At the beginning of this year, the Fordney Foundation made an important, new affiliation. There is a publication called DanceWeek, a biweekly publication representing current news of ballroom dancing. DanceWeek is part of the Heritage Dance Foundation. The Heritage Dance Foundation® is the largest nonprofit, independent organization of its type in the United States and continues to assist various professionals, amateurs, and organizers in granting scholarship funds for competitive ballroom dancing as well as other related areas in performing and visual arts throughout the country.
In 1998, The Heritage Dance Foundation, nonprofit corporation created by Charles S. Zwerling, MD, bought DanceWeek. DanceWeek became overnight, the flagship for the Heritage Dance Foundation whose mission is: to promote the international sport of partnership dancing through encouraging opportunities for dance education, cultivating excellence within the sport and elevating overall standards for a superior competitive environment.
We encourage you to take a look at DanceWeek for the latest news associated with ballroom dancing. They also work closely with the NDCA. This publication can be useful and helpful to all ballroom dancers. Also, from time to time, the Fordney Foundation will be writing articles for DanceWeek. This is fun and exciting for us.
I’d like to bring to your attention, a particular article that Dance Week published in its January 19, 2018, edition regarding Rules and Changes that the NDCA made in 2018. These rules affect Pre-Teen dress code.
Pre-Teen Girls – Skirts (a) Plain or pleated with minimum 1 to maximum 3 half circles. Only 3 panels total may be used in the construction of the skirt, regardless of how many half circles. One plain simple underskirt allowed which is no larger or longer than a top layer, and is the same or similar color as the outer skirt. (b) No godets or extra panels may be inserted into the skirt. (c) No uneven hemlines, frills, splits, openings, ace or sequins. Horsehair/Crinoline may be used as part of the construction but not as a trim. (d) Length of skirt must not be shorter than 3 inches above the kneecap and no longer than 3 inches below the kneecap. (e) At least one of the layers of the skirt must be solid (not sheet).
Bodice (a) Necklines: Boat high neck, V-neck, sweetheart ‘peter pan’ collar, and regular collar are allowed. Edging or trim of any kind, including ribbon, satin, lace, sequins, etc. is not allowed on the neckline. (b) Belting, as well as gathering or shirring is permissible from the waist down for a maximum of 2 inches, provided it is part of the dress itself and not an accessory. (c) Edging or trim on the bodice is not allowed. (d) No backless bodices allowed.
Materials (a) Fabrics MUST be only one color throughout, and the color must be continuously the same. (b) No rhinestones, glitter, metallic, thread pearls, pattern, sequins, or similar materials allowed. (c) No use of feathers, fringes, bows, belts, frills or sequins. (d) No flesh color fabric. (d) Any use of color-coordinated see-through fabric must be lined from waist to shoulder; for use on arms, no lining is needed. (f) Lace and/or burnout (also called Devore), or similar fabric, is not allowed. Lycra, spandex, polyester, plain velvet, satin or jersey is encouraged.
Appendix I
The following change was approved for invigilation in the American Smooth Bronze and Silver
NOTE: NEW RULE TO BECOME Effective July 1st, 2018
For all American Style Smooth Bronze and Silver levels, all couples must start in the traditional Ballroom closed hold, including the lady’s left hand being placed on the man’s right shoulder, and the first four bars they dance must be in this hold. Double Hand Hold and other Alternative Hand Holds do not count towards this requirement. For all Bronze and Silver levels 12 complete bars, including the required four bars to commence, of the first minute of music must be in a traditionally closed hold as already defined.
This is important information that we all need to know going forward. We want to thank Dr. Charles Zwerling (Chip) for the opportunity to be part of DanceWeek. We look forward to our association with you.
Here is where you can find DanceWeek: www.ballroom.org The Ballroom Dance Journal is published by the Heritage Dance Foundation, Inc.; Editorial and Executive Offices: 107 South Center Street, Goldsboro, North Carolina 27534; PHONE: 919-736-3500, FAX 919-735-3701.
Thought Of The Week:
You can’t achieve a new goal with an old version of yourself – John Michael Morgan
