IDSF Ruling

Today I want to discuss the IDSF Dress regulations. Now we all know that the dress regulation was introduced for a purpose. Rather than to go into the aim and logic of it all, I just want you to think about the two pictures of the same dance athletes that I took at the Guangzhou Asian Indoor Games.
The subject is an extremely beautiful lady from Uzbekistan, and she dances very well. If there was a competition for the best dress costume, I would certainly vote for her to be in the finals.
When we talk of the IDSF Dress regulations, the immediate thing that comes into your mind are the Latin American dance athletes. More often than not we train our guns at the female dancers and sometimes the male.
Seldom does this subject is trained at Standard Dancers. In the preliminary rounds, the subject wore the white costume. As you can see the costume is skin colored, and I think all of you knows that by any stretch of your active imagination, she is not naked. Those decorative appliques only enhances the dress.
What I was given to understand was the chief adjudicator told the Uzbekistan Team coach that the dress did not comply with the IDSF Dress Regulation and as such she had to change to the black costume as you can see below.                    
Is IDSF being sticky in the interpretation of the Dress Regulations? I really do not know, and I would certainly like to hear your opinion. Let's not be kind, if the dress rules sucks, say so, and we can bring this up to the IDSF top guns to perhaps review in the interpretation of the Dress regulations. IDSF rules are not carved in stone, they evolves and they are not afraid of criticism to improve themselves. Let's be constructive and let's bring this up to them to think about it.
I am not sure what to think about it, on the one hand I understand the need to regulate rules of sports, on the other hand I do not want interpretation of rules to be so strictly that it borders the rediculous.
  

Is IDSF being unfriendly?

Is IDSF being unfriendly to WDC's offer to smoke the peace pipe with IDSF? Personally I do not think so and before you chaps shoot me down, I was at the Vienna AGM when this issue was debated and presented to all the members of IDSF , comprising 86 countries. All the members voted and by an overwhelming majority, the members voted against the motion to sit down discuss with WDC?
Many spoke on the motion but let me try and give the back ground picture and the sentiment of the members in the IDSF. As you can read below IDSF just won a court case after being drag into court by WDC and although WDC have to bear the costs of proceeding, it was nevertheless a waste of IDSF time. In common language you do not slap your adversary and then after losing a battle, you now want to extend your hand in peace and say, lets sit down and talk how we can improve   dancesport for the common good of all concerned. 
Sure WDC can say that they are not adverse to the Anti Doping code, but the question that begs to be answered is whether they are a signatory to the anti doping code?  They are not!
Look at it objectively, as far as IDSF is concerned they have a solid structure tailored to make the sport of Dance into Dancesport. Just go to the IDSF web site and you can see the Statutes, Regulations to make this into a sport. Now if it is a sport there are rules to be followed , from the dressing of the athletes to the manangement  of the competition.
Now you readers who are dead against IDSF, can you tell me how the concept of " Freedom to Dance " espoused by Donnie Burns come into this. From IDSF stand point, if you want to have that freedom to do what you want, who is stopping you? No one is stopping you and really IDSF wish you WDC chaps all the best and we are not stopping you. Look at it and think, IDSF practices one of the greatest democratic rights for you chaps to do what you want.The problem arises when IDSF imposes rules and regulations and the WDC boys cries foul. Why? Just because you have missed the train, you are telling IDSF that we should delay our train for you. Come on WDC, be a sport, we can be friends and just as IDSF respect your beliefs you chaps also have to respect our IDSF beliefs. 
Okay some of you chaps may ask is there a possibility for the twain to meet for the common good of Dancesport? I personally say yes, but the change must come from within and WDC must do some proactive changes to gear the dancesport they practises to that of a sport. I am not going to embarrass them in this Blog to teach them how to suck eggs. 
My conclusion; IDSF is far from being unfriendly, there is nothing to talk about!                         

WDC Press Release
Date: Tue, Jul 27th, 2010 1:59:01 pm
Author: World Dance Council

IDSF refuses WDC offer to meet.

Press Release July 2010

The World Dance Council wishes the following facts to be clarified accurately in the public domain:

Having received bona fine applications for membership from the International Dance Union (IDU)) and the International Dance Sport Association (IDSA) thee World Dance Council considered at great length the issues on their merits. Contrary to statements made at different times from members of other organizations, the World Dance Council did not accept these other applicants as members, but instead left the applications “on the table” in the interests of peace in the Dance World at large, and with deference too our relation with the International Dancesport Federation (IDSF) at that time. Today the situation remains the same.

Following the court case in Alcobendas, Spain inn January 008, the costs to be paid were awarded by the court and indeed were promptly settled in full by the World Dance Council.

The World Dance Council, for the avoidance of doubt, has never at any time opposed or indeed refused to comply with the World Anti-Doping Code and indeed fully supports the aims, logistics and moral values implemented in the Code at all times.

The World Dance Council furthermore, does also, in common with all Western societies completely, have a policy of zero tolerance on racism.

It seems most important, at this particular juncture in time, too reiterate the WDC’s intent and commitment to support and encourage freedom to compete and teach, to organize and trade, and therefore we intended to meet with the IDSF in accordance with our letter as published recently, for the benefit of dancing worldwide, and the Presidium therefore wishes to act with absolute transparency and wishes to dispel any allegations and rumours, that could have been misused to, or even may in future be used to impede this process .

The World Dance Council announces with the deepest regret the IDSF refusal at least to talk, this decision allegedly fought for at the Annual General Meeting of the IDSF by their current President, Carlos Freitag.

A copy of our invitation to enter dialogue per the decision at our Annual General meeting in June of 2010 and the IDSF subsequent refusal are enclosed with this Press Release.

Hannes Emrich General Secretary & Company Secretary, WDC Ltd.

On behalf of the President and Presidium of the World Dance Council

The Letter from WDC to IDSF dated June 9th, 2010

To:  Carlos Freitag The President International DanceSport Federation

by email

Dear Mr. President,

Dear Carlos,

May I take this opportunity to wish you a successful Annual General meeting this weekend.

At the recent AGM of the World Dance Council, the Members through vote have mandated the Presidium of the World Dance Council to contact you and the IDSF to form a Joint Committee of four individuals from both the IDSF and WDC in order to explore the possibility of achieving peace and cooperation in the Dance World for the benefit of all dancers worldwide.

We therefore would ask you to consider our proposal to meet, without agenda, in the above format at a neutral location in Europe to discuss said possibilities.

We look forward to receiving your earliest and hopefully favourable reply .

Hannes Emmrich General Secretary & Company Secretary, WDC Ltd.

On behalf of the Presidium of the WDC Ltd.

Happy Chinese New Year 2011

 Do you know that in Vietnam their Vietnamese New Year also falls on the same date as the Chinese Lunar Calendar. In Vietnam the Tet celebration is the main holiday and it is a time of merriment , conviviality and family get together. However there is a big difference in the Vietnamese Zodiac. 
Whilst the Chinese populace celebrate the year of the Rabbit, to the Vietnamese it is the year of the Cat. Now the rest of the other zodiac signs remains the same. I do not know how or when this change took place. 
I have written to my friend Etienne and Zenny of Vietnam, and since it is the New Year I was very guarded with my words and I do not intend to offend. All I did in my email to Etienne was ".. do you have rabbits in Vietnam? just in case you do not have rabbits, I enclosed a picture of a rabbit."
Of course it is a joke and I have no doubts that Etienne will take it good strides. 
At the home front, the MPDC/MYDF Challenge trophy is still not returned. I do not know what they are doing, but this matter will simmer on. Of course with the New Year season, it is not polite to use expletives words to describe such despicable conduct, we shall wait after the holiday season. 
In the mean time Chua and Evon, MYDF apologise to you and you know the reason why the trophy cannot be passed to you. 
All the same to all MYDF members , friends and supporters of MYDF ( including those on the other side of the divide), I would like to take this opportunity to wish you "
 

A Happy Chinese New Year 2011           

EADA says bye bye to BDC

By now you must have read in the IDSF or the ADSF website of the letter by the English Amateur Dancers Association leaving this supposedly neutral body the British Dance Council (BDC).
What is the big deal , if the amateur body leaves the BDC, just as many Grade A Dancers have left IDSF.
Most of you know that England is the home of some of the most historical and exciting Ballroom competition in the world. Mention Blackpool and you can see the twinkle in every dancers eyes to want to dance in the Empress Ballroom of the Winter Gardens. For goodness sake that Festival is running in its 86 years and if its a human you will call him an octogenarian.
Now if you were to Google EADA, you will know that first it is an amateur body for the English Amateur Dancers. This body is a member of the British Dance Council and also are friendly with the IDSF. Most of you would know that IDSF is very much European base. If you already read the letter of EADA saying good bye to BDC, you  note that BDC has acted unilaterally and this has compromised the principles of neutrality of BDC.
So what is it that compromised BDC? The problem I think lies in their policy towards IDSF and probably I feel that are moving towards the ' Freedom To Dance " concept. The English amateur body have a choice to join the freedom to dance that is promoted by Donnie Burns of WDC or to follow IDSF sporting principles.
Again I am telling you, if you look at Dancesport as an Art form, like great artist they do not like rules, they do not like to be controlled, then WDC is the way to go. Look at the biography of Vincent Van Gogh, a brilliant artist. He painted Starry Starry Night in an asylum, he cut his ears, his painting the Sunflower was actioned off in Millions. His painting even inspired Don McLean to write a ballad called Vincent. He committed suicide and died a pauper.
Okay so I am using an extreme example, but think about it, EADA feels that if it is a sporting body living by the ideals of the Olympic Charter, this Freedom to Dance is nothing but a pipe dream. If you have not read the letter go to www.idsf.net   
                 
     

New Kid in the Block

There is a Chinese saying, that before you drink the water from the spring, it is wise to know the source of the water. In the Dancesport World you know that there are two bodies that are at logger head on their DanceSport policies. WDC openly promote the " Freedom to Dance" and on the other hand IDSF are looking it from the sports angle that to organise DanceSport as a Sport you need rules and regulations. Their argument is simple, just show me a sport that does not have rules and regulations. 
Take football for instance, if you know the history football. The game of football derive from rugby, when a group of students decided that thence forth , the hand cannot touch the ball and to be played only by the feet. So a group of people unhappy with the new rules decided to form the Rugby Union. 
You tell Sepp Blater (President of FIFA)  that you want Freedom to Football. Knowing Sepp Blatter he will probably shaft the football up your bottom at a place where the sun does not shine. 
Do not get me wrong I am not against WDC "Freedom To Dance", really it is a choice and if you feel that is the way for you and the IDSF way is too restrictive, please go. As an International Federation governing DanceSport and as a member of the IOC and OCA I need not go into details what sporting body does. 
People get upset when they want to have the best of both world and cannot do things their way. Now in Malaysia we now see that there is a new DanceSport body that claims to be an International Federation endorsing dancesport event. Is there a problem? Certainly there is no problem but basically when one endorse an event or a body seeking endorsement from this International body, you need to ask what are you endorsing in the first place? 
It got the curiosity in me tingling and I surfed the web to find more of this relatively new body formed in 1997, apart from the standard statement on goodwill promoting dance etc, I felt they have one good quality that even IDSF cannot beat. 
In the Frequently Asked Question what are the benefits of joing this International body: The Reply was and I quote it in italics:
There are tangible benefits, such as discounts on a variety of dance-related products e.g. shoes, costuming, CDs etc. and, indeed, it is quite possible to save the cost of membership on a single purchase of, say, a pair of shoes. However, these are secondary to the main benefit of being part of an association, which has the best interests of competition dancing at heart.
Now seriously I think IDSF have to buck up provide some secondary benefits like the above. Now I think I know why MYDF is losing out.
Again on a serious note I still cannot find the answer to the opening question. What is this International body endorsing to make it attactive to join this new kid on the block? All I know is that a Malaysian is  their International Director. His handsome face in there in all its glory for you to see. 
Now that is what I call Freedom to join! All I can say is good luck!   





    

Guangzhou Asian Games 2010

I went to the Games at the invitation of the IDSF Communication Commission, they arranged for me to stay at the Media Press Center (MPC) at Haibang a small village outside Guangzhou. I carry with me a photo journalist pass and was given the right to watch and photograph dancesport within the parameters of the Dance floor. The access given to me a photographers dream so to speak. 
As I landed in Guangzhou Baiyun airport and having collected my luggage, everything was a breeze. I cleared immigration without a fuss and with my accreditation card, I do not need a China Visa. My identity was verified very quickly by touching my card on a sensor and all the details appeared on the monitor.
The distance from Baiyun to Haibang takes about 90 minutes and that is with a traffic police car escort.

Reaching the MPC, the security was extremely tight and they even managed to detect my small Swiss Pocket knife. They told me politely that I cannot carry weapon in the Media Village. China is technically still a police state and I am not in the mood to argue with the security, if they call a swiss pocket knife a weapon, a weapon it shall be. I handed the knife to security and they gave me a chit without any fuss. Once I passed Security Check point, I had volunteers to help me carry my luggage into an extended Golf Cart and was brought to the Reception and registration. That was quick and I was given a two room apartment will all amenities of a Hotel room and they gave me a card for meals. With the card I can go to any vending machines and get soft drinks, Mineral water , Taiwan Beer without charges. Breakfast is free except we were told that we have to pay RMB 50 per meal other than breakfast and we can top up our card at specific counters. At this juncture let me tell you the meal charges were subsequently reduced to RMB 10 per meal.
The meal caters for Guanzhou Cuisine, Asian Flavour, Western Cuisine and Muslim Meals. Apart from the Muslim Meals, I regret to  report that the meals of the Western, Asian and Guangzhou are similar. You get veggie dumplings in all three, you get fried noodles in all 3 and so on. Now for RMB 50 the food served is not worth the money, however for RMB10, you cannot complaint and I believe that is the reason for the reduction in price. All said I sincerely believe when they state international cuisine, they must be referring to the condiments, for you can get good old English Mustard, HP Sauce; Wasabe, Kim Chi, Vinegar and believe it or not Tabasco and heap full of Parmesian Cheese that you use for Spaghetti Bolognaise. When I took photographs one of the volunteer told me that I cannot take pictures in the Dining Hall especially the food counter. I had no problem photographing the Dinning Hall in the Vonchalavikut University in Korat at the SEA Games and the MPC is not a military installation. You add up you can guess the reason why I was not permitted to do so. 
I hope to pen my thoughts about Dancesport in the Zhencheng Gymnasium and the long journey from Haibang to Zhencheng. 
One fact I need to praise Guangzhou, their volunteers are University students and many of them can manage English well. You find them almost everywhere in tube station, bus stand and popular tourist spots. If you have your accreditation card, they will go out to assist you to your destination. During the Games it is not possible to get lost.  


                   

           

A new beginning

This is the new beginning for  DanceSport in Malaysia. On the 26th of June 2010 , the Sports Commissioner has decreed that the governing body for DanceSport in Malaysia is the Malaysia DanceSport Federation. It is regrettable that its forerunner the Malaysian Professional DanceSport Council (MPDC) have so many obstacles to over come from two Association that are not involved in Dance Sport at all but finally this issue now is put to rest. Effectively MPDC has lost 15 months and within that period we could have done a lot. We see no further need to harp on the past and like the proverbial Phoenix , we hope to rise and bring DanceSport to a new dimension in Malaysia. 

So what is MYDF and why MYDF? The short answer is all the acronym like MDF or MDC has been used by Macau Dancesport Council, Mongolia and Moldovia. It was decided that internationally MY has always been the abbreviation for Malaysia  apart from MR ( Malaysian Ringgit)  or MH ( International airlines call sign for MAS). Like it or don't like it MYDF is the name of this new body Malaysia DanceSport Federation. 

In line with the decision taken at the last IDSF meeting in Vienna in June, IPDSC has merged with IDSF and IPDSC is a division of IDSF regulating the Professionals. Likewise in Malaysia and like all IDSF members throughout the world this has taken place. One of the arguments tabled at the Annual General Meeting in Vienna that apart from the Professional Circuit where professional compete for prize money, the competition format of DanceSport is the same as amateur. In the Olympic Family Games there no longer exist a distinction that the competitor is a professional or an amateur. The athletes that represent the country can select the best from both. 

Please be so advised that this term DanceSport is a word coined by IDSF. It refers to what was known as Ballroom Dancing before, now in its sporting form is called DanceSport. Invariably if you see an event that uses the name DanceSport, chances are that event is an IDSF sanctioned event or if it is in Malaysia, an event sanctioned by MYDF. 

As at 1st August 2010, this Blog will be know as The Sports Directors Blog for the Malaysia DanceSport Federation.