United Country Western Dance Council Explained

Full Name:United Country Western Dance Council
Nickname:"The U-C"
Formation:1989
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Founding Location:Grantville, Pennsylvania, United States
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Area Served:or
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Owners:-->
Leader Title:President
Leader Name:Keith Armbruster
Leader Title2:Vice President of Judge Certification
Leader Name2:Kathy St. Jean
Leader Title3:Vice President of Rules and Scoring Procedures
Leader Name3:Beth Emerson
Leader Title4:Treasurer
Leader Name4:Tim Perez
Key People:Noelle Linch – Secretary, Kathi Bittner – 1st Past President, Jeff Bartholemew – 2nd Past President
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Parent Organisation:-->
Website:https://ucwdc.org
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The United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC) is an organization that advocates for and organizes competitive country/western dancesport events. UCWDC regionally-sanctioned events are hosted in more than two dozen U.S. cities and also in the nations of Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany,[1] [2] South Korea, Belgium, Malaysia, Ireland, Japan, China, South Africa, and Lithuania.[3]

The UCWDC is based on a framework of event directors, who are owners of regional dance-competition events in cities around the world. The event directors are overseen by a board of directors. The board of directors governs the overall organization and maintains a standard of operations, uniform competition format, judging, scoring and comprehensive rules, adhered to by dancesport competitors.

These dancesport participants compete at authorized regional dance competitions during the dance season, beginning in January and ending in December of any given year. After attending a required minimum number of dance events, dancers are able to establish eligibility for attending the UCWDC Country Dance World Championships at the end of the year.[4]

History

The UCWDC was established in 1989 and was incorporated in 1990 as a non-profit organization in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.[5]

In 1980, the film Urban Cowboy, featuring John Travolta, was released.[6] The movie influenced popular culture with not only the success of three #1 hits on the country music charts, but the portrayal of a country/western nightclub, country/western attire and a dance competition at the Dallas, Texas honkytonk, Gilley’s.[7] Country/western dance became popular in the United States and gave rise to nightclubs such as the Grizzly Rose in Denver, Colorado,[8] the Lone Star Cafe in New York City, New York[9] and the Wrangler’s Roost in San Diego, California.[10]

A new dance craze began in the United States and with it, the rise of country/western dance competitions.[11] [12] In 1989, a group of 21 country/western dance-event owners met in Grantville, Pennsylvania with the goal of creating a national organization with uniform rules, teaching canon, judging, dance standards and competition formats. Prior to the creation of the UCWDC, country/western dance events had differing formats and rules. The UCWDC created a uniform structure.[13]

UCWDC Country Dance World Championships

The UCWDC Country Dance World Championships, popularly referred to as "Worlds",[14] [15] is an annual competition which awards country/western world dancesport championship titles to individuals,[16] [17] couples,[18] and dance teams from around the globe.[19] Worlds has been held every year, since its inception in 1993, with the exception of the 2021 event which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20] The world championships are the culmination of a competition season and have been located primarily inside the United States, however they were held once in Canada,[21] once in the Netherlands,[22] [23] and once in Sweden.[24] "Worlds" is the largest event on the UCWDC calendar.[25] Worlds 2020 had over 6,500 entries,[26] while Worlds 2023 has over 7,000 entries.[27]

Adjudication

The UCWDC maintains a program for judge training and certification in order to establish uniformity and credibility. Potential candidates for this training must pay fees for training, adhere to a code of conduct,[28] and maintain currency as a UCWDC adjudicator.[29] The Vice President of Rules oversees UCWDC-certified judges,[30] maintains a list (or "pool") of qualified judges[31] and establishes standards for judging methodology.[32]

Dance divisions

Competitors at UCWDC events are required to have a current UCWDC associate membership.[33] Dancesport contestants may register in couples, line dance, teams, ProAm, ProPro, cabaret or showtime competition divisions. These divisions are divided by skill level and by age. Dancesport competition occurs via a system of “heats”. As a heat begins, contestants enter the floor from a staging area, take positions, a deejay plays music and the contestants perform. UCWDC couples, ProAm, and ProPro may compete in as many as eight country/western dances which are danced in the following prescribed order; triple two-step, nightclub, waltz, polka, cha cha, east coast swing, two-step, and west coast swing.[34]

Couples

In couples competition, one partner, generally a male, is the "lead" and the other, generally a female, the "follow". Leads wear a number pinned to their back. The number allows the judges to assign judging scores to the appropriate competitive couple.[35] [36] In UCWDC couples competition, dancers compete at a dance level commensurate with their skill abilities and/or qualifications.

Dancers may choose to compete in Classic style or Showcase style. In Classic, the competitors do not know which song the deejay will choose for them. In Showcase, couples choreograph routines to specific songs.

Dance levels:

Couples divisions are also organized by age[37] [38]

Age Division Age Restrictions
Junior Primary less than 10
Junior Youth 10-13
Junior Teen 14-17
Open 18+
Crystal 30+
Diamond 40+
Silver 50+
Gold 60+
Platinum 70+

ProAm and ProPro

ProAm couples are a dance partnership formed between a professional dancer and a student. In general, the student pays the professional to dance with them in competition.[39] [40] ProPro couples are made up of two professional dancers, one of which is generally the senior instructor and the other, a professional who is the "student". The students wear a number pinned to their back. In UCWDC ProAm or ProPro competition, student dancers compete at a dance level commensurate with their skill abilities and/or qualifications.

Dance levels:

ProAm or ProPro divisions are also organized by age[37] [41]

Age Division Age Restrictions
Junior Primary less than 10
Junior Youth 10-13
Junior Teen 14-17
Open 18+
Crystal 30+
Diamond 40+
Silver 50+
Gold 60+
Platinum 70+
Pearl 80+

UCWDC regional events

Defunct UCWDC events
Event name Location
Utah Country Western Dance Challenge Salt Lake City, Utah
Atlantic Seashore Dance Faire Williamsburg, Virginia
Star of the Northland Dance Festival Minneapolis, Minnesota
River City Country Western Dance Festival Edmonton, Alberta
Gateway Country Classic St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri Country Dance Rodeo Joplin, Missouri
Firecracker Country Dance Festival Dayton, Ohio
Sunshine State Country Western Dance Festival Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Derby City Championships Louisville, Kentucky
Portland Dance Festival Portland, Oregon
London Dance Classic London, United Kingdom
Eastern Invitational Dance Challenge Washington, DC

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Deutsche Country & Western Tanzmeisterschaft . countryszene4u.de . Sportverein . 30 December 2022.
  2. Web site: German Cup 2019 . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 30 December 2022.
  3. Web site: UCWDC Events . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 21 November 2022.
  4. Web site: UCWDC® World Championships 2023 Eligibility . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 30 December 2022.
  5. Web site: Dennis and Carol Waite - 2005 Hall of Fame . issuu.com . UCWDC . 30 December 2022 . 7 . 2008 Country Dance World Championships program.
  6. Web site: Jeremy Burchard . How Gilley's and 'Urban Cowboy' Changed Country Music Forever . Wide Open Country . WOMG . 30 December 2022 . 7 February 2021.
  7. Web site: Country Star Mickey Gilley Remembered in North Texas After Death . nbcdfw.com . NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth . 30 December 2022.
  8. Web site: Denver's honkytonks changed after country music's heyday . denverite.com . Colorado Public Radio . 4 January 2023 . January 13, 2018.
  9. Web site: Robert Palmer . Country Music Now A Fixture In The Big City . . 4 January 2023 . October 23, 1981.
  10. Web site: Remember How the 'Urban Cowboy' Craze Took Over '80s Country Music? . tasteofcountry.com . Taste of Country . 4 January 2023.
  11. Web site: Rock Moment: The Urban Cowboy Craze . 30daysout . 30 Days Out . 29 December 2022.
  12. Web site: Inside Country Music's Polarizing 'Urban Cowboy' Movement . Rollingstone.com . Rolling Stone Magazine . 30 December 2022.
  13. Web site: Jennell Lewis . UCWDC Returns To The West Coast After 20-Year Hiatus . flodance.com/ . FloSports, Inc. . 30 December 2022 . Dec 26, 2017.
  14. Web site: The UCWDC Country Dance World Championships Set For Dec. 30, 2013 Through Jan. 5, 2014 . aristopr.com . 26 November 2022.
  15. Web site: Lewis . Jennell . UCWDC Founding Member Reflects On '80s Country Revolution . flodance.com . Present FloSports, Inc. . 17 December 2022 . Dec 26, 2017.
  16. Web site: Recap UCWDC World Championships . flodance.com . FloSports, Inc. . 22 December 2022.
  17. Web site: Ballerina, senior UT student to compete in Country Dance World Championships . thedailytexan.com . The Daily Texan . 21 December 2022.
  18. Web site: Competitive Country Dance….Why Would You? . texashotcountrymagazine.com . Texas Hot Country Magazine . 20 December 2022.
  19. Web site: Worlds Event Info . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 3 December 2022.
  20. Web site: Keith Armbruster . Covid-19 Update . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 1 January 2023.
  21. Web site: Line Dance With Rachael McEnaney-White . www.rachael.dance . Rachael McEnaney-White . 21 November 2022.
  22. Web site: Kickit Review of Worlds X in The Netherlands . western-entertainment . 21 November 2022.
  23. Web site: UCWDC World Championships 2002 "The Netherlands" . rhythmsofdance.com . Rhythm and Dance by RDTymko . 21 November 2022.
  24. Web site: GNR Dance Staff Biography - Gerald Cote . booksteam.com . 21 November 2022.
  25. Web site: UCWDC World Championships . flodance.com . FloDance . 8 December 2022.
  26. Web site: The Girl with the Tree Tattoo . 2020 UCWDC Country Dance World Championships Recap . Flodance.com . FloDance . 8 December 2022 . Jan 7, 2020.
  27. Web site: 2023 UCWDC Country Dance World Championships Current Registered Competitors . countrydancedirector.com . DanceDirector Solutions . 8 December 2022.
  28. Web site: Judge Certification Code Of Conduct . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 31 December 2022.
  29. Web site: UCWDC Judge Certification . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 30 December 2022.
  30. Web site: Organizational Structure . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 31 December 2022.
  31. Web site: Judge Certification Current Pool . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 31 December 2022.
  32. Web site: UCWDC Judge Methodology Chart . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 31 December 2022.
  33. Web site: UCWDC Rules, Contest Procedures and Scoring Format– COUPLES . us.archive.org . UCWDC . 16 January 2023 . 2–3.
  34. Web site: UCWDC Rules, Contest Procedures and Scoring Format– COUPLES . us.archive.org . UCWDC . 16 January 2023 . 10.
  35. Web site: Line Dance Competition Part I: Pro Am Line . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 2 January 2023.
  36. Web site: Guide to Competitive Ballroom Dancing for the Spectator and Competitor . kansascitydanceclassic.com . Kansas City Dance Classic . 16 January 2023.
  37. Web site: 2023 Country Dance World Championships Souvenir Program . archive.org . UCWDC . 16 January 2023 . 18.
  38. Web site: UCWDC Rules, Contest Procedures and Scoring Format– COUPLES . us.archive.org . UCWDC . 16 January 2023 . 3.
  39. Web site: What Can I Do As A Pro-Am Dancer? . dancecompreview.com . Dance Comp Review . 16 January 2023.
  40. Web site: UCWDC Rules, Contest Procedures and Scoring Format for pro/pro and pro/am 2023 - 2025 . ucwdc.org . UCWDC . 16 January 2023.
  41. Web site: UCWDC Rules, Contest Procedures and Scoring Format– COUPLES . us.archive.org . UCWDC . 16 January 2023 . 3.
  42. Web site: 31st Annual Peach State Dance Festival . peachstatedance.com . Peach State Dance . 30 December 2022.
  43. Web site: Peach State Dance Festival and Competition! . travelblog.org . 30 December 2022.
  44. Web site: Dancing in Atlanta . stepsontoes.com . Steps on Toes Dance Lessons . 30 December 2022.
  45. Web site: Dance Contest Played for Laughs Raises Consciousness Anyway . stepsontoes.com/ . Steps on Toes Dance Lessons . 30 December 2022.
  46. Web site: Peach State Dance Festival . capturelifethroughthelens.com . Capture Life Through The Lens . 30 December 2022.
  47. Web site: Peach State Country Western Dance Festival 2010 Atlanta . NaturalBornKieler & GermanRedneck . NBK / Seiffert.Info . 30 December 2022.
  48. Web site: Von Ralf Schunk . Line-Dancer der SV Arnum siegen in Amsterdam . haz.de . Hannoversche Allgemeine . 30 December 2022.
  49. Web site: Tulip Challenge . tulipchallenge.com . Tulip Challenge . 30 December 2022.
  50. Web site: Anne Degoy . Patricia Mathieu . Brigitte Truffandier . Danse au pays des tulipes . country-france.fr/danse . Country-France . 30 December 2022.
  51. Web site: How Country-Western Dancing Has Kept In Time . yycfitness.com . YYC Fitness . 30 December 2022.
  52. Web site: Canada's Largest and Longest Running Country, Swing & Line Dance Event . visitcalgary.com . Tourism Calgary . 30 December 2022.
  53. Web site: Calgary Dance Stampede . sportcalgary.ca . Calgary Sport Council Society . 30 December 2022.
  54. Web site: Calgary Dance Stampede . calgarydancestampede.com . Calgary Dance Stampede . 30 December 2022.
  55. Web site: Keith Armbruster Dance Productions . Keith Armbruster Dance Productions . Keith Armbruster Productions Inc. . 30 December 2022.
  56. Web site: 2 brothers join efforts to bring more than 100 dancers on stage in Calgary to support Ukraine . cbc.ca/news/canada . CBC/Radio-Canada . 30 December 2022.
  57. Web site: San Diego Dance Festival . sandiegodancefestival.com . San Diego Dance Festival . 31 December 2022.
  58. Web site: Feel The Rush! . oklahomadancerush.net . Oklahoma Dance Rush . 31 December 2022.
  59. Web site: Brindisina si porta a casa un oro al mondiale di danza country . brindisireport.it . Brindisi Report Sport . 31 December 2022.
  60. Web site: Italian Country Western Dance Classic . icwdc.eu . Italian Country Western Dance Classic . 31 December 2022.
  61. Web site: The German Dance Cup . thegermandancecup.com . The German Dance Cup . 31 December 2022.
  62. Web site: Turnier- und Sportordnung des Niedersächsischen Country Western Tanzsportverbandes e. V. . ncwtv.de . Niedersächsischen Country Western Tanzsportverbandes e. V. . 31 December 2022.
  63. Web site: Karl-Jürgenlüdecke . Country Line Dancing - für Singles geeignet . silo.tips . Nord Tanzsport . 31 December 2022 . 11 . German.
  64. Web site: Annet Mintjes Benelux Kampioen Line Dance . Koudum.nl . 15 January 2023.
  65. Web site: Ucwdc - Benelux Open . ucwdc-benelux-open . 15 January 2023.
  66. Web site: Our Story - Dance Fiesta . dancefiesta.net . New Mexico Dance Fiesta . 3 January 2023.
  67. Web site: Dance Fiesta . dancestationusa.com/ . Dance Station . 3 January 2023.

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