Local-regional-national comp structure in your country.

[elisedance]

This came up in the Crown International comp topic (Australia).  Q mentioned local, championship and national comps as distinct entities.  But I don't reallu undersetand what that means.

Here (Ontario/Canada) we just have competitions - each one asserts its importance equally to all the others, there is no way to tell which is more significant in terms of difficulty and level of competition.  Thus, a local competition is striving to be recognized nationally and internationally - it may secure a title (for example North American showdance championship) to give it some prominence.  If you seek a high level of competition you have to be 'in the know' as to which comps attract the most couples.  Or you enter a heat at a competition that is supported by an international agency - such as IDSF.

[ZPomeroy]

For Australia:
Local competitions are exactly as how they are named: local competitors from around the town in which the event is being held are generally the main dancers in the competition, generally in local competitions no or little amount of interstate competitors compete. If you win a local competition you receive a point to go towards your elevation into the next level. Championships have larger numbers of competitors with some interstate competitors showing up, generally in a championship most couples in that state will dance there as 2 elevation points are received for a win, championships are also generally held in nicer venues. National competitions receive many interstate entries into events and because of this a win in a national event is an automatic elevation into the next level, generally in any one event for national competitionns couples can see up to 2 or 3 round before the semi final couples are even decided upon, all national events at the moment are held in either New South Wales or Victoria and are always in very nice venues, with very high ticket prices. Hope that clears it up a bit

Zac

[elisedance]

Yes it does - thanks Zac.  So the whole thing is very stratified - and very organized by an overseeing body.  If 'championship' competition wanted to become a 'National' or if someone wanted to start a new Championship comp in, say, Perth.  What would they have to do?

[QPO]

I am not 100% sure how you create a new championship, but I would think you would have to put a proposal to the governing body, showing that you have the means to start one and thst it does not impact on the current events for your area.

[elisedance]

I am not 100% sure how you create a new championship, but I would think you would have to put a proposal to the governing body, showing that you have the means to start one and thst it does not impact on the current events for your area.

So what is this 'governing body' that it has control over all aspects of dancesport?  Is it voted in?  Or just self sustaining?

[QPO]

I am not 100% sure how you create a new championship, but I would think you would have to put a proposal to the governing body, showing that you have the means to start one and thst it does not impact on the current events for your area.

So what is this 'governing body' that it has control over all aspects of dancesport?  Is it voted in?  Or just self sustaining?

No they are elected officals that have a term of office. V is currently the elected executive officer for our state board and he has to report/act on the local and report back to the National board. Dancesport  australia is responsible for the promotion of the sport and the registration of competitors, each state has other groups that look after the running of the compeitions, who must register the event with DSA via their local branch.

[elisedance]

Ah.  Thats good to hear.  So everything is done above board, least as much as in any democratic system