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| This is a reply to sarcastic smoothie
I think the main difference is that, in social dancing, i do what i like, whereas i don't have the confidence to do this in a comp. I've often considered just going out there in a comp and doing whatever i feel like doing. One day i'll try this, i promise!!
There aren't that many comps in Ireland, and i only dance about 7 in the year. This is a problem, i know.
I have considered organising group practices, but again, there aren't that many people interested enough near to where i live to make it work.
I'd LOVE to organise some simple competitions to promote competition experience in a 'friendly' way, but the rules of dancing in Ireland prohibit me from doing this. |
| Originally posted by phil.samways:
Well!! This is something i've had, and still have, considerable difficulty with since i started competing 3 years ago. I've been dancing socially for more than 10 years, and competitive dancing is VERY different - at least for me.
I don't dance my best by a long way, neither does my partner - she's very nervous and i can feel it - as i'm sure she can feel my nervousness.
I am very relaxed dancing socially. Even at one comp, after our event, there was a 'social dancing' interlude and afterwards our coach came over and asked us, in a very frustrated tone, why the hell hadn't we danced like that in the comp?? So what is different about social and competitive dancing for you, then? Do you use different material, approach things with a different attitude, or what? Are there ways you could work on blurring the line? Such as attending (or organizing) competitor's practices or mock competitions? How many comps do you typically do in a year? |
| Laura, You gave me a good laugh by this expression of "Otherwise, I dance "mousey" and worry about my technique and mistakes " I think i know what you mean by that although i have not competed, well, let's say yet, as i am thinking about it. You surely gave me something to remember for my future competitions, something i will share with my partner for a good laugh, cause i know nerves will play a role. To answer some of the questions..... Other than most of you, i am totally unaware of the audience, even during a social dance. Although this might be my nerves to try and follow the guy and do my best. Guess that might be good. Once i am on the dance floor, it is me and my partner and the music. Originally posted by Laura:
Excellent questions!
When it comes to dancing in Pro/Am events with my teacher, I feel like I'm better in practice than in competitions. It's getting to the point where I'm starting to dread dancing in Pro/Am competitions. However, when I dance in Amateur events with my partner, it all depends: sometimes practice feels better, but sometimes everything comes together great and competing feels better. On the average, competing feels a little better than practicing.
I've been doing this for a while so I don't really get too nervous. Basically I'm fine until about five minutes before I'm supposed to go on, and then I feel my stomach flip over, like I'm about to throw up. I usually turn to my partner or a good friend and say "oh god I'm so nervous I think I'm going to yuke" and they usually laugh at me because no one ever thinks I'm nervous! I know that's weird, but that's the way it goes. As soon as I walk out onto the floor I feel fine.
Mental focus is quite important. I'm not so great at that, though. But I'm learning more about being in tune with my partner, the music, and myself while I compete -- that's what 'mental focus' means to me.
If all is well, nothing goes through my mind when I compete: I hear the music, I feel my partner, I'm aware of the crowd, and I'm totally in the moment and enjoying what I'm doing, not thinking about it -- just doing it.
Maximizing the physical/mental/emotional connection is not something I'm really experienced with yet either, even though I've been competing for a while. I'm very curious to hear other people's take on this.
I think the psychological factors are very important to the quality of dancing. My teacher would tell me time and time again that my dancing is fine I just need to not lose my self-confidence and not let myself get intimidated. Otherwise, I dance "mousey" and worry about my technique and mistakes rather than being in the moment and letting my training and preparation show. |
| Well!! This is something i've had, and still have, considerable difficulty with since i started competing 3 years ago. I've been dancing socially for more than 10 years, and competitive dancing is VERY different - at least for me.
I don't dance my best by a long way, neither does my partner - she's very nervous and i can feel it - as i'm sure she can feel my nervousness.
I am very relaxed dancing socially. Even at one comp, after our event, there was a 'social dancing' interlude and afterwards our coach came over and asked us, in a very frustrated tone, why the hell hadn't we danced like that in the comp??
Im used to competitive racket sports, but in these, there's a warm up where the physical releaase calms the nerves.
I've spoken to sports psychologists about this problem and there are good text books and much research, which i am starting to put into practice.
What i've learnt so far is:
1)visualize...visualize...visualize
every night, when relaxed in bed, picture yourself dancing in a comp (make it as realistic as you can) doing your stuff perfectly and calmly. Your body and mind will get used to being calm in a competitive situation (i am assured this works)
2)Try to ignore other dancers and the audience and focus on the music and your partner
3)As soon as the music starts, concentrate on picking up the beat and identifying beat 1 in the bar. I find i must force myself to do this in a comp even though i can do it with my ears closed (figuratively speaking) at all other times. It's fatal to start a slow waltz on 2-3-1 instead of 1-2-3.
i'm just hoping that curing my nerves will come with experience., When asked why i'm nervous, i find i cannot state a reason. I think i'm too competitive and need to just enjoy myself - if only i could!! |
| My approach is to dance often enough that I can have supreme confidence that I know what I'm doing - even if we aren't anywhere near winning, I know I can lead us out of any situation short of a disabling injury.
To hone that, I do a lot of dancing at socials - ideally with my comp partner, but also with anyone who is a reasonably good follower. That way, when we get out there at the comp there may be bright lights and lots of noise and all, but inside, it's just another dance. And I try to do enough comps that even that experience is familiar as 'just another comp'.
Recently we arrived at a comp with only minutes to spare - I was glad to be able to just take my partner's hand, say "you look beautiful, and we know how to do this" and find the actual events relaxing compared to the stress of having almost missed them. |
| Excellent questions!
When it comes to dancing in Pro/Am events with my teacher, I feel like I'm better in practice than in competitions. It's getting to the point where I'm starting to dread dancing in Pro/Am competitions. However, when I dance in Amateur events with my partner, it all depends: sometimes practice feels better, but sometimes everything comes together great and competing feels better. On the average, competing feels a little better than practicing.
I've been doing this for a while so I don't really get too nervous. Basically I'm fine until about five minutes before I'm supposed to go on, and then I feel my stomach flip over, like I'm about to throw up. I usually turn to my partner or a good friend and say "oh god I'm so nervous I think I'm going to yuke" and they usually laugh at me because no one ever thinks I'm nervous! I know that's weird, but that's the way it goes. As soon as I walk out onto the floor I feel fine.
Mental focus is quite important. I'm not so great at that, though. But I'm learning more about being in tune with my partner, the music, and myself while I compete -- that's what 'mental focus' means to me.
If all is well, nothing goes through my mind when I compete: I hear the music, I feel my partner, I'm aware of the crowd, and I'm totally in the moment and enjoying what I'm doing, not thinking about it -- just doing it.
Maximizing the physical/mental/emotional connection is not something I'm really experienced with yet either, even though I've been competing for a while. I'm very curious to hear other people's take on this.
I think the psychological factors are very important to the quality of dancing. My teacher would tell me time and time again that my dancing is fine I just need to not lose my self-confidence and not let myself get intimidated. Otherwise, I dance "mousey" and worry about my technique and mistakes rather than being in the moment and letting my training and preparation show. |
| How do you deal with nerves?
I breathe calmly and think of things like, "I can only do my best, and I'm happy with that..." or "Happy and relaxed dancers look better..."
How important is your level of mental focus?
Very... since forgetting what you're doing can be embarrassing.
What goes through your mind when you compete?
While I'm on the floor, I actually check out what's going on around me... I will see if the audience is paying attention, and connect with a member to try to draw him/her in. I will look at my partner, and sometimes whisper encouraging things. And, I even check out the dancers around me... if they're doing something cool, I'll even admire it. I'm not at all thinking about being the best - I think of doing everything correctly to the best of my ability.
How do you and your partner maximize your physical, mental, and emotional connection when you compete?
Warming up with rounds calmly a few times the day of the event seems to make us feel the best. Not breaking things down too much, since muscle memory will take over when the music starts. Also, personally, not eating too close to the time of the heat can help with stamina.
How important are psychological factors to quality dancing?
Well, since appearance is what the judges see, it's important to be of sound mind or it will show through in one's dancing and expression (nervous people can shake, or make strange faces, or have no expression at all).
"Do or do not, there is no try," Yoda, Episode V |
| I find it that I dance about 60% of my capacity during competition. Yes, I know it sounds weird, but I also know that I can dance 60% and still pass. What I mean by this is that as long as I know that 60% of my performance is good, the extra is just bonus. Then I feel very relaxed, cause I know that with 60% I can do a good job.
Usually, from a mathematic point of view, a human only match up to 60% of his or her capacity. This leads to that if you go in with this in mind you will know that you have 40% left which you can drag out of yourself. Think about that. You can perform one third more than you do today. So, if you are good, think about how good you can be!
And ofcourse, when I started to do competitions I was busy with everybody else, I was curios and looked around on the other couples. This distracted me and made me dance not that good. Today I do not do such a thing. Also, do not watch anyone before you are finished yourselves!! This is very important. If you see someone that you think is realy good, you will loose your confidence and if you see someone that you think is bad, you will get lazy and not performe good enough.
And a little tip, being in love with or attracted to your partner do help. You will get this cheeky attitude that the judges love. |
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