IDSF in a self-destruct mode ?
Sunday, 02 August 2009 15:31
If IDSF abandons interest of loyal and supporting IDSF athletes, if they betray and dilute Ballroom for the sake of creating an artificial fit with IOC's "recognized sport" requirements IDSF will see their members fleeing to those who encourage participation in the traditional Ballroom - Latin and Standard . It very well may be the WDC those loyal to IDSF shall run to.
IDSF in a self-destruct mode ?
Myself criticized for being a long time supporter, I have cheered IDSF's for enabling dancers to participate in well promoted, standardized, better structured, less expensive to attend, enter and view, being judged by impartial, international quality adjudicators who I have perceived as fair and judging with little or no bias I see an alarming change in the IDSF's ways.
I see IDSF in a self destruct mode because IDSF force upon their national members, the dance event organizers and onto their athletes rules , regulations and requirements which increase cost of participation, increases the risk of injury, and places greater and extra obligation and liability upon everyone.
Initially IDSF provided needed service for ballroom dancers. By introducing the term "dancesport" and the sportive element of dance IDSF encouraged many undecided parents and young boys to take up dancing as something acceptable for young men.
However today IDSF, trying to meet IOC criteria, that all types of dance inclusive wheelchair, hip-hop , rock & roll to name a few, force their athletes, and the spectators who come to see ballroom to share time and dance floor with other type of dance styles.
In addition IDSF were forced to demand of their athletes and national members a strict compliance with IOC testing for use of prohibited chemical substances through standardized and random tests, which include provisions for introduction, maintenance and application and also for accurate record keeping of very costly urine testing and provision for legal and disciplinary actions, defenses and challenges.
Olympic games run paralympics separately from the traditional Olympic games.
Even if IDSF feel dancesport feel they must include para-dancing/ wheelchair event, why would IDSF want to encourage and insist that people unable to walk, whether paraplegics, quadriplegics, whether caused by a spinal injury or something else , need to participate in everyday "dancesport" events ? Why not hold a special event, just like the Olympic Games do ?
The wheelchair bound people
1. are in a great minority in numbers and as such live distances apart
2. are not able ( not majority ) to afford the high costs associated with dancesport - special wheelchairs, lessons, private teachers, transportation to and from practices, events
3. are in disadvantage when seeking a dance partner, whether able to walk/interested in this type of dancesport, or also wheelchair bound with desired ability and freedom of movement etc.
4. already have access to school gymnasiums and can participate in sports such as short. long distance competitions, basketball, slalom, obstacle course etc.
5. have special needs:
a) require special access which DanceClubs, Dance Studios are not equipped for, such as ramps, elevators.
b) require special washrooms and change facilities - non-existent in majority of dance clubs and studios
c) cannot co-exist on dance floor with "regular" able to walk dancers because of space restrains
d) some rely on batteries operated wheelchairs which are very heavy and can cause serious injury in case of collision, loss of control.
Please do not get me wrong, this is not to criticize, look down upon, underestimate, or speak badly in any way about wheelchair bound persons, simply to point out some difficulties they may encounter and also their dance teachers - dance studios- even organizers and the rest of the dancers who may be forced to purchase their own liability health insurance because it would be viewed as unfair to insist that only wheelchairs bound dancers and their partners purchase these insurances in case they collide and hurt someone, on and off the dance floor, within the Organizers facility.
Disadvantage of including other ( if not all ) dancesport events are :
1. Majority of spectators paying to see traditional ballroom are little if any interested in anything else than Ballroom, or dancers they came to see competing, and may lose interest to attend if they see their Ballroom just a fraction of the time.
2. Larger events take time, and unless the Organizers pay just a lip service and put just a short Hip Hop demo in place of "general dancing", the event would stretch from a day to two or more placing a greater financial and "time" burden on dancers. their parents and coaches because they would have to book their hotels for longer time and take more time away from schools, work, because many dancers attend schools during the week, must study on weekends, or must work to make a living and save for their sport - dancesport.
3. IOC recognizes athletes of the sport and Amateur and Professional status is of no consequence , they want only the best to represent countries in their Olympics.
IDSF has a problem, they have Amateurs and Professionals, and the Professionals often teach the Amateurs and are paid by the Amateurs to show them and teach them to dance. To me there is a conflict of interest if the best Amateurs should one day be competing for price and recognition with someone who makes a living off them, and I'd question if the Professional is teaching me 100% not leaving anything out, even misleading me, should he/she the student could one day challenge them for / or in the Olympics.
4. If all types of dance are included in " dancesport", can IDSF be guaranteed that only Ballroom Dancesport will be considered by IOC for the inclusion in Olympics ?
Why not Hip-Hop ? Another Forum members asked or hinted to this already.
Why not Hip-Hop ? It is certainly cheaper and easier to train for hip-hop, the leaps and jumps and somersaults can be counted, height measured, it is danced by both sexes and if you have no partner, you hip-hop solo .
5. The IDSF Directors and the licenced, current IDSF ballroom dance teaches cannot possibly be happy about inclusion of dance styles they themselves do not understand, know so little about. Will their ranks and executive positions be challenged by Hip-Hop Professional experts ?
And the list of disadvantages goes on, perhaps you can think of some and discuss them.
Think of me seldom cries: " Wolf ! " But this cry need be heard and reacted to before it is too late. And being too late may just be the best thing that can happen to our Ballroom dancers and Ballroom lovers.
Be careful what you wish for IDSF, you have lost your Focus, you let your athletes down, you have taken the focus and recognition away off your athletes - the reason why they train so hard, why they want to compete, to meet the criteria imposed by IOC to real Sports.
Be careful National members that your membership does not decrease. Even Though you may work hard as volunteers, your members may start seeking refuge and recognition under a protection of another Dance Organization which is more focused on traditional DanceSport.
Such a departure of the IDSF followers could happen independent of the undesired, unpopular restrictive bans, and the introduction of the liability insurance will be the major step to the self destruction.
Can you imagine what consequence having a health insurance would be and the chaos and panic as soon as the first dancers would hold his/her neck, eye, as if badly hurt/poked by another, as soon as one would trip and fall, contacts documented on a video camera ? What feast the lawyers would have exchanging and charging for their letters, meetings, filings, the insurance costs which would immediately skyrocket, perhaps inaccessible for more senior dancers for fear of injury, heart attack ?
PS.
I know this was a one long essay, but this is to tell you that this IDSF follower is aware of consequences which IDSF new direction could take their members and athletes, and should you allow that happen and you do not like the outcome do not say you did not know and
Think of me.
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