I have no idea what rules are in place in your country. We when dance
Dancesport was formed had this noble idea that if a judge was picked to judge any event where on the floor was a pupil of theirs, they were to remove themselves from the panel. That is a joke. Thats joke number one. The other noble idea that has gone the same way. Was a clause which was named the Grandfather Clause. This meant that a long standing judge would be acepted under this clause. But they would have to undergo re -testing after five years. It doesn't happen.
Harry-Smith Hampshire, who is no longer with us, was campagning that judges be forced into being tested every three years. That was in the UK.
Dancers become very disillusioned with results and pull out after a few years. The powers that be don't seem to worry. another group take their place. Any of you who follow Ice Skating will know how they are bending over backwards and changing the rules of judging to make the judging fairer.

It always begs the Q ( with pros ) whos going to Judge the Judge ?.

It is already an Oligarchy at the World class level, and that will NEVER change .
heres my opinion ( and many others ) I believe my intellect and knowledge, even tho i have never won a Major of any kind at any level, would match, and surpass in many cases , those who are in that strata .

Being a champion does not necessarily equate to anything other than ones prowess on a dance floor .

Again I will go to Ice Skating.If I understand correctly and the skater lands on the outside edge of the skate instead of the inside edge but still does a good figure they will lose marks automaticaly. It cannot be overlooked. I wonder if we will see the day when basic actions have to be performed in a routine. I saw a couple win a Rumba competition and the guy did not do one basic Checked Walk. His parner danced around him and they went into one shape and into another for the whole 1 1/2 minutes. It wasn't possible to see if he knew what a Rumba Walk was. He never did one.

Seeing as you insist, somewhat, i am trying to remember when this occured.
( memory gets dimmer ).

Twas either the 70s or early 80s. in the UK... they actually implemented a comp. which had compulsory basics ( in Latin ? ).
It failed to meet with approval.
i do think , however, it has some merit .

terence. A friend of mine pointed out to me that in a major final Amateur or Professional they all do a Feather Reverse into a Wave before they touch the more colourful groups. Timothy Howson in the 06 Blackpool Foxtrot is a typicle example. He could have just as easily started with a Fallaway but didn't. After about thirteen bars when the camera leaves him he is still in the Wave.
Getting off the subject slightly . The only seats I could get at an International Soccer Match yesterday was in the Iraq supporters section. About three rows directly in front, one of the Iraq's had a Bongo Drum.This fellow could really beat out a rhythm on his drum.He would have fitted into any Latin Band. Aust won 1- 0.

" entry " into the music is always ( or should be ) kept simple.. it has a purpose... to set your sights on direction, flow etc. and most abide by that rule .

No matter what the level one is competing in, the basics are the " cement " that binds all the other variations together .


on the sport thing... have become more of an Amerc. type follower .. baseball, collg. b/ball and f/ball