There are some in the dance community who seem to feel that the quality of a dance should be measured by the skill level required to learn and perfect.

But what about the level of enjoyment?

For me personally, I rate a dance by how much fun I have with it and how good it feels to me personally and this really has nothing to do with how simple or how complex a dance is and thus I don't believe in the idea of a "superior" or "inferior" dance.

"Dancing is a contact sport; football is a hitting sport" - Vince Lombardi

I also agree with you Ghostdancer,

I've watched some top level competitors and felt bored watching them as there is no passion or emotion in their dance routine. Or there is no connection with their partner. It's all really cool moves.

To me dance is expressing ones self through the movement of the body. And partner dancing is a conversation between two dancers. The steps and technique are just tools to help. Some people seem to lose sight of that.

I quite agree with you, Ghostdancer.

Dancing has many aspects to it (obviously). I don't think it's fair to pinpoint the quality of dance. If a person executes their steps by using the technique taught to them, then they should be able to dance well whether they are dancing bronze or gold steps.

Music also plays a factor. There are songs which will trigger imagination in a person - some more than others. Since dance is an interpretation of music, then a person might dance better if they can relate to the music - like be more imaginative.

I never thought of rating a dance. We all have our favorites - I would be too partial. I'd like to think of it more as rating music by the way it sparks my imagination for dancing.

Another thought: I've seen a few people who look "mechanical" when they dance. The steps are right, the technique is applied, but they are not dancing from the heart.

I recently read a quote (please forgive me, I don't remember who said it, but would like to acknowledge proper credit for a quote):

"Great dancers are not great because of their technique. Great dancers are great because of their passion."

Regards,

And granted, there are dancers who feel that the challenge of a more difficult dance is what makes it fun, but that does not hold true for everyone; it' all one's preference and what feels right for them individually.

"Dancing is a contact sport; football is a hitting sport" - Vince Lombardi

Ghost-

Well, that sounds suspiciouly like some students I have had who no longer wanted to compete in Standard!

We are slowly but surely turning into a society of latin and smooth dancers. Serious students seem to still tackle standard...but we have very few who desire to compete in it. As a result we try to "steal" international steps to "beef up" our smooth...a common enough practice. Amer. rhythm appeals less and less...students doing latin have said they find it "sloppy feeling" or less "organized" etc.

I don't think it is a case of "the quality of a dance should be measured by the skill level required to learn and perfect it". Consider Viennese Waltz. Very few people in all of the dance world would call this their favorite dance, or say it is a great dance...yet it takes a lot of practice and significant skill to master. It's limitations make it boring. More difficult dances often appeal because their complexity is what gives them the versatility to last and be continually interesting over a lifetime.