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What is |
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Dog
dancing is a relatively new sport in Denmark. The first teams appeared in
1997-1998. Today the sport is made up of two disciplines - Heelwork to Music
(HTM) and Freestyle. In both disciplines the team (dog and handler) perform
a choreographed routine including moves and heelwork, to a suitable piece
of music.
In Heelwork to Music (Danish rules) 75% of the rouitne must consist of heelwork. This is not required in Freestyle. In competition, more points are available for heelwork in HTM than in Freestyle. On the other hand more points are avaliable for the moves in Freestyle than HTM.
In both categories, the handler must choose a piece of music to suit the dog and then "create" a choreography that suits both dog and handler.
All dogs can perform in dog dancing. The only requirement is the desire to work for the handler. If you have a dog that works at a slower pace, you choose a slower piece of music so the dog has time to do the moves. A faster dog can handle music with a faster beat.
The most used movess are back-up (dog reverses), twist (dog pivots 360*) and weave (dog weaves or zigzags between the handlers legs). If your dog knows these tricks you are already well on your way to making a dog dancing routine. If your dog also can "paw" or "roll-over" this can also be incorporated into the routine. It does not take a lot to get started!
Dogs that have been doing dog dancing for a while can have complicated moves and "acrobatic" excercises in their routines but this is not necessary for beginners - time and practise will give you the necessary confidence on the dancefloor for more difficult and demanding routines.
One important thing differentiates
dog dancing from all other dog sports. When you compete in obedience or agility
you are doing it to a set programme or running a set course...a no risk enviroment...
When you are competing in dog dancing you create your own routine, choose
the music yourself, interpret it and try to express yourself through the routine.
You tell an important story. And then you get on stage and let all sorts of
people see it. You are on display...
And then, in competition, you also let
3 strangers judge you and put points on how relevant the story you are telling
is - and how it is beeing expressed. You often feel vulnerable when dog dancing
and it is a great relief when the audience and judges appreciate your work.
And it doesn't make things easier that you rely on your dog to be part of
the same story - and express the same feelings you do :-).
The fact that the team in such a degree are on display when performing their routine moves the audience. When we do routines to emotional music we often experience the audience in awe and even with a tear in their eye. And when we have seen outstanding dog dancing teams performing abroad we have discretely wiped a tear from the corners of our own eyes.
When dog dancing is at its best the
dogs movement, the handlers movement and the music unite to create an illusion
of dancing. When that happens - the magic begins. And that is when dog dancing
truly becomes " Poetry In Motion".
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