I was looking a the results from the Emerald Ball the other day and noticed that the Open Amateur Rhythm event was a 4-dance event (i.e. no mambo). I saw the same thing at the Ohio Star Ball as well.

I was surprized to see these two large prestigious comps water down the amateur rhythm event. I find this surprizing since NDCA rules state that Championship events must include all 5-dances. What's the point of establishing competition rules if no one needs to follow them?

Blair

How strange! They have it in pro, but not open amateur. The other three open amateur events had all five. That's just silly.

Ummm...somehow I don't think that the open amateur smooth had five dance events either...



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Fine...all...the dances they're supposed to have.

FYI, there are only 4 dances in American Smooth (no quickstep).

I think he was teasing me because I said, "The other three open amateur events had all five." I wasn't fully thinking about what I was writing.

Oops. I'm so embarrassed.

Blair-

First, are you sure you were looking at the championship event and not the scholarship event?

Second, the NDCA has a shovel full of rules that the comps do not necessarily follow. If amateurs were more aware on the whole of the rules, then they would find many disparities at most comps. I have come to think of the NDCA rules as "guidelines"...yeah, I know that doesn't seem right, and it can be really frustrating too...but comp. organizers are an independent lot and tend to do what they will.

KC,

I don't think I misinterpreted the results. The event I looked at under amateur multidance competitions was called "Amateur Open American Rhythm (C/R/Sw/B)." The entry form for amateur multidances at OSB also only has the four-dance event.

Incidentally, the the Pro/am Rhythm scholarship was a five-dance event (C/R/Sw/B/M). I don't understand why there's an exception for the amateur division.

Blair