The other day, I went to watch a ballroom competition. I was hoping to watch some beautiful dancing performed by experienced dancers. As much I love dancing myself, it’s also fun to watch strong pairs perform. But, it was not to be. I came on an evening where there were some ProAm competition dances (known as heats) and Rising Stars. Pro-Am is when a student/amateur dances with their teacher/professional. Rising Star is when the Pro-Am or Am-Am couple are very good and have won competitions at high levels. I will write more about the dance categories later.
Competitions are organized such that, each time a competitor performs a dance, ie. a heat, that competitor has to pay a fee starting at about $45 in the US. Two dances means 2 X the fee. 50 dances means 50 x the fee. So you can imagine that the costs can add up when you add travel, hotel expenses and instructor expenses (which can include travel, hotel and classes). Some quote upwards of $3000 for a 3-day competition. And this doesn’t include the $2000-$4000 dress and travel/hotel expenses.
This is a good discussion on pricing/expenses on Reddit
Another interesting thing is the dancer learns the choreography for a certain style, eg. ChaChaCha, Rhumba, Slow Waltz, Foxtrot, and can perform that same choreography in different categories at that dancers level. There are very many of these levels which include newcomer, bronze/gold/silver, age (youth, senior) etc.
This set- up makes it possible for someone to dance over 130 dances in a single competition because the dancer signs up for as many heats as they are eligible for and then repeats the same 5-10 dances in different categories.
The strangest thing for me, is that if there is only one couple in the heat, then that couple still gets to compete in the heat, thereby competing by themselves.
Personally, I feel that competing alone defies the spirit of competition. Where is the satisfaction in placing first when you’re dancing just you and your partner? Especially when you’re paying upwards of $45 just to do the heat?
Anyway, all this really made me want to start my own competition.
It would be for local dancers but anyone could attend. I would have student-teacher category (just the student would be judged as per usual) and Am-Am category where both would be judged (different to current judging).
Everyone could sign up for up to 5 categories for each dance style (not over 100 categories like at competitions) at limited levels (so I wouldn’t create a level like ‘newcomer’ which essentially is a beginner level), therefore, no one would be doing their dance more than 5 times in one style (eg. up to 5 rumbas, 5 foxtrots, 5 salsas etc.).
There would be an entry fee and a ‘style’ fee, with a slightly higher fee if you are dancing one style 5 times compared to once.
I have to think about eliminations and semi-finals, how that would work- those dancers would be dancing their choreography about 2 more times.
Finally, if there are less than 3 competitor couples for a given heat, that heat will be cancelled, unless it’s a semi-final.
I don’t think it would be too difficult to rent a ballroom and organize something like this. I can ask some teachers from LA to come and judge and pay them from the entrance fees. There are lots of different dancers here in town, including ballroom from UCSB, Salsa, Argentine Tango, Swing.
I would make it more like a social event with food and drinks at the end. I think it would be fun and would promote the spirit of dance, while supporting and encouraging dancers of all levels.