| Monthly Newsletter | January 2021 |
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From the President
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
NASSPDA's Board of Directors hopes that you all had a good start into 2021, despite the events that just unfolded on January 6 2021, which will undoubtedly place, aside from the Pandemic and the start of vaccinations, a historic stamp on the beginning of this year.
Looking forward, we naturally hope that dancing is still or will soon come back into your life, even though it will yet take some time before studios can fully reopen, we can safely socialize and competitions can take place.
The first NASSPDA sanctioned event of the year, 'Floorplay LA,' which was slated for February 27, 2021, as well as the biggest event of the year, 'April Follies,' on April 24, 2021, have both been cancelled, since even if by chance the case numbers of Covid-19 infections will significantly drop and a reopening seems feasible, many of us just won't have had enough time on the floor in preparation for these events and therefore won't consider participating, a loss for the organizers.
This Pandemic doesn't only represent a financial hardship on the economy in general and for many of us individually, but it will unfortunately also mean that places for practicing our skills and taking lessons have disappeared for good. It will take significant time to recover from this in our community, but, I believe, that we are resilient and passionate about our dancing and therefore will overcome this in time and grow again as a community.
As I mentioned in the previous eNewsletter, since NASSPDA was fiscally solid at the beginning of 2020, NASSPDA's Board decided to offset some of the financial hardships of its members through extending everyone's membership by a year. NASSPDA sources its income from membership dues and NASSPDA-sanctioned competition fees. It is apparent now though that in 2021 NASSPDA won't be escaping the financial impact of the Pandemic, with the increase of costs maintaining website and significant reduction of its main source of income. In an effort to maintain financial stability in the future and prompted by a generous offer from Debbie Esparza, NASSPDA's Vice-President, to match donations in total of $1,000, NASSPDA is launching its first donation drive (https://nasspda.org/asp-products/donate-to-nasspda/). Funds raised will help maintaining NASSPDA's website as well as awarding scholarships and community outreach grants, which will ensure that NASSPDA may continue fulfilling its mission. Since NASSPDA is a registered 501(c)3 charitable non-profit organization, donations are of course fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law
Now that IFSSDA has a new set of competition rules in place that are applicable to international events sanctioned by IFSSDA (https://nasspda.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IFSSDA-Competition-Rules_-Version-July-6-2020.pdf), such as the World Dancesport Pride Cup, a new event, which will hopefully now take place in June 2021 and the 11th Gay Games hosted by Hong Kong in November of 2022, also IFSSDA's World Championships, the Board of NASSPDA is looking into aligning some of its established rules, if those changes could be considered an improvement for NASSPDA's constituency.
Once mainstream events sanctioned by the NDCA and USA Dance will resume taking place, the Board of NASSPDA will follow with great interest the further implementation of the changed definition of a couple, allowing any configuration by disregarding sex or gender of each dancer. Challenges that have been cited by officials as well as competitors that haven't yet sufficiently been addressed are educating its community, especially their licensed judges, and questions regarding costuming. Therefore, NASSPDA's system of grading newly competitors at each sanctioned event, separating different gender configurations of a couple and vetting invited judges makes any of its sanctioned events still a very different experience.
The Promotion Committee of NASSPDA, chaired by Board member Kalin Mitov, created a new program of annual ambassador(s) for NASSPDA, which seeks individuals and/or couples that will spread the word about and impart the values of NASSPDA at events other than sanctioned by NASSPDA. This ambassadorship comes with a stipend to cover some expenses and the provision of promotional material. Should you know of anyone being interested or qualified, you can find more details on NASSPDA's website along with application form (https://nasspda.org/nasspda-ambassador-program/).
If you have written and/or want to write about something or come across an interesting bit of news that might interest our community of dancers, please don't hesitate to share and email us (email address: newsletter@nasspda.org ).
Please stay well, safe, sane and healthy!
HAPPY DANCING and KEEP SMILING!
Benjamin Soencksen, President of NASSPDA
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Announcements
Workshops
NASSPDA is proud to announce its First Free Online Dance Workshop taught by award winning professional dancer/choreographer Alexis Massey. This workshop will take place on three consecutive Saturdays, February 6th, 13th & 20th at noon PST, which is 3pm EST. A Zoom link will be provided soon at NASSPDA's Facebook page. Alexis will teach focused Latin Solo Practice Routines. Beginning with Cha-Cha, then Rumba, and finishing off with Samba. "Most people are quarantined at home alone, and with sensitivity to this during the month of February and Valentine's Day, I believe it is best to focus on self-love and care during this difficult time. Mixing fundamentals and fun, everyone will take away a mini-routine they can practice over and over again in the comfort of their own homes. Let's 'dist-DANCE' together and fill our cups with self-love and the joy of dance! " - Alexis MasseyNASSPDA is grateful that Alexis Massey, an ardent supporter of NASSPDA's mission, has agreed to hold this workshop. We are proud to support this event with an Activity Grant.
Scholarships for 2021 Events
SIX scholarships are available to anyone that is planning to attend a NASSPDA sanctioned competition taking place in 2021, in support of covering expenses related to participating.
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.
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 (being added is a privilege 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
NASSPDA sanctioned competitions in scheduled for 2021
Floorplay LA (Canceled)
Los Angeles, CA
April Follies (Canceled)
Oakland, CA
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
Please contact NASSPDA's Webmaster, Horace Luong, at hluong@nasspda.org if you experience any problem or want to help improving the website..
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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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Keep us informed
Share fascinating stories of your dance life. Tell us about your dance community and the inspiration you got:
info@nasspda.org
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