Contestant Etiquette for Steppers and 2022 Texas Heat Winners
Yes, I am making contestant etiquette “a thing,” as someone said. In everything we do in the stepping community, by nature, some level of etiquette goes along with it. Contest season can be a very emotional time for some steppers. There are at least Facebook posts to prove it and my experience as a contestant. Let’s not forget the aftermath when we ride the wave into the contest season and finally brave it on the stage – if we make it there. Out of more than 80 couples and partners that started the 2022 WLSC journey at the prelims, only ten walked away with trophies and cash prizes. How is everybody dealing with the results?
Then, on Monday, I read Kevin “Doc” Dockery’s public Facebook apology to his wife “for the disrespect [he’s] done in the Texas Heat Contest in the walking category.” Whatever the reasons behind this post, conversations like this happen, but steppers aren’t always transparent about it, much less posting on social media to tell the world. This brave act highlighted “contestant etiquette after the contest” as “a thing” that we may not discuss openly and publicly.
Many steppers are already planning as we end the 2022 WLSC and now the Texas Heat contest season. Some steppers are already planning for competition in 2023. Whether looking for a contest partner and the next contest, analyzing their 2022 performance, or wishing they had entered this year, steppers are thinking, planning, posting, and already practicing. These are all reactions to the spectacular show at WLSC and the Texas Heat performances. Today’s article shares some tidbits and resources for all of that. Moreover, many past contestants participated in lending some words of wisdom to contestants on how they react after the contest. Let’s dive in while contemplating, “Who’s got next?!”
10 Tips on Contestant Etiquette from Contestants
One year after the WLSC, a contestant said, “I just hope that people saw what was going on on stage and know that it was not me; it was my partner!” Obviously, not happy about the performance, this stepper forgot what happens on stage is a team effort and a culmination of what both leader and follower bring to the stage. This is a lesson I had to learn in my contest journey, and I was glad to be there to offer some advice. Our brief conversation to emphasize and encourage a different point of view and shift in mindset inspired digging deeper into a discussion on what I have coined as contestant etiquette, and here it is.
CONTESTANT ETIQUETTE
Win, lose or draw, everyone usually has an opinion on the judges’ decisions, the performance on stage, how their partner did, how the music sounded, and so many other things – like how our loved ones react. Everyone, even those not in the contest, have an opinion, but this article focuses on how the contestants react, release and recover. At the heart of contestant etiquette is remembering to be kind with our words and reactions if and when we choose to discuss and share those opinions.
The WLSC has been happening almost every year for more than thirty years. I know steppers can recover and revive the contest spirit because several steppers return to the stage yearly. I reached out to a few contestants participating in the WLSC and other contests. They were kind enough to share some simple tips and advice for contestants on behavior and reactions after the contest – win, lose, or draw.
If you win. The first question you have to ask and KNOW is, are you a better dancer pound for pound for those you beat that night? If the answer is NO…bask in your moment and get back to work the next day. If you lose, study the best, but also do the work of those that beat you, ESPECIALLY if you don’t have the same resources they have or had.- Kamaal Sadeeq
I can’t tell someone how to feel about winning or losing. I will still congratulate the other contestants because it could have been anyone’s night. Keep smiling and share the win with your partner because both of you put the work in. – Jacques Sanders
Being positive about the experience is always good. Enjoy the fact of what you just accomplished because we are all winners!!!! – Tori Jones
Reflect on the time spent leading up to the contest. Always think of the fun you had whether you win or lose. Always remember that the contest as a whole is to be an enjoyable moment and memory for you and your partner. Don’t take any factor as a negative. Always know and remember that there is another year to come. – Lloyd Johnson
Always show sportsmanship. Let contestants know they did a good job whether you win or lose. It could have been your day or my day. Hug them and shake hands. – Andre Blackwell
After braving that stage, leave it all there – win, lose, or draw because, remember, any “given” Sunday can be any “given” Sunday. – Pharies Henderson
“As in any competition, be a good sport, whether you win or lose. Nobody likes a sore loser nor a boastful winner. Keep dancing – stay positive – have fun.” – Genevieve Bober
Win, lose or draw, leave it all on the stage. More importantly, enjoy the moment. – Tabitha Hicks
Not everyone on the top stays, and not everyone on the bottom stays there. Remember, the contest itself is one night, but our relationships with one another are ongoing. People remember how you treat them and what you say about them. So treat others as you would have them treat you. Opinions, be what they may, can be shared with integrity and respect – Shani Johnson
Never beat yourself up about the outcome. Do not be afraid to ask the staples in this dance what they feel you could work on to put on a better display for the judges. Try again if it doesn’t work out in your favor the first time! Tone out the negativity! – Lendy and Krystal Holmes
Give proper thank you’s to those who helped you prepare or encouraged you along the way. – Chemeash Grant
Don’t be hard on yourself because you set a goal. You didn’t quit, and you still impacted someone – win, lose or draw!! It takes courage to get on stage, and your performance on stage may encourage others to get on that contest stage next year! – Danitra Gardner
2022 Texas Heat Winners
Here is the Texas Heat winners list for readers not on social media. This steppers contest was held in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, October 8, 2022. This information is also on our Texas Heat History page. Here are photos of the first-place contestants.
Original
New Skool
Walking
The Get Down
ORIGINAL
- 1st – Prize: $1,500 – Lendy & Krystal Holmes
- 2nd – Prize: $1,000 – Geno Spears & Linda Johnson
- 3rd – Prize: $500 – Lloyd Johnson & Nay Nay Mitchell
WALKERS
- 1st – Prize: $1,000 – Jessie McDaniels & Wanda Scales
- 2nd – Prize: $500 – Kevin Dockery & Trea Lasha
- 3rd – Prize: $300 – Geno Spears & Zaneta Hinton
Source: Belinda Foxette Jones
NEW SKOOL
- 1st – Prize: $1,500 – Kevin Dockery & Taylar Raymond
- 2nd – Prize: $1,000 – Carlton Puckett & Danitra Lewis
- 3rd – Prize: $500 – Todd Johnson & Angel
THE GET DOWN
- 1st – Prize: $1,000 – Kevin Dockery & Sherry Gordon
- 2nd – Prize: $500 – Lloyd Johnson & Nay Nay Mitchell
- 3rd – Prize: $300 – Josiah Burt & Bridgett Payne- White (Promoter’s Choice)
Upcoming Steppers Contests for 2023
The Champions of the Dance Floor Contest is hosted and promoted by Harvey Dobbs and the Team from Versatile Productions in Dearborn, Michigan. The contest attracts some of the best steppers and dancers to the contest floor almost every April. I already see pluggers for the contest, but registration closes on January 1. This is the eighth year of the contest, and it includes a New Skool Steppin’ category. Here are more details.
A New Resource for Finding Your WLSC Contest Partner
First, when there is a problem, it creates an opportunity. I was surprised when I was invited to the new WLSC PARTNERS POOL Facebook group. Already wondering, “Did anyone ever have a group like this?” I questioned Choc James, the group creator, to understand his motivation. As he sees it, Chicago contestants competing in WLSC seem to have a select pool of seasoned contestants entering almost every year. The contestants seem to rotate amongst themselves each year to find a different partner and keep winning. A way for contestants not in Chicago to start leveling the playing field with Chicago is to create and build a similar, seasoned pool of contestants who want to compete and win at the WLSC.
WLSC PARTNERS POOL FOR CONTESTANTS
WLSC PARTNERS POOL is a group for steppers interested in competing at WLSC where they can publicly identify themselves as willing contestants and let others know who they are. Steppers from everywhere are welcome. It’s a place to network, socialize, and learn. After asking him more investigative questions, Choc admits that it is a work in progress and he is learning as it grows and goes. I don’t know if finding a WLSC contest partner online works for everyone, but it may work for some. Finding the “right” partner is a start, but the work from there to the stage will take more than a virtual connection. I don’t know and can’t wait to see what new talent this effort may bring to the big stage at WLSC, but I am watching.
The WLSC PARTNERS POOL is a public Facebook group.
- 300+ members of steppers
- Display partner talent and ask questions of other steppers
- Match your dance
- Train for the WLSC in any of the WLSC categories
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Yeah! Nice article…but for me after watching the dance come from its beginning and contributing to it’s growth to where it is today nothing has changed I only see another group of dancers learning how to 8Step Bop very few have developed a universal style of dance and in any contest level even a new Stepper could win by the sheer presentation of their performance after that it’s favorite …just my opinion
Very excited to be a part of the livingthe8count