UNITED COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
Spring 2021
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How Do I Qualify for the UCWDC Country Dance World Championships?
There are two parts to eligibility. The first part is that all competitors must have danced for Overall if they compete in Line Dance, ProAm/ProPro or Couples. They must have danced in the specific division for the single Dance Championship if they do Teams or ProAm/ProPro Spotlight. They must do this in all divisions where they want to compete during the Dance Season leading up to the Country Dance World Championships (or Worlds as many call it).
The second part is each competitor must dance a specific number of regional events. The number depends on where the competitor lives. Because of the unique challenges this year, the number of events required is reduced for this Dance Season, leading up to the World Championships to be held in January 2022, in Orlando, Florida. We announced at UCWDC® meeting in February the the current eligibility requirements would be reduced by one event. Our eligibility requirements are by region, so this means the number of events required for a competitor is as follows... (read full article)
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In the interest of providing the safest possible dance environment, the Rules Committee of the United Country Western Dance Council announces a change to the ProAm, ProPro and Couples dance order for the 2021 Dance Season which will include the Country Dance World Championships in January, 2022. (read full article)
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VP Judge Certification
Kathy St Jean
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Greetings from Judge Certification!
As we prepare to emerge from a year-long competition hiatus, judge certification would like to start the new dance season off with all dancers and judges on the same page. We need all Pro’s, competitors, coaches as well as judges to be aware of an especially important spatial structure/floorcraft issue regarding partner dance divisions.
We need everyone to help make each competitor’s experience a great one! Outstanding floorcraft begins with routines that are constructed to match the size of the competition dance floor. Correct spatial structure of each dance as well as attention to the natural flow of each dance is necessary for excellent floorcraft. For example, Triple Two has wide curving/banking actions whereas Polka travels on a narrow lane.
Progressive dances need to move counterclockwise around the floor. It is important to choreograph with consideration of the floor you will be competing on. If your practice space is small, make whatever accommodations necessary to be able to dance the full length of the competition floor. When you present a progressive routine that is much shorter than the competition floor, it causes floorcraft issues for many people including the judges!
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Line Dance Chair
Clive Eaton-Stevens
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UCWDC Newsletter Line Dance Spring 2021
Greetings fellow line dancers, hoping that everyone is healthy, looking forward to the return of events and seeing our dance family! The past year has been so difficult for all of us and dancing has certainly suffered, our last event was now over a year ago at the Tulip Challenge. This year as vaccines are being distributed there is hope that we may soon see each other again.
Whilst some USA events are able to hold in person competitions, all events in Europe and Asia have been cancelled up to July. South Africa has held its first non-sanctioned virtual event and in April the MidAtlantic Dance Classic will hold the first sanctioned UCWDC virtual event and there will be line dancers from all over the world competing.
Whilst events past September are still uncertain, the UCWDC is working on many new online activities including an online workshop series and other events are actively preparing for virtual possibilities to keep us all active and engaged.
With the continuing uncertainty, the line dance committee has been discussing our classic dances and showcase music. We feel that as no one has had the opportunity to compete the classic dances for a full season, nor the new showcase music, we should not change them until a full season has occurred. It is important to us that we get your feedback on this issue and will be sending out a short survey to get all line dancer’s opinions
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UCWDC Events - April, May, June
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April 15-18, 2021
Kick off your 2021 Dance Year with a Rush! These event directors are committed to creating a safe environment to get competitors back to dancing. Check out https://www.oklahomadancerush.net/ for the Covid 19 Protocols and general event information - hotel, registration, schedule and more. Registration deadline for ProAm is April 9th, 2021.
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April 30 - May 2, 2021
Virtual MDC is making history as the first virtual UCWDC competition! Fully Sanctioned and a UCWDC Country Dance World Championships qualifier! (Graduations do not apply) Registration is open and all video submissions are due April 11th! Competitor passes include UCWDC Judge and Guest Coach feedback, competition scores, streaming event access with workshops, and winners are eligible for the special prize drawings. Spectator passes are also available through the online registration site. Visit https://midatlanticdanceclassic.com/ for all the details!
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May 14-16, 2021
Texas Classic welcomes you to their first year at the Austin Hilton in Downtown Austin. Registration and the hotel block is open. All 2020 registrations are being carried over. A tentative schedule has been posted, including CEUs that are open to all for enrollment, See http://www.thetexasclassic.com/ for more details. You are welcome to video competition - tag @texasclassic on your social media posts!
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June 3-6, 2021
Yes, we are having Orange Blossom Dance Festival this year. Mark you calendars - June 3- 6. It will be held at the same hotel (remember the mall attached and 20 restaurants all around). The website is updated with registration, schedules, etc. The good news is most people will be able to get a vaccine by late May which is perfect for OBDF! Since the pandemic will bring a lot of changes to our way of life up until June, we will keep updating you on the current mandates in Florida and Orange County as we get closer to the event.
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June 24-27, 2021
Working within federal, state, and local guidelines, and given the current trajectory of COVID-19 positivity rates and vaccinations, the Colorado Country Classic is pleased to announce we are planning to host our event June 24-27, 2021. A lot of care and consideration went into committing to a responsible hotel contract that will allow us to modify our plans as guidelines continue to shape what we can and can not do safely and responsibly.
We acknowledge that so many factors go into each individual's ability and desire to participate in dance events this year. We hope to offer a weekend that many in the dance community can enjoy. And for those that aren't ready, or aren't able, we love you and can't wait until we see you again. Whatever your choice, please know we will follow whatever the recommendations are at the time of the event as we work closely with our hotel.
More information will be posted on our website (www.coloradocountryclassic.net) regarding the specifics surrounding the event weekend. For now, mark your calendars. We look forward to seeing you in your dancing shoes!
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June 24-27, 2021
Indy dance X is the premier dance event in Indianapolis! You don't want to miss hours of workshops, competition and late night dance parties. Four rooms with a mix of Country, Line Dance, Swing, Ballroom, and Salsa with some of the top instructors in their fields at the beautiful Indianapolis Marriott East.
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2021 UCWDC Event Calendar
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Events are updated as quickly as possible on the UCWDC calendar! Follow us on Facebook for updates and more information on our dance community!
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Benelux competition has moved to 2022. Always looking for ways to support the dance community, the event has organized a FREE virtual workshop weekend! Make plans to join online and learn from a fantastic group of instructors.
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Renew Your Associate Membership
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A UCWDC Associate Membership is required for any UCWDC competition entry. Please make sure your membership is current before you register for an event!
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Are you the next UCWDC Points Champion?!
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UCWDC Points Championship points are earned for every dance completed by each contestant at every UCWDC event around the world during the dance season. Check your standing after points start accruing!
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Worlds 2022 returns to the Sunshine State! A tentative schedule has been posted to help you plan your stay.
Stay tuned to the website for event updates.
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Check Out Our YouTube Channel
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We are sharing our UCWDC dance history online and would love to include yours! Send competition videos to marketing@ucwdc.org!
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The United Country Western Dance Council promotes, protects, and advances Country Western Dance and Line Dance as an art form and competitive sport worldwide.
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