USA Dance - DanceSport New Policy & Program Changes

[s2k]

Or here's where we continue to love the style(s) we've devoted so much time and energy to and continue to show organizers that Rhythm and Smooth are phenomenal styles in their own right, not subsidiary to Latin and Standard, and deserve their own recognition. ^_^

They are, and they do: /fistbump, dlliba. I'm not actually changing. But dangit if my nose is out of joint about a few things.

I've already read today that the IOC has released the sports listed for the 2020 games and DanceSport isn't listed there either. Also, we need more judges on panels who are knowledgeable about rhythm and have danced rhythm competitively, professionally. Back to WDSF, because the talk has been to move Adult events to the "other" potential Nationals, because there needs to be more time in the schedule. Why are World DanceSport events being held at USA Dance Nationals? (this isn't a dig - I legit know nothing about WDSF because, again, American style dancer).

I've been disappointed that the focus of an organization called USA Dance and its DanceSport division don't seem to actually focus on the USA styles of dance but on US dancers dancing International styles.

Which may be unfair, like I said, I recognize my nose is out of joint. I'm gonna go eat worms now.

 

[Bailamosdance]

I often wondered abut the logic that limits participation at a national event due to 'time limitations' but has enough time to hold random events for the WDSF. Hopefully this will change with the election of folks who can fix this and many other current problems...

 

[Joe]

There is such a thing like a North American Championship title. It hasn't been ran by USA dance for a while but doesn't mean it can't be brought back. This year Canada held North American Championships for Amateur Latin and Standard. And there is going to be North American Collegiate Championship title in all 4 Champ Styles as well as North American Rhythm and Smooth Championships in Boston in October.

Are there North American Champions in Bronze?

 

[Renata Shvarts]

So would USA Dance HQ pay for both nationals, or would West Coast chapters be expected to pay for the West Coast national championships?

USA dance will organize both Nationals and will pay for them but as i said before Nationals in Baltimore is making money right now thats why if done well and budgeted well in the right venue Senior Nationals can also make money for USA dance.

 

[Renata Shvarts]

Are there North American Champions in Bronze?

Yes North American Championships if organized will hold titles for all ages and levels and styles. The idea is to out source these titles to NQE's and other competitions including both Nationals.

So for example its possible that in 2017 Gumbo can host North American Championships in Rhythm. That will mean that all Rhythm events danced at Gumbo will carry a North American title and special awards and scholarships. And Mid Atlantic can host North American Championships in Smooth. And so on and so forth. Competitions can bid for it every year and locations can change every year for all 4 styles. I believe that Canada also has the right to hold North American Championships which means that some events will be danced in Canada.

And of course since at Nationals only International style Champ events get money for WDSF worlds, we can come up with scholarships toward traveling to North American Championships for winners of Champ events.

Of course this is all a figment of my imagination and will only become reality if I get the votes to become DanceSport VP.

 

[Titoxd]

USA dance will organize both Nationals and will pay for them but as i said before Nationals in Baltimore is making money right now thats why if done well and budgeted well in the right venue Senior Nationals can also make money for USA dance.

How about putting Cabaret, Formation, T/S, WDSF and PD events as one event, and leaving the existing closed/open amateur competition as the second event? You could still have the east/west rotation, but the split would not be based on age.

 

[Mr 4 styles]

No. As a matter of fact USA dance should not have a pro division ever... Imo

 

[Titoxd]

No. As a matter of fact USA dance should not have a pro division ever... Imo

From my understanding, the Pro Division ship sailed a long time ago...

 

[Mr 4 styles]

Until I see them on the floor competing at nationals I won't believe it. Not wdsf. USA dance

 

[Renata Shvarts]

No. As a matter of fact USA dance should not have a pro division ever... Imo

Mr. 4 styles, I want you to think about something. Our youth, under 21 and amateur athletes at some point have no choice but to leave USA dance because they don't see future in it. A good % of these dancers want to continue dancing professionally. And after retiring, they want to become professional coaches, take exams and judge. If we don't build a professional division than we are losing our amateur dancers to NDCA. USA dance is losing members and supporters, coaches and judges to another organization, a not friendly organization.

USA dance must build a future for those athletes that want to continue professional careers with USA dance and WDSF.

 

[Mr 4 styles]

Ams who turn pro will go to the ndca it's where the money is. Pro am is the cash cow. I personally want an organization that tends to the social and true amateur couple competI tors, not a ndca or wdsf knockoff. I may be in the minority but as a senior material dancer who also dances pro am I like the division of services TETO. But Renata you still have my vote

 

[s2k]

Ams who turn pro will go to the ndca it's where the money is. Pro am is the cash cow. I personally want an organization that tends to the social and true amateur couple competI tors, not a ndca or wdsf knockoff. I may be in the minority but as a senior material dancer who also dances pro am I like the division of services TETO. But Renata you still have my vote

Agree with all of this.

 

[Renata Shvarts]

Ams who turn pro will go to the ndca it's where the money is. Pro am is the cash cow. I personally want an organization that tends to the social and true amateur couple competI tors, not a ndca or wdsf knockoff. I may be in the minority but as a senior material dancer who also dances pro am I like the division of services TETO. But Renata you still have my vote

I really do appreciate your vote and your support. But I want people on this thread to understand that its the attitude of "Ams who turn pro will go to the ndca it's where the money is." Is what's killing USA dance right now. If you support USA dance then you need to support its growth. The growth includes the future for our dancers who wish to become professionals. The future is in growing pro-am business. The future is to build education opportunities. The future is to build opportunities for successful competitions. Only then will USA dance will survive. If this next step is not taken then there may not be USA dance in 5 yrs. And I know that this is not what you and many other USA dance supporters want.

 

[Bailamosdance]

I dont think many am/am couples are very interested or entusiastic about trying to compete with the ndca... They do what they do really well, have a strong base of comps and people, and am/am couples dont really want to be soldiers in a war for power and money. Making am/am better is much more importsnt than fighting wars formjudges, or wars for niche businesses. If there is still a USA Dance in 5 years, it will be there despite the power wars between organizations, hopefully still representing ams, actually going out and publicizing and finding sponsors, and being inclusive rather than figuring out ways to keep dancers from participating, whether it is 'qualifying' or pushing events off to local comps to put international events at the nationals.

 

[s2k]

I appreciate growth. And I also agree with @Bailamosdance about how probably not many "am/am couples are very interested or enthusiastic about trying to compete with the NDCA." Having danced pro-am for a number of years, and having switched to amateur via USA Dance, there's nothing about pro-am I miss. I feel as though pro-am is about fabulous table centerpieces and ladies dancing two hundred heats wearing six different gowns. Pro-am and am-am are two different markets entirely, and am-am has felt, for me, for the past three years, that it's about the dancing.

Our very first NQE we were shocked at how bare-bones everything felt. Where was the buffet? The "show of shows"? The fabulous walk through all the glorious vendor merch? The pheasant feathers glued to the back of a six-inch platform pump?!

And then we realized all that stuff "costs." That the beautiful difference between what USA Dance offers is the "package" being only $130.

After having dealt with pro-am packages that cost me upwards of $4000, $130? Did a number fall off somewhere?

$130 per person for an NQE can't buy two hundred six foot tall lollipops. Can't drape the ceiling in lame. And many (most?) pro-ams love that stuff - I did. Helped fuel the "Glamourland/Fantasyland" ideal. And pro-am offers financial incentives for the pros - Top Teacher - and image awards for their students - Top Student, etc. - and that money comes from the pro-ams themselves, who pay exorbitant package fees for the privilege. @Mr.4Styles is absolutely correct that pros must make a living and it's about money - and power. And winning those sorts of prizes via NDCA helps pros get both. What's the plan for giving that to pros in this new USA Dance teacher/student model?

I'm honestly not trying to swat down every idea. I'm a businessperson - in school we learned about SWOT - what are a concept's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Having looked at all four components, then one can ostensibly move forward with the best, most prepared idea possible.

I just already feel like USA Dance is trying to be ALL THINGS to ALL DANCERS, and it's not working out so well. And now it seems like we want to be MORE!! THINGS to ALL DANCERS and... well, I guess the next five years are going to be interesting, to say the least.