Monthly e-Newsletter December  2019
NASSPDA


From the President 
And again it is that time of the year when we realize how yet another year is coming to an end and a new year is about to begin, which gives us pause to reflect on what happened.
NASSPDA had three sanctioned events this year, which all were one-day affairs:
Floorplay in the Desert , which took place on January 19 in Palm Springs, CA, hosted the 2019 North American Championships. This annual event is organized by Eddie Alba, one of NASSPDA's esteemed Board members, Co-Chair of the Competition Committee and IFSSDA's World Latin Champion, which took a hiatus last year. As set in NASSPDA's rules, the winners of each A-Grade in the multi-dance, the Showdance and the Formation Team categories are the title winners, but all winners of all grades received NASSPDA's bronze through gold medals (see results here  https://nasspda.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Medals2019.pdf )  and scores here  https://nasspda.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/floorplay2019scoresheets.pdf ). By all accounts, this event was again a fun competition to be part of and expertly run.
April Follies , organized by the Bay Area Same-Sex Dance Association (BASSDA), took place on April 27 and is the longest running event of its kind in the USA. Hosting as every year the 2019 California State Championships, the organizing committee of BASSDA create each year a very enjoyable, welcoming, well thought through and multi-faceted one-day affair. Unfortunately, due to a software glitch, the scores of this event are not available to participants. However, the organizers were able to reconstruct the resulting title winners by watching video footage (see results here  https://nasspda.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Medals2019.pdf ).
New England Open  took place on September 21 and was once again organized by the experienced and very dedicated team of Boston Open Dancesport (BOD), which is led by NASSPDA's esteemed Board member and Chair of the Promotion Committee, Kalin Mitov. This event tends to move its location around New England and took place this year in Needham, MA. This charming New England town features a recently renovated old town hall, which created a wonderful vibe for this annual event. As usual, the competition was a hybrid of mainstream, same-sex and reverse-role categories and hosted this year aside from the New England Championships the 2019 USA Championships (see results here  https://nasspda.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Medals2019.pdf  and scores here  https://nasspda.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/NewEnglandOpen2019.pdf  ).
 
Since NASSPDA opened up its Scholarship Program (see  https://nasspda.org/scholarships/  ) financially supporting competitors in their planned participation to all of its sanctioned events, the Board was happy to award for the first time all allocated five scholarships of this year to deserving candidates, participating in the three above cited competitions. This program was initiated several years ago by the generous donation of one of its longtime member, Meredith Stead. Additionally, NASSPDA members have continued this year to enjoy a discount on registration fees at each of NASSPDA's sanctioned events, which is carried financially in part by NASSPDA. Another way that NASSPDA seeks to financially support and foster growth in our community is the Activity Grant (see  https://nasspda.org/grants/  ). This year though has seen a complete lack of eligible applications, which will NASSPDA hopes to change in the coming year.
Exciting news this year came from one of the mainstream Dancesport organizations, the National Dance Council of America (NDCA), an umbrella for several professional associations and controlling most competition events in the USA. Due to pressures brought forward by some lawsuits, the NDCA changed its definition of a couple allowing any configuration disregarding sex or gender of the dancer, a step that had already been taken by USA Dance in the previous year, due to pressures from the collegiate circuit. Some of our constituency have immediately taken advantage of this change by participating in some mainstream events, NDCA and USA Dance sanctioned, which was by all reports mostly a positive experience. Some established events though have recently declared that they will not follow this rule change. It will be interesting how all this plays out in the long run.
 
The Board of NASSPDA has followed these changes with great interest, in particular, since NASSPDA's constituency had again initiated a discussion on whether a name and mission change seems necessary to reflect more inclusion. Throughout this year, NASSPDA actively solicited opinions through its website, Facebook page and at its sanctioned events. A majority agreed that expanding NASSDA's mission is desired and that a name change might be in order. But on the type of name change that would accurately reflect this expansion no clear consensus emerged. The most suggested terms "equality' and 'queer,' which were suggested to replace 'same-sex,' seemed to others either not clearly defined or limiting rather than inclusive. After a prolonged discussion on this issue, considering all opinions presented as well as other factors, the Board concluded on the issue of 'name change' that it isn't entirely warranted at this time, especially since there is indeed a historical context that made a strong case in the first place for the choice of 'same-sex' vs. 'same-gender' vs. 'queer' vs. 'equality.' However, NASSPDA's Board decided, in order to address the valid concern of its constituency, that it will add a tagline to its name and expand its mission statement to reflect greater inclusion. Language is currently drafted and these changes will be implemented in the coming year.
 
NASSPDA's Board has also been busy regarding the 11th Gay Games to be held in 2022 in Hong Kong, which are our World Championships, since it is debatable, based on the FGG's Rule Book for Dancesport, which organization is the closest continental body that would sanction this event (and subsequently which competition rules would be applicable). The founding members of IFSSDA (ESSDA, IAGLCWDC and NASSPDA) have therefore decided and agreed to work on a set of rules for international competitions sanctioned by IFSSDA and signed an amendment to its Constitution accordingly These rules would then also be applicable to other international events sanctioned by IFSSDA, such as the World Dancesport Pride Cup, a new event planned in June 2020 by the organizers of the annual Pride Cup in Orlando and organized by Serge Aliev and Michael Chapman (World Dancesport Pride Cup on June 5-7 2020, at the Orlando World Center, Marriott). The organizers of the games in Hong Kong have also reached out to IFSSDA asking for help in the organization of Dancesport, since there is no organized queer Dancesport scene in Hong Kong.
 
In the hopes that I didn't forget anything in this report, I personally and NASSPDA's Board of Directors wish to express our gratitude for your support, participation in and contributions to our community and most importantly extend our season greetings along with best wishes for 2020!
 
HAPPY DANCING!

Benjamin Soencksen



Announcements 


Scholarships

NASSPDA Board has approved to award FIVE scholarships toward all 2020 sanctioned competitions.
Each one is in the amount of $300 plus a one-year NASSPDA Individual Membership. 
We have awarded two scholarships already and there are three more remaining.  

The first NASSPDA sanctioned event is Floorplay LA so the deadline to apply for a scholarship for this event is December 15, 2019.  Competitors interested in competing at April Follies and/or New England Open who are also interested in applying for a scholarship, should apply as soon as possible because the scholarships are awarded on a first-come first-served basis.


NASSPDA Membership Directory

Have you checked out the NASSPDA  Membership Directory ?  This is a resource to allow NASSPDA members to connect with others in the community.  Please contact Horace Luong ( hluong@nasspda.org ) if you'd like to be added to  the directory  (this is available to NASSPDA members only).


Donation

Consider donating to NASSPDA!  
Donations made to NASSPDA will be used to help the organization advance its mission of promoting same-sex partner dancing.  Donations to NASSPDA may be tax deductible however, the extent is dependent on your country's tax laws.
Now NASSPDA's website has a button to donate right there:

Thank you for your generosity!


Competition Calendar
Competition Committee


January 2020
Floorplay LA - 2020 USA Same-Sex Championships (NASSPDA Sanctioned competition)
January 19, 2020
607 S Western Ave, Los Angeles  Los Angeles, CA United States
Floorplay LA will be holding NASSPDA's 2020 USA Same-Sex Championships this year! Floorplay LA is an annual ballroom dance competition that celebrates diversity and gender equality. It is designed for all configurations of couples, including same-sex, reverse role, traditional roles, and student-teacher. Our mission is to offer a safe environment for all dance competitors, and expose individuals to the excitement and joy of role-free partner dance competition, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.



 
March 2020
March 20, 2020 @ 8:00 am -  March 22, 2020 @ 5:00 pm
Albuquerque Marriott,  2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE 
Albuquerque, NM 87110 United States

April 2020
April 4, 2020
Alhambra Ballroom  Manhattan, NY United States 


April Follies - 2020  California State Championship (NASSPDA sanctioned competition)
April 25, 2020
Just Dance Ballroom,  O akland, CA United States 
The largest and longest-running same sex dance competition in North America.

September 2020

New England Open - 2020 North American Same-Sex Championship (NASSPDA sanctioned competition)
September 26,  2020
Needham Town Hall,
1471 Highland Ave, Needham MA




Membership Information
Membership Committee

Join NASSPDA TODAY!  Please complete the membership form and make your membership payment directly through our website (nasspda.org).

If you have problems, or want to help us improve the website (parts are still under construction) please write to Horace Luong, our website administrator, at  hluong@nasspda.org .


Outreach and Media
Promotions Committee

ACTIVITY GRANT FUNDING PROGRAM
NASSPDA would like to encourage its members and our community at large to engage in various fun activities that promote same-sex dancing. We recognize that many of our members may have a creative idea and NASSPDA would like to contribute in a small financial way.
Up to 4 grants of $250 each will be awarded per calendar year on a first-come first-served basis to applicants who can demonstrate that the proposed activity will advance NASSPDA's mission of promoting and expanding social and competitive same-sex partner dancing. 

The proposed event should also be in alignment with NASSPDA's following goals:
* Support functions and venues for social same-sex partner dancing.
* Provide a resource for same-sex partner dancers.
* Aim to raise the level of same-sex partner dancing
* Encourage the inclusion of dancers from diverse backgrounds with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, age, [dis]ability, gender identity and/or expression.
 
Some ideas for events and organizers to receive grant support:
  • Same-sex dance classes
  • A social dance mixer with actively inviting and encouraging same-sex dancing or "alternative lead and follow"
  • An excursion to a local competition, introducing dancers to the concept
  • A welcome party before one of NASSPDA's sanctioned competition
  • Setting up a booth at a local street fair promoting same-sex dancing
  • A neighborhood or community event promoting partner dancing and the inclusion of same-sex dancing
  • Involving studios to promote same-sex dancing
    •
  • An event in conjunction with a city's Pride activities
    •
These are just a few suggestions. To apply for financial support from NASSPDA's  $250 Grant Program, please visit our website at  NASSPDA.org , click on  the  ' Scholarships and Grants ' bar and then 'Grants" to read more for more information. You can also email us at  promotions@NASSPDA.org  with any questions. 


Happy Dancing in the New 2020!