Jeff/Marc, I read your post concerning workshops, training and standards and the events that happened in Cleveland. I assume that what happened last weekend is happening at every convention/conference. That failed template has been consistently problematic for some time now. I think your open piece was honest and on point but we need to do more.
One of the goals of the ISA is to support the socialized system and culture that exist today. Many of the social articles I have read have a similar underpinning that suggests formalized professional training is not only needed but a requirement if students are to properly learn how to dance and repeat learning. This is obviously intuitive and can only be addressed in a classroom and learning environment and not on the dance floor. With the support of the GSDTA and their certification program we are one step away from getting there. We have to encourage our best social dancers to get involved now. Yes we all can and should continously learn more but that is a hard sell if that is not your true intent.
From a strategic vantage point Steppin has reached a point of diminishing return as it relates to teaching and learning. As you know socialized cultures do not teach a protocol which is why we all go to school to learn common principles from trained professionals. Likewise we do not ask or address cultural nuisances to solve advanced placement of our best students. Training modules, curriculums and standards are all set by those who are properly trained and specialize in this area. These agreed upon terms and standards are what leverages our youth to become seasoned students and go on to higher degrees of learning. Educators know that learning has to be repeatable and must have a common language. In our viewpoint GSDTA's Universal Unit System is the only dance language that has been proven to work across all dances. A right turn must be communicated consistently 100% of the time the same way no matter what city or instructor is teaching it as an example.
The ISA is committed to supporting professionalized training from certified professionals who have a proven record of training success. Whether it is GSDTA, Arthur Murray, Fred Astaire or a host of other dance schools, there must be professional training involved in all dancing. Every mature dance system that exists today has professionalized training. Without a system that works and has been proven the broader population will resent that they have been mislead by false advertisement and failed promises that systematically could never come to fruition. Additionally, they will never return to the level of financial support or trust once that has been taken from them ultimately ending in avoidance. Let the buyer beware is always the first defense but that seldom is a priority when family or the thought of integrity from family is the seller.
Successful education and training cannot be satisfied from a cultural perspective. Cultures are simply incubators of common likes and dislikes, myths and beliefs, norms and behaviors. That is about it. Cultures cannot and don’t teach advanced skills. We have been down this road as far back as the societal dance circles of the Yoruba and Ashanti tribes. These West African influences were heavily a part of the Congo Square circles in New Orleans in the early 1800s. This is well documented in historical accounts of the migration and Diaspora of dance. All of these are gone today because cultures change as technology and modernity changes. Yes we learned cultural stories and recited great local histories and songs. But the advancement of our culture and society then was slow and localized. Here we are in 2011 still trying to encourage others to change to a modern approach void of stereotypes, fear and skepticism. We either can stay here for another 50 years or watch our small contribution to dance go the way of Lindy Hop, the Charleston and the like. The culture icons of that day danced well but never organized or documented their story. Here we are about to repeat this mistake again. Outside of Frankie Manning most dancers cannot name more than five (5) dancers or five (5) fad dance movements that are parallel today (i.e. Snake Hips). The point here is that the dance must be first and foremost and not fixated on the individual. The promoter/promotion model can never support continued/sustained growth by the masses. The community is grown too large and too diversified in number. It is time to change the model to protect what we have built. Lastly, success is not about a city name or region. There are simply no dances that have a city name attached that equates to success. I am sure someone from Tokyo would resent calling his dance anything but his local culture. So the key there is to remain neutral and simply to call it Steppin.
The ISA is one of many organizations that can help our Steppers advance to the next level (Yes there are many). Our approach is to centralize, organize, standardize and provide the necessary training required to ensure the future of Steppin is well documented and supported by the indigenous Stepper. There are a few times in a lifetime to take advantage of an opportunity. This is one of them.
The ISA is growing and certainly can grow faster if others like you join and support Steppin this way. We have a centralize agenda, budget and a growing following that can leverage the federal grant and private organizations in each city. Steppin is more than just selling products, having dancing sets for hours and hours or commenting on cultural challenges. This commentary seldom bares edible fruit. If anything it annunciates what is wrong with the existing aggregate approach. At some point we have to simply participate in the obvious. Let’s take out the local social labels (heavy hitters, out of towners, 6 and 8 count etc) and get involved by participating. I mean really participating by joining and lending a hand. We will find a better professionalized community of dancers and teachers in the very near future. One where our vendors, teachers and instructors will find better opportunities than $400 in cash for a weekend just to pay for the necessities of life. What good is it to fly to a city for a workshop and you cannot pay for a return ticket back home? This scenario happens frequently and it makes small chatter on the social network with names attached. Let’s end this practice and do much more collectively. Let’s take advantage of programs, academia and other institutions that are doing what we want for our own culture today. We are modern educated dancers who can and must contribute to the broader body of knowledge. The cost of organizing is low ($50 annually). The price of abstaining from participating in a formalized environment of learning is high as it relates to a loss of cost and time.
The ISA Convention is scheduled for 24-26 June 2011 in Oak Lawn, IL. We are inviting the entire Steppin community to join us for three (3) days of discussions about our community, business, training and standards. We are asking others to help broaden the agenda so that members can collectively brainstorm and advance the discussion. The business meeting means we will address the programs whereby all Steppers benefit. We are not having a dance or Steppers set. This is a time to lay to the side social commentary and dancing and get to work first. Everyone who registers has the same equal vote. Majority rules but the collective weighs in. That is the value of organizing. No one person should dictate the collective.
If there was a time to take this seriously now is the time. The future will judge us by what we do today and our youth will read about our decisions tomorrow.
I trust that you and others will not only join us but take an active role inviting others to participate in the ISA. If there is a format or forum required to extend the communication then let us take the opportunity to ensure that those who have a genuine interest in doing so take advantage of this open discussion. The ISA is open to the opportunity as we continue to build with the Stepper in mind.
Thank you for your assistance in spreading the word.
Timothy"
Timothy D. Wilson
President
International Steppers Association
http://www.internationalsteppersassociation.org/
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