I went there for enjoying a night with some social dancing, watching dancing, and greeting some friends. Yes, it was fun.
One thing I noticed at the event was that people got "smarter". Less number of crazy dancers staying up late and dancing.
Pros have jobs to do the next day, like workshop from 10AM or getting prepared for tomorrow's pro-am or other things to take care of to run the event, so they disappeared early. Points and competition-minded competitors went to bed for preparation and conditioning (presumably).
Surely there were many social dancers. But I felt the energy on the floor was somewhat down at the late night dance.
And I thought, this is how differentiation of a dance community goes.
In many dances, pro's world and amateur's world are different. Stage Tango vs social Tango. Professional ballroom dancers and social dancers. Routine-dancing salsa troop may not hang out on the social floor for long to prepare for their routine performance.
In case of WCS, ... WCS has been around for, like 60 years. It was a social dance. I saw footage from early US open, which was from 1983. The dance did not seem to be as polished as it is in today's competition. The dance was younger.
Now, the "polished" presentations are performed by pros trained since childhood. In their routines, they can do amazing things amateurs and social dancers don't even think about.
Even if a dance began as a social dance, as it matures, someone starts doing showy things and would claim championship.
In my view, the differentiation between pros and amateurs was accelerated after the introduction of point system in WCS competition. The point system was introduced for about, 10 years? It was not very long ago, but it was enough to change the WCS dance industry. Now competitors ask a dancer's category and points to estimate their levels. It is presumed that dance progress is proportional to the points a dancer possesses, and there is a linear track from a beginner, a socially competent dancer, a good dancer, a good competitor, to a professional. Among pros and above, there are a few great champion dancers.
True or not, the system is there and the rules of the game have emerged. Like money, points mean value in the game. And if you play the game well, you may be rewarded (or so you may feel).
For active competitors, the points are currency and valuable. But it is also natural to change the game you play, according to your skills, commitment, desire, positioning and your age.
Some may choose not to compete. Older competitors retire from competitive dance (a manual labor, in a cynical sense) and shift their efforts to something a little easier and more profitable, such as private teaching or running their own event. Nothing is wrong with it. There are many ways to get involved. You decide.
[Tulsa Spring Swing logo]
