Judging criteria World Pole Dance Move Syntax coordinator

Pippa Caesar Move Syntax Coordinator World Pole Dance 2011 – Budapest

It was my second time to the worlds, 2 out of 3 is pretty good! I didn't make it to the first as it was in Jamaica and that's a bit far.... In 2010 I was very kindly asked by Kay Penney, head judge, to be an accompanying judge at the preliminaries. I was very honoured to have been asked, I don’t perform and I don't compete (I did compete, once back in 2008 and almost exploded with fear and nerves. It’s not an experience I want to repeat, I just needed to know how it felt to be on the stage and be judged, so I would be able to speak from experience and inform my students, should they want to compete). I am not well known, not super flexible, I can't train daily and I am on the more 'advanced' side of 35, but I have been a student of pole since 2006 and been instructing since 2008, and I am also a HUGE fan of pole and of polers.

I am an official 'pole-slag' (loving everything about it and everyone who does it) and have trained with, under and alongside some of the world’s best. I am empowered by every single student, performer, competitor, instructor and judge that I meet in this industry. I am a human Pole-Sponge...And I was blown away by the standard of the competitors last year. It was a hard job to judge that 1 preliminary heat. I was watching each performance like a hawk, checking toes, technique, strength, trick standard, lines, grace, innovation, presence, form and entertainment. I spent every one either grinning like a Cheshire cat or gawping with my mouth agog, and most of the time, BOTH! I have attended judging courses and am passionate to represent each competitor to the best of my ability

The final in 2010 was simply outstanding, my team (who made it out to Zurich) and I loved every second! We had tears, we had laughs, we had some serious 'stalker' face photographs with our poling idols and we agreed to make a trip back the next year.

This year, Kay asked me to judge at the prelims and at all the heats of the final as Tricks Syntax Co-ordinator, a position usually held by the pole-guru Deb Riley - UK, so I was blown away and under immense pressure! I did LOADS of homework, checking doubles, male, Chinese and single pole routines on youtube and facebook. I sat for hours on end with a pen and scribbled every move, transition, trick and spin down, I noted if toes were pointed, if lines were clear, how long positions were held for - counting the seconds on an iron x, and a flatline sm. I created a code for moves that would be seen a lot in performances, LH for leg hang, TG for twisted grip, X for iron X, J for Jade, JD for Jade Drop. I invented codes for a move or trick or transition that was new to me, and another code for an extremely hard move. And I sat and tried to memorise moves from all over the world. It didn’t matter if I called a Scorpio a Gemini or even if I called a butterfly a Frank, as long as I always called it the same thing consistently throughout the competitions.

AND HOLY SMOKES was my right hand abused that night?!!! New tricks left right and centre, incredible doubles moves, mind bendingly hard holds and lifts..... One hold was held for an outstanding length of time, over 12 seconds I seem to remember!

I simply cannot express how amazing it was to be on that top table of judges, shoulder to shoulder with some of my pole Heros and such incredible talent. Every single competitor performed to their utmost maximum and I was brought to tears during 3 performances! (Which made writing the moves down even harder!) I had lactic acid build up in my thumb and forefinger and almost burnt a blister on the side of my hand from it moving across the desk as I wrote. I got dry eye staring at the stage and performers by trying not to blink during complicated tumbles and combinations. I gawped at the performers with stalkerish intensity. Doubles, Males and Females. I wrote down tricks, moves and transitions from all performances and I was tested to the limit with the unprecedented amount of talent and innovation.
I cannot wait for next year and I cannot wait to see the moves so gracefully introduced to pole on that night being emulated at the new few competitions I am judging. The event was so well managed and executed, thanks to Dollhouse and Pole Passion’s seamless integration with the polers and the non pole performers of the night. I was present at pole history and I was there with some of the most talented people in the business. Humbled and over awed? Yes, every single second.
Huge congratulations to everyone who took part, who competed and didn’t make it to the final, to the family and friends of the competitors, to the judges and most of all to everyone backstage who made it all happen. It was an incredible event, and I am so very happy to have played my part at the World Pole Sport and Fitness Championships 2011.

Pippa Caesar - Polenastics UK
www.worldpoledance.com

World Pole Dance 2010 - Move Syntax Coordinator

Move Syntax Coordinator

Deb Riley has been given the unique position of Move Syntax Coordinator along with Donna Gant as support - This position is for the WORLD FINALS ONLY
And one that is brand new to the pole competition industry!
This position was tested by Deb Riley last year on the judging

Move Syntax Coordinator – Deb Riley

This job will be challenging as she will need to watch the whole routine from start to finish without a blink!!!
So being able to write down and label the moves as they are performed
Knowing the names of the moves is essential or being able to describe an unknown move/transition with speed – this may be a variation of a move.

Obviously the industry has lots of different names for many of the same moves
Some moves are combinations of two moves which maybe called a new name!
However as long as we use the same format and name for each contestant during the competition that is the main thing.
This position, on the judging panel, does not include judging the presentation or dance/fitness elements of the candidate’s performance just purely on the Tricks category

All other judges will still judge the tricks category

Execution of moves (safely and effectively) must be considered when marking and listing the moves down!

Her job is to look for any new moves / pole poses and to label them?!! And document them – Making History

There is an award BEST TRICKS too
From Debs documentation of moves and the rest of the judge’s scores collaborating they will all collectively come up with the winner of this award
This award will be decided during the judge’s deliberation after all the competitors have competed

Move Syntax Coordinator support – Donna Gant

This position is set to study each move during their routine and to document it, using the same format as the move syntax coordinator for every contestant
This position is placed as a backup in case the main syntax coordinator misses a move – which could easily happen due to the concentration required for the whole of the 5/6 minutes per contestant!! X 12 contestants

This documented information will also be used in the case of a ‘pole down’ whereby two same winners may have the same points then tricks decide the winner.

The amount of different moves will be counted; also duplications will also be noted
The one with more moves will be judged higher than that person with less moves - This will only be used during the deliberation process in the event there is a tie and not during the initial judging process in accordance to the main rules and regulations

for more information regarding world pole dance visit:-

www.polepassion.com

www.worldpoledance.com