2013 NDCA Updates: International Style

Today's topic gets a double post!  One post covers new American Style Restrictions for NDCA, the other covers International Style.  This is the International Style version.

As far as International Style restrictions are concerned, the Technique books have been the main source of information for many, many years.  Having a set Syllabus, variations included, has meant that the major organizations give little additional guidance as to what is allowed and what is not in International Style, on the assumption that the books are readily available and therefore more information is not necessary. 

In a break from what has traditionally been the case for both NDCA and USA Dance Rulebooks, general restrictions have now been added to International Style before the Figure Lists in the NDCA Rulebook.  Some resemble the American Style restrictions.

The first general restriction for International Style says, “Elements and figures unique to one dance or style may not be used in another dance.”  As one example, they give Double Reverse spin not being allowed in Foxtrot.  This restriction is identical to one of the General Restrictions before the American Style section of the Rulebook.  I might point out that Double Reverse Spin isn’t actually unique to one dance – it appears in both Waltz and Quickstep.  Similarly, one could argue that Lock Steps are “uniquely” Quickstep, yet we have three in Waltz.  If you find this confusing, here is a piece of advice: instead of trying to decide on your own if a figure is “unique” to one dance or not, look at the List of Figures.  Does Double Reverse Spin appear on the List of Figures for Foxtrot?  No?  Then don’t dance it in Foxtrot.

Other new restrictions include “No extended Weave in Bronze/Silver Foxtrot, two counts of extended Weave allowed in Gold” and “Elements must be completed, but partial steps may be danced.”  As examples of “partial steps,” NDCA suggests that one can dance half a Mooch in Jive or dance an ending other than a Forward Lock after a V6 in Quickstep.

This “partial step” restriction, like some of the other updates, is confusingly vague.  At the root of the problem is a disagreement about language – not everyone uses “Element” and “Step” to mean the same thing.  For instance, in a USISTD Exam, a “Step” is anytime you move your foot (Step 1, LF Forward, etc.), while a “Figure” is made up of a number of Steps.  NDCA is using different definitions, but it is not clear exactly what those definitions are.  "Step" probably best equates to "Figure," but "Element" I'm not certain about.      

Furthermore, mentioning that you can dance a partial step without any reference points feels potentially misleading.  Example: in Licentiate or Silver Quickstep, the Running Right Turn involves three pieces, which consist of a Natural Pivot Turn, 1-3 of a Foxtrot Natural Turn, and a Running Finish.  Each of those components exists on its own, but together as the Running Right Turn, they must be danced in that order, in their entirety.  No alternatives (until Gold).  No dancing the first two components and then launching into a Tipple Chasse in place of the Running Finish. 

Once again, I think the best course of action in this case is to follow the Technique books.  Figures listed in the books specify when they can be danced in part.  If the book doesn’t offer any alternatives to the Chart Figure, you may not dance any alternatives to the Chart Figure.