DANCE LEVELS - WHAT THEY ARE - HOW THEY ARE DETERMINED FOR EACH DANCE - -
AB - Absolute Beginner: A dance rated AB is for the very early beginner. This dancer is learning the steps so there won't be many different or difficult moves for them in this dance. There won't generally be more than 20 counts, though often you will see 32 as many sequences are repeated within the 32. Examples of steps an AB learns: Step (in place), Body movements in place (i.e.: hip bump, sway, stomp, etc) Weight shift, Step forward, Step back, Step and Kick, Toe Struts, Heel Struts, Step and Hitch, Side Touches, Shuffles, Grapevine (Vine), Limited: Turn/Pivot........
Beginner: A dance rated Beginner is for the dancer who has learned a few steps, recognizes rhythms, turns, movements and can do sequences of steps and is becoming proficient at following directions by the instructor - using dance terms with less "movement" descriptions. The Beginner dances will generally have 32 counts, most will have only a repeating routine with no tags or restarts though some music phrasing calls for these deviations. Examples of Steps a Beginner will learn and master - in addition to the AB list: Weave, Chasse, Locksteps, Coaster Step, Rock-Recover, Rocking Chair, Sailor Step, Jazzbox, Kick-Ball-Change, Charleston Step/Kick, Rumba box, Heel Switches, Turning steps/Pivots.....
Improver: A dance rated Improver is for the dancer who has mastered all of the above steps - can handle routines of higher counts (i.e.: 48, 64..), can recognize and remember restarts, tags, bridges, and can accept a new dance with a shorter teach time and walk-through. Deviations in the routine are more common at this level, more turns, trickier moves and some easier phrased dances (AABBAABB...) A few of the steps added at this level: Scissor step, Anchor Step, Heel grind, knee pops, Ronde sweep, Rolling grapevine, extended grapevine, extended weave, turning steps: Monterey, Chasse turn, cross unwind...
Intermediate and then Advanced: No limits to phrasing, counts, steps, combinations, turns...
Intermediate and then Advanced: No limits to phrasing, counts, steps, combinations, turns...
Who decides the level on a step sheet?
The level stated on the step sheet is rated by the choreographer. Most often this will be accurate, depending on the experience of the choreographer to the ratings criteria... Many times you will see "Beginner-Intermediate" on a choreographer's early dances (mine included) and it becomes the responsibility of the instructors to weed out the dances their students are ready for. OR.... Often a multiple rating is given by the choreographer in hopes for more exposure to their dance... In the long run the dance will sell itself according to the quality of the dance, its music, its flow and finally and ultimately - the decision of the instructor.
The level stated on the step sheet is rated by the choreographer. Most often this will be accurate, depending on the experience of the choreographer to the ratings criteria... Many times you will see "Beginner-Intermediate" on a choreographer's early dances (mine included) and it becomes the responsibility of the instructors to weed out the dances their students are ready for. OR.... Often a multiple rating is given by the choreographer in hopes for more exposure to their dance... In the long run the dance will sell itself according to the quality of the dance, its music, its flow and finally and ultimately - the decision of the instructor.
