GEO*A

Why do some insist on placing the dance judges in middle of the arena? The only logical explanation is, so they are visible.
The biggest problems with judges being placed in the middle of the arena to judge is.....
1.They can't see all the dancers at once and therefore can't compare (see who stands out).
2.Nor can they see who oversteps or understeps at the end of the song.
It seems so obvious and I know everytime this happens everyone complains....so why does it continue????

CHARISMA

Anyone who puts dance judges in the middle of the arena to judge ought to be slapped silly and banned from pow-wows 4 life!!

TKMJ Productions

Slapped Silly? That can really hurt your hand. A 357mag in the foot would work better. Easier on the hand.

Anyway........... The judges need to be able to move around the circle anyway they want. All the dancers need to be looked at from all directions to be fair. Judges need the freedom to look at everything including the crowd to see who is pointing at who. Judges actually miss a lot when they look at dancers. That's why there is always a panel of three or more. Notes must be compaired to determin a final winner. If the judges want a second round to narrow down the dancers, It should be allowed. You can't always pick a winner on the first round.

In 2005 at Arlee, my wife was asked to judge "Golden Age Woman's Traditional" That ment that my wife had to judge her teachers. Talk about putting my wife in the hot seat! Now how does one do it when those women were perfect in every way. We are talking 80 and 90 year old women who have danced all their lives.

Do you judge on how much road dust was on a pair of mocs as a final determination? Talk about a tough call. To this day she will not tell anyone who she picked as the winner. She was a total wreck after the job was done.

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luvstraightdancrs

Judges are supposed to move around, how can you judge if you stand in only one spot? If standing in one spot you can't see all the dancers if they are spread out anyway. That's why some of us move around the outside or inside of the arena -- to get a better look. As far as seeing them over or under step --we have been taught to walk off if you know you missed it.....that's called sportsmanship. The AD should also be watching and notify judges if he sees an error like that.

To the person who's wife was called to judge teachers and felt weird about it....you can disqualify yourself because of work or a particular relationship. You don't have to judge if asked.....I know if my sewing is in the category I am asked to judge and I think it will cause a problem for others, I decline. Same with with my friends/adopted relatives are in that category......All you have to do is say no, I cannot judge this category.

TKMJ Productions

She accepted the position because we have been away from Arlee for almost 10 years. She felt that she could judge fairly and honestly. She did just that, fair and honest. None of her teachers placed. Even I saw that there were better dancers in the arena. When we came back for the powwow in 2005, we were pulled in every direction from everyone there. The whole week was full of emoition. It was a powwow that beat all powwows for us.

My wife has danced and judged all over North America and has taken her share of the cash. The comittee felt that she could do the job un-biased. And she did. She said it was the hardest job she ever did. When she was asked to judge, she turned in her own dance number and pulled herself out of her catagory. She didn't have to do that but she felt it would be better. As she says, "Judges should not compete at a powwow that they judge at even if you dance another catagory".

__________________
Don't ask me what I think about something unless you want a truthful anwser. It may not be the anwser you are looking for.

It's better to fly with the eagles then drive with the turkeys.

Coyot_In_The_House

Y can't they walk around in the middle?

TKMJ Productions

Judges should be able to move where they want. In the center, outside, even in the grandstands for a long view. A judge must do what is necessary to judge the dancers fairly.

I'm also in favor of putting the dancers on video tape for an instant replay if necessary.

No they can't be playing stick game at the same time or get some cheese fries while they should be judging. LOL!

__________________
Don't ask me what I think about something unless you want a truthful anwser. It may not be the anwser you are looking for.

It's better to fly with the eagles then drive with the turkeys.

Dtwosnakes

I agree, judges should move where ever they need to so they can see better, at different angles. I wouldn't compete and I sure wouldn't want to judge. I've seen many good dancers in my time on the trail, it would be hard to pick the best. And Codo's to the wife who pulled herself out of the competition, she was fair and honest in her approach to being a judge.

ntownn8ive

What's the prob? When judges are in the middle, there's the opportunity to take a breather while dancing! Get a blast of water, check your text messages and what not! Tie your moccasins, fix your roach, then go around the horn and jam out hard for a verse!

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Kakeeya

Ive seen a lot of powwows especially specials where the judges stayed in the middle and usually (but not always) hand picking the winners. Seems like it works, but I agree when judging womens stationary then its best to walk around so that the judges can see their foot movements, how graceful they turn, are the fringes moving in sync etc.

Sweetsage02

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with judges being in the middle. But I think I would prefer to see judges moving about around the dance arena. Jus because this gives them a better view of all dancers & their footwork, movements, etc.,

ndldy68

yes I agree!!!

I perfer to stand around the arena.

WhoMe

Old pow