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Re: Ontario Open Championships 2009 - Message to Canadian CDF from OADA dancers and their parents

5. november 2009 21:32

Interesting that no one has pointed out that the competing couples (  who according to the comments I read  here,  were used  by some as if stepping stones,)  had to dish out  CAD $ 135 for the privilege to compete and  entertain.

Isn't $ 65/couple  rather an expensive entry providing the competitors had to also  purchase all day spectators ticket ?   The cheapest  ticket at  $ 35 per person. Don't the Organizers  know that the couples competing in the evening, and late at night do not stay at  the premises during the day ?  Why not give dancers a break and introduce evening competitors ticket only , even better,   why not skip the spectators ticket all together ?  Is this not done in many countries, is it not the IDSF way ?   Cannot afford it ? Don't have it or  scale it down, do it in a local gym, or ask the adjudicators do it for free. Were Maple Leaf judges paid ?   Why stick it to the dancers ?

How is this related to the topic    ?

Is it not all about serving and providing the best for your  customer = the competitor,  who pays lots of moneys  ( especially since the participation in OOC is made  almost  compulsory) ,   hoping and anticipating  a great  experience,  just to be reminded there are still a few  who will take advantage  of their position as a judge to mistreat them.  Never mind of such action  had no effect in the end.  Look at it from the dancer's point of view after they review  their  score sheets.  A pleasant surprise ?

If you want more customers, if you want customers to return and  tell their friend what a grand event it was this OCC, and to join, and not miss it   the next year....you cannot afford to allow anyone to hurt dancer's feelings. For the moneys it costs they may just decide it is not a worthwhile and rewarding experience, certainly not worth $ 135, plus transportation, plus Hotel accommodation +++

Besides, was there not another sporting event just the following week in Toronto ?  Can dancers be expected to travel to Toronto Open   competitions which are spaced just 7 days apart ?   Are the organizers working together for benefit of dancesport , or,  are they trying to put one another out of business ?  Do they  not  realize they would have more registrations if they held events farther apart  ? It is OADA which books the venue a year in advance, what do the organizers of the other event think, or do they ? 

Hold on,   let me ask  CDF another question:

CDF can you please hold your Maple Leaf Championships  a few weeks apart  from the already scheduled  OOC  ?

Re: Ontario Open Championships 2009 - Message to Canadian CDF from OADA dancers and their parents

10. november 2009 23:51

rooftop, You may never know whether the direct contact you suggested  was  made. An a good suggestion it was.  But , this is an open forum which I believe dancers read,  and the dancers  should know that injustice which they observed and  suffered at OOC   ( never mind if it is a beast of the thing, or if other injustices take place elsewhere  )   has not gone unnoticed and that the supreme authority was challenged to look into it.   This is not a witch hunt,  unless you want to insult and call people names, but a simple request for  identification and correction of a correctable problem for the benefit of our sport if such problem has taken place. Who knows, perhaps all the spectators reading the score sheets and shaking their heads in disbelief , the fans and the  dancers who were  marked unfairly higher and lower, and the majority judges  they all could be wrong.  Just the nature of the beast, ain't it ?  

 

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 Rooftop

You are correct this is an open forum but you do a great injustice to other competitors if you believe that your drawing attention to your own  grievances has  opened peoples eyes.  Over and over you will hear dancers complain, and sometimes it is perfectly justifiable.  Every competitor will have a horror story to tell over judging.  The nature of the beast is however you will always get variations in markings.  This will never change and most dancers know and accept the situation.

I wonder if you noticed that at the IDSF World Latin Championship one judge marked the winners 6th in every dance.  They were employed to do a job and marked as they saw the final.  I have no doubt that as they marked they were aware  that in some areas it would cause an outcry and they would become the villain.  When a judge makes their marks if they can honestly say that is their fair opinion  then that should be accepted.  

Judges who have accepted money for their markings is a different issue entirely and yes that has happened, just as Adjudicators have been threatened with dire consequences if they do not mark a certain way.

Variations in markings are a vital part of our dance world and may that never change.

I regret that I am not sure of your intention when writing about "insults" and calling people "names" but it seems strange considering some of your earlier words and accusations which I believe fit that description and particularly when you say you have given broad hints so that the person can be identified, without being named, by those who were  present.

You are completely correct that I will never know if you did in fact submit a private formal complaint  with full supporting evidence. With great respect I must the say if, as you imply,  you have done so  I for one find it somewhat out of order for you to then go public with your allegations without waiting for an investigation and appropriate action or at least some formal response. 

To quote your own words it might be best if you were simply "to get over it" iín the final count the nature of the beast is that a majority decision will prevail and that is the most relevant and important point..

To conclude,  you are completely correct I am not aware of the intimate details of the event thus I have deliberately therefore written in very general terms   As you say it is an open forum and therefore people can try to explain , even to those  who have no desire to read, that variations in markings will never be eliminated and that is wonderful and to the benefit of all. .