Every floor routine requires a leap series to start from a 10.0. The leap series has to include at least leap (one foot take off) with a forward or sideward 180-degree split. This leap can be directly, or indirectly, connected (through a series of steps, skips, or hops) to another leap or jump. This year, we’ve seen an uptick in D-value dance elements due to changes in how bonus is calculated for a two-pass routine as well as compositional requirements. This article will compare some of the most common D dance elements. When evaluating dance elements, judges are looking at the following skill components:
- Rotation: The athlete must be precise in their turning rotation, as there are deductions for both over-rotating (up to 0.1) and under-rotating (up to 0.2) the intended turn. For a skill to receive credit, it must be within 90 degrees (one-quarter turn) of the intended skill rotation. At the 90-degree mark, the judge can decide to either give the skill credit and take the full execution deduction or to devalue the skill.
- Body Position: Judges are looking for 180-degree splits with legs parallel to the floor when appropriate (up to 0.2). They also evaluate body posture (0.1) and arm or leg position (up to 0.1), as well as leg form (up to 0.3) and foot form (0.05).
- Amplitude: The judges should see the hips rise and fall during the leap or jump (up to 0.2).
- Landing: Gymnasts should land with feet together on two-foot landings (up to 0.1) and the body upright (up to 0.2) before progressing to the next movement.
Take a look at the various examples of good, great, and excellent D dance elements.
Switch Leap Full
The Ideal: The gymnast should take off forward facing, hit a 180-degree split at the halfway point and peak height of the jump, and land with her feet facing the same direction as the take-off. The body position should be upright and arm positioning should be deliberate. The split should have good leg form and be even and parallel to the floor.
Good Example
Incomplete rotation (0.1 to 0.2) or downgrade to switch half
Amplitude (0.05 to 0.1)
Great Example
Incomplete rotation (0.05)
Body posture (0.05)
Excellent Example
No deduction
Switch Side Half
The Ideal: The switching leg should cross the middle of the body before executing a quarter turn and hitting a clear, 180-degree straddle position. The split should have good leg form and be even and parallel to the floor. The body position should be upright and the arm positioning should be deliberate. Following the straddle, the legs should come fully back together while executing a half-turn. The gymnast should turn 270 degrees (three-quarters) in total.
Good Example
Incomplete turn (0.05 to 0.1)
Uneven split (0.05 to 0.1)
Great Example
Incomplete turn (0.05)
Excellent Example
No deduction
Tour Jete Full/Split Leap 1.5/Gogean
The ideal: The dominant leg should kick forward and either scissor or circle forward to execute a half turn into a split position. The gymnast should show a 180-degree split at the peak height of the jump, with legs parallel to the floor or slightly angled downward in a sissone position. The body position should be upright and the arm positioning should be deliberate. Following the split, the gymnast should execute a full turn while closing her legs, completing the rotation, landing facing the same direction as the split, and executing a one-and-a-half turn in total.
Good Example
Incomplete split (0.05)
Incomplete rotation (0.1 to 0.15)
Great Example
Incomplete rotation (0.1 to 0.15)
Excellent Example
No deduction
Wolf 1.5
The ideal: While the gymnast can show the wolf position at any point during the skill, most athletes execute the wolf after the first half turn. The straight leg should be horizontal or above, with the bent leg tucked under the body, the knees pressed together, and the chest slightly forward. Following the wolf position, the gymnast should execute a full turn while closing her legs, completing the rotation, landing facing the same direction as the wolf position, and executing a one-and-a-half turn in total.
Good Example
Precision of switch half, overturn (0.1)
Incomplete turn (0.1 to 0.1)
This could honestly be credited as a short switch full (D) to wolf full (C) or a switch half (C) to wolf one and a half (D). The bonus and execution deductions would be the same either way.
Great Example
Precision of switch half, overturn (0.05)
Incomplete turn (0.05 to 0.1)
Excellent Example
Body position (0 to 0.05)
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Article by Rhiannon Franck
Rhiannon Franck is a former national-rated NAWGJ women’s gymnastics judge with over 15 years of USAG judging experience and nine seasons judging NCAA gymnastics. Outside of gymnastics, Franck works at a university as a nursing professor and loves to travel. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
