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Dancing Dukes Thoughts on Dancer furs. GREAT READ!!!
12 years ago
General
I was really impressed with Duke's thought on Dance comps and dancer furs. I really want to share his thoughts with everyone. He has the same idea as me and that is essentially dancing should be more centered around having fun and self expression instead of butting heads and striving for popularity.
dancingduke
An opinion is simply that, a view of a subject that is neither correct nor incorrect. Whilst a journal such as this is hard not to tread on some ones toes, it's been a long time coming and I want to share my thoughts on the furry dancer community, namely furry dance competitions.
I've been around the block and when it comes to the furry dance community I've seen it grow into something impressive and spectacular. However, dance shouldn't be for the elite and the best, it should simply be for those who want to express themselves and have fun. When you put the word competition after the word dance however, obviously this is to showcase the best talents there are in the community.
If it wasn't for dance competitions, I wouldn't know or have the friends I have today. I'm thankful for giving it a go and having fun, I never enter to win or place. If I did I wouldn't enter at all, because the talent of those better than me would win hands down, every time. As Lady Gaga said, I live for the applause. It's why I perform; I'm just a sucker for entertaining.
However, even over the last year or so, dance competitions have become less appealing for me these days. I got many questions as to why I didn't enter AC's and after watching MFF it's just concreted why it's not my bag any more.
Why? Because I'm not a serious dog and these have become quite the serious events.
No disrespect to those who organise these things. It's hard and I don't know how it's possible to make everyone happy. However with everyone wanting to enter these, numbers are growing higher and more and more cuts have to be made. This also means that auditions go for longer and so on. This is my first issue.
Time consuming.
I find myself using half my convention time for a dance competition. I'm not a younger teenager any more, I get tired. Spending hours in auditions, nervous, warming up, going through the rounds takes hours. I'm then too tired to suit in the convention itself so it really does take up a heap of time.
This is something that can't be stopped and with the list of people wanting to make the cut, I just see this getting longer and harder for organisers to pull off.
Then comes performance night, you have a light lunch, not over do it that morning, arrive early, see where you are on the list, wait around for your turn, and have a hell of a lot of fun! This is where it's worth it. But still a considerable amount of convention time is taken up by this activity.
So, how can this be fixed in my eyes? Honestly, I don't think it can. Only thing is perhaps those who are obviously not going to make it or are going to be cut should be told as soon as their round ends and not wait around till the end of the audition to see if they made it. I'm not sure how all competitions are run, but this would cut down the waiting time for those who didn't make it and cut down the bodies in the room.
Next up and this is a biggie. Elite, same winners, and cliques!
Whilst I have no doubt that the winners and place holders of dance competitions are talented and deserve what their place on the podium, I can't help but feel sometimes there is some very bias judging when it comes to competitions. These winners are my friends, but from a non bias view, what I see are the same people winning or placing over and over again while the same level if not better performers loose out. Why? Because their close friends, crew, or clique are the ones writing down the scores.
I could be wrong in all of this, but I understand it's a close knit community and certain groups will form in any circle. Lets be honest; It's hard to knock down or judge someone close to you. It's impossible not to see that person in a perhaps better light than what a stranger sees.
This makes it disheartening to those wanting to enter. Knowing that most likely the same group of 6 - 8 people are going to place. Having said that, I was very impressed with the novice category at this year's MWFF. This certainly gave a new hope and opening to those who have never entered before.
How can this all be fixed? Well, once again no disrespect to those involved, I feel the judging should be done by "strangers". Those not involved in the dance community per say. Have the GOH do it, or a fursuit builder? Hell, some random person from the audience. I know you could argue, "what do those people know about dance?" Does it honestly matter? In the end, for me at least, it's the performance that will win. Do you honestly think technique is key component of judging when jumping around in a giant animal costume? No offence to those competing, but we're and they're not even at the level of dance where that would/should come into play. I get, much appreciated mind you, compliments about how good of a dancer I am. I'll be frank, it's easy to look like an impressive dancer among a sea of computer gamers and those not into to much physical activity. I have friends who are professional dancers, many of us don't even come close to that sort of level.
But I digress. I think a competition is exactly that; people will win, people will lose. If you're going to enter something of a competitive nature, then expect those sorts of results. It should simply be fair and judging from a non bias point of view is how I see the drama and talk afterwards going away. Regardless if those up there are being fair or not. If you put "randoms" in their place, there is no reason to complain about the results.
So that follows on to Judges (Talking). My biggest personal issue.
When did this become so you think you can dance or X Factor? The organisers want to be involved and clearly judging is there way of doing so, but i'll be up front and honest about my view on this. Of all the Youtube clips showing the performances, comments from friends and those competing, I have yet to hear one tell me that they enjoy the judging "talking" section of the competition. That style of judging is implemented on television to draw out what would be a very short program. This is to fit in more commercials and make more money. These sections are cut off YouTube because all people care about is the performance and it draws the comp out and can bring it down if a negative comment is shared by one of the judges. If the judges want to state comments (How many times can you hear, great performance, great energy), they should do so after the show one on one with the performer. In actual dance competitions, like ballroom and such, a score is simply judged. Think how the Olympics works.
The reason I'm so passionate about this particular subject is the time it takes up. A performer is able to have around 2 minutes of song to perform. The judging can take around 2 mins itself. That means for every 2 minutes the judges talk and extra person could of made the competition.
Now for me, I would like to see as many people make it in to fill that time frame. This means it would be MC/Host then performance. MC/Host then next performance. This would keep the energy and attention up and have more people showcase their talents.
Perhaps also those who come 1st, 2nd and 3rd shouldn't be able to enter the following year? Is this unfair on 2nd and 3rd for not being able to try for first the next year? Possibly, but I'd just love to see some fresh faces on that floor. Maybe place holders can come back for a choreographed performance the follow up year instead?
As for the scoring system, different cons use different systems. But, I feel the classic one to ten scale has worked so well for a reason. Give what you see a score out of ten and move on. No need to over complicate what in the end is just people coming to see a show.
Lastly, the showcase.
With it becoming more and more impressive each year. It's clear that people and groups are upping their game. Coming out and freestyling as an individual doesn't seem to cut it. Mixing a custom track and performing as a crew or couple is going to be more impressive than those rocking up and dancing on their own. This is where I feel one of two things needs to happen. A separate category for group entries or couples and/or the place I feel they should go is the Furry Variety Show. This is something that has started to lack over the years and putting this style of performance over there is a more appropriate place for it. It would really bring it back to life. I know a couple of dance groups that enter these already.
Finally, the future?
With floor wars also taking the path of a very chilled, laid back sort of environment, to a somewhat cliquey group where it's all attitude and a super serious business. In the end my thoughts are this;
It's shouldn't be serious or taken so seriously. It's people in animal costumes out to have a good time, or those just wanting to get down and dance. I guess we can't help to see egos or attitudes develop in anything with the word competition in it. You're never going to make everyone happy, this dog included, but above are my issues, regardless of what the organisers of competitions think about me personally or the "drama" or offence you may have taken by this journal. Understand that, that isn't what I set out to do. It's not to bitch or complain about it, simply to bring to attention what I feel are issues in the format as both a competitor and audience member.
I hope that some of what I said has now been brought to your attention and the attention of others. I just hope that we can learn from something that is quickly becoming one of the most popular events at a furry convention and keep it a happy fun environment for all.
These are just my thoughts and views on what it has become. It's changed a hell of a lot since that first dance competition back at FWA 07. For me, personally, it's gone from fun to feeling like a super serious sort of deal which just isn't my style.
This doesn't reflect what happens back stage or between competitors. So supportive, so much fun, and honestly if I could I would just not enter and hang back stage. To me that's what makes my night worth it.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.
dancingdukeAn opinion is simply that, a view of a subject that is neither correct nor incorrect. Whilst a journal such as this is hard not to tread on some ones toes, it's been a long time coming and I want to share my thoughts on the furry dancer community, namely furry dance competitions.
I've been around the block and when it comes to the furry dance community I've seen it grow into something impressive and spectacular. However, dance shouldn't be for the elite and the best, it should simply be for those who want to express themselves and have fun. When you put the word competition after the word dance however, obviously this is to showcase the best talents there are in the community.
If it wasn't for dance competitions, I wouldn't know or have the friends I have today. I'm thankful for giving it a go and having fun, I never enter to win or place. If I did I wouldn't enter at all, because the talent of those better than me would win hands down, every time. As Lady Gaga said, I live for the applause. It's why I perform; I'm just a sucker for entertaining.
However, even over the last year or so, dance competitions have become less appealing for me these days. I got many questions as to why I didn't enter AC's and after watching MFF it's just concreted why it's not my bag any more.
Why? Because I'm not a serious dog and these have become quite the serious events.
No disrespect to those who organise these things. It's hard and I don't know how it's possible to make everyone happy. However with everyone wanting to enter these, numbers are growing higher and more and more cuts have to be made. This also means that auditions go for longer and so on. This is my first issue.
Time consuming.
I find myself using half my convention time for a dance competition. I'm not a younger teenager any more, I get tired. Spending hours in auditions, nervous, warming up, going through the rounds takes hours. I'm then too tired to suit in the convention itself so it really does take up a heap of time.
This is something that can't be stopped and with the list of people wanting to make the cut, I just see this getting longer and harder for organisers to pull off.
Then comes performance night, you have a light lunch, not over do it that morning, arrive early, see where you are on the list, wait around for your turn, and have a hell of a lot of fun! This is where it's worth it. But still a considerable amount of convention time is taken up by this activity.
So, how can this be fixed in my eyes? Honestly, I don't think it can. Only thing is perhaps those who are obviously not going to make it or are going to be cut should be told as soon as their round ends and not wait around till the end of the audition to see if they made it. I'm not sure how all competitions are run, but this would cut down the waiting time for those who didn't make it and cut down the bodies in the room.
Next up and this is a biggie. Elite, same winners, and cliques!
Whilst I have no doubt that the winners and place holders of dance competitions are talented and deserve what their place on the podium, I can't help but feel sometimes there is some very bias judging when it comes to competitions. These winners are my friends, but from a non bias view, what I see are the same people winning or placing over and over again while the same level if not better performers loose out. Why? Because their close friends, crew, or clique are the ones writing down the scores.
I could be wrong in all of this, but I understand it's a close knit community and certain groups will form in any circle. Lets be honest; It's hard to knock down or judge someone close to you. It's impossible not to see that person in a perhaps better light than what a stranger sees.
This makes it disheartening to those wanting to enter. Knowing that most likely the same group of 6 - 8 people are going to place. Having said that, I was very impressed with the novice category at this year's MWFF. This certainly gave a new hope and opening to those who have never entered before.
How can this all be fixed? Well, once again no disrespect to those involved, I feel the judging should be done by "strangers". Those not involved in the dance community per say. Have the GOH do it, or a fursuit builder? Hell, some random person from the audience. I know you could argue, "what do those people know about dance?" Does it honestly matter? In the end, for me at least, it's the performance that will win. Do you honestly think technique is key component of judging when jumping around in a giant animal costume? No offence to those competing, but we're and they're not even at the level of dance where that would/should come into play. I get, much appreciated mind you, compliments about how good of a dancer I am. I'll be frank, it's easy to look like an impressive dancer among a sea of computer gamers and those not into to much physical activity. I have friends who are professional dancers, many of us don't even come close to that sort of level.
But I digress. I think a competition is exactly that; people will win, people will lose. If you're going to enter something of a competitive nature, then expect those sorts of results. It should simply be fair and judging from a non bias point of view is how I see the drama and talk afterwards going away. Regardless if those up there are being fair or not. If you put "randoms" in their place, there is no reason to complain about the results.
So that follows on to Judges (Talking). My biggest personal issue.
When did this become so you think you can dance or X Factor? The organisers want to be involved and clearly judging is there way of doing so, but i'll be up front and honest about my view on this. Of all the Youtube clips showing the performances, comments from friends and those competing, I have yet to hear one tell me that they enjoy the judging "talking" section of the competition. That style of judging is implemented on television to draw out what would be a very short program. This is to fit in more commercials and make more money. These sections are cut off YouTube because all people care about is the performance and it draws the comp out and can bring it down if a negative comment is shared by one of the judges. If the judges want to state comments (How many times can you hear, great performance, great energy), they should do so after the show one on one with the performer. In actual dance competitions, like ballroom and such, a score is simply judged. Think how the Olympics works.
The reason I'm so passionate about this particular subject is the time it takes up. A performer is able to have around 2 minutes of song to perform. The judging can take around 2 mins itself. That means for every 2 minutes the judges talk and extra person could of made the competition.
Now for me, I would like to see as many people make it in to fill that time frame. This means it would be MC/Host then performance. MC/Host then next performance. This would keep the energy and attention up and have more people showcase their talents.
Perhaps also those who come 1st, 2nd and 3rd shouldn't be able to enter the following year? Is this unfair on 2nd and 3rd for not being able to try for first the next year? Possibly, but I'd just love to see some fresh faces on that floor. Maybe place holders can come back for a choreographed performance the follow up year instead?
As for the scoring system, different cons use different systems. But, I feel the classic one to ten scale has worked so well for a reason. Give what you see a score out of ten and move on. No need to over complicate what in the end is just people coming to see a show.
Lastly, the showcase.
With it becoming more and more impressive each year. It's clear that people and groups are upping their game. Coming out and freestyling as an individual doesn't seem to cut it. Mixing a custom track and performing as a crew or couple is going to be more impressive than those rocking up and dancing on their own. This is where I feel one of two things needs to happen. A separate category for group entries or couples and/or the place I feel they should go is the Furry Variety Show. This is something that has started to lack over the years and putting this style of performance over there is a more appropriate place for it. It would really bring it back to life. I know a couple of dance groups that enter these already.
Finally, the future?
With floor wars also taking the path of a very chilled, laid back sort of environment, to a somewhat cliquey group where it's all attitude and a super serious business. In the end my thoughts are this;
It's shouldn't be serious or taken so seriously. It's people in animal costumes out to have a good time, or those just wanting to get down and dance. I guess we can't help to see egos or attitudes develop in anything with the word competition in it. You're never going to make everyone happy, this dog included, but above are my issues, regardless of what the organisers of competitions think about me personally or the "drama" or offence you may have taken by this journal. Understand that, that isn't what I set out to do. It's not to bitch or complain about it, simply to bring to attention what I feel are issues in the format as both a competitor and audience member.
I hope that some of what I said has now been brought to your attention and the attention of others. I just hope that we can learn from something that is quickly becoming one of the most popular events at a furry convention and keep it a happy fun environment for all.
These are just my thoughts and views on what it has become. It's changed a hell of a lot since that first dance competition back at FWA 07. For me, personally, it's gone from fun to feeling like a super serious sort of deal which just isn't my style.
This doesn't reflect what happens back stage or between competitors. So supportive, so much fun, and honestly if I could I would just not enter and hang back stage. To me that's what makes my night worth it.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.
