The Crystal Cup Championship Organisers

The National Championships, that was what it was called before 2000, when the original promoter passed away Nick and Olga applied for the title and ran the Championship very successfully.

The home of the Championship was at the Crystal Palace Sports Centre then, the competition since then was renamed Crystal Cup Championships after the venue. In the year 2003, IDSF events were introduced into the Championship. The Crystal Cup Championship was one of the top events in England.  Top British adjudicators like Anne Gleaves, Michael Barr, John Wood, Marcus and Karen Hiltons and many more supported the event.

Bryan Allen was the Chairman for most years and BDC at that time had absolutely no problems running the amateur IDSF events. That was the scenario those days.

From 2009 onwards relationship between IDSF and WDC /BDC deteriorated.

In 2010 in trying to keep peace with both the warring factions Nick qualified as Chairman of adjudicators in both IDSF and WDC.

To mend fences or at least Olga and Nick thought that, it was the best thing to do. Olga asked Bryan Allen if he could be the overall Chairman for the Crystal Cup Championship and Nick step in as Chairman for IDSF International events only.

 At that point, all hell broke loose; Bryan Allen went bonkers. He told Olga that it was a personal insult if Nick were to become his co Chairman.

English Amateur Dancesport Association (EADA) President David Corefield then a member of BDC was ordered by Bryan Allen not to apply for any IDSF title at all.

By that time it became clear that Olga could not run the Professional event under WDC and Amateur event under IDSF.

The situation was so bad that it was a situation of either you are with me or you are with them. Couples, Dance Teachers, people in the business are being threatened. They would lose their results at Blackpool, their Judging Jobs, Compering, and Music if they were to associate themselves with the Crystal Cups Championship. It was indeed a sad state of affair. Tomorrow is the Championship and I truly wish them all the best.  

Biography:

Couple: Olga Komarova & Nick Kreminchenski

Occupation: Dance Instructors

Discipline: Ballroom (Standard) & Latin American

Event: Crystal Cup Championship

Country of Origin: Russia

Citizenship: English

Lived in England: 21 years

Studios: Wimbledon Dance Academy and Southside Ballroom. 

The above is what I managed to get from Olga, the language is mine. Is the BDC right in bullying them in the manner that they did. Apart from the economic losses they will suffer, are they wrong in supporting an International Dance body that is recognised by the IOC? 

I am asking you to look at the big picture, next year is the 2012 Olympics. In the event Dancesport is a demonstration sport who is going to represent England? From the look of it, IDSF will probably gather their best athletes in the world without English representation. In the event WDC or BDC think that they can influence the IOC, to muscle into the Games, let them try!       

Nick & Olga's letter to the BDC

Picture: Olga Komarova & Nick Kremichenski 

The Crystal Cup Championship 2011 is just around the corner. It is indeed a sad day for Dancesport in England. As trainers and coaches, I am quite sure that the last thing Olga and Nick wants is to have problems with anyone. It is not a case of Olga and Nick keeping quiet, they also have to say their peace. Below is a letter by Nick and Olga to Bryan Allen the President of the British Dance Council (BDC).

Much have been spoken about BDC, but you the public will have to come to your own conclusion in this whole sordid episode. I strongly believe Bryan Allen owes English Dancesport an explanation for calling for a boycott to the Crystal Cup Championship this 22nd May 2011.

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EADA did a voltefaccia!

This is one of the better joke in the Ballroom Dancing World. EADA after leaving BDC early this year decided that the idsf kitchen is too hot for them. They have decided to return to BDC.
Okay some of you may say that Dancesport England is IDSF and EADA is BDC. Is that the case here? If you think that is the situation, you only need to look at the composition of the Board of Directors of EADA and Dancesport England. They are similar.
Can you join Dancesport England directly without being a member of EADA? You cannot!  
From my analysis of the situation, Dancesport England is as dead as the DODO bird so far as international dancesport is concerned. From the BDC stand point, the Mecca of Ballroom dancing MUST be in England and no where else in the world.
The most honourable thing for Dancesport England to do is to resign from IDSF! Look at David Corefield's letter especially the last line " our hobby and your business will be permanently damaged or even destroyed". What a joke, he looks at dancesport as a hobby, and the other look at it as a business. None of them care to look at the sporting aspect of Dancesport. That is how IDSF sees it, a sport.   
I do hope David Corefield and Dancesport England just terminate their affiliation with IDSF.
There is a silver lining to all this, at least IDSF knows that EADA are not at all a sporting body and as a hobby, it fits well with BDC " Dance for Pleasure and Love it Forever". A decision has been made and so be it. Without doubt BDC will accept the prodigal son back to their fold, and they should.
As for IDSF a word of advice, a National Sport Association like Dancesport England cannot be subservient to another body. How can they possibly chart their own directions or carry out the policy of IDSF when they are answerable to a body like BDC, who are hostile to IDSF? Next time I do hope they will choose their bed partners carefully. 

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Dancesport New Zealand - con te partiro' WDC

Dancesport New Zealand has today, on the 1st of May 2011 notified IDSF and to the world that they have severed all ties with the WDC member body for New Zeland (New Zealand Dance & Dancesport Council). It goes on to say that it leaves them free to pursue the development of their sport in the very best interests of its athletes, coaches and adjudicators. The letter was signed by the President William Joyce after their Annual General Meeting on the same day.
I know William Joyce, a quiet and very unassuming man always in deep thoughts. I have not spoken to him about this yet, but I truly believe when one look at Dancesport as a sport and WDC who believe that Dance should be look at as an "arty farty" form, the decision is obvious. Knowing William he had always believe to each his own, I am sure he would have conveyed the message of Dancesport New Zealand to their WDC counterpart in the most cordial and civilised manner, this great New Zealand Freedom of Choice. You do your thing and we do ours, there is nothing to get upset with.
Look at it objectively, IDSF talks about sports, WDC talks about artistry, look at UK and the motto of BDC "Dance for Pleasure and Love it Forever". There is certainly nothing wrong with that.
Much of the confusion by the BDC and the WDC boys in the UK is that they confuses sports and artistry in Dance.
When you look at the Sport of Dance, you are looking a definite set of rules and most of all fair play. It is these rules that govern Dancesport that BDC or WDC finds it hard to comprehend or rather refuses to comprehend.
The judging of IDSF Open uses the IDSF Pro Dance program, I am not going into the operation of the program save that an athlete can see how each of the judges mark them. However with all its open marking, this is not adequate for a subjective sport.
With this in mind, IDSF came out with the New Judging System that follows the International Skating Union (ISU). The system was first introduced at the IDSF Grand Slam Finals in Shanghai in 2009. I have to concede that there were minor technical hitches here and there but it generated the results fairly quickly. Since then it has been improved and is used in all the Grand Slam series and also in the last 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
So how does the New Judging system works? Suffice for me to state that points are given in 5 areas and they are Posture Balance Coordination, Quality of Movement, Movement to Music, Partnering Skills, Choreography and Presentation.
It is quite pointless to reinvent the wheel, IDSF emulated the system from the ISU and modified it to Dancesport environment. Now that WDC is already in WADA, and Hurrah! for that, perhaps they should adopt IDSF New Judging System in their competition. At least it is another step closer to heaven. 
            

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Crystal Cup Competition 2011 - You are not alone!

The hostile attitude by BDC came to the attention of the IDSF.  IDSF took the initiative to civilly explain to the BDC, the Crystal Cup Dancesport Competition 2011 is not an illegal event. I do not know what good it will do because BDC is no longer a rational body to discuss matters civilly.
All the same the show must go on and I truly wish that all rational English Dancesport athletes to seriously consider the acts of BDC.
The Crystal Cup Competition have its supporters through out the world. They are not alone in promoting Dancesport as a sporting event. The IDSF letter to BDC is enclosed hereunder. I do not know what the future is going to be, this matter will be debated at the coming IDSF AGM in Luxembourg. Action will have to be taken and if this is the attitude of BDC so be it. You reap what you sow.
With the Royal Wedding of William and Catherine just around the corner, I hope you do not consider it in bad taste for me to borrow a quote by King George the VI* made to the English people in September 1940. I am going to substitute certain words to bring this quote relevant to the acts of the BDC. Perhaps it is an exaggeration of the situation but in essence the effect is the same.

 
*"Like so many of our people, we have now had a personal experience of BDC stupidity which only strengthens the resolution of all of us to fight through to final victory."



On behalf of MYDF, I do wish the Royal Couple a Blissful wedding and to the wonderful British people for keeping this Historical Institution alive today. A Happy Holiday and God Bless!   

 

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BDC abuses Rule 57 to mislead its members

It is never my intention to interfere into the acts or omissions of BDC or for that matter any dance organisation. Is that not what Freedom is all about, you go about doing your things and I be allowed to do mine. However your right to Freedom and to disseminate information even to your members must be met with the test of HONESTY and TRUTH. You cannot breach your own rules. In this context I am referring to the Rulebook of the British Dance Council. Let me get to the point.

By a notice dated the 8th of April 2011 posted on the BDC website. The BDC has called upon "All British Dance Council Registered Ballroom and Latin Adjudicators, Professional and Amateur Competitors" to the attention of unrecognized events and Rule 57 of the BDC Rulebook was quoted. The notice is reproduced hereunder. The intention of the notification is calling all its members to boycott the Crystal Palace Cup 2011.
Let’s pause and take a look at Rule 57 relied by the BDC to justify their acts. The heading of Rule 57 states “Unrecognised Events Medal Test and Examinations”. The Rule if I may paraphrase refers to qualified teachers who participates in any capacity at a championship not recognized by the Council… …shall be subject to disciplinary action.
I cannot find the definition of “a qualified teacher” in the Rule Book but I am daring enough to venture that an Adjudicator's duty in a Championship is different from that of a teacher. Does Rule 57 encompass competitors both professional and amateur? You do not need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. Of course it does not cover competitors and don’t you think the brilliant Councilors of BDC knows that?

That notification dated the 8th of April 2011, to put it mildly, is a misrepresentation with an intention to mislead its own members that disciplinary action will befall on them should they participate in the said competition.

The notification to its members threatening sanctions is wrong for Section 57 is so clear that it does not cover adjudicators and competitors at all. The effect of the notification simply put is null and void. The notification have no force whatsoever to the competitors and adjudicators and can be challenged.
Now let’s not go into the debate on Freedom To Dance, you know that it is a myth. You know there is no Freedom in BDC.
I am not asking you to rush to join the Crystal Cup Dancesport Championship, because some of you may have some misgivings for reasons best known to you. However if you are not joining the competition for fear of sanctions under Rule 57, I say your fears are totally unfounded.
I am asking you the competitors and adjudicators of the British Dance Council to carefully consider whether this accusation made here against the BDC for misrepresenting to its members is totally unfounded and without substance. Certainly many of you are loyal to BDC, but must loyalty be blind? Are you saying that you are not allowed to question the decisions of the BDC?
You should ask Bryan Allen for an explanation why is there a need to lead the members up the garden path. Why is there a need to resort to such desperate act? Such conduct only shows fear when in fact there is really nothing to fear except fear itself!

Quote: "The Mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is Open"

Picture: Mr. Bryan Allen, President of BDC 

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BDC- Be a Sport!

Below is a reply from a gentleman from the United Kingdom by the name of Edward Burns. I do not know him. I wrote to him seeking his permission to reproduce his mail on my Blog, he gave me the permission. I chose his letter, because it sums up the sentiments of most right thinking English Dancers towards Snieguole Wood's outburst and the hostile conduct of BDC towards Crystal Palace Cup organisers and IDSF.
I have gone through the Rulebook of the British Dance Council (hereinafter referred to as BDC) and really I cannot comprehend why they are so hostile towards IDSF competition being conducted in Great Britain. My conjecture is probably they feel a threat of another dance body allegedly invading their turf.
Suffice for me to state here that the BDC rules operates in Great Britain (Rule 1b.) .
To allay their fears they should consider this.
 IDSF is an international sports body representing Dancesport. They are recognised by the International Olympic Committee ( IOC) and are also a member of Sports Accord. Their effort to make Dancesport as an Olympic Sport will benefit all Dancers, Teachers and Coaches in Great Britain including the BDC and all those involved in the Dancesport industry. The amateur body EADA (now known as "Dancesport England") among other reasons saw it coming. They have to leave BDC because to get into the Olympic stream they have to follow the IDSF statutes and rules. When you are given Hobson's choice by BDC, what do you expect them to do? It is our  way or no way attitude is  unsporting and ungentlemanly.  EADA left BDC early this year. (Edwards Burns example of FIFA sums it all up).
BDC must look beyond the shores of the Island of Great Britain*, Dancesport has gone international and not the exclusive monopoly of BDC, on the contrary they must be proud of this fact. In the last Asian Games in Guangzhou in the summer of 2010, Dancesport is a medal event. In terms of size, it is just one notch below the Olympic Games. To the detractors, sure Dancesport is not in the Olympics yet, but look at its progress, it certainly is going the right direction and credit must be given to IDSF for their effort.    
Bryan Allen and his council members has now really gone ballistic, they have posted in their web site calling for an all out boycott by their members or else face disciplinary action (Rule 57). (This Rule 57 and BDC notice dated the 8th of April 2011 will be the subject of discussion in my next posting.)   
Look at it objectively, how does it help English Dancesport by this unsporting conduct of BDC? Where is this clarion call of "FREEDOM TO DANCE" in Great Britain? Bryan Allen and council members, you have sowed the seeds of discontent by your call to pick a fight with IDSF. The soothsay who advised you must have read the tea leaves wrongly. The wind of change is blowing very strong and it may just turn into a hurricane to blow BDC into oblivion. Please think again!

*Great Britain is the 9th largest Island in the world. The Islse of Man and Channel Island are not part of Great Britain. - Wikipedia.                            

Picture: Snieguole Wood

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From: Edward Burns [mailto:ed.burns00@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, 11 April 2011 8:46 PM
To: Snieguole Wood
Subject: RE: Crystal Cup on the 22nd May

Dear Snieguole

We, the British dancers thank you for your notice regarding the Crystal Cup.

As you mentioned yourself, we have the freedom of choice, but you can urge us not to attend this particular dance. How then, can you place a price on “freedom” when you threaten us with disciplinary action?

You mention that the competition is not run under British Dance Council rules, and therefore it is not recognised event in this country.

Let us show you an analogy, hopefully it could shed some light into this muddled mind of yours.

(1)  FIFA is the world governing body for football.  IDSF is the world governing body for dancesport.

(2) In the UK, the Football Association (FA) governs football regulations in England. Similarly, you claim that the British Dance Council governs rule of dance in the UK.

(3) By your statement, if FIFA hosts the World Cup in England, would the FA allow their footballers to represent England and take part in this prestigious event?  From what you are implying, even the FA is not allowed to support FIFA, and our British footballers (Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand etc) will face disciplinary action if they played in the World Cup?  Do you understand what you are saying?

Are you saying that an event organised or endorsed by a world-governing body, has to seek the permission of the local body to allow their athletes to participate? You, are implying that we British are above any World governing bodies.

It is people like you, that is the cause we last won the World Cup in 1966, thinking about our imperial superiority.  You should wake up, and see where we are now as compared to the other countries in terms of sports.

We hope, after reading this, you would walk along in Blackpool with humility for ever coming out with such a reason.  Where you walk, you never know whats being said behind your back.

Edward Burns.
  
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Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2011 07:48:38 -0700
From: johnandsnieguole@yahoo.comSubject: Crystal Cup on the 22nd May


Dear English competitors,

You are all probably aware of the IDSF competition being held on the 22nd May, Crystal Cup.

I can not stop you to take part in any competition, as you have freedom of choice, but I can ask you and would in fact like to urge you not to attend this particular competition.

This competition is NOT run under British Dance council rules, and therefore it is not recognised event by this country. Beside that you all may occur some disciplinary actions if you participate at this event, IT is also preaching all historical and ethical rules of the Dancing in this Country.

I ask you all NOT to dance at this event!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kind regards
Snieguole Wood
Snieguole Mob:+447886225459