Daphna Locker Resigns from USA Dance Governing Council
- Thread starter Bailamosdance
- Start date
Loki
Forum Master
Realistically, how many socialites are going to put out $100 or so for 50 minutes of coaching? I wouldn't have before I started down the comp road.
OTOH, if they are reasonably priced and/or offer groups, there could be a market there.
snapdancer
Forum Master
I agree, social dancers wouldn't be interested in coaching. I myself am not interested, and I'm more serious than the average social dancer taking a private lesson weekly.
There is no USA Dance chapter in my area. There are several studios who offer open socials, and the management of these studios have an amicable relationship with the other studios. I can pick and choose which studio parties I attend. How would a USA Dance chapter make it better for me?
Also have traveled on business to the Dayton OH area. There is no USA Dance chapter there. But there are several community organizations which take turns putting on weekly dances. And there's another that offers dance lessons during the week. How would affiliating with USA Dance make it better for them?
There is no USA Dance chapter in my area. There are several studios who offer open socials, and the management of these studios have an amicable relationship with the other studios. I can pick and choose which studio parties I attend. How would a USA Dance chapter make it better for me?
Also have traveled on business to the Dayton OH area. There is no USA Dance chapter there. But there are several community organizations which take turns putting on weekly dances. And there's another that offers dance lessons during the week. How would affiliating with USA Dance make it better for them?
Bailamosdance
Forum Master
The older social VP (around during the membership slide until this year) said (and I quote) that actually asking what if any benefits there are to join a USA Dance Chapter was "an example of stinkin' thinkin'" (!)
The former officer said "the benefit of joining is to the person joining".
I think it is clear why nobody under 60 can relate to USA Dance, save some of the competitive dancers who join to participate in the comps that USA Dance presents... who talks to adults like that? Word salad much? And still the only answer seemed to be getting a quarterly magazine and a possible lower entry fee to the monthly social a chapter presents.
When asked where the dues money went, after telling us where about 10% of it went (benefits for the chapters of insurance and music licensing for their events) the question was asked where the other $450,000+ went - to the former president. When she replied it went to Chapter conferences for travel and hotel, it was pointed out that these have not occurred since 2014. We still await an answer.
The former officer said "the benefit of joining is to the person joining".
I think it is clear why nobody under 60 can relate to USA Dance, save some of the competitive dancers who join to participate in the comps that USA Dance presents... who talks to adults like that? Word salad much? And still the only answer seemed to be getting a quarterly magazine and a possible lower entry fee to the monthly social a chapter presents.
When asked where the dues money went, after telling us where about 10% of it went (benefits for the chapters of insurance and music licensing for their events) the question was asked where the other $450,000+ went - to the former president. When she replied it went to Chapter conferences for travel and hotel, it was pointed out that these have not occurred since 2014. We still await an answer.
Loki
Forum Master
Ah well, that's a key. Most studios here IME are cooperative and cordial but there are a couple of dillweed owners who are quite territorial.
Bailamosdance
Forum Master
Holding social events to compete with private studios is not a good reason to create a chapter. Plus, it is a good way to create hostility.
DanceMentor
Administrator
A lot would depend on how they do it. They certainly have highly qualified teachers now in the leadership, arguably the best ever.
Melissa Dexter
Giacomo Steccaglia
Olga Forapanova
Glenn Weiss
Not too shabby. Very capable people. Let's see what they do. A bit early still.
snapdancer
Forum Master
USA Dance does have an initiative to increase the number of social dance members. Here's how it works:
There's a category for competitions called "Registered" (see section 5.2.3 of the USA Dancesport Rulebook) which is a non-sanctioned competition. Previously a non-sanctioned competition was called "listed". USA Dance has added a rule, not included in their rulebook, that in order to dance at a USA Dance "Registered" competition, the competitor must be at least a social dance member of USA Dance. So I imagine that USA Dance will gain a few social dance members from the local area who'd like to compete at the local comp but aren't otherwise interested in USA Dance comps.
Other than to the bottom line of USA Dance, who benefits from this?
There's a category for competitions called "Registered" (see section 5.2.3 of the USA Dancesport Rulebook) which is a non-sanctioned competition. Previously a non-sanctioned competition was called "listed". USA Dance has added a rule, not included in their rulebook, that in order to dance at a USA Dance "Registered" competition, the competitor must be at least a social dance member of USA Dance. So I imagine that USA Dance will gain a few social dance members from the local area who'd like to compete at the local comp but aren't otherwise interested in USA Dance comps.
Other than to the bottom line of USA Dance, who benefits from this?
DanceMentor
Administrator
I have seen some competitions in the past that were a social activity. They were not just about who took the most coaching lessons from an expensive teacher. The competition was more something for everyone to enjoy. I'm not sure if this rule change might reflect that but I would like to think that ballroom dancing can be something everyone can enjoy even at competitions.
There was a time when competition organizers were adding more categories so that more people would be able to participate and enjoy the spirit of competition. In recent years it seems that the categories are more designed for profit and the thought that average people just doing it for fun might be participating has all but evaporated because they don't.
Mr 4 styles
Forum Master
They need to add back social dancing in the evenings at comps and between rounds if time.
snapdancer
Forum Master
In prior years, it was not necessary for someone to join USA Dance in order to compete at the local non-sanctioned competition. This year it is. The question is: for a local dancer who is not interested in competing out of town, what value do they get for their social dance membership dues? Beyond a quarterly magazine that they weren't interested in reading anyway?
Bailamosdance
Forum Master
why does usa dance have power over entries to a competition that they have not sanctioned?
snapdancer
Forum Master
Their power is whether or not they list the competition on their website.
I would point out also that USA Dance charges the organizer a fee for the listing, which would be reflected in the entry fees the competitor pays. So requiring the competitors to join USA Dance is effectively a massive price increase to the competitors.
Bailamosdance
Forum Master
How much does a 'sanction' cost? And are there requirements to be met for it, like date or location requirements?
snapdancer
Forum Master
Even though the organizer has to fill out a sanctioning form, it's is non-sanctioned event. The organizer has to pay $100 and all the competitors who are not already USA Dance members have to pay dues.
As far as the date/location requirements, those are not published. But then neither is the requirement for competitors in a "Registered" comp to be USA Dance members. I imagine they'll be happy to collect the money unless it conflicts with another event according to their unpublished requirements.
As far as the date/location requirements, those are not published. But then neither is the requirement for competitors in a "Registered" comp to be USA Dance members. I imagine they'll be happy to collect the money unless it conflicts with another event according to their unpublished requirements.