Re: Creativity vs. Control


"Mike Corbett" <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:pa7vl1d84munmtchk65q3k5rqndiugjsmg@xxxxxxxxxx
> On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 03:19:56 GMT, "Larry Gantman"
> <payopts@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Ed Jay" <Medbj@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >news:vgotl1lp54aiactf0chtqb49q7o2b3ns4q@xxxxxxxxxx
> >> "Larry Gantman" <payopts@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Recently, at a regional WCS dance convention, two dancers told me
> >separately
> >> >how much they appreciated the dancing of Dancer "A" in a particular
> >> >division. I mentioned that I thought that his partner hadn't seemed
to
> >> >dance as well as usual and I asked one of the people who complimented
the
> >> >leader's dancing about this. She said, "Well, I've danced with Dancer
> >"A"
> >> >myself and he's always in my way and very controlling.
> >> >
> >> >Dancer "B" is a leader who literally yanks partners into numerous
precise
> >> >poses during each song, according to my observations and various
partners
> >> >who have complained to me about this, yet Dancer "B" does very well in
> >local
> >> >competitions. What does this tell us about the importance of
technique
> >in
> >> >dance and that wonderful chill when we see two dancers expressing
> >themselves
> >> >fully in musical interpretation as one unit with the music?
> >>
> >> What does it tell you about your concerns when Dancer B wins local
events
> >> that are judged by competent judges scoring on technique (and timing
and
> >> teamwork, of course)?
> >> >
> >
> >
> >If that were the scenario, it would tell me that judges favor strict
> >discipline in hitting stiff poses and endangering partners with injury,
as
> >opposed to the ability to use connection, compression, and leverage and
> >create synergy in dance.
>
> Unfortunately you are attempting to oversimplify judging. The judge
> must judge the totality of one performance relative to another or the
> others. While the judge may observe areas where a performance may
> have been improved by employing a different teamwork strategy, the
> relative score must be determined based much more.
>
>

Thanks, Mike, that's a good point. Do you think the judges favor the good
points I mentioned and disregard the negatives I mentioned, prefer no other
couple, or don't notice or believe that over-controlling at the expense of
the follower to be a negative quality?




> >
> >
> >> >In a WCS scenario where a leader dances to his precise specifications
and
> >> >the capable follower is prevented from expressing her true talents,
don't
> >> >both partners lose?
> >> >
> >> Doesn't it depend on the situation? If it's a competition and Dancer A
> >> knows that his partner often gets off time when she's allowed to 'do
her
> >> own thing,' isn't it incumbent on Dancer A to control the partner?
> >>
> >> --
> >
> >
> >Evidently, you overlooked the word "capable follower" in my question.
> >Certainly, when dancing a WCS JnJ with a partner who is perceived by the
> >leader as less competent, the leader has a choice. He can muscle her
into a
> >set scenario that in the past has earned points, or he can show that he
is
> >capable of creating a synergistic performance, given the material at
hand.
> >In answer to your question about timing, the competent leader has the
> >ability to keep his partner on time without negatively affecting her
> >performance. The scenarios I'm describing are not affected by timing
> >issues.
>
> The leader has far more choices than you describe and there is far
> more to judge than teamwork. One thing to consider is the competency
> with which the follower adapts to the more controlling leader. That's
> teamwork too. :-)
>


Yes, a follower who fights or can't adapt to a controlling leader is in for
trouble.


Larry Gantman


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Creativity vs. Control
    ... >>create synergy in dance. ... particularly a dancer who may be "obvious" to that someone. ... >>> own thing,' isn't it incumbent on Dancer A to control the partner? ... >>leader as less competent, ...
    (rec.arts.dance)
  • Re: Creativity vs. Control
    ... I mentioned that I thought that his partner hadn't seemed to ... >>>dance as well as usual and I asked one of the people who complimented the ... >> What does it tell you about your concerns when Dancer B wins local events ... must judge the totality of one performance relative to another or the ...
    (rec.arts.dance)
  • Re: Creativity vs. Control
    ... I mentioned that I thought that his partner hadn't seemed to ... >>dance as well as usual and I asked one of the people who complimented the ... She said, "Well, I've danced with Dancer ... leader as less competent, ...
    (rec.arts.dance)
  • Re: Creativity vs. Control
    ... I mentioned that I thought that his partner hadn't seemed to ... >>>dance as well as usual and I asked one of the people who complimented the ... >> What does it tell you about your concerns when Dancer B wins local events ... >leader as less competent, ...
    (rec.arts.dance)
  • Re: Vienesse Waltz
    ... As you excel at VW, you should find that moving the body ... partner in a revolution. ... An adjunct to case 1e is that a dancer would "see" certain ... going from horizontal/level to the ceiling (or where wall ...
    (rec.arts.dance)