Riot and Frolic

A word from my favorite podcast on dancing the allowable steps for the proficiency level you’ve entered… or not…

Insanity Jane [some dancers]: I do know the law states that ignorance of the law means it don’t apply. 

Sparks [many officials]: Okay that’s exactly how it does not work. 

When you dance out of category (meaning: dancing steps that are in a higher level syllabus than the one in which you are currently competing*) at a competition, there could be three things happening:

1. you don’t know what the allowable steps are in your current proficiency level
2. you are misinterpreting the language of the rules and regulations listed for the proficiency levels
3. you don’t care about dancing the appropriate steps for the level at which you are competing

* Dancing steps that are at a LOWER level syllabus than the one you are currently competing in is ALWAYS OKAY.  ie, dancing Bronze steps in Silver, dancing Silver in Gold, etc. [LINK TO YOUR OWN ARTICLE]

Let’s take a look at these three circumstances, in reverse (or to the left HAHAHAHAHAHA)

3) You don’t care about dancing the appropriate steps for the level at which you are competing.

I respect that.  Sort of.  There are many comps that are unsanctioned by official organizations (namely, NDCA, USADance, WDC, WDSF) where it doesn’t matter which steps you are dancing because no one is concerned with the content of choreography at the event.  There are many delightful regional weekend events, studio showcases, and performances where the most important aspect of the event is that dancers get to dance.  Whether it’s for newbies or college kids or just some extra floor time for any level of dancer, these events are meant to be fun community builders and not about cracking down on NO NEW STEPS (if you don’t get that reference, do not pass go, do not collect $200, but do go directly to Netflix and watch the 1992 cult classic Strictly Ballroom, which is more truth than satire).

BUT if you are going to a sanctioned comp where there might be an invigilator (person who watches competitors to make sure they are dancing IN category and to merit out infractions and warnings as needed), you still don’t have to care about the appropriate steps for the level at which you are dancing, but you SHOULD take advantage of the categories where which steps you do DON’T MATTER.

If one enters an “open” category, SYLLABI BE DAMNED. You can do whatever doohickeys you want to, and judges can just deal with it.  (Opinions on giving them something substantial to deal with is another topic.)

For example, in NDCA competitions, there are “Open Bronze” categories you may enter.  That means you can do whatever dips, tricks, spins, and syncopations you’d like, but you’ll be judged at a Bronze level.  (Mostly, is your posture all right and you’re dancing on time).  Similarly, there’s an Open Silver category, where you can pivot to your heart’s desire, but are judged on a Silver level (is there some technique on those yonder hills?)

If you’re going the amateur route, USADance has the Novice category, which one can throw themselves into no matter the experience or dance training.  Again, you can dance whatever you’d like, but you’re judged against the other dancers on the floor, who may or may not be doing some syllabus work and/or some made up “yeAH ba duh ba ba BA” moves.

If you DO chose to enter a syllabus event (Bronze, Silver, OR Gold) and you don’t care about which steps you’re dancing, you should also be aware that you can get DQ’ed or marked last (and as the pro in a pro-am situation, you are likely to piss off your client).  PLEASE SKIP THIS OPTION.

2) you are misinterpreting the language of the rules and regulations listed for the proficiency levels.

THIS seems like a big part of the problem when I’ve actually talked to people about “dancing in category”. 

Unfortunately for many amateurs, reading the rules and regulations without a whole lot of knowledge and experience and prior contact with previous iterations of said rules and regulations will lead to some incorrect conclusions about what many of the different terms mean. 

I recently had to explain that “side by side work isn't allowed in Bronze" does not refer to sliding doors (or the passing basic to use the newest parlance) in American Swing where by partners are visually side-by-side with one another (although we could make this argument for MANY Bronze steps… so many that it hurt my brain that this was even a question).  “Side by side work” often means partners are on the same foot (in hand hold or no hold) in either left side or right side position, doing some fancy shit.  If you don’t know what what the previous sentence meant, then you probably shouldn’t be reading and interpreting the rules for yourself or others.

It is also a bummer when students learn a step that used to be “legal” yet no longer is and are CONVINCED that they are in the right because Mr./Miss So-and-so said it was acceptable. 

(Note to pros: please keep up on your craft!)

Lastly, 1) you don’t know what the allowable steps are in your current proficiency level. 

This is pretty legit at many levels FOR STUDENTS. 

In most cases, it is not the students’ responsibility to be quite conscious of where each of their “moves” lands of the proficiency spectrum.  Ideally, they are learning at a reasonable rate from a qualified instructor who is teaching from the foundation and methodically working upwards through the technical and applicable aspects of dance.  When competitions arise, that teacher would advise their students which levels they could compete in based on the content and technical abilities at that time, or time in the near future.

BUT if you are a student who is taking classes at many different levels from many instructors and might be dancing with many different partners, and you are registering yourself for a competition without the supervision of a professional or knowledgable coach, you need to know what you’re signing up for and what’s allowed in those categories.

THAT MEANS, if you are not currently under the watchful eye of a delightful and judgmental professional, you should ask one to check out your routines/steps/moves to make sure you’re not going to get called up to the judges’ podium unawares and have to fix something on the spot that you are not capable of fixing in a moment’s notice.

Go forth and conquer.  And wash your hands.