REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: THE NATIONAL QUALIFYING EVENTS and why you should attend – or compete

Date: January 9, 2012

Several of our chapter’s professional members are serving as staff and/or adjudicators for the Orange County chapter’s February 4 Regional Championships.  Many of our DanceSport Athletes will be competing.  How can everyone else get involved?

  • Volunteer! Competitions need front-desk staff just like social dances do.  Competitions also have other volunteering needs, from runners to changing-room attendants to bringers of coffee.  Visit the competition links at http://usadance-oc.org/NQE/2012%20NQE/nqe2012.html to get an idea of just what goes into mounting a competition and see where you might be most interested in volunteering.
  • Spectate! Cheer on your friends and classmates.  Competitions aren’t like a theatre performance – they’re more like our showcases.  It’s not only okay to yell for your favorites, it’s expected.  And believe me, if you’re out on the floor trying to win, it’s very inspiring to hear your number or name called out.
    • Spectator admission is cheap – and it’s not only educational, it’s great entertainment.  You can buy tickets now online.  All syllabus through pre-champ events will be held during the daytime, with championship events in an evening session.  This means you don’t have to plan to attend for the entire day – but you may change your mind once you’re there.
  • Donate! USA Dance Orange County, just like USA Dance Los Angeles County, is a non-profit, with activities funded entirely through the proceeds of its own activities and through donations.  The regional championships has a budget of roughly $30,000.  Write a check to USAD-OC and it’s 100% tax deductible.
  • Sponsor! You can also contact USAD-OC to see about sponsoring scholarship awards.  Amateur DanceSport Athletes may spend thousands of dollars per year on costumes, coaching and travel.  They are allowed to receive scholarship awards to help defray these costs.  Our National champions receive scholarships from the organization; but at the local level, most awards come from the community.  If you have a favorite category of competition, offer a scholarship for the winners – or even the top three couples – in that event.  Your contribution here is 100% tax-deductible too.

The 2012 Southwest Regional Championships are a National Qualifying Event.  That means couples competing here become eligible to compete at the National Championships in Baltimore in April.  And as you may know, the National Championships are where the USA DanceSport representatives to the World Games are selected … as well as, maybe, future “Dancing with the Stars” professionals.

Have a question about competition or show dancing?  Want to share your story?  Email me at dancesport@usadancela.org!

By Alexandra Y. Caluen do you read me? Ombailamos