Ken Richards, National Director of Publicity and
Promotion
206-A Weldin Lane Wilmington, DE 19809
ph: 302-765-3511 f: 302-765-3663
Member of the International DanceSport Federation
National Governing Body for DanceSport as recognized
by the US Olympic Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Future of DanceSport
September 30, 2003 Wilmington, DE In the
future, all DanceSport athletes will
compete against one another based on proficiency level and skill. Amateurs
and
professionals will be able to compete in the same events and earn the right
to advance
in DanceSport based on competition results. Dancing, as a sport, will
advance as all
dancers will be eligible to compete. This is the vision for DanceSport in
the United
States set forth by the USA DanceSport Council, USABDA's advisory and
administrative
body for DanceSport athletes and competitions. This is not a new vision. The
countries
that are most successful in producing champions and in attracting high
percentages of
their population to DanceSport, already have adopted this practice which is
supported
by the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF).
To support this vision, the USA DanceSport Council has recommended the
following
sweeping proposals to USABDA's board:
1. Eliminate the distinction between Amateurs and
Professionals and open
competitions to all DanceSport Athletes. This new
proposal will classify dancers
based on proficiency and skill, rather than income generating activities.
The new
format will open USABDA competitions to all athletes and allow them the
chance
to develop their dancing and floorcraft. Dancers who currently compete in
rising
star or professional open competitions will also be allowed to enter USABDA
competitions, with their prior competition results used to determine their
proficiency level.
This new rule will benefit all dancers. Those formerly designated as
Amateurs
Future of DanceSport pg 2 of 2
will no longer be constrained from earning money
from teaching or performing
shows using their DanceSport skills. Many competitors would like to have the
option of offsetting their DanceSport expenses without the risk of losing
their
competitive status. By eliminating the distinction between Amateurs and
Professionals, all dancers can compete on one equal playing field (or in
this
case, dancefloor). All competitors will simply be DanceSport Athletes.
2. Create a new proficiency level, World-Class Competitor. Only couples that
have
earned and currently maintain a high level of
DanceSport proficiency may
compete in designated World-Class events. In order to dance at the
World-Class
level, a couple must earn points in qualifying events.
3. Develop new rules to allow mixed-proficiency
level couples to compete in
separate DanceSport events. For example, a champion
level dancer could
compete with a syllabus level dancer where only the syllabus dancer is
judged.
These changes will make it easier for champion level dancers to find and
develop
new partners and give those without regular partners an opportunity to
compete
in USABDA events. Rules similar to the current "Pro-Am" rules
would apply to
this type of partnership.
The goal of these changes is to open DanceSport to all athletes and remove
barriers to
competition. USABDA, the only US DanceSport organization recognized by the
US
Olympic Committee and International DanceSport Federation, is committed to
furthering
ballroom dancing in the US by attracting new dancers to the sport and
improving the
quality of all competition levels.
USABDA represents its members, and as such welcomes your input on these
proposed
rule changes. These changes will be on the agenda at the next USABDA
Governing
Council's meeting. Please email your comments and suggestions to:
