Random and Rotating Heats
Adjudicators and spectators alike know that a couple's performance can be interpreted differently depending on the competitors that are dancing around them. Naturally our sport requires comparisons between couples however these comparisons could be distorted depending on what couples are in which heat.
A mechanism that reduces the bias that can occur is called "Random and Rotating" heats. Simply put the computer selects at Random the heats for each Dance. This selection process also makes sure that couples don't dance in the last heat in one Dance and then the first heat of the next Dance, when there are 3 or more heats of course. For example a couple may dance in heat 3 for the Waltz, heat 1 for Tango, heat 4 for VW, heat 2 for Slow Fox and heat 1 for Quickstep.
The point is, it's random for all couples and all couples are treated equally.
While the WDSF employ this system it is not exclusive to that organization. We (DanceSportLive), have used this system at WDC Competitions. The only real difference, in respect to this, is that the WDSF have set rules that govern the use of this mechanism while the WDC leave this matter to individual competition organisers.
When to use this system?
Basically this system works the best when the differences between the performing couples can affect perceptions of Adjudicators. These large differences in performance are generally observed in ‘Open’ events where both high and low graded couples take the floor. The very nature of closed graded events reduces the system’s effectiveness although never entirely.
Both the WDSF events at this weekend's Australian Championship will use this heating system. Once the Floor Marshals have accounted for all couples in the first Round the Scrutineering System will allocate couples randomly to their heats and a printout will show each couple which heat they are in for each dance. After the marks from that Round have been processed the recalled couples will be allocated randomly to heats in the next Round and so on.
