Coming same-sex dance competitions

Visit ESSDA's events page for upcoming competitions in Europe and North America. See it HERE.

FGG, ESSDA, and NASSPDA express support of Chaz Bono

Chaz Bono, a trans man born as Chastity Bono, the daughter of Cher and Sonny Bono, has been cast by American TV network ABC for its dance competition "Dancing With the Stars". The presence of a trans person has raised the hackles of transphobic persons, who are protesting his presence (more info HERE).

The Federation of Gay Games and its two international LGBT DanceSport member organizations ESSDA and NASSPDA have written a letter of support to Chaz Bono:

We are writing to support you as you face criticism from transphobic bigots relative to your participation in the "Dancing With the Stars" television competition.

We represent the North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association, the European Same-Sex Dance Association, and the international Federation of Gay Games. We and our members represent thousands of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and allied dancers who organize and compete in the dozens of same-sex dance competitions held each year.

We firmly believe in DanceSport as an athletic pursuit for health and well-being of the mind and body, in the artistic expression it provides, and in the community of support and solidarity it creates. We hope that you will be able to discover the joys of dancing, despite the virulent attacks from what we hope are in fact only a few close-minded persons.

We wish you success in the competition, and hope that, if you come to love DanceSport as much as we do, you will join us in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2014 for DanceSport at Gay Games 9.

In any case, we are ready and willing to offer help from ourselves and our members.

En français / Reportage sur la danse sportive au TIP

Du "Blog de la Danse Sportive":

Depuis 8 ans la Fédération Sportive Gaie et Lesbienne (FSGL) organise le Tournoi International Multisport de Paris et cette année, les Gais Musette se sont mobilisés pour organiser la première compétition de danse sportive same sex en France. Au programme de cette première édition : Compétition Standards Hommes, Latines Femmes, Latines Hommes et Standards Femmes.

L’organisation

La compétition s’est déroulée dans le 3e arrondissement au gymnase Michel Lecomte. Un luxe d’aller en compétition en métro, voir même à pied ! (si j’avais été un minimum courageux !)

La salle, avec une belle superficie attendait les danseurs tout comme les spectateurs qui se sont fait nombreux dès l’ouverture des portes à 9h. Amis, gays, hétéros, curieux. Tout le monde était la pour encourager les compétiteurs et apprécier le spectacle.

Malgré le stress et des petites erreurs des premières fois, les Gais Musette ont réussi à faire de cette première compétition un véritable succès, apprécié de tous.

Nos amis étrangers sont désormais au courant que la France est bien présente sur le plan international comme organisatrice de compétition et qu’elle a, avec elle, des concurrents sérieux.

Les juges

Trois juges Français étaient présents : Labergère Sébastien, Alkama Stéphane et Brigitte Farinho Une première pour eux qui n’avaient jamais participé à une compétition same sex.

Les juges se sont posés quelques questions avant la compétition, mais au final, un couple reste un couple, qu’ils soient mixte ou same-sex, le jugement reste le même.
Nous espérons voir de plus en plus de juge français accepter de juger ces compétitions. Et pour moi cela a était un honneur de me faire évaluer par eux.

La competition

Deux couples français ont accédé à la plus haute catégorie (Adultes A) en Latines et standards. Il s’agit des couples Axel Zischka et Julien Poli en Standards et de Doose Torben et Pascal de Pedro en Latines. Axel et Julien terminent 3e de se tournois, tandis que Torben et Pascal terminent 2e.

Keep reading HERE.

Video from first LGBT DanceSport competition in France

From this past weekend's TIP DanceSport competition hosted by les Gais Musette, a member of FGG member organizations FSGL and ESSDA.

Gay Games medallists named Cologne sports team of the year

A message from FGG member European Same-Sex Dance Association:

During the live show "Kölsche Sportnaach 2011" on the local TV channel of Cologne, Germany, Caroline Privou and Petra Zimmermann were awarded the title of best sports team of Cologne for the year 2011. Never before had a same-sex dance couple received this type of recognition in a mainstream sports awards ceremony !

Caroline and Petra are the top ranking female couple in Standard (also known as Ballroom dancing) worldwide. In addition to the many international dance titles they have won (EuroGames, Gay Games, Outgames, etc...) they have been given this award in recognition to their dedication to dancesport, their very professional approach and the class and level of dancing never before witnessed in the world of same-sex dancing. They are outstanding ambassadors for the entire "same-sex dance community" around the world.

ESSDA, the European Same-Sex Dance Association, congratulates Caroline and Petra for this wonderful achievement and wishes to express its sincere gratitude to them because this award gives same-sex dancing a place in the (inter)national sports scene!

During the next EuroGames Rotterdam 2011 (the Netherlands), 21 - 24 July 2011, ESSDA will host the first official "European Same-sex Dance Championships" where about 400 same-sex dance couples from all around the world are expected to compete in Latin-American, Standard and Show Dance.

ESSDA DanceSport competition in Hamburg

Equality DanceSport competition on 6 November in Hamburg, Germany.
More info HERE.