What it takes to take 1st!!!

[baby_doll]

I really, really, really, want to hear from those judges called upon time and again to judge at the big ones! Now......
what do you look for
why do you like that style
what do you not like to see
what gets your attention

let me know

[lady warrior]

i know what you mean!

i would like to know too!! i'm not what you would call a contest dancer. i just like to go and see people and dance around a bit. winning isn't everything...but it sure feels good when it happens!

[baby_doll]

i would like to know too!! i'm not what you would call a contest dancer. i just like to go and see people and dance around a bit. winning isn't everything...but it sure feels good when it happens!

What do you like to see? have you judged before? If so, what caught your eye, both good and bad?

[KoolNDN]

I really, really, really, want to hear from those judges called upon time and again to judge at the big ones! Now......
what do you look for
why do you like that style
what do you not like to see
what gets your attention

let me know

I check to see if they start on beat.
I make sure they stop on time.
Are they dancing appropriately for the song being sung.
Origionality is a must too.
I also look at their dance clothes, myself I like to see good beadwork/quillwork/ribbonwork not just sequin or just material designs.
Make sure the regalia is appropriate, too many just thrown together these days.
Are they confident dancing, you can tell if a dancer is feeling a song or not and truely dancing their style and enjoying it.

Well, thats a little list to start you off. lol
Who knows, I may be writing your number down at a powwow near you, so smile at the judges ayyyeee!

[CandaePrincess]

What it takes to take 1st????

Know the judges. :Chatter


Whay

[Tootie_SweetSthrn]

Know the judges. :Chatter


Whay

U KNOW, IT'S SAD BUT TRUE, THESE DAYS IN ORDER TO PLACE, U HAVE TO KNOW THE JUDGES

[CandaePrincess]

*word*

I can usually tell, who will win by who's dancing and who's judging and come up right 90 percent of the time.....imagine that.

[Tootie_SweetSthrn]

Yeah, That's Just The Way It Is I Guess

[baby_doll]

I check to see if they start on beat.
I make sure they stop on time.
Are they dancing appropriately for the song being sung.
Origionality is a must too.
I also look at their dance clothes, myself I like to see good beadwork/quillwork/ribbonwork not just sequin or just material designs.
Make sure the regalia is appropriate, too many just thrown together these days.
Are they confident dancing, you can tell if a dancer is feeling a song or not and truely dancing their style and enjoying it.

Well, thats a little list to start you off. lol
Who knows, I may be writing your number down at a powwow near you, so smile at the judges ayyyeee!

Thank you for the pointers. It does help out a lot.

[baby_doll]

Know the judges. :Chatter


Whay

Unfortunately, I think you're right. But to know the judges you have to be out there a lot, dancing a lot. So hopefully judges are also judging skill as well and of course skills will increase with practice.
It's crazy, but a friend of mine has complained about not placing here or there and complains about the judges picking people who can't dance as well and or people they know. Then he tells me how when he judges he picks his friends. I've only judged a handful of times and each time I tried to pick the best dancer, that was all.
for now, I think it's safe to say contest are judged on by skill, reputation, and favoritism, some kind of mixture not all equal parts.

[Tootie_SweetSthrn]

Shot baby_doll, yea, that's all pretty much true, but there's always another way to look at it...thanks for bringing that to MY attention AT LEAST :)

[AhDay_EveryDay]

*In my professional opinion...AYEZ!*

Hmm... Well I Most Recently Judged @ Gathering, Do I Count? *jks*
Lets See... Well In Honest Truth I Look For
Who Starts On Time
Who Stops On Time
Check Out Who's Outfit Is Presentable And Put Together
And Basically Who Dances Well To The Flow Of The Song- Basically Meaning Who Transitions From Walking To Bowing Gracefully
Someone Who Doesn't Lean Back When They Walk (Hate That)
Someone Who Doesn't Move Their Head Around Or Bob Like A Chicken To Keep The Beat
Someone Who Keeps Her Feet Not Too High, And Controls Her Shawl Well
Someone Who Just Looks Like She's Having Fun Dancing! :)

[Kakeeya]

Someone Who Doesn't Move Their Head Around Or Bob Like A Chicken To Keep The Beat

LMAO! When I judge Northern, I look for gracefulness as well as if they start on time, end on time, are up on the honor beats (especially if it's stationary). I also check out the fringe to see if they are controlled and if they start out snapping, then they should snap for the whole song, meaning the woman should still have the same control throughout the song. If a woman dances stationary and she sways her fringe, I check to see how controlled her fringes are especially when the tempo of the song gets faster, all styles I notice how the woman keeps her gracefulness about her and how in control of her fringes are when/if raising a fan or turning. I really don't like to see wild uncontrolled fringe or a woman that looks like she's stomping around rather than being graceful.

[ojibwaysweetie]

LMAO! When I judge Northern, I look for gracefulness as well as if they start on time, end on time, are up on the honor beats (especially if it's stationary). I also check out the fringe to see if they are controlled and if they start out snapping, then they should snap for the whole song, meaning the woman should still have the same control throughout the song. If a woman dances stationary and she sways her fringe, I check to see how controlled her fringes are especially when the tempo of the song gets faster, all styles I notice how the woman keeps her gracefulness about her and how in control of her fringes are when/if raising a fan or turning. I really don't like to see wild uncontrolled fringe or a woman that looks like she's stomping around rather than being graceful.

:Thumbs

[AlmostThere]

yeah

this is all great advice