Ok, that's useful. I was a bit surprised because the teacher who said she used it was an experienced competitor.

I think I'll probably not bother with it.

The judges are usually dotted round the perimeter of the room. Some couples do strategically place themselves in front of the judges, and do quite a lot facing them (I'm really talking about Latin here. Ballroom you just move around or across the room, roughly anticlockwise line of dance) Some latin dances (e.g. Samba) naturally move round the room, and so you can target different sets of judges. Some move less (e.g. Rumba).

I hate it when the couples dance obviously in the face of the judges. By all accounts so do they! You usually see the judges peering over their shoulder at some distant couple.

In most competitions, the judges are stood around the room never seated. I have danced in competitions with as little as 5 judges to as many as 15. The dancers can start anywhere on the floor, facing any direction. Some comps can have as many as 25 couples on the floor so you have to start somewhere where you can see a space, wherever that may be.Of course at a higher level, once you start dancing, the others will dance away from you, so you generally would dance into the space vacated by them and its not so difficult once you advance and use floorcraft to great effect.

Just wondering what those of you who actually know what they are talking about think of the scoring last night. What jumps to mind for me is that Peter and Kellie (among others) scored the same but to me Kellies technique looked far better?

'floorcraft' is not dancespeak for using your elbows like grannies at jumble sales is it?

I think Jennifer or kaycee are probably best placed, experience wise, to answer that one.

This is Latin floorcraft. Www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhW8tTjae0k

Haha, no that would really be frowned upon. However, you do keep your elbows pushed out and stand your ground, and don't give way to others. It is supposed to be non contact but obviously there is contact, sometimes.

These are always difficult questions,but for me I was disappointed with the lack of content in the foxtrot and as such I would have expected it to be danced better. The footwork was not as good as it could be, but she is a beginner of course. For example in the steps where she is going backwards, she should release the toes and pull the heels back. Essential for good foxtrot. Overall I thought the marking was about right.My opinion of course

Thank you! I am trying to learn as much as I can and I'm getting better at spotting things like frame and hand-placement but I'm still learning a lot about footwork so this is exactly the sort of answer I was looking for I appreciate it

There was a lot wrong with it, but as she is a beginner you have to overlook to start with! Takes years of lessons and constant practice to even look semi decent.

Pretty basic question, but I'd be really interested in the answer - what is the rumba supposed to look like? Can anyone give me the links to any good examples? Someone on the thread about the training footage said there wasn't much rumba in Peter's clip and I realised that I have no idea what this means, even after all these years watching the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx3Q2nmsXbk

Hope it helps!

lovely clip

Thank you very much, that's just what I was asking.

In the rumba is the hip action meant to come from the shifting of the weight? From the videos of it being done by professionals that's what it looks like to me, whereas the strictly celebs usually look like they are trying to force hip action where it should come naturally (if that makes sense?) which would explain to me why they often look awkward.

I like this clip, though if I'm honest I always feel Yulia takes too large a back step, but it's a good demonstration of a simple rumba routine.

I know what you mean, but I guess it's pretty impossible for someone to deliver a "perfect" routine. There'll always be something they could do differently.

What you say certainly make sense.

In rumba there should be a lot of pressure into the floor by the ball of the foot; and it is the correct use of the feet and ankles that creates the hip action, which should be in a sort of figure 8 action. [A pro or serious Amateur Latin dancer will wear holes in the bottom of their shoes from the inside, due to this pressure in about a month of practice].

An experienced dancer will never deliberately move their hips, but the celebs don't have the time to learn this technique properly, so do have a tendency to force their hip movement - which is known as "popping".

That was lovely.

I never really rate the rumbas on strictly tbh. I think because it is quite a hard and exposing dance so I think the pros decide to choreograph that has about three basic rumba moves then a lot of angsty posing and fallen onto partners that looks like a bad imitation of contemporary dance. And the ouftits often seem to obscure the movement of the hips which I don't like. Sophie's dress and Pixie's dress spring to mind.

Thank you for a wonderful explanation!

x
In early rounds experienced competitors will know which judges know and favour them and will quickly move to show those judges their number then move. on to perform in view of the remaining judges
It really is tough for judges in early rounds with very limited time to mark their cards in later rounds judges have the opportunity to judge on performance alone

I agree with you Kaycee.I was always taught to have a shorter base, but Yulia is just fantastic isn't she.

In competition the numbers are worn on the man's back so facing a judge would be pointless!

Ballroom dancers generally move around the floor following the line of dance (i.e.anti-clockwise), regardless of where the judges are standing.

Latin dance is different in that a lot of choreography can be more "on the spot", but most judges hate it if a couple dance right in front of them as if to say "here we are mark us!!!!" Usually its a sure way NOT to get marked.

Mostly judges will look out onto the floor (not just at the dancers closest to them) and will always make a point of seeing the numbers of the couples they want to mark in the next round.

As for your second point : some overseas competitions - The Kremlin Cup springs to mind, among others - there are tables, and spectators can have drinks, but most prestigious British comps (Bournemouth, The International, Blackpool) there are no tables. In most cases though, VIPs - normally those who a "big names" in the dance world, do get the front rows, but if there's any over, it's first come first served!

Does that answer your questions?

Also, once stood on the standing leg, as you bend the other knee to bring the other leg/ foot through you settle into the hip of the leg you are standing on, this creates the natural action. Step forward and repeat on other leg. Quite simply it is the bending of the moving leg that causes the displacement of the hip.Of course its a little more involved than this.Lots of hours ( in the past) spent walking up and down the studio doing rumba walks.