Open World Championships?

[SDsalsaguy]

In the agenda of the next WD & DSC meeting there is a proposal to make the WD & DSC World Championships into an open competition. This would mean that any couple that wanted to compete would be elligable to do so (as is the case with Blackppol, etc.) and would no longer have to be nominated by their countries. What do you all think of this proposal? Strengths? Weaknesses? What about any potential impact on various National Championships where World representatives are, often, chosen?

This current move, if aproved, would only effect the International style Pros... but, if you like the idea, do you think that the IDSF should be moving in this direction as well? Both (WD & DSC and IDSF)? Neither? Only one and not the other?

[Porfirio Landeros]

I think it would be weird if people could represent their country without having to qualify in a nationals. It's almost like they could just skip the local circuit, and just show up for the World's (not that this would be a smart move, but possible).

Also, the qualification system allows the national body to sponsor the top two... in the free-for-all system, would it be expected that the national body spread the sponorship over more couples, still only the top two, or just cut all the dancers loose and leave them to fend for themselves overseas?

[Warren J. Dew]

Well, from a practical standpoint, we already have a world open championship - the British Open. But I don't have any objection to having more than one! It would help avoid the weird situation which sometimes comes up where the third best couple in the world isn't allowed to go to the "worlds" - one of the reasons the world title is presently less prestigious than the British.

Not having to qualify from your nation would make it more clearly an event to select the best dancers in the world, removing some of the nationalistic overtones. To me that's a good thing; some people might feel otherwise. Nations could still provide sponsorship based on their own national championships, of course.

[Porfirio Landeros]

Very true, Warren, may the best dancer win. While we're at it, why don't we just dissolve the whole amateur/pro distinction ;)

I know in the professional field, you get cases where the citizens are only graced with the presence of their world-reps due to the qualifying national championships. I would just worry about more cases of "our" representatives living somewhere else and never dancing here. I mean, it doesn't hurt my feelings, but in order to be on a national team, it seems like there should be some required participation at a national level.

[Warren J. Dew]

Okay, Porfirio, yank my chain ... all I can say is that the amateur/pro thing hasn't really hit the west coast yet, and you may feel differently when it does.

But in truth, I personally would have no objection to an 'open' world championship where amateurs were allowed to compete against the pros; my objection is to de facto pros dancing in "amateur" competitions. Again, others might feel differently, and in the case of a professional world championship, I'd certainly defer to the opinions of the professionals ... speaking of which, any pros care to chime in on the original question?

[cl5814]

Okay, Porfirio, yank my chain ... all I can say is that the amateur/pro thing hasn't really hit the west coast yet, and you may feel differently when it does. But in truth, I personally would have no objection to an 'open' world championship where amateurs were allowed to compete against the pros; my objection is to de facto pros dancing in "amateur" competitions. Again, others might feel differently, and in the case of a professional world championship, I'd certainly defer to the opinions of the professionals ... speaking of which, any pros care to chime in on the original question?


ok, Warren, i am a bit hesitant to say what i am going to say, but here it goes in any case...... maybe this is a totally different discussion since it is off topic.

Do you think amateurs have no chance of winning should they compete against pros ?

[Warren J. Dew]

cl, I certainly think that amateurs would have no chance of winning a world open professional championship. Remember we're talking Christopher Hawkins & Hazel Newberry in Standard, and Brian Watson and Carmen in Latin.

Are there some amateurs that could beat some pros? Sure. But I think that in general, it's difficult for someone who dances only for personal enjoyment to beat someone who dances for a living, or even to beat someone who teaches or dances part time for money to help fund his or her dancing.