Competition Dancing

By Stanley Moon, Waimanalo:

Competitive dance has been a popular, widespread activity in which competitors performed dances in any of several permitted dance styles for a century. These were known as contests in the old days and the judges just knew what they liked.  These dances such as acrobatic, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern, and tap are still before a common group of judges.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace."

This is in contrast with other activities that involve competition among dancers based on purpose, or specific dance style, such as pom squad, ballroom, sequence, latin, ceremonial, and caberet dance. The strictest in all detail is the International Style of Dance. Judges must be highly qualified and have even evolved a different terminology, Adjudicators. This must be strictly "class."

So that in Hawaii, it is well known that two groups consistently produce the best International dancers on Oahu for competition. By the same token, there are two groups that consistently produce the worst dancers. We are talking "competition dancing." Any of those people, are far better judges than I. On television it is strictly show business.

 

"I Can Dream, Can't I"   ...   Andrews Sisters

The competitive dance industry largely consists of competition production companies. They are also sometimes called dance competition companies and they conduct regional competitions at stops along their annual, nationwide tours. Mostly for the very young crowd, (under 20.) We are overdue for one in Hawaii. May get one for the new Dance Pavilion at the Patsy Mink Recreation Park in Waipio. There are several professional dance studios that could compete.

Competitive dancers must be physically fit because even short dances can be physically demanding. Also, dancers must continuously train to maintain and improve their technique, balance skills, strength and flexibility. Competitive dancing requires dedication as many months may be spent practicing dance and developing dance routines.

It is not the same as Cultural Dancing on this island. We get better by just dancing today wherever, and we dance tomorrow wherever, and we just keep on dancing and having a ball. Somehow we seem  to be having a little more fun. *  *  *  *

Pub's Side Note: It is slowly forming all by itself, a new dance force, for Truth, Inclusion and Innovation and made "of the dancers, by the dancers and for the dancers." Let it roll!