3729  III Campeonato Mundial de Tango -- evaluation criteria

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Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2005 16:55:29 -0300
From: Janis Kenyon <jantango@FEEDBACK.NET.AR>
Subject: III Campeonato Mundial de Tango -- evaluation criteria

Michael Figart wrote:
In gymnastics, and ice skating, and I would venture to say, in competitive
ballroom dancing, I know that there have been, over the years, very
stringent criteria developed by which the judges are supposed to abide, in
evaluating performances. Is the same true in these tango competitions? Maybe
you have an idea, Janis, since you are so close to the event and know
everybody down there?


After the two days of semifinals, I consulted Randy Pittman of Miami about
judging for ballroom dance competitions because of his many years of
experience. I asked if judges can talk to one another during the rounds,
and whether judges are permitted to evaluate their own students in
competition. He responded: Judges in the ballroom world must be standing at
least 20' apart and there is no talking between judges during the
competition. Someone walks by and picks up the judging sheets after each
round where you cannot change your scores after you have seen other couples
that danced in later rounds.

The Campeonato Mundial has rules, but the judges don't seem to consider them
in their evaluations. They are supposed to consider musicality, elegance
and walking style. Rule #7 was totally ignored by many couples as well as
the judges: couples shall constantly move counterclockwise and avoid
remaining in the same place for over two musical measures. I observed
three of the five judges talking during the judging. They are seated
close enough to each other to talk and even see one another's marks before
they are turned in.

Stringent criteria? The saying applies: rules are made to be broken.

I have no idea who the judges will be tonight, but I have made my prediction
on who will be announced in the top ten places among the 40 couples
competing in a few hours. I hope I'm wrong about several of them.


Janis Kenyon
Buenos Aires



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