When we used to compete at novice and other grades it seemed judges marked you on your perfomance , when we turned professional it seemed that the culture is if you come to us for lessons we mark you, i have to say that this is all wrong when we judge i always withdraw if any of our pupils are dancing perhaps i am in the minority being honest ( i am not saying all judges are crooks)but perhaps thats why we do judge very much. what do other readers think?

Your premise is very flawed..


if all the adjudicators " stepped " down in semis and finals for major events, there would not be a highly qualif. panel available.

The majority of the top Pros ( and Amat ) have taken, and or are taking with the majority of those selected to judge at this level.

We ( Adjud. ) I hope, have risen above partiality based upon tentative connections at best .
That is not to say that there may be someone out there that has a small bias . This normally will reflect in the over all markings .

Terence. Does it happen. One judge to another. If you mark my couple favourably in this event I will mark yours in the next event.
A parallen sport. Reported Time Magazine Feb 25 2002 Olympic Games Ice Skating. The medals were reversed after one of the judges admitted that her vote had been coerced. Le Gougne
said she was pressured by the head of her skating federation.
If this can happen at an Olympic games I'll guarantee it happens at a small dance comp. I would love to see a madatory ban put on a judge who allowd themselves to judged their own pupils in a dance competition. A year wouldn't be too harsh would it..