| Monthly Newsletter | October 2020 |
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Spotlight
The following is an excerpt from 'Participate!,' the September 2020 edition of the official Newsletter of the FGG (Federation of Gay Games), which was authored by Armin Lohrman, the FFG's Officer of Host Relations, who also judged at the Dancesport event of the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland, and edited with additional material by NASSPDA's President, Benjamin Soencksen.
International Breakthrough for Dancesport
The International Federation of Same Sex Dancesport Associations (IFSSDA) finalized a set of rules applicable to all internationally sanctioned events, such as its World Championships, designated for Dancesport at each quadrennial Gay Games, and the World Dancesport Pride Cup, which was to be held this year in Orlando, but has been postponed to next year, due to the Pandemic.
For the Gay Games, this is an important step, because from now on Dancesport will have the same binding set of rules. Dancesport was first added to the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam, for which the Dutch organizers developed a brief set of rules, since rules from mainstream organizations didn't address aspects of same-sex dancing, such as clothing or switching lead within a dance. These rules were adopted with slight changes for the Games of 2002 in Sydney (different dances in the lower categories) and 2006 in Chicago. Thereafter, set of rules from the then newly formed continental organizations, ESSDA (European Same-Sex Dance Association) and NASSPDA (North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association), governed the Dancesport competitions at the Games based on which continent hosted, such as the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne as well as the 2018 in Paris by ESSDA's rules and the 2014 in Cleveland/Akron by NASSPDA's rules. And if Country Western Dance categories were offered, as in Cologne and Cleveland/Akron, the rules of IAGLCWDC (International Association of Gay/Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs) were applied. So differing set of rules were employed for Dancesport at each previous Gay Games. Therefore, starting with the 2022 Games in Hong Kong, Dancesport will now have a unified standard enforced at all following Gay Games. 
But there is more: These new rules from IFSSDA confirm that the quadrennially held Gay Games are also Dancesport's World Championship! The Dancesport community has always considered this to be the case, but the agreement between the founding members of IFSSDA, ESSDA, IAGLCWDC and NASSPDA, to officially consider the Gay Games its World Championships, first applied to the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland/Akron, is now set in writing through these rules and therefore applicable to all subsequent Gay Games.
We want to thank our member organizations, ESSDA and NASSPDA (and IAGLCWDC as well), who are the current members of IFFSDA (www.ifssda.org), for taking this important step and the effort that went into making it happen. This shows a commitment to the Gay Games, which is outstanding (and maybe a model for other associations...) See the following excerpt from IFSSDA's new set of rules, which exemplifies this:
"A standing agreement between these founding organizations has authorized the event of Dancesport at the quadrennial Gay Games to be IFSSDA's World Championships. These rules shall govern this event in addition to the existing FGG's (Federation of Gay Games) Red Book for Dancesport and any other future international event sanctioned by IFSSDA along with any other overarching set of rules."
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Announcements
NASSPDA sanctioned competitions Scholarships available for 2021
NASSPDA's Board has approved the availability of SIX scholarships that are applicable to all 2021 sanctioned competitions.
Each one is in the amount of $400 plus a one-year NASSPDA Individual Membership.
Ambassador Program
In need of broader visibility, better promotion in the DanceSport world and advocating for same-sex competitive dancing, NASSPDA is looking to engage Ambassadors.
As many North American DanceSport organizations have changed their definition of a dance couple, we are witnessing interest and participation of newly formed same-sex, reverse role, and gender-neutral couples at their events. Many of those couples haven't been introduced or exposed to NASSPDA as an organization; hence, they also do not know the benefits of being a member of NASSPDA.
Description and details available on the website. Application FORM is available HERE
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!
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Competition Calendar
Competition Committee
All NASSPDA competitions for the rest of 2020 has been canceled. Stay safe and healthy!
Upcoming NASSPDA sanctioned competitions in 2021
Floorplay LA
Los Angeles, CA, February 27, 2021
April Follies
Oakland, CA, April 24, 2021
New England Open
Boston - Needham, MA September 2021
The XI Gay Games Hong Kong will be hold in duration of the month of November 2022 (TBD).
Stay tuned for updates and details. |
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Membership Information
Membership Committee
Join NASSPDA TODAY! Please complete the membership form and make your membership payment directly through our website (www.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.
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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 www.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.
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