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Have you been
hearing local dancers talk about MAD Jam and wondered what
the fuss is all about? Have you decided to attend, but don't know
what to expect? I've compiled some basic information and also the
answers to FAQs.
What
is MAD Jam? MAD Jam (Mid-Atlantic Dance
Jam) is a 4-day convention/party for West Coast Swing and Hustle dancers
that takes place at a large hotel at Tyson's Corner, VA, March
4th-7th. Many of the hottest champions from all over the country
will be there to compete/perform. Watching the pros dance in person
is truly thrilling! During the event you can also:
- Take some group workshops (there are 50+ different classes
to
choose from) taught by various champion dancers.
- Cheer on dancers of every level, including many from C'ville,
competing for prizes in all kinds of contests.
- Dance with some of the 1,600+ people from VA, DC, MD, NC,
PA, NY and beyond who attend every year. Experienced DJs
will play fantastic WCS/hustle music in 2 giant ballrooms with
huge dance
floors each night until the wee hours of the
- Shop the vendor area for dance shoes, clothes, jewelry, etc.
- Get lots of sleep. Kidding!
Events like MAD
Jam are called "comps" by their fans. On every weekend of
the year, there is a dance comp scheduled somewhere in the USA. Of
the 4 that are scheduled close to Charlottesville, MAD Jam is the
largest. Others include Swing Fling (August), Easterns
(May) and the Virginia State Open (Fall/TBA).
Yikes!
1,600+ Strangers ... What If Nobody Asks Me To Dance?
Anyone who has been to a comp before will tell you: most people you meet
at these things are super friendly and eager to dance with you even if
you are a beginner. But here's the hard truth: if you just sit
there all alone, watching the dance floor expectantly, very few people
who don't know you are going to approach and ask you to dance. It's
just human nature; we gravitate towards people we already know and
like. Plus there are SO many people in the room. Here's the
best advice I got when I went to my first comp: "If you want
to dance, get up and go ask someone. And when the song is over,
DON'T SIT DOWN. Stay on the floor and politely ask someone else who
is nearby to dance." More advice: take some workshops.
Before you know it, you will have made new friends and will have become a
familiar face instead of a stranger!
What
Kind Of Music Will Be Played? The event
is primarily for WCS and hustle dancers. The DJs are dancers
themselves and keenly aware of what songs are popular with those
groups. They will offer a variety of genres from blues to R&B
to hip hop to pop. Occasionally they will toss in a country
2-step or a nightclub 2-step.
What
Workshops Should I Take?
Some suggestions for choosing:
- While you were watching the pros dance, whom did you like?
- Read the descriptive title to get a clue about what the
teacher plans
to focus on. Here are titles of real workshops
planned for
MAD Jam: Technique For Spins, Hustle Without
Muscle, Tighten
Up Your Footwork.
- Ask veteran comp-goers for recommendations.
- Speaking of that ... Kristin says you can't go wrong taking
any workshops taught by Robert Royston, no matter what it's
called. If he offered a class called Basket Weaving For
Dyslexic Quadriplegics And Their Pets, I
would take it.
What
Do I Wear? Day: dress casual, jeans &
t-shirts, keep a sweater nearby. Evening: in general, people dress
a bit nicer, though you'll see plenty of jeans. Women commonly wear
sexy tops with jeans/slacks. Dresses are not common. Guys
wear t-shirts or nice (short sleeved!) collared shirts and
jeans/slacks. Guys: bring extra shirts if you sweat a lot when you
dance. Note: there is no dress code but it is considered proper
etiquette for competitors to dress up for their contests (i.e. no jeans).
What Are
All The Different Types Of Contests?
Strictly Swing or Hustle: A lead & follow contest. No
choreography allowed. Partners choose each other ahead of
time. The DJ picks the music. Jack & Jill: A lead &
follow contest. No choreography allowed. Partners are
randomly assigned to each other right before the music starts. The DJ
picks the music. The element of surprise makes J&Js real
crowd pleasers! Classic: Choreographed routines; dancers bring
their own music. No lifts allowed. There are 2 levels of
classic: Open - anyone is invited but generally these are very
advanced or champion dancers; Rising Star - for couples who are less
advanced and/or less experienced with choreography. (Once you win
Rising Star 3 times you are required to move up to Open.) Showcase:
same as Classic except lifts ARE allowed. Pro-Am: This is the
professional (teacher) dancing with an amateur (their
student). There are 2 types: Strictly Pro-Ams - lead
& follow contests, the DJ picks the music, only the
student is judged (the person wearing the bib number); Pro-Am
Spotlights - are choreographed routines, the dancers bring their own
music, teacher and student are judged as a couple. Teams: exactly
what it sounds like, a group performing swing or hustle choreography.
Cabaret: Anything else! This is a fun opportunity to see your
fellow swing/hustle dancers show off other dance skills. In one
contest you might see ballroom, lindy hop, jazz, tap, adagio, belly
dancing ... you name it.
What
Are The Different Division Levels? What Level Am I?
Swing: Every time
you make it to the final round or win a prize in a WCS J&J contest,
you earn a pre-determined number of "points". The higher
you place, the more points you earn. Points are tracked by
the World Swing Dance Council from comps all over the country, and
accumulate over a lifetime. You start out in Novice and then, after
you earn points, move up to Intermediate, then Advanced, then All
Star. The Invitational or Open level is reserved for champion
dancers and may be by invitation only. Dancers who have
limited competition experience and who've never made it to the
finals in a contest may opt to enter the Newcomer division, though
you can't earn any points if you win. There is not a universal
point tracking system for Strictly Swing competitions. Couples
must self-identify their level (newcomer, novice, intermediate,
advanced or open for all-star/champions). Couples often use their
J&J point standings as a guideline for determining what level to
enter. There is an additional division called Sophisticated, a
polite and pleasant-sounding way of saying "geezers." Ha
ha, seriously, any level dancer may enter as long as he/she is age 40 or
older. (Some comps lower the entry age
to 35.) Surprisingly, there is some really good dancing
in the sophisticated division (and I'm not just saying this because
I qualify!). This contest is just for fun and you don't earn any
points if you win. Many comps offer a Masters division for
people age 50+. Again, you'd be surprised just how good the dancing
can be in this contest! Comps may also offer Junior divisions so
the kids don't have to compete against adults. Hustle: has always
required competitors to self-identify their level. In recent
years, a national hustle dance organization has formed and they are
moving towards a points tracking system much like WSDC. (One may
already be in place ... I'm not a hustle competitor so I'm not as aware
of the rules.)
OK,
Sounds Like Fun, I Want To Go? How Much Does It Cost?
Every comp is slightly different but here are some general guidelines so
you know what to expect:
- The event itself costs about $80-$100 to attend. You will
receive a waterproof wristband that you must wear the entire
3-day weekend. It gains you entry into all the ballrooms for
dancing and watching all the competitions.
- Workshops cost about $10-$12 each. This is an
unbelievable
value. TAKE
A WORKSHOP. Sometimes comps offer package
deals
... 3 workshops for $25, etc.
- Most comps offer a Gold admission package. You pay more
for the event but get a special wristband that gains you
admission to as many workshops as you want. Do the math:
you have to take a lot of workshops to get your money's
- You can also buy one-day or one-night passes (usually $20-
$40) if you aren't able to attend the entire event.
- Competitors: there are fees to enter contests, usually
$10-
$15 for each J&J entry, $20-$50 for each Strictly Swing or
Hustle entry, and $50+ for choreographed routine entry.
Entering a Pro-Am contests costs money too, plus your
instructor
may charge you a fee.
- Hotel: there is always a Group Rate assigned to comp
attendees, could be $85-$125 per night. But sometimes you
can
get an even better deal if you are a AAA member or
belong to the hotel's membership club.
- Food, drinks and transportation costs can also add up.
Especially if the comp is far away.
Whoa,
I'm Not Rich! How Can I Save Costs?
I hear you loud and clear, fellow budget-conscious dancer! Here are
some money saving tips:
- If you don't mind sharing a bed, you can pack 4 people into
one room.
This is quite common. Ask at Swing Swap, class,
or lcal dances for potential roommates. Don't wait until the
-
Volunteer! Every comp offers free or reduced admission in
exchange for about 10 hours of volunteer time during the
event. Volunteers may help out at the registration table,
monitor workshops admissions, or check for the proper wrist-
bands at ballroom entrances. If you are strong and handy
with tools, you might be placed on the set-up or take-down
team. Go to the event's website for details.
- Bring your own food and alchohol. Comps are held in
big
hotels
with plenty of restaurants on the premises and nearby,
and there is always a bar set up close to the ballrooms. This
is convenient, but pricey. Experienced dancers bring food
and
snacks and their own alcohol to help save money and time.
Don't
be shy about packing a cooler! Jared and Julie Barber
hauled in their own microwave last year! While that may be
extreme for most of you, trust me: toss some granola bars,
fruit, peanut butter, bread and a bottle of your favorite wine
or liquor into your suitcase :-)
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Some pics from MAD
Jam 2009:
GOOD LUCK AT MAD JAM 2010, CHARLOTTESVILLE DANCERS!!
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