Dancing With Dignity (Changing Room Issue)

I know that there is already a thread out about this but couldn't find it! Anyways I though I would post this website because it is taking some of the things we discussed and turning it into an advertised campaign! Yay!
Thanks the Dancing Channel

Dancing With Dignity

Agreed! However, we WON'T ask (what the link summarily says to)... we simply and decidedly choose NOT to participate in events where this goes on. We know which ones they are.

Sigh, in a perfect world there would never be a problem like this.. Grow up and act like adults .. I for one don't care who i dress and undress in front of but if it is an issue then contact the organziners and see if there is an alternative.. I have danced many many times where the only other place to change was in the bathroom.. Or there was nowhere else to change and we had to arrive fully ready to go!
One thing my belly dance friends do is to wear a very large caftan over thier costumes when not dancing.. It can, as we put it, be used as a very large portable change room and does provide a bit of privacy.. Works well on the beach too!!!!
Thankfully there usually others there who can zip you up and stuff... But perhaps as long as people make these things a "problem" it is going to stay the way it is.. Do not reward bad behavior is my motto... If you have a problem with it, say something and if it does not change then don't dance at those events.. You have to decide what is important to you...
As for kids... Hmmm.... I am going to really get in trouble for this one.. Its ok for little girls to be all made up and look like small sexy women but it's not ok for them to change with the adults? Ohh geesh that sure is a double standard..
We were lucky enough at our last showcase to have separate change rooms for men and women.. Unfortunatley there are not with the bathrooms and you have to go somewhere else to do make up and take care of other business which adds to the time it takes to get ready.. The problem is tghis too.. Hotels and convention centers are not dance studios and sometimes don't have the ideal facilties.. It's the way of the dance world, imho.

I signed, even though so far it hasn't been a problem.

I've never had a problem with it. And as I think someone mentioned already, it's not that hard to change under a sweater if you're worried, or have friend hold up a blanket if you're EXTREMELY pressed for time.

i don't see a problem in the US at all. I mean I could see how some people could complain in Europe, some of those comps can have crazy huge co ed changing rooms, but even than there are bathrooms if someone feels uncomvortable

The competitiors can have what they want if they don't mind the additional costs it will incur the organizers to provide the needed materials. You'd actually think as former competitiors, the organizers would understand this issue, but most of them are from old school...and it's the way it's always been. For a little expense per package, a smart organizer could add that extra touch

I'll take communal changing rooms and cheaper comps

could see how some people could complain in Europe, some of those comps can have crazy huge co ed changing rooms, but even than there are bathrooms if someone feels uncomvortable

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The same Europe that has topless ande clothing optional beaches?

well, I went to the site and pretty much all the negative comments there had signatures from some european countries..

I don't really have a problem changing in front of other people. I've been dancing my whole life. What bothered me was when I found a website that had some pics of dancesport women changing in dressing rooms. Many naked. And the subtitles were disgusting vulgar cr**. Stupid things like, "Sexy latin dancer getting ready to get hot with her partner." If I would have found my pic up there I would be very upset.Especially with the vulgar subtitles they had. So it's not so much dressing in front of others that bothers me, it's the fact that the dressing rooms are sometimes coed and open to just about anyone who feels like coming in.Including those looking for a peep show. Mind you, I have now idea what kind if solution would solve this problem because you never know who is capable of doing this. Even your fellow competitors. So anyways thats my issue

Larinda McRaven said:

I am unaware of the rules regarding changing rooms that USADance adheres to. And I seriously doubt the YCN competitions even provide changing rooms at all.

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Pretty sure all comps provide changing rooms. Now, as to whether or not they are practical/useful changing rooms (more so than just going to a restroom), that is another issue.

fascination said:

I'll take communal changing rooms and cheaper comps

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I agree.

I missed reference to ballroom in that article...seemed to be describing a culture or environment I haven't been exposed to. It wasn't referring to the ballet or modern dance world?

Edit to add: looks like I didn't go deep enuf into the article...didn't see the pix & ballroom references you guys have menntioned.

I've noticed though, that some ladies would not use ladies changing room and would just go to a bathroom stall.

S. 1301 [108th]: Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2004

Chocolatchica:

In the U.S. the Video Voyeurism Act was passed in by the Senate in 2003 and by Congress in September 2004 and signed by the president in December 2004. People who inappropriately videotape children under 16 will face tougher penalties. The law now states:

" Whoever, in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction
of the United States, has the intent to capture an image of a
private area of an individual without their consent, and knowingly
does so under circumstances in which the individual has a reason-
able expectation of privacy, shall be fined under this title or impris-
oned not more than one year, or both.
``(b) In this section--
``(1) the term `capture', with respect to an image, means
to videotape, photograph, film, record by any means, or broad-
cast;
``(2) the term `broadcast' means to electronically transmit
a visual image with the intent that it be viewed by a person
or persons;
``(3) the term `a private area of the individual' means the
naked or undergarment clad genitals, pubic area, buttocks,
or female breast of that individual;
``(4) the term `female breast' means any portion of the
female breast below the top of the areola; and
``(5) the term `under circumstances in which that individual
has a reasonable expectation of privacy' means--
``(A) circumstances in which a reasonable person would
believe that he or she could disrobe in privacy, without
being concerned that an image of a private area of the
individual was being captured;

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