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• There's no exemption for non-dancing families that I know of, and I agree completely with you. It's a strong-arm tactic that really only penalizes the families who aren't flush. And the ones who aren't flush - no matter how talented their dancers may be - don't count. (NT) -- Irish dance is BIG business - that's what counts these days, 08:25:05 12/06/11 Tue
  • A lot of times the hotel will provide the meeting space for free -- mod, 07:56:07 12/07/11 Wed
    • Hi Mod - it is a misconception that hotels offer free meeting space. Five ballrooms plus a costume sales room, tabulation, trophy storage etc. is a LOT of space. It's also over 4th of July weekend and it's a dance group so we are known to be very messy and very frugal as opposed to business travelers. Everyone has choices in life - one does not HAVE to attend nationals or any comp. Last year - everyone said they weren't going but it had the largest entry ever. (NT) -- -, 13:00:25 12/07/11 Wed
      • "one does not HAVE to attend nationals or any comp." And this is precisely what's wrong with majors in ID these days. Everyone treats them like -- it's a competition, not a vacation, 16:10:41 12/07/11 Wed
        • Actually from those that I have spoken to -- mod, 18:37:45 12/07/11 Wed
          • there are no legal implications and 'if there is a certain number or rooms' is the EXACT reason for the $100 fee. the certain number is really high. if people cancel before the event, the event faces attrition penalties and how do they re-coup??? Who have you spoken to? (NT) -- ?, 23:56:56 12/07/11 Wed
          • The dinner dance is not free - regardless of the block being sold or not - it is held to fulfill the mandatory food&beverage requirement set by the hotel when having the event (NT) -- you dont know what you are talking abotu, 08:34:33 12/09/11 Fri
        • The organization is the teachers of north america. Making the event smaller comes up year after year and gets voted down. It's not the event organizers who make that choice. Few schools have huge entries; most schools enter about ten-15 dancers. If they vote to tighten NAN, they may be voting out their students thus their reason for going. I'd LOVE for NAN to shrink; fewer judges, simple venue, simple awards - but then they'd be called cheap on the message boards. (NT) -- olympic contenders pay way more than we do..., 23:54:59 12/07/11 Wed
          • Olympic contenders do not pay more than we do, because they spend years in their respective sports funding their own way before they are even considered for the team. All competitive athletic activities come with a cost - and, all told, they are comparable. The real difference is that -- make it about the best dancers., 12:01:13 12/08/11 Thu
            • The teachers voting thing is like asking politicians to vote in a pay cut for all politicians, or asking turkeys to vote for Christmas. Many teachers have (I use the word only very lightly) gotten as far as NAN (for experience) and treasure those moments and want them for their students. You may not believe it but it's true (NT) -- 0-, 12:11:39 12/08/11 Thu
              • Fine. But then don't cal it a "major" competition, and don't make it a qualifier for Worlds. Because it's just a big feis that only the richest can afford to attend. It's no longer about the talent and the hard work that goes along with achieving a presitigious goal, but the $$, and the right to just go (NT) -- "for the experience", 12:20:29 12/08/11 Thu
              • There's a difference between going for the experience and going because you've earned the right to be there. Any teacher worth their salt would want their dancers to go because they've earned it. Anything less is like flying a helicopter to the top of Mount Everest just to be able to say you've reached the pinnacle. Whom are you going to respect more, the flyer who went for "the experience"or (NT) -- the one who climbed up from the bottom?, 12:38:47 12/08/11 Thu
                • I thought everyone who attends NANs HAS earned it, according to the current standards set forth by the experts in this art form? I qualify by being in OC. I'll never be on the podium, probably will never qualify for World's, but I am still a very talented dancer and I have worked SO hard over more than a decade to earn the right to dance at this competition. I do cherish this tiny bit of glory at the end of the struggle. The teachers know best; let's let them decide who's worthy. (NT) -- Senior lady, 06:43:16 12/09/11 Fri
                  • well said! (NT) -- congrats to you!, 09:28:32 12/09/11 Fri
                  • "according to the current standards set forth by the experts in this art form" - Correct. However, the discussion is really about whether the current standards are a realistic and sustainable reflection of the level of talent in ID, or whether they are set this way simply to maximize participation (and economic benefit for the various associated businesses) in the event . You may work very, very hard at school and excel to the best of your ability, but when you get out in the world, vying for your "dream job," no employer is going to hire two "champions" to do the work, just because everyone works hard and is worthy.. (NT) -- that just ain't reality., 10:23:16 12/09/11 Fri