Ballroom Dance -- a Man's World?

[pygmalion]

The title says it all. Maybe I'm naive or blind (or prejudiced by being a career woman LOL), but everywhere I look in the ballroom world, I see men in charge. Men at the heads of boards, men organizing competitions, men judging, and oh by the way men leading. Sure, there are some notable exceptions out there -- some very successful female studio owners and judges. Just curious. What do you see? Is ballroom dance still a man's world?

[KevinL]

The title saysa it all. Maybe I'm naive or blind (or prejudiced by being a career woman LOL), but everywhere I look in the ballroom world, I see men in charge. Men at the heads of boards, men organizing competitions, men judging, and oh by the way men leading. Sure, there are some notable exceptions out there -- some very successful female studio owners and judges. Just curious. What do you see? Is ballroom dance still a man's world?

Sorry Jenn, but Ballroom Dance, just like the rest of the world, is still run by men. How many powerful Board of Director members do you know who are not men? Outside of social work boards (that tend not to be very "powerful", probably not very many. Why? Who knows, but it probably has a lot to do with two things: 1) that's the way it's always been and 2) men's communication style leads them to build structures based on someone being in charge, and men are used to that model while women's communication style leads to group consensus structures, and men often overwhelm those structures because they aren't playing the same game as women.

As for men leading, all social dances have roots in a time when men were even more in charge than they are now, and those kind of ingrained social strictures are hard to overcome. Is that good? No. I very much like following, it's just that few women can lead because of the culture around dance. It's always nice to find a woman who can lead, though!

Kevin

[Spitfire]

I don't attend many competitions, but at the ones that I have I've seen there were both men and women judges. As for studio ownership of the five currently operating here two of them including the one I attend are owned by a husband and wife team; the other three are owned my men.

As far as dances themselves go there are usually more women then men.

[Sagitta]

You can second me on all that, especially the following part. I will ask ladies for a dance and if I ever ask to be a follow I get this horrified look, even from the occasional lady who teaches dance. I'm willing to help ladies take a more assertive role on the dance floor, breaking down some of those traditional social strictures, but none who want to.

C'est la vie!!

[Porfirio Landeros]

So you want exceptions?

My coach, Mary Murphy, founded her own ballroom, and it has been the competitive hub of San Diego ever since.

She is also partner in 2 competitions.

Another nearby competition is owned soley by a woman; Debbie Avalos organizes her California Open, this next weekend.

From my hometown, the chain of Arthur Murray studios was owned by a woman... her husband was just staff!

Now, when you get to the national boards around ballroom dancing, it does appear to become a "good ol' boys" club. But maybe that's because they're from generations once or twice removed from the mainstream, eh?

[JohnK]

This feels like a stroll through the Claymores, but what the hey...

The dance industry mirrors the rest of the business world, so it should be no surprise to see a lot of men in those leadership roles. However, just as in the business world, the percentage of women in these roles should be expanding. Are there women interested in filling these roles? Are they proactively competing for them? Are there any concrete statistics on this stuff?

As far as men leading the dance, well, one of us has to "drive". In that regard, I've always thought of myself as the chauffeur, my "passenger" is the VIP. Classically, hasn't the dance always been about the woman, either as an instrument in the courting process (which she rules), or to entertain her, or to showcase her grace, beauty, and fetching couture?

[pygmalion]

As far as the lead/follow thing. Career woman or not, I like following. Why? Because it's a HUGE challenge. And also because following means I get to do all the fancy spins and stuff while the poor leader is stuck doing trigonomety just trying to get us across the floor. :lol: :lol:

[Vince A]

The title says it all. Maybe I'm naive or blind (or prejudiced by being a career woman LOL), but everywhere I look in the ballroom world, I see men in charge. Is ballroom dance still a man's world?
Does it really matter . . . as long as someone is DOING it?

I feel for what you are saying, and won't add to what's been said about "dance business following the rest of the world." However, I will say this . . . only you can make the changes needed in this world. And until you, and the other women who agree with you, tackle this situation . . . it will remain as is.

I sure as hell will not dance with those men, so I love the women being there, and around here, many of the studio's ARE owned by women, or at least, co-owned!

By the way . . . your signature line . . . I heard the ending another way . . .
"Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know when to anchor. "

[Taita]

:doh:

methinks guys may have fallen into Jenn's trap.

back to lurk mode.....

[Vince A]

Not really . . we just like to get her going!

[Taita]

So......

Is the next hurricane in Florida going to be called.....

Hurricane Jenn?

:wink:

.....ducks back into lurk mode

[Vince A]

Yea . . . where's she at???? Oh Jenn-n-n-n-n-n . . .

[pygmalion]

LOL. I was out having a life. And I refuse to be sucked into silliness. I started this thread with an observation, just an observation. No agenda. So other folks are welcome to make their observations, if they wish. 8)