Today I am posting the questions I sent to the International
Steppers Association (ISA). As of this morning, one week after the
questions were emailed we have not received an answer from the ISA.
As I stated in yesterday's Steppers Beat column; "It was clearly
stated in the document that "if
you are interested in participating in this open dialogue". A
dialogue involves two way communications. The questions have been
asked but the answers have not been tendered. If you want to create
excitement and involvement in the ISA the questions must be answered
least you risk alienation of the group of people you are trying to
attract. ISA, please answer these questions right away for the good of the
dance!
Tomorrow regardless if the answers come or not I will post the
questions you asked the ISA in the spirit of open communication."
Here is the document I sent (with NO answers)…
In the
interest of developing an open dialogue with the Chicago style
steppers community, SteppersUSA asked it's readers to submit
questions to the International Steppers Association (ISA) with the
intent of publishing the questions anonymously with responses by
Timothy D. Wilson to those questions on SteppersUSA. These are the
questions as compiled by Markie Bee…
Question:
Which established well known steppers from the "controlling elite"
in Chicago are part of this movement? (Veteran
"REAL" Chicago steppers with 20 or more years under their belt)
Answer:
Question:
If you don't have any of the established Chicago steppers in the
fold (as described previously), how do you expect to pull this off
without their support?
Answer:
Question:
How do you address
Chicago Style Stepping registered with an international dance
authority by a steppers organization with headquarters in a city
other than Chicago?
Answer:
Question:
If it's in fact decided to headquarter in another city (other than
Chicago), how do you expect to gain the support of the wider
community given the (probable) backlash from the Chicago community?
Answer:
Multi-part Question (please answer each individual part): The
membership qualifications/criteria for the WDC full memberships
listing dance schools, individual organizations on the council, and
professional and amateur members of the organization (ISC) brings up
the issue of who decides the standards?
One of the stated bullet points is to "Develop centralized training
curriculums for judges, instructors and teachers."
Who's qualified to categorize steppers as professional or
amateur?
What defines a professional?
What defines an amateur?
What criteria will be used?
How will the criteria be decided?
Who will train the judges?
Answer:
Question:
If there's no criteria in place for certifying instructors who's
qualified to decide that criteria?
Answer:
Question:
many of the instructors out there have not put anywhere near the
amount of hours on the floor that most instructors in Chicago have.
How do you intend on certifying these "inexperienced" instructors?
Answer:
Question:
How will instructors certify their students?
Answer:
Question:
Through the years the dance has gone through evolutionary changes in
form and factor. How would the ISA address the changes in the dance
as it evolves as it has in it's past?
Answer:
Once
again, as I said yesterday, hopefully the ISA will answer our
questions soon. If you want people to buy into what you are trying
to do ISA, you will have to be responsive to their questions on
their terms.
Personally, I have to say I believe becoming a "legitimate
recognized dance form" can do wonders for the dance. But if the
organization and/or its leadership aren't going to be responsive to
the people they aim to serve, what would it be like if they came to
a "position of power" and they were just as un-willing to
communicate? That’s something to think about.
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