Hey guys.
I've been avoiding you.
There's something I've wanted to tell you for awhile, and I'm afraid it'll hurt your feelings, so I just stayed away.
But as much as the truth might hurt, the lies are hurting both of us more.
The fact is... There are two full levels of syllabus moves between Bronze and Open.
[relieved sigh]
There it is.
The cold hard truth: Silver and Gold exist, have a syllabus (with variations! Bronze does as well!), and are sandwiched between Bronze and Open. One might even say the levels are progressive from Bronze to Silver to Gold to Open.
I feel better already.
Oh, you want some elaboration?
CAN DO.
You can throw yourself into Open heats at almost any time in your dance career. (Open refers to "choreographed", meaning you can do "whatever you want", as opposed to Closed [Syllabus] events in which you have to stick to the appropriate level syllabus or lower levels' syllabi.)
Now, I am a BIG FAN of dancing "up": using your Bronze figures in Silver and above , Silver figures in Gold and above, and Gold in Open (duh). BUT, that's assuming you are using at least Silver technique on your Bronze patterns, Gold technique on your Silver patterns, ETCETERA.
And if you're doing Bronze in Open? I expect Open Level Technique on those Bronze-y figures. Not just Good Bronze.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE...
Why are you doing Bronze in Open? Or even a basic Silver figure in Open?
The correct answer would be: I'm showing my foundational movements with the highest technique possible because that is beautiful expression of the dance.
Yes, yes, very good answer, young Paduwan.
What I've seen lately, though, does not seem to demonstrate that very good answer.
It seems that some Open dancers have taken mostly Bronze patterns (strictly syllabus, not even with a "creative, yet still syllabus" variation involved) and thrown in a measure or two of flash-and-trash Open thing (Hello, Step-Points in Foxtrot and Dip or Splits Trick in Rumba!) and called it a day. And I'm guessing it's because they never learned any of those excellent Silver and Gold patterns.
Again, if you are KILLING. IT. on those basic steps, I'm okay-ish with this routine.
But you're not.
You're doing your Bronze stuff fine and making my eyes water when you do your "Open".
I know those flashy moves and just the designator "Open" makes you feel like you've accomplished a great feat, but what happens when you join the "'Why Didn't I Learn This When' Club" a couple years down the road? And more importantly, what happens when I'm the one to break it to you that your dancing needs fixin'? I'M BEING SELFISH HERE, PEOPLE.
Those ignored Silver and Gold syllabi? They are SO FUN. And necessary, even. (Even the Bronze syllabus can afford you some sweet variations, as long as you know how to combine skills and interpret the rules to add some flair here and there.) While you're working on those neat-o patterns in Silver and Gold, you can refine all the techniques that will make your Open exponentially easier AND MORE PLEASANT TO WATCH. (Again, with my selfish streak.)
To summarize, I want your Open to look and be Open, and I want you to take advantage of all the progressive and cumulative skills the FOUR LEVELS OF DANCING (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Open) afford you. Because I want to watch you dance well (and not the alternative to that).
Similar and nicer: Stop Trying to Grow Up So Fast
*this does NOT apply to Open Bronze and Open Silver, for those in the NDCA circuit: those are meant for Bronze leveled dancers who want to do an Open routine, but be judged as a Bronze dancer, likewise for Silver.
