I recently had a discussion with a young dance couple who asked me where the trend changes in dancing come from. And why is it that what they sometimes see on the floor is not always what they are being taught?
So it is an interesting conundrum.
Who sets the trends in dancing in the competitive dance world? Who controls the direction in which we develop?
Is it ?
1. The choreographer.
Who by their constant need to find new combinations for the dancers .Push us to develop in new directions.
Or are they responsible for introducing combinations that have, in reality, nothing to do with the dance being performed ?
The result of which means that we can often see couples perfoming movements that leave you thinking. WHY? and others where you feel WOW!
2. The technical teacher.
Who by their need to develop and modernise ,move away from the very essence of the movement that gives the dance its individual character?
Or are they the gaurdians of authenticity fine tuning and pushing the technique to its limits?
3. The dancer.
Who in their very soul search for perfection and individuality.
Trying to create a uniqness which will single them out from the crowd. Or are some of them puppets, manipulated to perform what others have decided. Who's only focus is on winning at any cost .And will gladly sacrifice quality just to achieve results.
4. The Judge.
Who by placing their marks on paper accept and promote what is being performed.
Who can if not aware judge through form or marketing .Sacrificing the responsibility of the power and responsibility they weild.Accepting every little change without questioning.
Or are they the real trend setters who by the results that they create dictate what will be marked and what will not be marked. Indicating for the competitor what direction to go in
5. An association.
Who by their choice of judgiing systems. judging criteria can influence how all of the above structure and train.
All of these areas collectively affect what ,when ,how the dance developes.
But behind it all, if we are not carefull,If the end result is the placing and it takes priority over the dancing, through manipulation of all the above, cartel systems can be created which by design will affect the collective.
This can lead to developments that are not always positive....
Meaning the responsibility is with all of us .
If the judge didnt mark it. If the teacher didnt teach it . If the choreographer didnt create it and the dancer didnt dance it. We might not have any negative developments.
But we might not have any good ones either....