Dance Matters

DANCESPORT AUSTRALIA UNWISE PRESS RELEASE

Category: Dance Morality | September 18, 2011 | Admin2

In recent years it has become common for WDSF and those connected to WDSF to issue Press Releases which can best be described as "unwise". Craig Wilson President of DSA has issued such a document on 4th September. Was this expressing the view of DSA or the personal view of Mr Wilson?

http://www.dancesport.org.au/images/stories/DanceSport_Australia_Press_Release_World_Latin

This Press Releases contains propaganda statements which are not factual and raises a great many new questions.

Let us examine 2 extracts of the words of Mr Wilson.

PART A

DanceSport Australia is the Australian member body to the World Dancesport Federation (WDSF) , the recognised international governing body for our sport and the member body of our sport to the International Olympic Committee( IOC ) . When couples from Australia that are members of DSA dance internationally in WDSF events they are expected to follow the "WDSF Athletes' Code of Conduct and Standards of Ethic" this is part of the responsibility they must embrace when participating internationally as DSA is expected to follow certain protocols as the member body for Australia.

Response to Mr Wilson :

1) It is inaccurate propaganda that WDSF is the "recognised international governing body for our sport". It is recognised in WDSF circles but not universally. Certainly it is not recognised as such in many countries, it is not recognised as such by many dance competitors, coaches, judges, including what are regarded as the "best in the world". It is not recognised by United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organisation - International Council of Dancing the Umbrella Organisation for ALL forms of Dance in all countries in the world.

They do not come bigger than the United Nations. Are DSA, WDSF and IOC going to tell the UN we do not recognise you?

There is an ever increasing number of dancers and organisations who do not recognise WDSF. Recently the International Dance Organosation turned their back so that Vision 2012 is now badly damaged. Without the WDC and the IDO the WDSF can fool the IOC but not the dance world.

2) Whether DSA or WDSF wish to face it Dancesport is a form of dance. The WDC is the body which has recognised, protected and fought for the connection between Dance and Sport to be preserved It is the WDC who have realised that the Art of dance can never be sacrificed simply to call an Artistic activity "Sport".

It is the WDC who have broadened the horizons of dance and brought about its development and progress ensuring that the technique and character of each dance is preserved,

3. It is the WDC who have observed Human Rights, The Olympic Charter and followed true sporting principles of sportsmanship and fair play, of opening sport to all without the exclusion of any.

3. Until their suspension from the WDC DSA was a member, so was it DSA in general or just Mr Wilson that refused to recognise the Governing role of the WDC?

4. When competing internationally many couples were not dancing in WDSF events. They were competing in truly Open competitions and doing that in the full knowledge of, and with the backing of DSA. The WDSF code of conduct was irrelevant.

4. As a then member of WDC DSA had an ethical duty to observe impartiality and not attempt to discourage couples from WDC and/or Open events.

Yes WDSF is the International Federation for the IOC, but the IOC have themselves admitted that they have no authority or power to declare one Federation the "World governing Body". Their recognition is limited solely to Olympic and peripheral affairs. Since DanceSport is never going to be an Olympic Medal Sport the IOC recognition is not worth much to the dancesport world in general.

When you read the August Edition of DanceSport International you realise there are not very high standards and ethics in certain areas.

PART B Mr Wilson writes

In a perfect world it would be wonderful to think we could do whatever we want but the reality is that we all are governed by rules and regulations no matter what we do in day to day life , sports or hobbies ……..it is a fact of life. Couples have the choice to abide by these rules if they choose to be part of the WDSF body of events , it is your choice .

What a damning indictment of DSA (or is it Mr Wilson's) thinking that they need not fight for the rights of Australian Dancers!

YES of course there must be rules, no one denies this. Without rules we have anarchy. However Rules which are not fair or just are to be rejected as Bad rules. Rules which break International Laws and Human Rights are bad and to be rejected. Protectionism, Monopolies and "abuse of a dominant position" are illegal and rules which attempt to impose these are bad rules and to be rejected. Rules which do not serve the interests or the wishes of the members are bad rules and to be rejected. Rules which do not aid the progress and development of the sport are bad rules and to be rejected. Just like other countries in the past Australia has now been penalised and damaged by BAD RULES.

Far from warning Australian couples of the perils if they do not cower to threats of consequences if WDSF Bad Rules are not observed DSA should be informing WDSF "We cannot accept your bad rules, you cannot deny our dancers Freedom. We cannot allow you to damage all that we have built in Australia. If you refuse to accept decisions we make in accordance with legal requirements then we must quit the WDSF".

No great hardship in this step. At the start of the Press Release Mr Wilson acknowledges the vast majority of Australians are not in any way affected by WDSF. Even within Australia there is no real benefit, with direct WDSF events almost non existent. The majority of events Australians dance in outside their country are those which are truly Open, with a long pedigree. Where their freedom and rights are respected and they suffer no penalty. Where they dance with and against the best and before the best adjudicators.

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Under my own name and email address this post has been sent to Mr Wilson plus the CEO of DanceSportAustralia to give them opportunity to reply if they believe any part of this post is not accurate or factual.

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