Competitive dance
|
|
Competitive dance is a major category or classification of danceforms or dance styles, where competition is the primary focus of the dancing.
This compares to other major dance categories based on purpose:
While many people view this style of dance as a recreational activity, it is becoming more often viewed as a sport. Like other athletes, dancers must be in good physical condition. Dancing requires strength, stamina, and flexibility. Competition requires these physical attributes to an even higher extent.
Dance schools often participate in dance competitions, by sponsoring teams that go to regional and national competitions. Competitive dancing requires dedication as there may be many months spent practicing dance and developing routines. During the competition, dancers perform in front of judges who evaluate their efforts and give them a score. The scores are added up, and medals or trophies are awarded.
A routine may get an honorable mention, a bronze, a high bronze, a silver, a high silver, a gold, or a high gold medal. These scores have nothing to do with how your routine directly compared to other routines. Judges also put together the scores of all the routines and give additional awards to routines that placed in the top five of their category. Routines are placed in categories based on the average age of the dancers, the type of dance they are doing, and how many people are in the dance.
In other categories of dance competition, pre-established routines are not allowed. Instead, contestants dance to random selections of music, and they are judged by how well they lead, follow, and improvise to the music. One variation of this is the "Jack and Jill" where dance partners are randomly paired at the competition, putting an even greater focus on lead and follow abilities.
To focus on the sports aspect of competitive dance, a new term, DanceSport, was coined and the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF) was established. IDSF promotes dancesport, sets standard rules, and sanctions competitions.
The Amateur Athletic Union sponsors tournament in the United States. See this List of dance organizations for further information about this and other organizations that promote dance competitions.
A number of other international dance organizations promote various forms of dance as competitive activity and as a sport.
Related articles
External links
- Amateur Athletic Union (http://www.aausports.org)
- International DanceSport Federation (http://www.idsf.net)
- United Country Western Dance Council (http://www.ucwdc.com/)
- World Swing Dance Council (http://www.swingdancecouncil.com/)
- World Rock'n'Roll Confederation (http://www.wrrc.org/)