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What is happening to English DanceSport??


polkadancer Joined on 20 Οκτ 2006 Total posts: 1.137	Re: What is happening to English DanceSport?? Πέμπτη, 1 Νοεμβρίου 2007 10:45 πμ Dear Chunky-Monkey Double WOW!! I think I am going to have to take two bites at the cherry to cover all the issues which we now have on the table. Can I please start with your P.S. I remember the 1970s!! I know several people from that era who will tell you that the decline of English Dancing began with what many termed the "Japanese Invasion". When the first couple from Japan reached a major semi final many Professionals saw this as the thin edge of the wedge and the numbers of competing Professionals began to decline with the knock on effect for the number of Professional Competitions.. . I too am enjoying "kicking around" with you thoughts opinions and observations. In many instances your latest post reflects many many of the comments I have previously made on the forums. For instance the decline in the numbes of Amateur competitors in Italy. I reported how I was hearing of Italian coaches who were seriously considering moving to USA or to Hong Kong /China. Previously I had written how it was claimed that this was the reason the Italian Amateur Organisation was trying to force the Professionals to join them. When writing about Russia and China I made comment as to whether this would spur the Italians to greater determination or cause a further fall in numbers. Certainly when you study the results at Junior Blackpool one can understand some Italian pessimism but it is not totally dark. Very interesting is that it was only 1991 that Italy saw its first Amateur Champion at the British Open and it was only 2002 that the first Italian claimed the Professional Championship. I must dsagree with you however on certain matters. First when you say "too many events" - most would I think say there are too few and this is just one of the reasons why fewer overseas couples are dancing - but only one and more on this later. There was a time - in the "glory days" when competitors had competitions for midweek,and friday nights and a choice of competitions on saturday and then a choice of events on Sunday. This also presented couples with a choice as to the judging panel prefered!! By travelling under 100 miles one could compete twice in the same weekend. To compete is the real joy and pleasure for many dancers. Reduce the opportunities and it becomes less interesting and worthwhile. We have a Catch 22 coming in here. People might say it is too expensive to do 2 comps in a weekend. I know the travel costs are higher but are the entry charges much higher in relation to the wages at that time? Second is when you say too many organisation/societies. I did read your previous post about fragmentation and although I did not agree decided not to make comment. I believe that choice is absolutely essential and leads to the breakdown of monopolies and restrictions. In fact later you yourself comment about the lack of choice and the ability to manipulate/control. Some organisations are performing different roles for different people and this is good. Some are stronger in say the north of England or Scotland (British Dance Council) I think so few english couples dance abroad on a regular basis that it would not matter too much whether EADA belonged to IDSF, IDU or IDSA. In fact if couples did have a choice it might make a real difference in the EADA performance. Despite the budget airlines the costs are just too high for many dancers coupled with the strange unkniown judging panels that are a regularity in Europe. Two english dancers unable to dance in IDSF events for 12 months have proved that in reality the IDSF is not needed. for english couples. Can I say I was already aware of most of your explanatory comments regarding events on the circuit. Where I appear to be out of date is the EADA Ranking events. There was a time when foreign couples could dance they just did not get ranking points. For examole if an overseas couple won then the points for first were awarded to second and so on. Please do you know when this changed? However is it not the case that most times you will have one possibly two Chart Rating events and so from 24 actual events only one or two are closed. I must admit I was thinking of competitions where every event was closed.to only "British" or "English" couples. From your latest response I also realise that we were at cross purposes on another matter. When you previously wrote about 500 events I had understood that you were saying that this was the number of different festivals, championships, competitions, etc and couples had a choice of 10 different venues each week. However you have now written BDC granted 500 Championships. Very different to my thinking. The British Open I counted as one championship but you would it as 10 - since it is 10 different BDC licenced championships or Titles..The International 12 championships. So whilst you count 22 Championships I would count only 2. What is interesting is that the Rising Stars at Blackpool are "competitions" and not championships but Blackpool is so highly regarded tat you will see couples advertise "British Open Rising Star finalist" Can I just make the observation that the BDC licences also cover Modern, Latin, Old Time, Sequence Classical, Sequence Modern, Rock and Roll and Freestyle So just for Ballroom and Latin it will be substantially less than 500.. This number also cover all grades pluy formation championships. I am not sure if you read the "topic" I posted some months ago in which I wrote that there seemed to be so many "championships" taking place (not just in England) that the word "Champion" was being devalued and no longer worth winning in many cases. Here in Europe just as one example we have European, East Europen, West Europen, Central European, European Union, South European, North European champiopnships and you get many of the same people at the different events Then you have the National Championships, then areas, the region, counties,. the cities , the north, south, east and west of the city and so and that does not take into account many other "championships"., Must dash away. Lots more to "kick about" though and will be back asap. Best Regards
polkadancer Joined on 20 Οκτ 2006 Total posts: 1.137	Re: What is happening to English DanceSport?? Σάββατο, 3 Νοεμβρίου 2007 8:33 πμ Dear Chunky-Monkey Well here geos with my second bite at the apple - even if I am not sure just where to begin with so many very interesting aspects. Maybe a third bite will be necessary.....GROANS all round!! First can I say I agree with you absolutely - and it is something I have written on the forum before - national bodies are trying to avoid making decisions with regard to Assen. Although it is wll known that many top people and former top people are privately phoning competitors and pleading that they do not go. For the majority it is hoped silence and the "threat" on the IDSF website will deter competitors - especially in the absence of a declared position.. This is the reason for the "MAY" and "WILL" about which I started a thread. If only a few couples go then they WILL be banned if a larger number go and especially the very top couples they "MAY" not be banned in fact we know they WILL not. What a way to run an inernational federation what a way to create disunity. Your possible suggestion that in the coming months couples who dance will pay a price for their support shows really the ugly side of the IDSF world and the intimidation involved. Now the Club System. As I wrote previously Germany has followed this system for many many years. The clubs without a doubt have a great following but many of the people never go on to compete - or not at the top level. Germany has certainly had success BUT also lean years so perhaps the club system does not provide all the answers. Continuing with the Club system not providing all the answers. Competitive numbers in Italy are declining. Italy has a club system. . Italy allows its "Amateurs" the total freedom to teach, coach and demonstrate. I understand that some couples even have their own dance schools. So maybe that too is not the answer - although I absolutely agree that it does assist the couples to continue competing. However when some realise that the are not going to make it to the top they drop out of competing.. What we can see is that even though they have a Club system even though they allow Amateurs to teach the numbers in Italy are now dropping which is why I suggest it is not a reliable blueprint for success.. I was once told "Professional competitors must be crazy. Unless you are the champion you are only second best or lower and how can that be good for the reputation of anyone". We dance lovers know that it is not that simple but sometimes the public support success so I can understand from where this thought came. Better to let your students think you would be the best "if" you competed rather than prove you are not. Of course we must place totally at the door of IDSF the great division that they created in the dance world by allowing some couples to gain a totally unfair advantage with the freedom to teach, demonstrate hold training camps and perform any other "professional -money earning " activity they wished After all it helped to damage the true professionals - and not just the true amateur. This was a system that should NEVER have been introduced until or unless the IDSF could guarantee a level playing field in every member country. This does not mean interferring in national affairs - which we know IDSF love to do - but simply ensuring that some did not have greater opportunity than others. However the IDSF thrives on disunity and splits amongst its members. Keeps IDSF with total control and power. As I said there can be advantages and BIG disadvantags with the Club system. Couples are told where and when they must compete, where they cannot compete. From whom they cannot take coaching and also from whom they will even if they have no desire to go to that person. Sometimes couples are approached and offered "guidance, being taken under the wing, being mentored". and it sounds great. They are even offered the opportunity to be financed and then later repay the costs when they are earning. They then discover in a short time they are now in debt and tied to that coach. They are being told where they must "work" - teaching demonstrating etc - to repay the finance even if this destroys their own personal plans I know some coaches who simply book in their diary the name of the Club because they do not know just who is going to be sent to them. I have know Latin coaches be sent ballroom couples and vice versa. Dance Clubs undoubtedly do a great deal of good but are not the complete solution for the problems of the competitor.and often cause friction and disunity. EADA. Very interesting. Have you noticed that the EADA AGM will be held on the morning of Saturday 17th November. Now what is also taking place that morning? Why the Junior and Juvenile events in the British National Championships so parents who have come to Blackpool are going to be in the Empress Ballroom supporting their children rather than running to a meeting at which they have no vote and no real voice.. What a way to encourage their interest and desire to play a part in the future of not just EADA but english dancing. I have been informed by a few parents that they would love to play a more active role but are simply not able to under the EADA rules. I am sorry that you found my words distasteful as that was never intended. I used the names simply because they were used on the forum and my only other alternative was to abcde and wxyz but then everyone would know anyway - if they know the EADA set up and if they do not then they could be "Jack" and "Jill" for all it meant. However I respect/understand your position so please can we move on. I previously enquired as to the general area from which you came because in your area it might be possible to become involved fully in EADA affairs play an active role stand for membership or the secretarys position. The sad thing is that for huge numbers this simply is not possible due to travel restraints, the conditions attached to holding office, attending meetings and where the meetings are held etc. etc. I do not want to sound distasteful or dismissive but truly I think your view on the Parent representative is "rose coloured". Seriously I wuld ask far more questions. Questions like - how do the parents get nominated, how is the vote taken, is it a secret ballot and if so who attends the count?. Do parents from the north ot east or west - who can all face different problems with travel a major issue - have an equal opportunity to those in the south?. Are there an equal number of competitors in each area? How is the feed back given to the parents? I still maintain that 33% (using your figure) of the membership deserves a greater voice than One Rep. I often hear the BDC (the wicked Dance Professionals) uses the EADA(poor innocent Amateurs) for its own purposes. Perhaps this is a great explanation as to what is going wrong with English Dancing today. If there was any credibility to this theory would the BDC not now be forcing EADA to make a public declaraion of support for the WDC Amateur League and for all couples to have the freedom to compete when and where they decide - even IDU and IDSA championships? Competitions. Could I respectfully suggest that perhaps those organisers who say they could not afford to run competitions without the support of the seniors- and with which another forum member agrees also - know a little more about their actual income than you might assume. Perhaps there are variations from area to area with some strong in seniors and weak in juniors/juveniles and vice versa. Sometimes food and drink is sold from which the organiser derives income. This can be supported by Seniors more than families who might bring their own coffee and sandwiches. Sometimes the Promoters have a stand from which they hope to take business and this could come from more Seniors than familes. There are these and other areas which all enable promoters to organise events. As I wrote previously frequently there is only one or possibly 2 people attending with the child couple. You wrote that the entry fee was average 10 Pounds. So Mum and Dad and 2 siblings makes an entry fee for the family of FIFTY pounds. For just one day out? So many simply cannot afford this and especially not on a weekly basis. 200 Pounds in 4weeks would cover a few lessons and that would be more benefical.and if you convert that for the couple then it is 400 Pounds a month. Must re-read your very interesting comments and MAY or should that be WILL be back!! Best wishes
el cordobes Joined on 19 Ιαν 2005 Total posts: 142	Re: What is happening to English DanceSport?? Σάββατο, 3 Νοεμβρίου 2007 11:55 πμ You are saying the club system is not the ideal answer...well the points you mentionned are true but it is probably the best solution so far and the more dancers you have the healthier the system can be with clubs competing againt eah other which motivate everyone...the dancers and aslo the coach/teachers. I very much feel many people in the dance world forget the world in which we live in which is highly competitive and economy driven. In a market economy, unless all parties involved (teachers/coach, promoters and also the dancers themselves) can make a reasonable income or get their money back, it is very unlikley to have a huge crowd of young people willing to train hard, take it seriously and make huge sacrifices. Oh yes we love it but how many do we know around us who are in debts with no career prospects whatsoever ??? Unless dancing becomes as popular as other sport disciplines with the influx of sponsoring which comes with it, there is little chance for the number to grow. So as for now, competive dancing should be considered as a luxury...personally I take it that way...which makes me appreciate every single moment of it. Making people believe (especially yound kids) everyone can compete is just not right as there are many many circumstance you need to have altogether to be abke to do this (see my previous posts). If you have a family and your children spends hundreds of pounds a month in their hobbies, you really have to be rich, well above the middle-class or not pay your income tax ! For many families (Talking about west europe that I know), this is not possible and only a tiny fraction can afford it. What we have to do is to make dancing more poular and more attractive to the general public...that is the long term task, the hard work and all dance professionals should roll their sleeves up in the frame of strong organisations to achive that goal....otherwise we will be still talking about it in 20 years.
polkadancer Joined on 20 Οκτ 2006 Total posts: 1.137	Re: What is happening to English DanceSport?? Σάββατο, 3 Νοεμβρίου 2007 3:56 μμ Dear el cordobes I agree with a great many of your very good comments. You have used simple common sense and that is a wonderful quality. How you can make dancing more appealing to the general public is the million dollar question. The really great days when every town had a dance hall or Palais and people flocked there for enjoyment are sadly passed. TV coverage is one drawing area but most people enjoy the "Star" aspect rather than the "dancing". I do not want to be controversial but I do not think calling dancing a sport makes it more attractive.It can turn people against. Art can be a draw. In many Central/East European Countries boys willingly learn ballet and/or national dancing there is no stigma and from there are persuaded into competitive ballroom and latin. In these countries dancing is considered a "social asset" and many high schools and colleges hold dancing glasses ready for graduation and these are crowded with boys and girls. Some even closed till the next season. Boys can be attracted to the idea of meeting girls - and geting close! The Club System. I simply believe there are advantages and there are disadvantages and it is not the solution in every country. I do not knock the system but believe it is not perfect. I would love to hear from you how you believe the Club system works and how this is superior... Sometimes there is not simply competition but outright feuding. Sometimes a wealthier club will offer huge financial attractios to top couples to join their club and in the process destroy smaller less wealthy clubs. Italy has a club system PLUS Amateurs teaching and still the numbers of competitors is falling so I suggest that even if England started a Club system that this would not lead to producing a whole new world of champions or reverse the decline in competitive dancers... Just from interests can I mention I know German cities where groups of dancers have got together - found their own premises, started their own club and employed their own official coaches. Sometimes the coach is full time and sometimes part time. I know of one incident where this came about because the President was voted out of office by a very small majority in a non 100% ballot. The President and all their supporters took off formed a new club and ever since there has been bitter feuding between the clubs - even refusal to attend an event at which the other will be. There is no reason why groups of dancers in England who believe strongly in the club system cannot follow the example. Possibly even EADA could start one club and when it is hugely succesful introduce the concept to more and more areas. Yes there will be problems and it will not be easy but anything worth doing include some effort and tribulation. Again I am not being nasty but I think the big obstacle is that many lack the incentive and prefer to just blame others. Someone else should take the risk never them. I do think though that you might be right el cordobes that there are not enough numbers interested for the club concept to become truly financially viable and the solution. Somehow I feel that if it were the answer and bring big rewards at least one of those Professionals we hear about who are are only interested in the money would have started this a long time ago. I know that I will hear immediately about the amateurs cannot teach so this is impossible. But there are certain circumstances in which they can so this is not a total impossibility and when you know all the rules then you can fnd ways to use them for your own advantage. Many people correctly believe that in the club system couples train those below them for the beneft of all. Well ths is very limited and perhaps the benefits the most. Not every club has a membership large enough for every member to teach. Some clubs have dancers who do not have the knowledge or ability to train those below them and create prblems that will be extremely difficult to overcome. This is particularly true of the very young dancer who have bad habits trained into them together with that moments "fashion" - and I do not mean clothes. It can take great dedication from the members and especially when they are planning a trip to compete and are told "No you must take the xzy class on those dates". The club must come before them. Best wishes to you.
chunky-monkey Joined on 17 Σεπ 2007 Total posts: 12	Re: What is happening to English DanceSport?? Δευτέρα, 5 Νοεμβρίου 2007 11:58 μμ Very quickly: IMHO .... too may events has diluted the quality of the entries. Why would anyone go to an event this week when they know they can enter anther equally meaningless event next week. Less events but better quality events with good facilities & good panels. election of parent rep - as I understand it any parent of a junior/juvenile member can stand, they're nominated by their fellow parents & a secret vote is taken in accordance with local govt procedures. I feel there is room to have regional parent reps but as with other positions on EADA people are quick to criticise but less keen to take the rubbish that goes with - hence some of my comments in the previous post. These people are volunteers who give their time freely - they're not above criticism but still willing to do/accept what many of us wouldn't contemplate in our professional careers. there exists an unfair playing field between the "amateur" status in England & the rest of the world - we don't let our guys do anything but we're willing to accept the money of those who do - sounds like double standards. I believe that we should we should have level playing field & that England as a lot to learn from the continent not least the positive aspects of the club system & the marketing of dancing - perhaps like football because we've invented it we find too difficult to accept someone from outside can do it better! In England we say that pride often caomes before a fall............. thanks for your views/comments
chunky-monkey Joined on 17 Σεπ 2007 Total posts: 12	Re: What is happening to English DanceSport?? Δευτέρα, 5 Νοεμβρίου 2007 11:59 μμ Very quickly: IMHO .... too may events has diluted the quality of the entries. Why would anyone go to an event this week when they know they can enter anther equally meaningless event next week. Less events but better quality events with good facilities & good panels. election of parent rep - as I understand it any parent of a junior/juvenile member can stand, they're nominated by their fellow parents & a secret vote is taken in accordance with local govt procedures. I feel there is room to have regional parent reps but as with other positions on EADA people are quick to criticise but less keen to take the rubbish that goes with - hence some of my comments in the previous post. These people are volunteers who give their time freely - they're not above criticism but still willing to do/accept what many of us wouldn't contemplate in our professional careers. there exists an unfair playing field between the "amateur" status in England & the rest of the world - we don't let our guys do anything but we're willing to accept the money of those who do - sounds like double standards. I believe that we should we should have level playing field & that England as a lot to learn from the continent not least the positive aspects of the club system & the marketing of dancing - perhaps like football because we've invented it we find too difficult to accept someone from outside can do it better! In England we say that pride often comes before a fall............. thanks for your views/comments
polkadancer Joined on 20 Οκτ 2006 Total posts: 1.137	Re: What is happening to English DanceSport?? Πέμπτη, 8 Νοεμβρίου 2007 8:35 πμ Dear Chunky-monkey I too will try to be as quick as I can. but it is a serious business I agree with you too many meaningless CHAMPIONSHIPS. I can never agree with you too many meaningless competitions. I do not believe any competition is "meaningless" . For the good of English dancing and to be successful there are far far too few. As I wrote once you could compete friday night Saturday and Sunday. Yes many times same comnpetitors with a few extra or a few different but with alternative panels came different results and every one could hope and dream It was worthwhile and exciting. Dancers do "dancesport" because there are competitions, they need the experience that these bring. They have the thrill and the pleasure of making a final and even winning. Reach a stage where you have only a few events with all the top people and those who have no chance of making the final are going to give up. Pre the 3 major English Championships open to the world there are always several competitions good entries and lots of overseas couples. The English couples in many many cases do not go beyond the 1st or 2nd round. If these are the only events availale how many do you think will stay - given the considerable expenses involved.? How many are going to travel from say Bolton to Bournemouth or Bognor to Blackpool to go home again after 8 minutes of competitive dancing?. Overseas couples would come to compete in events because they could gain experienc from 3 competitions in one weekend. Overseas dancers came because they had a choice of competitions and there were fewer opportunities in their own country Overseas dancers came to live in England and train with english coaches. Electionof Parent Rep. We hear different things. I still believe one representative is not acceptable for 1/3 of the membership.. Amateurs Teaching. I dislike the very uneven playing field very much indeed. but lets not think that if Amateurs could teach they would all be able to earn the same income and have the same opportunities. Still an uneven playing field. I am not sure why you say there are Double Standards. Almost every top coach would happily allow Amateurs to teach because it would not harm them in anyway at all. Those who would be hurt would be the grass roots. Those who are introducing dancers to our dance world showing them the benfits of dancing and increasing their interest.first with just learning then medals and perhaps on to medallist competions and then .....................perhaps competing and giving up because the first 6 times they compete all the best are there and our new couple are eliminated first round. English coaches are now International Coaches and their knowledge is respected throughout the world and good for the reputation of English Dancing. Have you ever thought of the hard reality. Lets say England has ONLY 30 recognised TOP COACHES (and we know there are many more and many great coaches who deserve to be regarded as TOP but are not) Each coach works 8 hours a day. Say 10 lessons a day thats 50 per week. So thats 1500 lessons per week for just these 30. Do you honestly believe that there are enough competitors in Engand to provide these top coaches with this amount of work week after week? el cordobes has correctly pointed out many times the greatest problem is the actual numbers participating. Best wishes and thanks again..
polkadancer Joined on 20 Οκτ 2006 Total posts: 1.137	Re: What is happening to English DanceSport?? Δευτέρα, 19 Νοεμβρίου 2007 11:24 πμ Brief. With Warren and Kristi Boyce opting to dance as Professionals for Estonia the future becomes darker for English DanceSport. (See results WDC World Professional Ballroom Championships) Who can blame them though after the spineless attitude of EADA who were humilated with regard to a 12 month suspension from IDSF events when EADA gave a 3 month suspension.
keggs Joined on 24 Δεκ 2005 Total posts: 406	Re: What is happening to English DanceSport?? Δευτέρα, 10 Δεκεμβρίου 2007 1:22 μμ While some useful points have been raised with this issue there is one fact that everyone overlooks namely the BDC has done nothing concrete for grassroots for dance sport development (social or competitive). I know all about the 'Everybody's Born To Dance'; I've been involved with this myself. It's good as far as it goes but the problem is, the scheme is left for local teachers to organise. Unless local teachers work together then it will take forever for anything to really take off. Getting into schools is not a problem. The problem is threfold, lack of qualified teachers (perhaps the biggest problem); lack of teacher interest and lack of proper vision at the top. With regard to lack of vision, this is my major bone of contention, which is why I said that the BDC puts little if anything back into our sport at the grass roots. They have received a lot of money from its corporate organisation, promotors and individual teachers over the 80 odd years of its existence. It proclaimed itself the Governing Body (even though EADA and its counterparts are the only recognised governing bodies by both government and non government quangos). What has been done with the money. I had to phone the BDC a couple of years ago for some information. I got an answering machine. And this body gives off an air of superiority to all and sundry. It's been remarked on the lack of a level playing field. I couldn't agree more. Which is why I have been arguing to either allow amateurs the same rights as other amateurs across Europe and beyond or (my preferred option) to remove the professional - amateur barrier. Other sports eg Tennis, Golf etc have done so and are thriving now. Why can't we. Why cant our supposed leaders both here and abroad start taking a lead and have some vision iustead of pulling in all directions and arguing bbetween each other. I agree Polkadancer banning people who wish to compete does us no good at all. But the WDC threatening to create more 'amateur' organisations to attract disaffected amateurs is just as bad - if not worse! My youngest son had the opportunity last Saturday to have a free coaching session with a local Tennis coach. The club he visited is older than Wimbledon. It moved to new premises 1 year ago. To help them buod the new facilities it received a grant from the Lawn Tennis Association. Tennis in this country like so many sports has had its ups and downs - dancing is no different - but at least the LTA is trying to help. But what has or will the BDC do. Nothing. It's up to the local teacher. I would like to buy a portable dance floor but the cost is currently prohibitive. If I went to the BDC for a grant what would they do - laugh!. And yet in the 30 years I have been paying my subscription to them via my teaching society what have they given back to me or any other dancing teaching in this country? I'll tell you what - a few sheets of paper telling me how to run a dancing school. And the chance to go to 2 days of lectures at Blackpool every other year. Both of which I have to pay for, so they make more money. At least the BDF give their members practical benefits. A comment was made about wicked professionals and innocent amateurs which was probably directed at me as I have been more vociferous but the fact is EADA has little say in what should happen. Yes, they have the chance to suggest changes (they got the opportunity now) but in reality if their professional counterparts think anything they suggest will impinge of their 'professional' rights and privileges then EADA and it's cousins can go to hell. So nothing changes unless the pros say it can. Many people have accused IDSF of being draconian and pre-occupied with the Olympics. That may be so but they can't be faulted for the drive they are making in making our world move forward. What's the WDC doing? What proactive measure have they taken to actually move our sport forward. They are still arguing over the nonsense of whether we are a spoirt or not. Before someone again attacks me as a pro for admiring the IDSF. I'm not. I don't support bully boy tactics but I'm also fed up with weak leadership from people who are more interested in themselves than in impr5oving the lot of our wonderful activity - pro or amateur. We need a proper plan for the next 5 - 10 years to developed instead of expecting either local teachers to do what's necessary or rely of TV programmes to get people involved in social and / or competitive dancing. The plan should also have measurable targets and money has go to put into. The BDC must have money. If they haven't then I have to ask 1 simple question. What have you spent my money on all these years. Sorry for the rant but for 20 years no I have saying the same things over and over again. But nothing changes. I am both angry and frustrated with my profession and sport. Regards Steve
chunky-monkey Joined on 17 Σεπ 2007 Total posts: 12	Re: What is happening to English DanceSport?? Δευτέρα, 10 Δεκεμβρίου 2007 1:53 μμ Keggs - some very good points and a lot of sentiments that a lot of people share. The adminstration of English Dancing requires a far more disciplined and commercial approach by people who know how to do it properly. Polkadancer - Double standards in that we don't allow English amateurs the same freedoms as the continental amateurs but we accept entries to all our major comps from foreign couples who teach & demonstrate freely. Also English couples who are based abraod are able to enjoy some of these freedoms without fear of action being taken against them. Pease note I don't wish to restrict the entry of couples to any event - every dancer should be able to enter what they want when they want but most of all I would love to see a real level playing field.