Coming same-sex dance competitions

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

Team DC same-sex dancers featured in Washington Blade

Kevin Majoros presents Terry Chasteen and Team DC's Lambda DanceSport DC in the Washington Blade: 


Just like many of us who have competed in the Gay Games, Terry Chasteen, founder of Lambda DanceSPORT DC, experienced a life-changing moment at his first Games experience.

Chasteen headed to Amsterdam in 1998 to compete in same-gender dancesport which was being contested for the first time in the history of the gay games. “I went there with no dance partner,” says Chasteen, “but they ended up pairing me with a gentleman from South Africa.

Without much practice, the duo was able to dance their way into the semi-finals in Latin dance. “Dancesport is huge in Europe and there many same-gender dance organizations such as Equality dance,” Chasteen says. “The ovations the crowds were giving us and the other dancers were amazing and it was definitely a life-defining moment.”

Keep reading HERE.

Washington DC dancers prepare for Cleveland 2014

Lambda DanceSport DC team is featured in the Washington Blade in an article by Kevin Majoros. The dancers perform and compete in Dancesport. The article can be read on the Washington Blade web site.

Click here to read the article titled "May I have this dance?".

A look back at the NASSPDA North American Same-Sex Dance Championships

photo Kati Garner

FGG member organization North American Same-Sex Partner Dancing Association (NASSPDA) recently held its championships in Sacramento, California, hosted by Dancing in the River City. Here are a few extracts from a good article in the Sacramento Bee:

The glamour and glitter of Hollywood, the unbelievable grace and beauty of ballroom dance and the amazing athleticism of international sport came together in Sacramento on Sunday.

The North American Same-Sex Dance Championships at The Ballroom of Sacramento was an exciting all-day competition of dancers from across the nation. The event culminated in an evening dance show, “Dangerous Liaisons: An Evening of Espionage and Intrigue,” featuring many of the champions and competitors. The competition was conducted under the auspices of the North American Same Sex Partner Dance Association, or NASSPDA.

From the time the first couple took the floor for the single dance events until the final formation team and show dance events, the competition was a whirl of action, grace and drama.

|...]

For the same-sex dance community, there are only a few welcoming programs among dozens of dance studios. In Sacramento, The Ballroom hosts a thriving same-sex program under the leadership of former world champion Robbie Tristan, and same-sex dancers are welcome at the Mirror Ball Dance Studio in Sacramento.

Dancing in the River City hosted the event as their fourth annual competition and show at The Ballroom. Under the leadership of Cindy Mills and her longtime partner Annette Wegesend, with dancers Robert Aina and Elly Bishop, DIRTC has built a strong organization of same sex dancers who are committed to holding this annual event. Since 2008, DITRC has been able to raise funds which have enabled Sacramento dancers to travel and compete in the Gay Games in Cologne, Germany in 2010 and in the North America Out Games in Vancouver, BC in 2011. The group is raising funds now to sponsor dancers to the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland, Ohio.

Read in full HERE.

15 December 2011 / NASSPDA champs featured in story on same-sex dance fundraiser

photo Boston.com

From the Cape Cod Times, a story on a fundraiser put on by NASSPDA champions:

PLYMOUTH — Kalin Mitov kept his hands low and snapped his fingers twice. Michael Winward ran his fingers through his hair. Then, as "You're Driving Me Crazy," sung by Della Reese, filled the mirrored room at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio on Wednesday, the two dancers glided across the wood floor — apart but in step.

Mitov led, and they turned and turned, at times with their arms flung open, backward, then forward, left then right. Their soft-soled shoes barely made a sound. The two men — both trim, dark-haired and gay — are national same-sex partners ballroom dancing champions.

On Dec. 15, they will perform at Club Purgatory at 11 Carver St. in Provincetown (info: 508-487-8442)to raise money for the "It Gets Better Project," a national campaign to give hope to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people who experience bullying and harassment.

"It's hard to put up with bullying if you don't have a niche," said Winward, 26, who grew up in Lowell and found a haven in dance when he was in high school. "It's a clear connection for me. This is kind of the gayest thing you can do. If you can do this, you'll be fine. Yeah, it does get better."

Keep reading HERE.

Same-sex dancers say "It Gets Better"

The same-sex dance community with FGG member organization NASSPDA have made a video for the "It Gets Better" project.

Note the Gay Games VIII medals on those Team San Francisco dancers!

View it below, and visit our "It Gets Better" page HERE.

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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.

NASSPDA to award same-sex DanceSport titles at North American Outgames

FGG member NASSPDA will be presenting their championship titles at this summer's North American Outgames DanceSport competition:

Vancouver 2011 North America Outgames
July 25 - 31

DANCESPORTS July 28 & 29, 2011

Not So Strictly Ballroom warmly welcomes dancers, spectators and friends to the 2nd VANCOUVER QUEER DANCE CLASSIC, a Same-Sex Dance Competition of the 2011 North America Outgames. Competitions will be held Thursday & Friday, July 28 and 29. NASSPDA CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES will be awarded on Friday evening.

Judges:
Head Judge: Lee Fox,Florida
Kim Donaghy, Calgary
Elizabeth Knoll, Portland
Luc Richer, Montreal
Dale Neal, Vancouver

Thursday July 28 daytime Country & Western Dance Competitions sanctioned by IAGLCWDC http://www.iaglcwdc.org/

Thursday evening join us for a Country & Western Dance. Everyone welcome! See registration form.

Friday July 29, daytime BALLROOM Competitions International & American Styles Single Dances Formation Teams sanctioned by NASSPDA http://www.nasspda.org

Friday Evening July 29 Showcase NASSPDA Championship Titles General Dancing Contact outgamesdance@gmail.com or call Pat Hogan at 604-253-7189 for information on dance competitions, hotel, possible host housing and more.

30 April 2011: 1st US National Same-Sex Dance Championships

From the JustOut blog, news of the 1st USA National Same-Sex DanceSport Championship to be held in Oakland, California:

It’s not exactly Dancing with the Stars but… it kinda sounds better, now that we think about it.

Oakland’s Just Dance Ballroom will host the inaugural USA National Championship same-sex ballroom competition authorized by [FGG-member] NASSPDA (North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association). The ninth annual April Follies has been designated as the first official competition to grant USA national titles.

First-rate hoofers from at least seven states, Canada and Mexico, including 2010 Male and Female Gay Games Medalists, will twirl on April 30 for the event. Competitions will include beginning and intermediate couples, pro-am pairs, as well as seasoned dancers in a variety of international and American style ballroom events, plus social dance styles such as country & western, swing, salsa, and Argentine tango, as well as formation teams.

The evening Showcase of Champions will feature the USA Championship A Grade and Show Dance Finals along with an open social dance for all — following a complimentary (what else?) dance class to introduce first-time dancers to “the joys of same-sex ballroom dance.”

For those interested in making the journey south to Cali, tickets are $15 (daytime events only), $25 (evening event), or $35 for the entire day. Reduced pricing is available if purchased by March 20. Visit aprilfollies.com, or search “April Follies 2011″ on Facebook for more information.

NASSPDA event raises funds for California Gay Games DanceSport participants

An extract from a great article in the Sacramento Press on the third annual Dancing in the River City Same-Sex Dance Competition in Sacramento, California:

The North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association (NASSPDA) 2011 California State titles were awarded in the day-long competition.

Competitors included several current and former world, European and national champions, and competitors from “So You Think You Can Dance.” Local dancers from beginner status through professional instructors showed off their best moves to an appreciative audience.

Four years ago, a group of same-sex dancers in Sacramento created a partnership, raising funds to send dancers to the international Gay Games, an Olympics-style competition of 35 different sports. By organizing the annual Dancing in the River City competition and dance shows, the group was able to sponsor 10 dancers to the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany.
Cindy Mills has been dancing for eight years and has seen the same-sex dance phenomenon grow with every event.

“Ballroom dancing takes years to master, and the level of dancing in Sacramento is getting higher all the time,” she said.

“We (U.S. dancers) did very well in Cologne. U.S. dancers are finally starting to catch up with European dancers who have had structured same-sex ballroom for far longer,” Mills continued.

Mills won gold and silver medals in Cologne with her Latin dance partner, Elly Bishop. Mills and her partner of 25 years, Annette Wegesend, are instrumental in organizing and producing this annual dance event.

She said she hopes to send even more dancers to the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland. Proceeds from the annual competition and show go to fund that endeavor.

Dancing With Pride, the same-sex dance instruction program at The Ballroom, is led by Robbie Tristan, a three-time world champion with European titles and Gay Games gold medals to his credit.

Read the full article, with plenty of great photos, HERE.