Oh No! The Standardization Debate
By Jennifer Toles
Monday, August 9, 2010
In "Dance Doctor" fashion, I decided to poll my local dance community to learn what they'd be interested in reading about on the ILS website in hopes that my contribution would prove relevant for them… so here goes…I would love your take on if there is a need to standardize Basic Teaching for Steppin.It's being taught all over the country differently.Different Terms, Different Styles, Different TechniquesIf I'm an Intermediate in Cleveland, should I be able to travel to Miami, Atlanta or LA,go to a class and slide right in as an Intermediate?
Well, well, well… the ole "should we standardize Steppin'?" question. I've tried to stay out of this debate because I see the validity of both sides. With the ISA running full steam ahead with codifying the dance, building a foundation, offering training and certification the question almost becomes moot. If you want a standardized version of the dance - you'll be able to get one. If you don't, well there are plenty of avenues for you too. But alas, I'll offer an opinion anyway.
Should the basics of Chicago Style Steppin' be standardized?
From a student/instructor point of view: It'd be nice.
It'd be nice if we could all agree…8 steps. If we could all agree….6 beats. If we could all agree…basic pattern, right turn, left turn, half turn. If we could all agree…dance history, music appreciation, lead & follow, quality of movement, tension, resistance, momentum. If we could all agree…lane etiquette, social dance etiquette. If we could all agree on what it means to be a beginner and what they should be fluent in to move to intermediate…likewise up the ranks. It would be nice. It would be nice for students traveling to different cities, hoping to stop in on a class to be able to build on their previous knowledge instead of being knocked back down for not knowing a particular set of preferences. It would be nice for instructors traveling to different cities, hoping to offer expertise at a particular level - to be able to do so because we've all agreed what it means to be this level or that level. Everyone's expectations could be managed "neatly". It would be nice for all stakeholders to have a common understanding on which to build further understanding. It would be nice.
Though as nice as it would be… I'm not so convinced of its happening. I haven't observed the larger community desiring to agree much less being able to agree. And where there is no desire, I see little possibility of occurrence. Each one contends that their way is "right" and the other guy's way is "wrong". Not that there's nothing to be said about the quality of education spanning the country - let's just assume all things being equal for argument's sake. It's starting to feel like religion around here - more about "preference" and control than truth and understanding. Not a good look.
Now from one of those "creative types" perspective - I don't much mind the disconnect. On some levels I rather enjoy it… I appreciate that as an african american vernacular dance (wikipedia it) the perspective on what this dance is, what it means, how it should be conveyed varies among its constituents (based on generation, up bringing, geographical location or….) If the dance is to continue to be a representation of the people who partake in it, standardization may serve to impedes individual expression and we're back to "my way is the right way and your way is wrong". I don't need that much control over a thing. Your way can be as "right" as my way so long as we're both representing "self". The majority of us practice this dance on a purely social level so it's about expressing good music and connecting with good people. The dance is just our means of doing both and its all good in my book.
The other argument I often hear - that without standardization "others" will take this dance from "us" and make it their own - has never rung true with me. How can you "take" what lives in my heart and call it your own? Dance lives in my heart and no one or no thing can "take" that away, I don't care what you call it.
So there you have it… my take on standardizing the dance. Do it or don't. I am interested though, in hearing your take as well. Please, chime in…
Add your comments:
Posted Comments
Name: jeff Name: jeff Name: Mistalocks Name: Jennifer Toles Name: Yolanda Name: Tracey Comments powered by the Website Comments System ® v1.0
E-mail:
Date posted: August 10, 2010 - 05:26 pm
Message: Test #2
E-mail: Private
Date posted: August 10, 2010 - 05:07 pm
Message: Test comment
E-mail: Mistalocks@yahoo.com
Date posted: August 09, 2010 - 06:22 pm
Message: Jennifer you wrote a great article. Standards mean nothing to those who have none and everything to those who have them. People that love Arhtur Murray's standards won't learn Steppin' from anyone with weaker standards. If some people don't want standards cool they can do anything and everything and call it Steppin';it will only bother people with higher standards and not effect the ones with weaker standards.
E-mail: jtoles@ilovesteppin.com
Date posted: August 09, 2010 - 01:33 pm
Message: Yolanda I completely agree with everything you said. We have a great deal of would be "look a-likes" within the national steppin' scene. As much as we say we don't want to look like "so & so", "so & so" is still our perceived measurement of what it "looks like" to "get down", so that's exactly what we end up looking like! It would better serve us to remember that its our individuality, personal style and SELF expression that makes this dance such a joy to experience and behold. Standards for judging "would be nice" though - everyone would know what is expected… judges, contestants, viewers. How lovely would that be…
E-mail: Private
Date posted: August 09, 2010 - 09:00 am
Message: I hate this debate but also understand why people have it. For me I know that I can dance with an eight or a six count dancer. Just last night I stated to a guy "I dont get that move to the left much at all". It wasn't that I wasn't able to follow or that it was wrong, It was his choice of moves with his dance. The best part of Steppin is being able to get a different dance each time you dance and still be steppin. With each partner I am entering a new relationship and conversation. From my view point it would get old if I hard the same realationship and conversation with everyone. I love the variety and creativity this dance allows you to have. We are not getting graded on this people it is just for fun. NOW I do think there needs to be standards for juding these competitions because it is always some BS. Not what is right or wrong but what the expectations are, so everyone knows what a winning dance should look like.
E-mail: Private
Date posted: August 09, 2010 - 07:50 am
Message: Great article Jennifer! Welcome to the ILS editorial family!
I was just wondering. In your research have you found out why the "heavy hitters" in Chicago are not pushing for standardization of the dance? I've discussed this with at least 20 heavy hitters from not just the Chi but from all over and they all say the same thing. The push for standardization is only coming from instructors or promoters who are seeking validity and popularity from their peers that they are currently not receiving. They also have added that in the world of supply and demand, if you are not "accredited" in steppin but people want you to instruct them, it's not going to matter. Students will give you their money and their time regardless of you wearing a "gold Superteacher badge" on your shirt. That students wants to look like a contender. Here's another question. If you are accredited and I take lessons from you and I still look like I did at Day 1 after 4 months of instruction, then what do we do with that so-called accredited instructor? Stone him/her for jacking someone up in the dance? If you could answer these questions Jennifer-you will definitely win the trophy for "Questions no one can honestly seem to answer award."