International Dance Day 29th April

[QPO]

International Dance has bee floated around for a while and is Listed on Wikipeda, not sure if it is true, if not there should be. Perhaps we can try to encourage others to promote partner dancing through community events and the workplace. Might be too late for this year but work on it for next year?

[emeralddancer]

I think I saw something about this last year. BUT so far no studio that I have seen around here is doing anything. Or rather in regards to metioning International Dance Day.

[QPO]

Yes I have noticed it myself...that nothing is mentioned and everytime it was raised on another fourm nothing came of it and I was most surprised...

I think I saw something about this last year. BUT so far no studio that I have seen around here is doing anything. Or rather in regards to metioning International Dance Day.

[emeralddancer]

My guess (and I'm hazarding it at best) is that unless studios and dancers come together as a community .... it can be difficult to do events. (I am thinking bigger here than just a social or what have you, but smaller than say OSB/Blackpool).

While there are those of us in this world who genuinely support each other in dance, the studios we go to etc .... the majority tends to be more exclusive.

Which is a shame, because if one were to take on the time involved to create such an event in ones community, reach out to get studios in the area involved AND encourage it's dancers to spread the word and invite others, WOW can you imagine the impact that could truly have on dancing?

I say a shame because quite the opposite seems to be in effect. I suppose it is because time is certainly the biggest issue, it would require copious amounts and alot of legwork as well. But also there is the factor that studio owners do not want to participate for fear of losing business. (which seems like a non-problem to me because they would actually gain the business, as each studio has an atmosphere that will suit different people)

While ballroom or partner dancing is great and there are alot of good decent people, it has it's dark underbelly. Sigh ....

[elisedance]

if one were to pull this off it would have to be without asking the studios - I think they would come into line once it was a done deal. 

The real problem is creating a reason that makes sense - I mean why have a dance day?  Its cute but what else?

[emeralddancer]

true true to a point. But I just know from prior experience in other ventures to gain the common good is to show common faith thus why getting multiple studios involved.

OR if your direction is correct .... not studios but at least independent pros. Find a big floor or mall or park or what have you, put on maybe some beginner workshops in AT, NV(since it is so new here), swing, ballroom, salsa etc .... cross pollinate communities too .... make it multicultural.

OOOOOO this is sounding better and better to me ..... wonder if I could pull something like this off here in MD for next year? I know I can get a proclamation from the state of MD too to make it a Day and get write ups in the local papers. (have done this in the past for other day events I have been involved in.) Hm ....

[elisedance]

The problem with the concept is that its an international dance day.  Its hard to avoid recruiting the major dance organizations - and that could be a political nightmare...

[emeralddancer]

but I do LOVE challenges! 

[Vagabond]

While there are those of us in this world who genuinely support each other in dance, the studios we go to etc .... the majority tends to be more exclusive.

Absolutely true, and it is this attitude that will prevent Dancesport from becoming an Olympic sport. This parochialism seems to run majorities within the world of dancing. I have been told by different levels of competitors and authorities that they believe dancing is not a sport but an art. That seems to be in stark contrast with the competition community, we are not there to please the public per se but to be better than the other couples on the floor on that day. That is the essence of sports, competitive gatherings of like minded people trying to outdo each other in a "friendly" atmosphere.

I have had the privilege of beeing involved within the Olympic community and have attended many, many forums, meetings etc to have an brisk understanding about what drives the IOC to let a sport become part of the Olympics.

It is important that organisations all over he world get their studios in line to pursue this dream, as long we have hundreds of different governing bodies that fight each other foot and teeth we will have Buckley’s change to get there.

Maybe having a International Dance Day might be the trigger for that.

[emeralddancer]

V - I must admit I wholeheartedly (albeit sadly) agree with you on your post.

While there is support per se ... there is equally no support. And it runs the gambit from in studio, to inter studio, on up and up. There really is a very vicious, poisonous, underbelly to dancesport and it is a shame to the Sport AND Art as a whole. Thus it will be awhile longer before I think Dancesport is actually an Olympic event. AND this is just the tip of the iceberg on my personal opinion and theories for it to be accepted fully.

[Rugby]

Too many people with their own selfish agendas will spoil any chance of it becoming an Olympic event.  We have to clean house before we present it to the world or suffer the fate of skating before they changed.

[elisedance]

The key is one accepted international govening body for dance - but untill that body is a true representation of the dance community accross the world it will never have real credence.   

[QPO]

its a bit like asking for one church and one faith...not going to happen..which is sad we can only hope that it will change

[QPO]

I got to go on the radio to promote this day, they were very keen to learn more, I now am tyring to get our danceing assoication to do something for next year and capitalize on the exposure

[QPO]

Happy International Dance Day everyone. Going trainig tonight and tomorrow back on the radio to follow-up from last weeks interview. The radio annoucners are doing their performance and they want us to come down and watch and show what we can do.......

Hope they dont have webcam