Glossary
Below are some of the key terms mentioned on this website and in the DAN training materials.
and8
and8 is a service provider that hosts and operates the digital judging interface that allows judges to record their evaluations using the Threefold. and8 provides numerous other services on their site, including results from past battles and details of upcoming events. Visit their site at and8.dance.
Bias
Preconceived notions or preferences that can consciously or unconsciously influence a judge's perception and evaluation of performances. Various types of bias exist, including nationalistic bias, name bias, and style bias. Judges must work to identify their own biases and control for them in their decisions.
Coherence
The level of agreement or consistency among judges' decisions and evaluations. Training in a shared judging system aims to increase coherence among judges.
Comparative Judging
Directly comparing and contrasting the performances of competitors to determine the winner.
Descriptive Judging
Observing and describing the qualities of a performance without imposing preconceived notions or stylistic limitations
Direct Comparison
A judging approach that emphasizes comparing and contrasting the performances of two competitors directly, rather than evaluating them against fixed standards. This method encourages judges to focus on the unique strengths and weaknesses of each dancer.
Domains
Categories used to organize and analyze different aspects of a performance. In the Trivium judging system, six domains are used: Technique, Variety, Creativity, Personality, Performance, and Musicality
Holistic Judging
An evaluation approach that considers the performance as a whole, integrating all its elements and qualities rather than focusing on isolated aspects. This method emphasizes the interconnectedness of different performance dimensions
Judge
A decision-maker in breaking competitions who is responsible for making fair and informed decisions. Judging is considered a skill separate from dancing or teaching and a person who excels at these may not automatically make a good judge.
Judging System
A structured set of principles, criteria, and procedures for evaluating performances in breaking competitions. A good judging system aims to achieve fairness, consistency, transparency, accountability, and provide valuable statistics. Examples include the Trivium and Threefold systems.
Noise
External and internal factors that can influence a judge's decision-making, potentially leading to bias. Examples include audience reactions, personal relationships with dancers, fatigue, hunger, and personal preferences
Standards
Predefined criteria or benchmarks used to assess performance quality. In dance judging, relying solely on rigid standards can limit creative expression and result in inaccurate evaluations
Threefold System
A breaking judging system that is very similar to the Trivium system, sharing the same logic and terminology. The key difference is that Threefold uses 3 comparators (Physical, Artistic, and Interpretive) instead of the 6 domains of the Trivium system, making it less complex.
Trivium Judging System
The original Olympic judging system for Breaking, used in the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires (2018) and Paris 2024 Olympic qualification events. It uses six domains to compare performances.