How DanceSport competition are organized
The principal DanceSport competitions have enough entries to be dance in successive rounds. In larger competition, such as IDSF World Ranking List Tournament, couples are organized into heats in each round. Judge are
required to select a set percentage of couples to progress to the next round. Couple must dance the required number of dances in each round (five for Standard, five for Latin American, and ten for the Ten-Dance.
The selections of all judges are aggregated and those couples receiving the highest number of “callback” selection are returned to the next round. By contrast, in the Final where normally six to eight couples
complete, each couple is given a numerical ranking from first to last. The aggregate of these rankings from each judge over each dance determine the ultimate placings. The “Skating System” of calculating placings is used by the Scrutineers
in determining the final result.
The music used in a DanceSport competition is confidential until the competition begin (other than information championships), but the tempo and basic rhythm for each dance is
defined and the duration of each dance is a minimum of one and a half minutes.
These are strict rules regulating and controlling the style of competition dress.
DanceSport Technique
These are many technique books which define the all of the technical elements of the DanceSport discipline.
Technical elements are defined for each step in a group, and it is combination s of groups that couples demonstrate in competition. Couple choose their groups “in real time” during the course of a competition, depending on the floor space
available and the need to demonstrate floorcraft.
Technical elements include timing, footwork, rise and
fall, alignment and direction, all of which underpin the impression of the couple acting as a single cohesive unit.
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Marking System
Through
elimination rounds, the numbers of couple taking part in a DanceSport competition is reduced to a final round, usually comprising six couples.
In prior rounds, and up to semi-final, the judge compare the performance of the couples in each dance and select those couples whom they consider should pass into the next round
because of their superior performance. Each judge’s selections (also highest number of selection marks is the best!).
In the Final round of each dance, the judge individually rank each couple in their considered order of merit, and mark their ranking on their judging cards. For example, in a six
couple final, the judges would be ranking from 1 to 6, with number 1 being the best mark. A judge may not give two couple the same ranking.
Using a methodology known as the “Skating System” (based upon majority opinions) a ranking order is established in each separate dance. (Low numbers are better, and number “1” is
the best).
Couple Number The Rankings of Seven Judges in this dance for each couple
The couple finishes 10 1 1 2 5 1 2 1 1. Place (majority of "1") 15 2 2 1 3 2 1 2 2. Place (majority of "2") 16 3 3 3 1 3 3 6 3. Place (majority of"3")
The aggregate of the individual dance ranking determines the overall result of the event, the winner being couple with lowest aggregate total, or in the case of a tie the couple winning the most number of dances.
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Judging
Criteria
DanceSport has been describe as the sport made for television. However because of the increased scrutiny that TV broadcasting brings, with its action replays and multiple camera views, the TV viewing public is much more focused on the role
of the judge.
The TV viewing fan in all sports now question decisions of judge/referees/umpires.
DanceSport is no exception and the IDSF has focused its attention on developing DanceSport judging criteria which are clearer to the DanceSport fan.
DanceSort judge must make observation of the competing couples, and apply some criteria to that observation to form a judgements. All the judgements are comparative assessment of
the couples in the competition, rather than assessment against a hypothetical standard. Couples are compared on their performances in a number of areas:
¨ Timing and basic rhythm : In all dances , timing and basic rhythm take precedence over the other concern, so that if a couple repeatedly makes mistakes in this area, their
comparative assessment must be downgraded.
¨ Body line : The term “body line” relates to the couple
as a unit, both during movement and in “picture step”.
¨ Movement : The judge must determine whether
movement is in keeping with the character of the dance being performed, and assess the arise and fall, and swing and balance of the couple. For example, a greater swing only justifies better marking if the movement is controlled and balanced.
¨ Rhythmic Interpretation : The judge must assess the quality of the rhythmic interpretation of the music, so as to ascertain a couple’s capacity for choreography and movement
is controlled and balanced.
¨ Footwork : The judge must assess the quality and control of applied
footwork.
¨ Floorcraft : The judge must assess the ability of the couple to manoeuvre their
choreography so as to avoid interruption to their own progression and that of other couples.
The IDSF has committed itself to developing and seeking
general acceptance of a universal DanceSport judging methodology that upholds the principles of transparency, objectivity and accountability, including ethical principles.
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History
1909 First "World
Championship" in Paris 1932 First time that a Formation Team danced competitively, at London's Astoria Ballroom 1935 Foundation of the International Amateur Dancers Federation (IADF) in Prague 1947 First Latin-American Dancesport World
Championship (ICAD) 1956 New Name: International Council of Amateur Dancers (ICAD) 1960 First TV broadcast of a DanceSport competition, in Germany 1973 First World Formation Team Championship, in New York 1988 ICAD adopts the term
DanceSport 1988 First approach to GAISF 1990 New Name: International DanceSport Federation (IDSF) 1991 Provisional Recognition by GAISF 1992 Full Recognition by GAISF 1992 Application submitted for recognition by International Olympic
Committee (IOC) 1995 Provisional Revognition by IOC 1995 Membership in IWGA 1995 Membership in ARISF 1997 An 11-year Joint-Venture Agreement for telemedia development signed by international media giant IMG and IDSF 1997 Full IOC
Recognition of DanceSport and of IDSF as solo representative body 1999 IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch attends IDSF World Latin Championship 2000 Application for inclusion as Medal Sport in the Summer Olympic Games 2000 DanceSport in
included in the Closing Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games 2000 IDSF presents a demonstration of Dancesport to more than 100 top official of the OIC
The Next Decade for DanceSport
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DanceSport, a New Dimension to the Summer Game!
¨ The Summer Games are a feast of sport. The addition of DanceSport will add a new dimension in the same way that ice Dancing
has in the Winter Games.
¨ DanceSport is one of the few sports contending for inclusion in the
Olympic program, that could be included without a significant increase in the number of athletes and officials. A maximum of 160 participants including Athletes, Adjudicators, Coaches and Officials would be required for a successful
competition in all disciplines.
¨ DanceSport does not require major construction, because
competitions can held in a wide range of existing venues.
¨ Olympic DanceSport Competition will
likely only take two days to complete.
¨ DanceSport has 100% Gender Parity, and moreover is a Sport
in which male and female athletes compete against each other at the same time on the same surface.
¨ DanceSport attracts millions of TV viewers all over the World and is particularly attractive to female viewers. An 11-year Joint Venture contract with IMG (1997-2008) guarantees the worldwide television distribution of DanceSport.
¨ DanceSport observes and conforms to the strict anti-doping programmes of the IOC and WADA.
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Medical Research into DanceSport
¨ In 1999/2000 a study was undertaken by Marcello Faina M.D. of the Institute of Sport Science of Italian National Olympic Committee and member of the Medical Commission of the
Italian DanceSport Federation and Serena Bria of the Institute of Sport Science of the Italian National Olympic Committee to better understand the characteristics of DanceSport and the physiological qualities of the top DanceSport
athletes. (A Summary of this study see at: www.idsf.net – then click onto Press Room).
¨ This study
follows the groundbreaking 1986 study by the University of Freiburg (Germany) which compared the heart and breathing rates of DanceSport athletes to swimmers and cyclist, and a 1989 West Australian University Study published in the British
Journal of Sports Medicine.
¨ The IDSF is intent on promoting more research into the medical aspects DanceSport over the coming decade.
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The Aims of IDSF
1. To
promote, protect and advance the character ,status and interest of DanceSport internationally and to be a well regarded member of the Olympic.
2. To develop and maintain international standard and classification of accreditations, attainment and
qualification for DanceSport coaches, judge and officials.
3. To make the rule of DanceSport competition
clearer and easier to understand , and make it attractive to a world wide television audience.
4. To
protect and develop its co-operation with IDSF’ s Joint-Venture marketing partner, IMG
5. To provide
standardized rule governing all International Competition organized by its members, and codes of behavior governing its international competitors and officials.
6. To advise and assist our members with their work in their own countries.
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IDSF's Achievements and Successes
Membership growth
1970 Membership
of 22 National Member Country Associations
1999 76
2001 77
2004 81
53 member countries are already accepted as member of their National Olympic Committee
IDSF represents more than 4
million athletes
Associate Member
- World Rock n Roll Confederation
Members GAISF / ARISF / IWGA / IOC
Since
1989, IDSF has been represent at all major GAISF meetings , and since 1995 it has also been invited to all Major meeting of the IOC, ASOIF, AROSF and the IWGA.
IDSF’ s DanceSport athlete competed in a full program of medal competition at the 1997 and 2001 IWGA world games in Lahti, Finland and Akita, Japan, and will complete in the medal
program at the 2005 IWGA World Games in Duisburg, Germany.
