Swing Dynamite Blog

I actually have separate checklists depending on whether I’m teaching, competing, bringing a performance team or just social dancing, but I’ve combined them and added items that don’t apply to me but have been problems for other dancers I’ve known.

Jack & Jill contests are the most common type of competition in the swing dance world, because in theory they represent the heart of the dance: social dancing. When I first started competing in Jack ‘n Jill contests, I would hear people whispering things about how a certain dancer “shouldn’t have done that in a Jack ‘n Jill!” But when I asked people what you were “supposed” to do, I got a lot of blank stares and useless tips, like “be yourself” or “it’s just social dancing.” It took years to really understand how these contests work and what matters the most. Based on my own experience both competing and judging, here are a few tips for doing well in a Jack & Jill swing contest, whether that means just having a good time or actually winning something!

1. Don’t take it too seriously. If you haven’t been competing for a long time, you’re probably not going to place. Don’t take that badly–think of your first few contests as practice and a fun way to meet new people. And even if you do place, as the legendary Sylvia Sykes often points out, it’s not important who wins any single contest. A better indication of your skills is if you consistently do well.
2. Have fun. The part of J&J’s that’s closest to real social dancing is that having fun and interacting with your partner is the whole point. Many judges ultimately look for the dancers who look like the most fun to dance with. So having fun will help you succeed, and make it a good experience even if you don’t place. If you’re having trouble relaxing, the most useful thing is to breathe. When you’re dancing, remember to breathe deeply and slowly, and it will help you to relax. While you’re waiting, try breathing in very deeply and then slowly letting the air back out.
3. Prepare (’till you’re bored). Beyond just learning how to dance better, it’s important to prepare. For example, in the weeks before a contest, take the time to really clean up your dancing. There are times to explore, and times to refine–this prep work is all about refinement. For leaders, select a small number of fancy but reliable moves that will set you apart and work with every partner–and focus on those socially. For followers, practice a few good styling options, focus a lot on your turns (something you can practice at home), and specifically ask guys to help you practice the moves you have the most trouble following. Strangely, when you’re starting to get bored with your own dancing, it’s usually a good sign that you won’t freak out in competition, because you’ve got a lot of solid material to work with.
4. Take private lessons. Taking private lessons will definitely help you focus on the specific things you need to work on in your dancing. And once you’ve started competing, taking private lessons with some of the judges you’re likely to encounter will help you target the areas of your dancing that they think need the most improvement.
5. Know the rules. Every competition has different rules. Some Lindy Hop contests don’t have any rules at all, whereas the competition rules for West Coast Swing can be long and detailed, often including outright disqualifications under some circumstances. Don’t let ignorance of the rules prevent your dancing from being appreciated.
6. Compete often (or perform). A big part of doing well in a Jack ‘n Jill contest is simply being comfortable with dancing in a contest. The more you compete or perform, the less stressed out you will be.
7. Dress distinctively (and tastefully). Don’t wear anything outrageous, because many people will find that disrespectful to the dance, but make sure you’re wearing something distinctive. I know for a fact that I’m not the only swing contest judge who’s had to pause and think, “wait a second–of the three brown-haired guys of average build, wearing black jackets, which one was I going to put in finals?” I’m pretty sure I got it right that time, but the dirty little secret is that judges get confused about these things more often than they’d like to admit. And when they’re making notes on their sheets, most of the time they’re focused on the “blonde girl in red” description that they put beside your competitor’s number rather than the number itself. If there are a lot of competitors and another one fits that description, it’s possible that she might get that “awesome footwork” note that you earned.
8. Dance distinctively (and well). In elimination rounds (eg. pre-lims) you need to play it safe enough that you don’t get three judges all watching you when you make that one stupid mistake, but you also need to stand out. If you’ve ever talked to a judge after a contest and had them mumble something vague about how your dancing was “ok” but not good enough to make finals, that’s part of what’s happening: the truth is she barely even noticed you when she was putting the other girls in finals. The only way to win is by standing out in a good way. So stick to keeping it simple and basic, focusing on a small number of unique moves or styling variations that you do very well.
9. Know the dance style (especially pet peeves). One of the sure ways to get eliminated is to do anything that makes you look like a dancer of a different style. Doing rock-steps in West Coast Swing or Balboa will kill your chances just as surely as doing Lindy Hop without a bounce or Charleston while pointing your toes. In particular, the teachers of each dance style have personal pet peeves that are often common throughout the community, and those pet peeves will have a much bigger effect on your success than other elements.
10. Dance with your potential partners. Since every dancer has their own quirks and personal tastes, it’s a huge advantage to dance with as many of your potential contest partners as possible. Some of the shrewdest competitors I know will actually talk to the other competitors beforehand to discuss strategies–such as a guy trying a cool move with each of the girls and making sure it works, or a girl mentioning to her potential partners that she’s comfortable with fast swingouts but a bit rusty at Charleston.
11. Just before you compete… you should have a little ritual. A common thread among successful competitors is to do a run-through of some of the movements you’ve been practicing.

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