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Thu, Oct 17 2024, 20:42:21 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]

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Date Posted: 04:18:46 07/05/24 Fri
Author: enough is enough
Subject: A few gentle reminders
In reply to: More inside… 's message, "What’s with all the negativity towards adults? If you’re not an adult dancer, you really don’t need to worry about us." on 10:19:00 07/04/24 Thu

1) No one signs themselves up for Os. TC's sign dancers up for Os. So any dancer that is on that stage that you don't think "belongs"? A TC said sure! Why not! Get up on that big stage and dance.
2) I am so grateful for those dancers that get up on that stage. The adults have had to prove over and over again that we have the right to exist. Every single dancer at every single skill level that has shown up to feis and Os and Nans have shown each region and IDTANA that we should be here, we want to be here and we should not be looked over. If it weren't for our overwhelming numbers, we would still be dancing trad set and fast hornpipe.
3)I know this platform gets it's jollys being mean and nasty. But seriously? The entire "look" of this sport is crazy no matter what age. What traditionally started out as rag curlers and wearing our Sunday best has evolved. We wear stage makeup...because we dance on a stage. We wear wigs, and thank goodness. I used to sleep in curlers as a kid and had a terrible nights sleep before a competition. It was awful. The wigs got bigger to be seen when the judge is sitting below a stage. The dresses have gotten short, giving us higher kicks. They are light weight and we can actually jump. The athleticism of the sport has evolved and the costumes have evolved. And it's okay to not like them and it's okay to LOVE them. But you don't get to decide at what age a dancer "looks ridiculous". Would you approach a child and tell them to hide their legs and that they look dumb and tasteless? I mean, if you're a monster. So keep your opinions to yourself. I hope I'm lucky enough to don a dress and dance three rounds or a trad set well into old age.
4) Our competition is modeled after U8 and U9. They don't qualifty for Worlds, they dance trad set. This is what each region and IDTANA came up with. Advanced Adults? Something that they came up with. We don't have to qualify? Not our fault. We didn't ask for this. No one came to me and asked my opinon. They didn't poll the adults and this is what we all decided together. IDTANA is doing the best that they can since CLRG does not give two sh!ts about adult dancers. North America is trying. I am grateful that North America continues to strive towards inclusion and more fair competitions. Do I think they've got it right? Not quite yet. But I'm so glad that I can go to any feis across the country...because there most certainly was a time (uhh just a few years ago) that feis didn't have to include us.
5) The adults are the ONLY group that it's okay to discriminate against. Can you imagine any other group of dancers and a TC can say "oh no, I won't teach you". It's horrible! Why on earth it's okay to say that someone is to old to teach, not worth it to teach. Can you imagine at age 35 signing up for an art class and the teacher sees how old you are and just says "oh i'm sorry, I don't teach anyone over the age of 18. You are too old to learn". I hope you NEVER have to feel that. Life does not stop at 25. Athleticism should not stop at 25. Every other sport does not stop at 25. Hell, a gymnastics gym up the street from me hosts adult gymnastics and adult ninja warrior. What is wrong with you people? Seriously? Any other group and you'd lose your minds! I don't teach blonde kids. I don't teach slow learners. I don't teach boys. I don't teach kids that are easily distracted. I don't teach kids with obnoxious parents. I don't teach kids with turned in feet. Replace the word "adult" with any other group and it's just absurd. But "adult" has become this word that means that you get to say whatever you want. Again, I realize this is voy and asking people to be thoughful is just screaming into the void.
So enough. We didn't choose these competition categories. We just want space to enjoy competition. Why do I want to compete? Why can't i just enjoy performance? Because I like competition. Simple as that. I get to do something I enjoy. I get to exist in this space. And may you never find a space that tries to exclude you for something as silly as age.

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