Standard for lineup selection

[Amal.ivaturi]

Hope you guys are doing well,

I just wanted to post because I've noticed a very uneven standard for dancing throughout the North American circuit. I'd like to discuss the lineup selection for many top tier comps. While I understand that there are discrepancies between different rubrics based on the style of the comp, what is inherently considered "good" dancing is being altered during the selection process. It is important to treat the selection process with just as much respect as the comp as many teams work very hard and put countless hours in order to get a chance to compete. In order to properly judge teams that qualify for a particular comp's standard, It is important for the committee judging to be well versed in the circuit and potentially be a dancer themselves. One comp that comes to mind that is very well run is Bhangra Blowout. While Blowout is the pinnacle of the collegiate bhangra circuit, the judgments made in regards to the lineup selection have been questionable in the minds of many members of the circuit, myself included. For many dancers viewing the decisions from an outside perspective, it seems that the standard of what is considered "good" bhangra may differ between the blowout board and many dancers in the circuit. Looking to the future, I hope that comp boards investigate more into what the circuit standards are or potentially consult more experienced dancers when deciding which teams are eligible for dancing.

 

[dhruva_vish]

Just in general it’s simply not fair to the teams to be judged by people who have little to no experience or success in the circuit. This applies to the competition board picking teams for a lineup as well as the judges themselves. Especially with all this championships hype it seems that placings matter more than ever. The overall placing rate of a team plays a huge role in their reputation and the fact that unqualified people have a say in it is just wrong.

 

[LiL JaTT]

s/o to all the garba dancers picking lineups nowadays

 

[yomamajama]

If you don’t like the process, then don’t apply. Comps can run their show however way they want to and admit any team they wish upon invitation. Feelings will get hurt, as usual, but that doesn’t mean your team is bad.

 

[LiL JaTT]

If you don’t like the process, then don’t apply. Comps can run their show however way they want to and admit any team they wish upon invitation. Feelings will get hurt, as usual, but that doesn’t mean your team is bad.

surprisingly motivational bro, respect.

 

[Amal.ivaturi]

If you don’t like the process, then don’t apply. Comps can run their show however way they want to and admit any team they wish upon invitation. Feelings will get hurt, as usual, but that doesn’t mean your team is bad.

I Think ultimately that's what's going to end up happening. Fewer teams are going to want to apply to these which is a shame because as I said earlier, many of these comps are very well run. I think its a constant push to making the comp selection and judging process better, and I think a lot of people want to give their two cents on how to improve the selection process across the board so these comps can keep running at a high level.

 

[skakadiya10]

First off, Amal great post and thank you for bringing this up. I agree that the selection process has been very questionable. Without a doubt I believe that MBT could have given some teams a run for their money at Bhangra Blowout last year had they made it after solid performances at Boston Bhangra and ADZ. Every year there's always a debate on lineups and why certain teams didn't make it and Bhangra Blowout isn't the only competition. I think more factors need to be considered rather than just the audition video. For example, how many times the team competed, where they placed, what comps they compete in, and who they competed against. Really thought Blowout would change it up this year and fix some issues from last year but we all have our own opinions. Hope it changes next year to benefit the whole circuit.

 

[priyanka.ram1997]

the fact that unqualified people have a say in it is just wrong.

Especially when a good amount of money goes into applying for a competition ?

 

[siddyp]

what lineups have been questionable. call out who should have gotten in and where. we already know about MBT blowout.

 

[siddyp]

Lol why? So comp committees and other circlejerk groups can blacklist them?

lol nah. i'm just tryna see where the discrepancies are. who didn't get in where and what teams did and try to guess why might that have happened.

Pointing out MBT as the only example isn't enough. I think we should want to see more before we all agree that this is an ongoing "trend"