6 Trends Competition Judges Are Tired of Seeing in Routines

Competition dance trends become popular for a reason, but even the most exciting fads eventually run their course. Four competition judges discuss the dance trends they believe it’s time to leave behind, and offer suggestions on how to refocus routines on clarity, safety, and individual artistry.

Nonstop Gymnastics

While a well-executed tumbling or gymnastic element can add excitement to a routine, according to 24 Seven Dance Convention judge Madi Hicks, choreography sometimes overindulges in them. “The dance community is trending in the direction of rhythmic gymnastics,” she says. “I love and respect rhythmic gymnastics, but it’s its own sport.” The fewer gymnastic elements there are in a piece, the more impact each one can have.

Tricks That Disrupt the Flow

In tap routines, Radix Dance Convention judge Kelsey McCowan has noticed an overuse of flashy steps “that are well executed, but there are so many of them that there’s a huge lack of phrasing and musicality,” she says. Matthew Rich, a judge for Spotlight Dance Cup, is similarly concerned about impressive but tossed-off steps that disrupt a routine’s movement quality and phrasing. “Don’t just stop, drop everything, do something demonstrative, and then continue dancing,” he advises. “Find continuity. Make it musical, so the whole picture matches up visually and audibly.”

Kelsey McCowan. Courtesy McCowan.

Dangerous Transitions

The 2010s called, and they want their knee slams back. “There has been a resurgence of high-impact transitions to the floor, which can negatively affect the health and wellness of dancers,” says New York City Dance Alliance judge Grace Buckley. “Anything that feels intentionally dangerous, like dropping straight down to your knees or running and landing on one bent knee while the other leg is out in à la seconde, works against your longevity as a dancer.” A dramatic drop to the floor isn’t a bad thing—just find ways to do it that don’t stress the joints.

Grace Buckley. Photo by Evolve Photo, Courtesy NYCDA.

Extreme Flexibility

While many young dancers are naturally hypermobile, Hicks is concerned that current competition dance trends are pushing things too far. She warns that one particularly concerning trend is spinal hyper-flexion during headstands. “I’m really worried about their spines,” she says. “You may think it’s impressive, but every single judge feels scared when they watch it happen.” Instead, showcase well-supported flexibility that doesn’t overtax the spine or the hips.

Swayed Backs

Attend most any competition this year and you’re sure to see dancers with intentionally swayed backs. “It seems to be the newest trend, which makes me very nervous,” McCowan says. Hicks agrees. “It’s a problematic fad on social media that has trickled down into studios,” she says. “It’s not helping their score, and can only hurt their hips and backs down the line.” Hicks recommends dancers take modern classes to understand the head–tail connection of the spine and that all movement comes from the back. “It changes everything,” she says.

Small, Intricate Movements

For years now, tiny, complex movements that are close to the body have been all over competitive routines. While they look great on strong fast-twitch movers, that’s not every dancer’s gift—which means the trend frequently ends up looking messy and superficial, like “a lot of white noise,” Rich says.

“I often see the same movements come up in multiple solos and pieces throughout the competition weekend, and as someone who prides himself in knowing that all skill sets are unique, I find it problematic,” he says. Instead, Rich wants to see who each dancer really is: “Show me your best work—what you feel most confident in; what you feel you have that other dancers don’t have. Regardless of trends, I want you to bring yourself into the mix, to make each step even more spectacular.”

Matthew Rich. Photo by BAKi, Courtesy Rich.

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Tapas Das: Tapas Das, a young entrepreneur of our times started TWIST N TURNS in 2005. A person who is kind, generous, creative and down to earth wanted to start his own one of a kind dance academy. According to him, Dance is a language of movements that involves space, time and the human body. He was born and grew up in Kolkata, the cultural hub of India. Being appreciated in the field of dance all his life, he is extremely talented. He has been dancing since the age of four. Once he finished his high school, he learned jazz/modern and contemporary dance. His horizons were broadened even more when he started dancing Bollywood with Beat Busters for 4 years, which then was the most upcoming dance crew in Kolkata. After that exposure, he studied how to be a dance teacher, which later started helping him impart his knowledge about dance. Thus, in 2005, with the help of family and friends, he started TWIST N TURNS. Starting with a mere number of 40 students, today TWIST N TURNS currently has over 500 students. Over the time Tapas has taught and performed all over the country. He has performed in cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Jhansi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur etc. He has been an active participant in the Salsa India Congress in the cities of Bangalore and Bombay, and he has also visited various International Salsa Congresses in Europe, namely in Berlin ,Singapore, Hong Kong,Dubai. He is been also trained recently at Broadway Dance Center (New York), Alvin Alley (New York) and Steps on Broadway (New York). He is not only a dancer or teacher. He is a successful choreographer and has coordinated various shows without difficulty in our country. His leadership skills are exceptional, thus he is where he stands today. His aim in life would be to become a dance educator. He wants to share his tremendous knowledge in the right way to the right people. He is also, simultaneously running other brands like Zumba Kolkata, Bollywood Studio ArtistWala.com and India International Dance Institute.

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