COMPETITION DETAIL

Been going for sometime now. What we noticed: The same dancers from studios perform in Novice, Beginning, Int 1, and Int 2 categories; and the same studios have been doing it that way for YEARS. I remember watching one girl 3 years ago compete in Beginning and 3 years later still competing in beginning. I remembered her and her studio, because she was a stand-out performer; which is why they use her for ALL ability levels- to boost scores. There is supposed to be a rUle that you don\'t compete in more than 2 ability levels- but that doesn\'t seem to be a rule enforced. Most professional competitions would automatically disqualify. This year the company came out with Acro rules, which was supposed to be no more than 3 in most routines. It was supposed to be a 5 point deduction, but it was actually more than 3 acro tricks will give you an automatic 5 point increase. The teams winning were heavily weighted in tricks and not in dance technique or quality of dance. Also, there is no standard for when an acro trick is executed. A back walk-over should be judged on quality just as an arabesque should be too. Often times, back walk-overs on winning teams were given high points for execution alone, but not for technique. Back walk-overs should not be performed with bent legs just as an arabesque should have full extension. Same goes for quality aerials, and round off back handsprings. Bent legs everywhere- but they give golds for execution and not technique Finally, Who are the judges? My daughters competition reviews were all misspelled ballet terms. The same judge who would write \'do more ballet\' would also write chase as \'shasea\', It makes one question the authority the judges have on dance judging. The staff was rude. The one girl handling music gave the studio owner nasty glares whenever she had to interact with her. In years, past their was professionalism and treating everyone the same with kindness. Not this time, and it was a huge disappointment.

We only took a solo to this competition, but it was great. I love the classic awards, 1st-5th. They also gave out high point award and judges choices. Ran on time, organized.

Not a fan of competing on a gym floor. Also thought the judging was hit or miss. Seemed to reward tumbling and bad tricks over clean technique. Awards were nice.