On Monday, I said 'I don't think "fusion dance" works' but I couldn't reason it. Tonight, I got the answer through dancing with a fellow- It's because of the nature of the dances. We can mix any possible things even street dance (once only) for our shows, but we never fuse unfamiliar movements when doing social dances.
To differentiate social dances and professional dances, figures' grading is not the key, it's leading & following. If you are to dance with a random partner, definite signals are essential. if you can't signal well, the worst case is not leaving the most embarrassing moments but hurting your random lady, this is especially true when you try to fuse in the lifts and drops without learning the correct signals.
Signalling is undoubtedly important. Good signalling don't come from no-where, there are at least 3 pre-conditions to achieve before you can properly signal:
First, a firm and solid frame. Unless the couple splits and does solo, the random partners need a frame to allow the message be transmitted;
Second, appropriate footwork. Correct footwork let you flow, swing and sway on the floor during the dance. It won't be pleasant to watch if one sways to left while the other goes the opposite;
Third, clear and on-beat weight distribution. Since proper transferring indicates the initiating steps, which not only makes footwork easier for the leader but also gives a clearer signal to the followers.
Without possessing these three techniques, a dancer won't be able to fuse various things into one watchable dance successfully. As I see it, most of the cerokers do not hold a frame, I mean not at all; none of them cares about footwork, they even get confused with positioning and footwork; some exaggerate the hip actions without actually sending weight from one foot to the other, some just don't distinguish the standing foot. When they try to do the 'Tango-inspired-ceroc-move', I can tell (from the previous 'Tango-roc' night) that they are struggling with their legs, well, I see 'tangle' instead of 'tango'. We dance social dance for fun (ceroc defines itself a social dance). Where is the 'fun'?
Yes, I agree with this ceroc man that we can construct our own dances. BUT, latin dances are standardized, that's why one can identify the distinctive character for each dance. If you want to fuse latin dance into ceroc, then you should mind the music, the beats and the signature postures. For example, you probably can't mix rumba with ceroc because of that non-danced one beat; you may mix some cha-cha-cha figures with ceroc but it depends on whether the tune fits chasse; you can pour some samba elements in ceroc but it's hard to imagine sambe with disco songs instead of carnival music; yes you can put mostly jive, but if you are as picky as me, you won't like how the ceroc girls move their legs.
Another thing I agree with this fusion dancer is that there could be a new personality for the fusion dance. However, I believe that there should still be a traits that inherited from the source of inspiration. As I said before, none of these cerokers can satisfy me. It is not very convincing that we can make up a new dance and give it personality.
Well, I believe all kinds of dancing are different races in one world. Yes they can be merged beautifully, as long as the dancers are veterans who UNDERSTAND dancing well enough.