Dear Member,
Unfortunately, the actions taken over the last year by the Canadian WDSF member, CDS, and their Provincial Amateur affiliates, have increasingly encroached on professional dance business.
The CDF Board began « taking back our business » by setting up an amateur registry for those amateurs who wished to compete but did not want to belong to the WDSF directed amateur associations. Professional organizers were encouraged by CDF to accept amateur cards belonging to any association for amateurs competing at their events. The amateur associations did not allow this at their own events, which is their right, but also refused to allow it at professionally organized events, thereby encroaching on the rights of the professional organizer. The WDSF sent out a directive that any amateur couple competing in an event not sanctioned by them or their member, would not be allowed to compete in WDSF events for a year. For those not understanding, this would include all professionally run competitions including Blackpool. They then backtracked and said that « it was up to each member country » to enforce this rule or not. It is our belief that the Canadian WDSF member is enforcing this rule.
Some Provincial amateur associations have also started to include Pro-Am events in competitions to fund their competitions and they usually undercut the entry fees of professional organizers, taking away the business of professionals. These events are not sanctioned by a professional body. Pro-Am is Professional business.
The National Dance Council of America has recently expelled USA Dance, the American WDSF member from NDCA and are following up with actions to protect the Professional Dance Industry in the USA. NDCA have asked CDF for support of their actions under the Agreement of Cooperation between NDCA & CDF.
CDF has no option but to protect the Professional Dance industry in Canada by voting the following into the CDF rules :
- 1. All competitions organized by CDF member professionals must be sanctioned by CDF only. This automatically means that the amateur portion of the event is sanctioned by NDCC. Sanctioning by an amateur association will not be allowed.
This rule will be in effect from Jan 1st, 2015.
- 2. All amateurs competing in the above sanctioned events must hold an NDCC card.
This rule will be in effect from Jan 1st, 2015.
- 3. CDF Qualified judges will be suspended from the CDF Adjudicator List if competing in Pro-Am in Canadian events not sanctioned by CDF/NDCC or CDDSC/NDCC.
This rule is effective immediately.
- 4. CDF Qualified judges serving on a Canadian event panel with judges not recognized by CDF; CDDSC; NDCA or a WDC affiliate will be suspended from the Adjudicator List.
This rule is effective immediately.
CDF Qualified members are not permitted to join any « professional » organization in Canada that is an affiliation of an amateur body.
This rule is effective immediately.
The following rule is already in effect. This is a reminder.
CDF Qualified judges are not permitted to judge a Canadian competition featuring professional events if it has not been sanctioned by CDF/NDCC or CDDSC/NDCC.
CDF General Members (not qualified) should be aware that competing in pro-am in Canadian events not sanctioned by CDF/NDCC or CDDSC/NDCC may the result that a future career as a judge, in Canada and the USA, and competing in Professional events, may be in jeopardy.
Anyone who is unsure, should contact CDF.
The CDF Board of Directors
Ann Harding-Trafford – President
Meryem Pearson – Vice-President
Jane Edgett – Exec. Sec/Trea
Barbara Child
Pierre Allaire
Alan Armsby
Tanya Cardinal
Benoit Drolet
Mireille Vielleux
email: info@canadiandancesportfederation.ca
www.canadiandancesportfederation.ca
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