Competitors in any judged event (dancing, gymnastics, diving, or whatever) will do what they believe will get the highest marks from the judges.

If the character of the individual dances is getting lost in current trends then the blame lies with those who allow and even encourage those trends.

jj

My question was to do with the Lilt in the waltz so why are you all talking about changes in Latin and the Judges?

Sorry for the " hijack ".. but someone raised a Q about Latin .

I agree... any more discussion should be posted on the latin forum.

We actually AGREE on something !

I have taken flak in the past for criticising, like Tornberg just did about the "British"... he is receiving exactly the same treatment on Dance Forums, as one would expect from the un informed .

As i have stated in the past, there is an oligarchy in dance ( always has been )and to swim against the tide, can get very tiring .

cdroge. Lilt is not a word to use when describing Waltz technique. It can be used describing the music. But not for step or steps. If you mean Swing then use that word. If you mean Sway then use the word Sway. Lilt, never. As far as I know it is not mentioned in any of the technique books.

It is an American ( primarily )descriptive term..

Often used in a more alliterative sense.. not correct in true dance terms, but describes an action .

Verb
to lilt (third-person singular simple present lilts, present participle lilting, simple past and past participle lilted)
1. To do anything with animation and quickness, as to skip, fly, or hop.Noun
lilt (plural lilts)
1. Animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness.. To move with lightness and buoyancy.

Polished, I have made no reference to step or steps when talking about the Lilt in the Waltz. This is the second time you have attacked me without any reason. Why are you so rude or is it arrogance.

cdroge. Is it rude or arrogant to point out that in the Definition of Technical terms page 40 , that there is no word Lilt. Which goes to my main argument, which is, that too many words seem to be introduced by too many people which does not help to make things less confusing than they already are..Which brings me back to. Are you talking about Swing or Sway.

I think lilt is an excellent word. If slow waltz music has a sense of lilt (which it does), then the dancing which goes with it should express this lilt. It's something which i am sure is missing from my slow waltz and i'm desperately trying to find how i can achieve it.
All the videos i've seen talk about waltz 'character' but i've seen nothing which has really explained to me how i can achieve this. Maybe it's something i have to find inside myself. I know that in foxtrot (which we're told we do a pretty good job on and it's our strongest dance) there is more than just the technique, timing, etc. I can feel an extra something that makes it feel 'right'. Somehow i can't feel that in my waltz.
Sounds like i'm emptying out my soul (or should that be sole) here, but why not!!
Some of the technical things i think i'm weak on in waltz, and which i'm working on are:
My rise is a little too abrupt and i'm not sure i'm timing it correctly.
(A related issue)I stay high for too long as if i want to enjoy the view while im up there!
I get apprehensive about arriving late on the timing, although it's controlled (i.e. i can reproduce it) and i have no problem with this in foxtrot.
When i see my slow waltz on video it looks so dull
So, any comments on these would be more than welcome.
Especially, if anyone can recommend some practice choreography designed to bring out this lilting feeling. I need to find it somehow