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Before I begin
to spin, I want to thank my brother Bob for helping
me in the redesigning of this newsletter. With his
help, I have added some new features and hopefully,
over the next few months, I won't screw them up! Thanks
Bob!
Here is the second question the Professional Dancers
Federation would like Dance Trends readers to give
their opinion on:
Should members of the same household
or "significant other" of an organizer be
prevented from entering any competitive event at any
competition that he or she organizes?
In my opinion, this issue has to
do with what many people attending a competition could
perceive as fair or unfair. It has to do with the
appearance of nepotism, or undue favoritism toward
one's relations.
I remember one summer going to
my son's baseball games and watching the coach's son
play in every inning, in every game, and in every
position while other boys, who had practiced just
as hard, sat on the bench. How frustrating! How unfair!
It bothered me so much that I actually, several times
that summer, lost sleep over this coach's disregard
for other kids who wanted those same opportunities.
He was sooooo obvious and it was so blatant that frankly,
it ticked me off!
The next season I made sure that
my son had a new coach. This man was different. He
taught the kids how to play as a team and they grew
into one of the best little league teams in the state.
His kid was on the team but if you didn't know him,
you would never have known by watching the team play
who he was. Did this coach's kid have more opportunity?
Of course he did. After all, his Dad is a hell of
a coach! But his opportunities were not shoved into
the face of the other kids and their parents. His
opportunities came in the privacy of his own backyard
when his dad would practice with him and share some
of the things he may have noticed in the last game.
Without insult or disrespect to anyone else, this
coach managed to make a great baseball player out
of his son and his son was well liked and respected
because everyone knew he had to prove himself as a
good player on his own. Interesting, isn't it, I thought
to myself. Exact same situation but, because this
man had such a sense of fairness, many boys were able
to benefit as he was as objective as humanly possible
in that situation.
So, we come to the question....Should
family members, significant others, children, be able
to enter a competition where their (same as above)
is the organizer? Seems like a no brainer, doesn't
it? If there is any possible chance that there will
be the appearance of favoritism, perhaps they should
step aside. Or should they? Personally, I think it
has to be left up to the organizer and not set as
a rule, only because there is too much gray area and
it would be too complicated to define what significant
other, household member, friend is. Do I personally
think it is the right thing to allow significant others
etc. to compete at these events? Even though one can
be objective and fair (baseball coach B), we also
have the baseball coach A example. Let me give a few
more examples:
Joe Schmo is the producer of the
Miss America pageant. His daughter is one of the contestants,
let's say Miss Wisconsin. She is beautiful, talented,
and a great speaker and by the end of the competition,
she is crowned the new Miss America! Even with all
of her qualities and even though she is the deserved
winner, how do you think the general public and her
competitors perceive her victory? When Tori Spelling
got the part on Beverly Hills 90210, do you think
anybody thought it was a bit of a help that her father
is the producer of the show? She may have been the
right actress for the part but the perception will
always be that her daddy paved the way for her. This
is the dilemma of being "connected."
I think it can be a problem now
because ballroom dancing has become a more popular
sport and is seen and scrutinized by the general public
in ever increasing numbers.
Where do you draw the line? I mean,
after all, if that couple isn't allowed to compete
at their "significant others" event, then
you will see them being a helper, an organizer's assistant.
So, they are not competing in front of the judges,
now they are standing next to them!
How about competitors who run competitions?
They hire officials for their event and pay their
salary. How does this look to the people they are
going to compete against next week? Should a currently
competing professional or amateur be allowed to run
a competition?
How about that competitor who sees
another dancer having chuckles with an official during
a competition? That competitor feels at a disadvantage
because he or she does not have that same opportunity.
Should we ban judges from entering the ballroom from
the same corridors as the professionals? Maybe they
should stand behind a two way mirror and judge. Wouldn't
that make you paranoid?!
I guess my point is this. Because
we are a relatively small but growing industry, there
are several things that may seem unfair in our sport,
but when should something become a rule and when should
someone have the common sense to know what the correct
thing to do is. I think common sense says keep your
loved one (especially high profile couples) off the
floor at your event. It will look better to the rest
of the dance community. Besides, if they win, they
will never feel like they can enjoy the victory, not
because they didn't deserve to win, but because they
will see too many faces of the people who felt they
had an advantage. Several competitors are dealing
with this situation and know these feelings all too
well. There are other, less "connected"
situations to prove themselves in. So, is it really
worth dealing with?
A smart, personal decision,
YES. A rule enforced by the NDCA, NO. Or, should this
issue follow the same thought of the current rule
in place that judges must be excused rather than judge
a family member? What's your opinion?
Dan
Messenger
05-07-2001
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