The Judging Criteria In Ballroom Dancing

Judging ballroom dancing is difficult business and you need experience to be able to do it well. True, there are a few set parameters on which the couples are rated but in any competition, the relativity factor is very important. Every couple has to also be judged in comparison to the others and this is the tough part.

Let's look at the rateable factors. These are Timing, Posture, Hold, Line, Poise, Presentation, Togetherness and Power and each competition could just have a few more on the list.

Timing is so important. You blow that and you're out. This is why couples practice so much so they can be sure of getting the timing right in their sleep. You just have to be in perfect time to the music.

Posture is equally important. That grace, that elegance just will not be present without perfect posture. If you maintain perfect posture throughout you can also be sure of perfect balance and confidence, both so essential to dancing. Posture requires a lot of practice but what you have in the end is perfection. So you can see just how vital it is to ballroom dancing.

Hold is how your body parts are held, not just yours but both yours and your partner's, during any dance movement. So your arms, legs, feet and body need to be in the right position at the right time. It also has to be in perfect symmetry with your partner's. If you don't follow this, you are said to be breaking your hold and this could lose you quite a few points.

What is also important is Line which is the position of the body right from your head down to your toes. You have to make sure that your line is perfect. It does not matter if it is straight or curved, the lime should be graceful, elegant and right.

Poise of course is what sets you apart as you glide around the room. This certain something that needs to come from within is what makes for smooth dancing. It is the way the body moves upwards and outwards, the way a woman's body moves perfectly into the man's waiting arm, balancing, connecting and making it a graceful movement.

Of course, in today's world, presentation is so important. It is necessary to sell yourselves to those watching, especially the judges. You need to do more than just dance correctly and gracefully. You need to let the expressions show on your face as well. You need to smile, to involve the viewers. This is the packaging that sets today's dancing apart.

Togetherness in ballroom dancing is a given. You and your partner have to move as one. The leading and the following have to be done without any seeming effort and there has to be a total synchronizing of every move.

All judges have their own unique style of judging and different ideas on what is good and what isn't. Some may place a lot of emphasis on presentation while another on technique. These are individual preferences that one cannot really gauge. Of course, this could mean that two judges look very differently at the same couple dancing. However, when it comes to the rateable factors, one hopes that being more tangible, there will be a greater concurrence among the judges.

Dance-East Bay Through September 19

"All You Can Dance Sunday Socials," Sunday, 4-6 p.m. Marilyn Bowe and Robert Henneg presents monthly socials with ballroom, swing, Latin and rock & roll themes.

FYI DATEBOOK | Events Calendar for North County

Dance party for the Troops: The San Diego Armed Forces YMCA and The Fabulous Ultratones Dance Band host the event from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach.

Square dancers known for friendliness, hospitality

LATHAM — Latham Circle Squares, a western square dance club, in association with the Single Squares, another western square dance club, will offer beginner square dance lessons on Tuesday September 14 at the Newtonville United Methodist Church from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Mt. Carroll Rotary Club

50 square dancers from 12 area clubs and local caller, Tommy Russell from Eldridge, Iowa, danced across Canada and the New England states for 10 days beginning August 2. Their destination and goal: Plattsburg, New York to visit and dance with fellow dancers, Tim and Paula Schares formerly from DeWitt, Iowa who had moved out east two years ago.

Bulletin

HCC Glee auditions Sept. 11 Times by appointment HCC Spring Branch Performing Arts Center 1060 W. Sam Houston Pkwy N 713-718-5170 Under the musical direction of Thomas Jaber, head of choral activities at Rice University, and choreographer Shani Henderson, HCC Northwest assistant chair in dance, the six women, six men "Show" group will sing and dance to a variety of musical hits and genres ...