How do you get into competitive swing dancing?

TashTash: How do you get into competitive swing dancing?
I started swing dancing for fun this year at college and I love it! I have learned a little bit of everything (Lindy Hop, East Coast, West Coast). I am wondering what it takes to compete in swing dancing (time commitment, how much does it cost, etc)? Also, how would you get started in competing? I am assuming that private lessons would be needed. Finally, what is the average age of the competitors?

Thank you so much for your help!

Answers and Views:

Answer by lindypenguin
It depends on what type of competitions you are entering.

Many Lindy Hop competitions have a specific class for people who have not competed before or have only been dancing for a short time. Also many Lindy Exchanges (a weekend or more dance festival where people from all over come to one city) have informal competitions where there is less pressure and more emphasis on fun.

Private lessons aren’t necessary, but unless you’re competing in a Jack and Jill (where you rotate partners and are judged more on leading and following) you will need a partner, which as you’re just starting out should be someone you regularly dance with.

Depending on how much you already dance, you might need to increase the amount of time you’re dancing. Taking lessons and social dancing are what you should be doing. Also social dancing at non-dancing venues (for example at a bar or cafe where a jazz band is playing) where there is a crowd watching could help with the nerves that will come with competing. Some privates could help with working on certain technical aspects of your dance (like frame etc.).

Generally most competitions will have an entry fee, however it’s usually not too expensive compared to the cost of traveling to the city where the comp is being held.

Age varies, and depends on the age variation in the local dance scene.

Finally, talk to your teachers and more experienced dancers in your dance scene. They should be able to offer you advice about what competitions might be good to start out with.

Answer by Christine S
Well first off, what kind of swing dancing do you want to compete in? East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, and Lindy Hop are almost completely exclusive when it comes to competitions (There is some overlap between Lindy Hop and WCS and some over lap of WCS and ECS). Even if the dances are featured at the same event, there will be different competition divisions.

Age is also different for each category and competition. Some will have categories for younger than 13 or older that 50, but generally they will be open to all ages.

::DIFFERENT DANCES, DIFFERENT COMPETITIONS::

East Coast Swing, is a formal ballroom dance. A beginning swing dancer can immediately compete in a “Novice” division (or possibly Bronze or Newcomer Level). The more competitions you win the more “points” you get that allow you to move up Levels.

West Coast Swing, is what I call a semi-formal ballroom dance. Generally WCS events are exclusive from ballroom events, but have similar levels.

Lindy Hop, is a folk dance, so there are no formal levels in competitions, and are normally exclusive events, but can be included in some WCS events. When it comes to Lindy Hop, you could sign up to compete in any open category, regardless of your experience.

::HOW TO GET STARTED::

To get started in competing, you enter a competition, like this one:
https://www.camphollywood.net
…but that’s not really what you are asking, right?

What you are asking is, what does it take to win in a competition, right?

Pretty much all competitions are based on the “3 T’s”:
Timing, Technique, and Teamwork.

Timing = How you dance to the music
Technique = How well you do the dance
Teamwork = How well you dance with your partner

There is also an added requirement for showmanship. This can very from competition to competition, so be sure to read the judging requirements at each event you attend.

To learn these things, you DEFINITELY NEED PRIVATE LESSONS. More than that, you need private lessons from “professionals” who either teach, judge, or compete at the national level to get you on the right track. These people can tell you exactly what they look for when it comes to competition. A local instructor is great for learning the basics, but if they aren’t actively involved in competition, then you aren’t going to learn what you want to know. (Generally, a 1 hour private lesson will range from $ 60 – $ 200 depending on the teacher, who sets their own price)

When you take a private lesson, this is not the time to learn moves, it’s time work on the 3 T’s. You have to have someone break you down to tell you what you are doing wrong, and what you need to do to fix these things for competition level.

You don’t need to take privates every week though. I wouldn’t recommend them more than once a month, because you need time to absorb what you have learned apply it to your dancing, until it becomes ingrained in your muscle memory (unless you are an extremely talented natural dancer).

::TIME COMMITMENT::
The more the merrier. Obviously, the more time you can commit to practicing, the better you can become. If you are doing a Jack n’ Jill type contest, then lots of social dancing will definitely help, but a private lesson about somethings you can do in a Jack n’ Jill will be the key.

If you are doing a competition that requires you have a partner, then your practicing is much more intensive. You really can’t do well by just social dancing a lot. You have to learn for the competition you prepare for by learning lifts, drops, or aerials (depending on the dance you are doing), and you have to work on the 3 T’s with your partner. Again, some private lessons with a professional competition dancer will make a huge difference in how well you can do.

::COMPETITION REALITY::

The reality is that you should compete because you want to do it, but don’t expect to win. Don’t even expect to make finals, especially your first time out. I prefer to use competitions as an excuse to take my dancing to the next level, even if I don’t win anything. You have only been dancing ONE YEAR! There are “amateur dancers” who have been dancing for more than 8 years, so obviously there is a huge learning curve against you . . . but if you are willing to put in the time and work up to where you want to be, eventually you will get there.

The key is not to be downhearted with dreams of being the best. Your fellow competitors are your peers, so enjoy dancing against your friends, and cheer them on when they do well, they same way you would want them to cheer you on when you do well!

I hope this helps!

If you want a little inspiration about swing dancing, check out this video from a professional Lindy Hop competition:

Answer by ѕιмply aмυѕed ツ
Ask around at local dance studios and google recommendations, just get the word out of what you want and good luck! :]