trends. Let's be real, the "Tea for Two" cha cha is alright, but it just can't go with the energy that is being brought forth from our competitors. Let's just thank our lucky stars that there was a Latin music boom this past decade that gave us much more variety and selection so that we could catch-up with our dancers.

Trends are now more about adjusting the tempos of music for better and more enhanced dancing. You can always go to the NDCA website and view these tempi. However, it doesn't mean that they are what you're going to get at an actual competition. This is why it's wise to practice to a small variety of tempos. Remember, you start dancing when you hear the music. Not the reverse. So be prepared for the music and dance with it, and, if you don't like it, dance it like you do and you probably will like the next one.

Next time, we will answer questions and talk about how we, as Americans, are very spoiled when it comes to music at our events. Been to a competition in Europe lately? Enough said.

Always move...musically!

Brent Thomas Mills

Stacey Keibler (Pro Wrestler) with Tony Dovolani, Drew Lachey (Rock Singer) with Cheryl Burke, George Hamilton (Film Star) with Edyta Silwinska, Jerry Rice (Football Legend) with Anna Trebunskaya, Giselle Fernandez (Television Journalist) with Jonathan Roberts, Kenny Mayne (ESPN Anchor) with Andrea Hale, Lisa Rinna (Soap Opera Star) with Louis VanAmstel, Master P (Rap Star) with Ashley DelGrosso, Tia Carrere (Film Star) with Max Chmerkosvskiy, and Tatum O'Neil (Film Star) with Nick Kosovich.