A "Fair Dance Contest"

[WhoMe]

Is there such a thing?

Has a powwow dancing contest system been invented that is fair to everyone's liking?

Dance contests have come a long way in their evolution. First there was the wild west shows with their hat over the dancer for applause. Then the judges picking first second and third place. Then the point system. Then the additional rules added to the point system. Then the additional rules added to the point system - enhanced by the bar code grand entries and a crack team of computer tabulators. Then a bonified powwow contest managing crew.... Whew!

How would you set up a fair contest system for the "Ultimate FAIR Dance Contest?

Can it even be done?

Any suggestions?

I would like to know. I'm sure other powwow committee people would also have a stake at listening too!

[yeeee]

We need a system run by computers...similar to the BCS that is used in college football...

break it down by what powwows you've placed at, strength of schedule ( comparing placing at a small powwow vs. some big keen powwow )

and we need a powwow season that starts on January 1st of each year...then have the powwow superbowl on Dec. 31st of each year.

the computer system will keep track of everyone's points...then the #1 and #2 in each category will dance off in the powwow superbowl on Dec. 31st.

oh yeah...we will use football referees for judges.

(isn't that how the old ones pictured it?????!)

[yeeee]

jokes. hope no one takes me serious.

go sooners and vote sam bradford for Heisman! (that i am serious about!!!!)

BOOMER............

[kiyaanii mom]

Yeee....????....

[kiyaanii mom]

I've wonder this myself.....

I've even wondered if you like put a well knows dancer's outfit on someone else. If the outfit would still win regardless of who the dancer really is.....

I think making the contest fair in regard to points and all that is pretty good now. But there is nothing you can do to offset judge bias. We are all human and as much as we say we judge on who dances the best, there are still those judges who won't pick someone or does pick someone because of who they are. The only pure judge, would be someone who doesn't know ANY of the dancers. And even then how do you know if the flashy or lack of flashy clothes will turn them on or off.

I don't think you can't get away from bias.

[ndnsooner]

How about setting up phone numbers and have all of the spectators with cell phones text in their list of top dancers. Then have the have their crack pot contest management crew tabulate from that. lol

[Zeke]

I just don't think it is possible.

At best, like the Olympics, you can have multiple judges (7-9) and throw out the high and low scores to create a mean, but what a pain.

Besides, so much of it -- now -- is jumping through hurdles, Grand Entries, blind dance calls (are you dressed?), etc., that the actual contest dancing is somewhat minimized.

There's always going to be someone that imagines that they got screwed.

[kiyaanii mom]

I just don't think it is possible.

At best, like the Olympics, you can have multiple judges (7-9) and throw out the high and low scores to create a mean, but what a pain.

Besides, so much of it -- now -- is jumping through hurdles, Grand Entries, blind dance calls (are you dressed?), etc., that the actual contest dancing is somewhat minimized.

There's always going to be someone that imagines that they got screwed.

Yup, Imagined or real.....

[ac_miss]

I'm still getting used to the idea of bar code scanning during grand entry. We were at the pow wow in Durant when my mom said, "wow, the dancers are being scanned like groceries. What next?". *LOL*

[shawndaes]

I just don't think it is possible.

At best, like the Olympics, you can have multiple judges (7-9) and throw out the high and low scores to create a mean, but what a pain.

Besides, so much of it -- now -- is jumping through hurdles, Grand Entries, blind dance calls (are you dressed?), etc., that the actual contest dancing is somewhat minimized.

There's always going to be someone that imagines that they got screwed.

Wow. That's the first time I agree with your post Zeke.
Just my opinion, I would like to see more spot checks at the small/medium powwows in my area. If you say you go to a pw to dance then do it. I often see too many people that only dance GE, exhitbitions and contests.
I watch the videos on pw tv of pw's I've never been to. I often wonder if the people I would place would even win. Odds are no. I don't keep up on who's who and who's the most popular now. I also am a judge who doesn't care for new trends when judging a "traditional" category.

[SuzzeQ4]

We need a system run by computers...similar to the BCS that is used in college football...

break it down by what powwows you've placed at, strength of schedule ( comparing placing at a small powwow vs. some big keen powwow )

and we need a powwow season that starts on January 1st of each year...then have the powwow superbowl on Dec. 31st of each year.

the computer system will keep track of everyone's points...then the #1 and #2 in each category will dance off in the powwow superbowl on Dec. 31st.

oh yeah...we will use football referees for judges.

(isn't that how the old ones pictured it?????!)

Grocery comment, also very funny!
Other then that i don't have a comment cause i don't dance competition, often thought about it but you all don't make it sound very appealing

also, very confused as to why zeke makes sense so i'm going to get my head checked...(something is askew today...)

[o_styo_jngl]

Wow. That's the first time I agree with your post Zeke.
Just my opinion, I would like to see more spot checks at the small/medium powwows in my area. If you say you go to a pw to dance then do it. I often see too many people that only dance GE, exhitbitions and contests.
I watch the videos on pw tv of pw's I've never been to. I often wonder if the people I would place would even win. Odds are no. I don't keep up on who's who and who's the most popular now. I also am a judge who doesn't care for new trends when judging a "traditional" category.

But is that really "fair" to the dancers who are parents and have their children to tend to?

[farmer ned]

nope

can't be done, never again. there is no "fair" deal anywhere. AND -- CONGRATULATIONS to the FLORIDA GATORS on winning the 2008 National Championship of college football. Yeah, Go GATORS

[WhoMe]

So what makes judging fair?

1. Picking only knowledgable dancers to judge?
2. Picking random people from the audience to judge?
3. Picking only local judges from the nearby community to judge?
4. Picking only visitors to judge?
5. Picking only men for men's contests and women for women's contests?
6. Picking a mixture of men and women to judge each contest?
7. Using an odd number of judges to judge?
8. Using more judges than normal (more than 7) to judge?
9. Throwing out the highest and lowest judge's score?
10. Posting the scores of the judges for accountability?


*(I am doing this thread to see if there is a better way of making a "fair" contest).

[SuzzeQ4]

So what makes judging fair?

9. Throwing out the highest and lowest judge's score?
10. Posting the scores of the judges for accountability?


*(I am doing this thread to see if there is a better way of making a "fair" contest).

These 2 make a lot of sense