It is nice to see that a lot of people were following the comp in Blackpool. Unlike previous years, there weren't as many SA couples dancing this year, and my educated guest is, it's going to get worse. I personally think, between the exchange rate and the lack of sponsorship for our top professional and amateur couples, international exposure for our SA comp couples is dwindling and things are looking very bleak.

Without being nasty about it Jay, Sonja and I may just as well have represented Zimbabwe or Tahiti at Blackpool. We did not get a cent or even a tracksuit or something that says "South Africa cares". Many couples before us have been through the same scenario. Don't you think it should change????? I mean most countries support their couples, but SA... no! no!

Not everybody is prepared to live in England. Should I really say why? The professional body and our association, the RDTA don't give us any, but ANY support. That is why I think if some form of financial support doesn't come soon, then there can't be much future for our dancers Internationally. There are comps now in Honk Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and America where hotel accommodation and competition entries are FREE for all professionals, and I mean ALL professionals, but how do us South Africans get there???????

We will, however, not stop dancing because we love it too much. Maybe someone will read this article and perhaps jump in to help competitive dancers who dance their backs off for their country without support. I spoke to Michael Wentink and he said that we should really try to do more International comps than just Blackpool, because the more International exposure we get the better are our chances of improving our ratings from 48 to 24. In next year's rising star section we want to reach 12th place, but if you consider what we paid three weeks ago in London for 6 hourly lessons, at R600 an hour, then that will have to remain a dream.

I personally think that the people who run dancing in SA should really and seriously start doing something for their couples who represent the country internationally. Maybe then, there will be a bigger South African contingent attending Blackpool, and hopefully we will do better than reaching 48th position; 24th sounds better, and 12th will definitely sound very much better for our country.

It's time to practise... bye for now.

Ryno van den Berg

Ed
Ryno, sorry to interrupt your practise session, but just freeze for a moment in that New-Yorker pose and keep your arms high and fully extended while I tell you this. At the zero rate that our country's dancers are being subsidized for their talent by their fatherly-motherly DanceSport body, South Africa won't be ready to field a single couple for the Olympics in the year 2008. Ryno, keep your arms up, you won't get to the Olympics that way; and this story is going to be a looong tedious tale.

Just listen to this patent bullamaleria. Our country is still very young and new at the game. We are having teething traumas, we haven't the funds. You dancers with all the talent in the world to beat the best in the world, must bounce off your butts, you know? get off that circulation of yours and do something, and stop begging for funds. You must practise, like Ryno & Sonja are doing right now, except Ryno, you must do it for eight non-stop gruelling hours every day, 365 days a year... FOR YOUR BELOVED SUN-SHINE COUNTRY. Sonja, you are slumping at the knees. That way you will never get to the Olympics or even attain 12th at Blackpool next year, and don't think just because DanceSport is the third most popular sport in our country that, that entitles you to a FREE ride. We are not America, Tokyo, UK, Australia, Germany or any of the other countries who generously pay for their couples, this is South Africa, so do as the Romans do.

What's more, you must campaign vigorously to raise your own funds. This you must do after your eight-hour sweat stint, by rehearsing and putting on public demonstrations and holding workshops at least once a week for the next 6 months. but wait, I've only started; Ryno, your arms. And every day before you start practising, you must teach nothing less than 6 honest hours of productive lessons, you must truly earn your salt... fhuuuh! now Jay too is slumping. Ryno, you may drop your arms now.

This scenario is called "being a talented professional in the wrong country." I told you my story would be looong and arduous, because it goes on. Then for the month you're away dancing your bones to a tiz for your fatherland, your studio placidly lies in limbo land. No income, but the rent, the electricity, your personal bills, etc. must still be paid. Then, when you arrive back home, you have lost all your pupils to other trainers because they too want to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. So your financial limp drags on for another few months before things return to normal... and Ryno, to think, a year or so ago at a special ceremony they presented you with your SA colours - it's a cruel country, a real cruel country.

For lessons, R600 an hour ? That's a mid-city, daylight stick-up. You must have slept in Hyde park or Trafalgar square with the pigeons, and held your hat out for food. And what about the plane fare, etc., etc. How did you guys manage to do it solo? It must have cost a fortune. No wonder the mammas and the papas of our loving sport are looking the other way while the lions gobble their babies.

Back to the bullamaleria. The first essential in every other sport is to seek out talent, then when found, make every desperate effort to nurture and develop this talent as quickly as possible for International exposure. They know that there is nothing more inspirational, nothing more motivating to budding talents than the prospect of competing internationally. They know that the International competition is fierce, because they also know that the international sport's bodies don't spare funds or effort on talent. Sport to them is a vicious, friendly world war, a global attrition of prides which plays an important part in the country's economy. The next step is to ensure that these gifted athletes are trained by the best and that they get properly sponsored. To say, "Penny Heyns wins 7 Gold medals for South Africa" or "Ryno van den Berg and Sonja Stanford win South Africa's only Gold medal in the Competitive Professional Latin section of DanceSport" puts South Africa on a pedestal.

South African boxing is a good example of this. They had nothing but talent, then pushed to the limit for the full and complete promotion and development of their talented boxers. At one stage recently, South Africa boasted more world champion boxers than any other country, and our trainers and promoters are of the most respected in the world. When dancers are sponsored, then it becomes a national thing. They do it for their country, because they know their country is behind them financially and in pride, and when they win, Mbeki will shake their hand.

Ryno, my educated guess is that South African Soccer and Competitive Dancing will never get anywhere in the international sport's arena, unless the bickering and in-fighting between those in authority stops. What we need is for the powers in charge to shift their accent and ambitions from personal, to national, to international, and focus their vision on the big picture - South Africa and its gifted, determined dancers who are willing to put their lives on the line for their country. At the moment, competitive dancing in South Africa is suffering from "local stagnation" - an acute down syndrome.

Once my website starts drawing 5000 dance visits a month, I plan to approach businesses for sponsorship, and 30% of what I collect will be put into a kitty for the broken-down, motherless, talented Competitive dancers of our country. But businesses won't sponsor unless they're assured of reasonable return and coverage for what they spend. So this site needs every visit. Ryno, if you know of fellow-dancers who have email, tell them to write to me, I'll send them regular updates - let's create dance visits. What's more, this subject needs a few bright ideas and suggestions from dancers in this country.

I am attaching a document - meant for Cherie in ZIm. It is the KZN PAB supplementary rules (this will differ from province to province) but she may find these useful. Also included are the points and star grade dress code.

I am also sending the WORLD TRIALS entry forms etc. - please could you include.

Midlands Region of KZN FEDANSA will be asking you to start their webpage. I need a bit more time to get all the info together - but within the next week. Where do I send the R50 to?

There are one of two studio/clubs who also want to subscribe, but we will start with MIDLANDS first.

Pam

FEDANSA KZN – Supplementary Rules  - updated June 2000

The following are the supplementary rules for KZN FEDANSA Members in order to avoid misunderstanding on issues not clearly specified in the National Rule Book. These may be amended from time to time in a general meeting at the request of the members concerned.

Rule No 1  Partnership Changes

In the event of a new partnership

1. If one member is champ status and the other is not, then go to pre-champ.
2. If one member is novice or pre-champ and the other is star grade, then go to novice.
3. If one member is pre-champ and the other is novice, take the higher level.
4. If both are in star grades: then

(a) in the case of one level difference, take the higher grade
(b) if there are two levels difference, then take the middle status

If the couple is still not satisfied, a regrading  should then be applied.  There should be at least 21 days notice for the regrading before a couple can take the floor.  Apply through the chairperson of the Region.

Rule No 2  Amateur couple breaking partnership

In the event of a partnership break up each dancer will revert back to zero points in their recent/current competitive level.

Rule  No 3  Amateur turning Professional

Any Amateur wishing to relinquish his/her amateur status to that of professional should abide by the following:

1. A letter should be forwarded to the Regional Secretary, who will in turn forward it to the PAB secretary who will in turn send a copy of the same to the National Secretary.
2. In the case of all successful applicants, FEDANSA will inform the professional body that a clearance has been granted, and that the applicant has now relinquished his/her amateur status.
3. The newly declared professional will then apply for membership of the SANCBD and will be free to join on of the professional associations.

Rule No 4  Amateur Reinstatement

Re-instatement of ‘Amateur Status’ will be carried out by the Amateur Body FEDANSA only, but consultation will be made with the governing professional body.

Any couple/person wishing to apply for re-instatement must abide by the following:

1. A letter of application should be forwarded to the PAB Secretary, who will in turn send a copy of same to the National Secretary.
2. This letter of application should contain the relevant history of the applicant including the time factor involved in their professional career and the amount of the remuneration received during the time they were not of amateur status.
3. A letter of recommendation and clearance must be obtained from the professional body concerned before any re-instatement will be considered.
4. If necessary, both an oral and practical test may be undertaken by the applicant in the presence of the relevant officers to ascertain the level of experience obtained.
5. The final decision on re-instatement will rest with  the National Amateur Body who will determine their competitive status.

Rule No 5  Amateur Displays

Displays by couples, whether for funds or not, may be done provided:

(a) It has been cleared by the PAB.
(b) The amount charged is placed in trust with the PAB for the furtherment of their dancing.
(c) The couples of only Novice and above status may perform solo displays.
(d) The demo form must be filled in at least 14 days before the demonstration.
(e) Any fee payable to the couple’s teacher concerned shall be charged as extra.
(f) Forms should be faxed to 033 3472541 or handed to the Regional Chairman who will in turn submit these to the PAB Chairman.

Rule No 6  Number of Couples on the Floor

When there are only two couples on the floor, the section will be taken as if three couples were competing (for points).

POINTS AWARDED
 

            Number of couples in the Final

Pam/FEDANSA KZN Supp Rules/06/2000

DRESS CODE

Man: Black shoes, socks and pants, long sleeve white shirt. Black bow tie, cummerbund optional.
(May wear matching cummerbund and bow tie to the ladies outfit in LA).

Lady: Shoes suitable for dancing, full flair knee length skirt with straight hem – no frills, no splits or glitter.

Ed
Pam, thanks for all the info - greatly appreciated and very good for the sport. Cherie of Zim will be glad you replied.

I like the Entry form, because with the net, it is immediate. Can dancers fill out your form and send it to you? I will create a link for comp entries, it might start something good. If necessary, I'll design an entry-form page with blank fields that can be filled in and sent, it might take a while.

Regarding your page, I design it, and you alter it. I just need a few basic things you want announced. If you have a logo, send it and we'll take it from there. We could also use your page as the main info point for KZN, which our dancers will really like.

You must seriously think of sending me the KZN comp results because the dancers are very keen on seeing these on the net. I convinced Arthur Isaacs of the Cape and this is what he had to say:

Hi Jay
In future, results will be sent as soon as I get home from the competition. Dancers and spectators in the Western Cape are excited about the results being published on the net. Keep up the good work.

ARTHUR

They had a comp this Saturday (17 June 2000). He sent the results to me on Sunday, and I put it on the net that same day.

The interest in DISA on the net is growing very fast with our dancers. Now is the best time to join and we would really like to have a close tie with KZN. At the moment I have no accessible studio/club links from KZN, a few of those would be tremendous.

You pay your annual R50 subscription fee into my account (your bank must show "Pam 37" as your ID for me to know it's your payment:

My Details
Bank: First National Bank
J.J. Helm
Branch: Sunnyside, Number 25-06-45
Account Number 510 6100 7775

I'll do everything I can to give you maximum coverage while promoting dancing and keeping dancers informed in your area.

Thanks again for your help

Cheers, Jay

Is there some way in which you could target mature men in your advertisements so that they can be convinced that there would be enough opportunity to meet attractive mature women who still look good, who can dance and would like (and prefer) mature men?

I do not yet know this site well enough to know exactly to which address I should direct  this kind of letter.  If you think my ideas might serve some purpose, please help me to reach people in a vast potential market, people who might be grateful and pleasantly surprised to hear that they need not feel and act like "senior citizens".

Thanks,

Louise

Ed
Since most mortals vrek at 30 but are only cremated at 70, my exact equation of "When does one become a senior citizen in dancing?" is from roundabout 30. But then there are those who never become senior citizen in dancing until their candle sputters and gracefully flickers out at 90.

Bill & Bobbie Irvine, were the undefeated world Ballroom champions of the 60s. Bobbie, now deep in her 70s, is the most sought-after partner in the UK, so they say. Her style is younger than all those currently winning major comps. Her movement and youthful lightness is fresher; her lines are sharp, clean and clinical like no others, and she is more agile and adaptable to any partner than the entire bunch 50 years her junior. Her decision not to compete with the younger males is purely personal, it has nothing to do with zing and zap.

So Louise, what does that make you at 56 with all your sprightly attributes? It makes you a lively, attractive spring chicken waiting to be discovered by all those hunks who appreciate youthful art in physique and mind. Take this year's Comrades' winner, at 42 breaks all records with a smile, making Bruce Fordyce look like a senior, senior citizen. I know a few people in their 20s who took a week off work for the Comrades and couldn't even leopard crawl over the finish line in time, if they had a spade with them, they would have dug a hole.

Changing "senior citizen" to "mature dancers over 40" won't solve the problem. It's how high we carry our crown, the spring in our step, and the continual denial of ageing, when we still have lots of zing and zap to offer. Those are the things that portrays the "I look after myself, mentally and physically" image, and staves off the process of slumping. But male dancers don't know that, someone will have to edumacate them.

Mareli put on another of her popular days of workshops on Friday the 16th where dancers congregate to interrelate, and the professionals share their specific field of expertise with dance enthusiasts. These workshops serve to open up the entire world of dance to everybody with an interest in dance. There is only one problem: one gets hooked on all the many different forms of dance and there is just not enough time to study all of it!

Although Tanz staff was ready to serve breakfast just after the start of the marathon, dancers only started arriving from 7am onwards to watch the progress of the race on TV while enjoying a steaming hot breakfast. In the relaxed atmosphere everybody chatted over coffee and caught up on news and happenings.

The first 45 min workout was an energetic HIP HOP session taken by Owen Kroeger of the spiky hair. Ages of participants in all these sessions ranged from under 10 to definitely over 40. Nevertheless, everybody seemed to cope with the fast – bend-lower, contract harder, bounce more, knees higher- routine. Definitely fun stuff. Overheard afterwards: ‘I could do this all the time’, followed by many nods and assents.

Next was the Jazz Funk session taken by Didi Moses, just recently up from Cape Town. Want to know what Jazz Funk is – check out music videos.

Well, the warm-up was pure TORTURE - and Didi assured me that was only half of it! One thing is for sure, though, regular practice of what she made us do will make those under-arm ‘lelle’ disappear in no time at all. Emphasis was placed on LISTENING to the music, to hear the off-beat that gives your dancing the ‘funky’ feel. Once everybody had the routine pat, we were divided in two groups and ‘competed’. Great fun and good to know that, like Owen and Oliver, Didi will also be teaching at the Tanz Café. Cool!

The last session taken by Oliver Meckler covered two dance styles: The Lindy Hop and the Shim Sham. As he goes along, Oliver fills in little bits about the history of the dance and the people who developed these dances. Shim Sham steps are mostly named after the people that developed them and paint a picture of these people.  Shorty George is known to have danced with Big Bertha, and who would Tackie Annie have been – did she wear sneakers or was she slightly less than stylish?

The Lindy Hop is a partner dance dating from the 20’s and made popular at the Savoy dance Hall in Harlem. Also called the Jitterbug and probably the forerunner of the east-coast swing or jive we know today. It was danced much more ‘down into the floor’, though – or as Oliver put it – ‘us guys down here and the girls up there flirting with us!’ Shim Sham, on the other hand, is a line dance starting on the eighth count, which takes some getting used to. Also developed in the late twenties, both these dances were danced to the sounds of the big bands of the era.

All three of these dancers who led the workshops are highly professional in their presentation and have the knack of making it an enjoyable experience for all.  Just when you think you’re tired, Oliver flashes that infectious smile and says: ‘now show me’.

Owen & Company’s fast-moving Hip-Hop Cabaret in ‘Wild West’ style that followed was polished and entertaining to watch.

Honours goes to Mareli and her staff for putting together a smooth operation that included breakfast as well as a delicious lunch in an atmosphere of relaxed camaraderie. Where else would you find 30 dancers of all ages and talents working their hearts out on the dance floor while partners and daddies are holding up the bar with their 10 o’clock beer and discussing politics or the sport on TV?

Elsa Lakic

Ed
That's what I like about Mareli and Tanz Cafe, there is never a dull dance moment - pure DANCING, no POLITICS. Mareli continually changes her activities and the variety of her entertainment to produce dance EXCITEMENT for her huge following of dance lovers. If it's not Belly dancing, it's Hip-hop. If it's not Latin, keep-fit aerobic line dancing, it's Argentine Tango and now she has them all Shim-Shamming. Then they're off to Swaziland for a romp-raving weekend, or hobnobbing at 5 in the morning to breakfast with the Comrades, followed by lots of dance action. Tanz Café is a hive of activity... there's never a dull dance moment.