[2/28/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
"Hitterness" Test
By Markie Bee
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They're defined as "an influential person who works
hard to promote the causes they are interested in" or as a "Slang
term for any person with substantial resources." In the world of
Chicago style stepping both definitions generally apply to what we
commonly call a "Heavy Hitter".
The expression originated in sports such as boxing, where it
literally meant "hitting hard," and was transferred to other
enterprises in the mid-1900s. Today in context we're talking about a
person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of
events in our niche of the dance world.
This means in fact anyone who promotes an event with a plugger,
makes a post to Facebook, the web, or expresses their opinion in any
way to make people think or act? I don't really think so, but it has
been inferred.
In reality I feel there are only a handful of real heavy
hitters in the steppers community who have
passed the publics
tests of "Hitterness".
Most people who fall into this category get assigned this designation
because of an accomplishment in contests like the WLSC or as a person
who has made some massive contribution to the art of the dance.
The WLSC has continually morphed along with the dance to reflect a
pretty decent picture of what it takes to be a Heavy Hitter. Sometimes a
person doesn't even have to win in the contest to have the label applied
to them. Take Feo and Candace' performance at last years WLSC for
example, their "big move" in the contest brought the crowd to their feet
and was one of the most talked about performances in recent history
(even though the move is actually a variation of a very old Jitterbug
move that dates back to the 1930's). The couple has been competing for a
long time, but that one performance catapulted them to an unquestioned
"Heavy Hitter" status.
Is there a particular amount of time one has to be involved in Chicago
style stepping to be considered a "Heavy Hitter"? There are those who
believe a person or couples need to "pay their dues" before they can be
called a true "Heavy Hitter". In some ways I agree and in others I
disagree simply through the definition. Contests like the WLSC are
nothing more than an affirmation of what we suspect of "Hitterness".
There are way too many variables involved in the equation.
There's the "astonish and wonderment" value that needs to be factored
into what makes a "Heavy Hitter" too. Some people make an impact on the
dance without ever stepping on to the competition floor. They hit the
floor at events or in the clubs and perform at a level that's heads
above what you see in any competition.
Does the "Heavy Hitter" tag have an expiration date? How relevant is a
dancer who was revolutionary and trend setting years ago but has settled
into mediocrity in comparison to those who are moving and shaking the
dance today? Can the credential be revoked? I feel this point of
contention is more of a case of what is relevant to the dance today.
Once you get the label you have it for all time but it is decided by
degrees of "Hitterness" by the community at a given time.
The final test of "Hitterness" by the community is pretty simple. If I
say to fill in the blank whose name comes to mind? __________ is a
"Heavy Hitter". It really doesn't matter who you think of but if you
thought of that name first when you read the words that person has
enough "Hitterness" to fill the bill.
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Sunday February 28, 2010
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