over USA DANCE SILVER ANNIVERSARY (1965- 2015) CStory DAN SA CE U A TURNING POINT YEAR FOR THE NEXT 50 istorians have called the 1960s a United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Fifty years later in 2015, USA Dance turning point in American history. Association (USABDA). The year was recognizes the dedicated leaders and HIt was often a tumultuous time 1965 and the USABDA leadership believed volunteers who have made this 501c3 and historical events during the decade that competitive ballroom dancing (today charitable organization what it is today. redefi ned people’s lives, from the War in referred to as DanceSport) could one day The USA Dance 50th Anniversary is a Vietnam, the Civil Rights and Women’s become an Olympic sport. Although the time of great celebration. And chapters Movement and the assassination of Olympic dream was the founding mission, have every opportunity to promote their President John F. Kennedy to the fi rst the leaders also believed that ballroom programs, grow their membership and U.S. space walk, the Beatles invasion and dancers – whether social or competitive create the support alliances they need for the start of Social Security benefi ts. – and a network of social dance chapters continued success in their communities. It was during this decade that USA could make a measurable difference in Happy National Ballroom Dance Year. Dance found its humble beginning as the people’s lives and their communities. The celebration starts now! By Archie Hazelwood, Past President, USABDA [now USA Dance, Inc.] THE VISION OF “The United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association, Inc., ONE DANCER, NOW known nationwide as USABDA [now USA Dance, Inc.], was formed in 1965 to promote the acceptance of ballroom dancing into the Olympics. THE PASSAGE OF A At that time the late Normand Martin, a leading social and competitive dancer and ballroom dance champion, organized a group of interested GLOBAL MOVEMENT. amateur dancers to petition the Olympic Committee for inclusion of Ballroom Dancing into the Olympics. USABDA — USA DANCE Those early efforts to get into the Olympics failed but in developing the USABDA bylaws, it was realized that the dance world of the Amer- THE FOUNDATION ican Amateur went far past accommodating the “International Style” YEARS (1965-1999) competitors who were interested in the Olympics. As the founders of USA DANCE PRESIDENTS –THE FIRST 6 TERMS AMATEUR DANCER TO AMERICAN DANCER A CHRONICLE OF HISTORY: THE FIRST 2 DECADES 1965-1966 1979- 1984 USA Dance history is well documented NORMAND MARTIN. Founded RICHARD MASON. Began the in its publication, today called American USABDA in 1965. Served as fi rst diplomacy process to unify all ama- Dancer Magazine. The rst two issues of President. Established structural teur dance organization in the U.S. the of cial magazine – then called Amateur outline for the organization. Dancer — were published in 1979. It wasn’t 1984 - 1987 the glossy magazine it is today, but a very 1966-1967 MARY WETHINGTON. Established detailed newsprint publication. The USA SIG SCHWARTZ. Former NY Chapter New Vision for USABDA, fi nalized Dance organization was then registered President. Continued work of Martin. the unifi cation of amateurs required as the United States Amateur Ballroom by USOC for Class C membership Dancers Association, and an “s” was soon 1967-1975 and added focus on youth and added to the magazine name to become GEORGE GRUBER. Served during regional structure for chapters. Amateur Dancers. period when USABDA’s western A sampling of various archived print covers chapters separated from eastern 1987 - 1993 chapters to form separate amateur PETER POVER. Played major role in below gives indication of the evolution of USA organization. Upon George’s 1975 unifi cation of amateurs in the U.S. and Dance history and its publication. Beginning death, wife Joan kept organization was part of IDSF Presidium leader- in 1980, the rst year of the USA Dance August/September 1981 National DanceSport Championships, held together until 1979. ship that gained IOC recognition for Headlines: Medal Tests, DanceSport in 1997 and paved way in Baltimore, Amateur Dancers became a bi- Elections, Nationals 82/83 for DanceSport into the Olympics. monthly publication (6 issues a year). President Dick S. Mason 12 American Dancer | www.americandancer.org USABDA worked on defi ning focused on promoting the the dancing guidelines and growth of all styles and forms needs to be considered in of ballroom dancing, both developing the Bylaws, the competitive and recreational American Style competitors social dancing. This included a and a vast number of serious program to establish a network and dedicated Social Dancers of chapters in each state. These suddenly came into view. The efforts were very successful with resultant Bylaws of USABDA Carson Zullinger major growth each year in the addressed three very import- number of dancers, chapters ant areas of association – the International Junior I Standard Champions at the USA Dance and related activities such as competitions, Style competitors, the American Style 2014 National DanceSport Championships. workshops and social dances. Much labor The goal of the Olympic Movement is to con- competitors and the Social dancers. tribute to building a peaceful and better world and resources were devoted to promoting Those early-on plans of USABDA, by educating youth through sport practiced ballroom dance and DanceSport in colleges in accordance with Olympism and its values. while helping the competitors to compete Resource: www.TeamUSA.org and secondary schools, a long term project nationally and internationally, also helped that will extend over many years. set the stage for the availability of fl oors, New Bylaws were formulated providing for The last few years produced signifi cant music and venue for the Social dancers a national organization with a regional and progress in DanceSport’s journey into the which then were and still are, the back- chapter structure. In 1987, a unifi cation Olympics. In 1997 the IDSF was granted full bone and strength of USABDA. election was held that brought all amateurs recognition by the International Olympic During its early years USDABDA consist- into one national organization which then Committee (IOC) as the world-wide ed primarily of a small number of members was recognized by the international world governing body for DanceSport. Then in in the greater New York area, a few in the governing body, now known as the Interna- 1999, the United States Olympic Committee Washington, DC section of the country, plus a tional DanceSport Federation (IDSF). Since (USOC) granted Affi liate membership small number on the West Coast. In 1978, the then USABDA has functioned as the national to USABDA, including recognition as the MidEastern Chapter was formed and actions governing body for all forms of amateur National Governing Body of DanceSport were initiated to take USABDA into other ballroom dancing in the United States. in the United States. The next step in parts of the country and to commence creat- USABDA organizes and supports DanceSport’s journey into the Olympics will ing a national organization. National elections educational programs among the public be for the IOC to grant Program Status to were held in 1979 and the next few years saw about the healthful aspects of recreational DanceSport. That’s when DanceSport will the beginning of the present organization, ballroom dancing and DanceSport, the be added to the Olympic Program. It is our with chapters being formed in several states. competitive form of ballroom dancing. hope that this will occur soon. During the 1980s efforts were made to These programs emphasize the physical, Annually, USABDA conducts national, re- bring all other amateur ballroom dance or- mental and social benefi ts of dancing, and gional and local DanceSport Championships. ganizations into USABDA. In 1985, USABDA include the expansion of dancing skills National DanceSport Champions are select- reorganized and was granted tax-exempt among those of all ages and capabilities. ed and USABDA then fi nances their par- status by the Internal Revenue Service. During the last 12 years, USABDA ticipation in the IDSF** World DanceSport AMATEUR DANCER TO AMERICAN DANCER A CHRONICLE OF HISTORY: THE FIRST 2 DECADES September/October 1991 February/March 1985 July/August 1987 November/December 1989 Headlines: Nationals in LA, Headlines: 20th Anniversary Headlines: Amateur Headlines: USA/USSR Summit/ 501c3 status, NDCA Relations, Ball, Arthritis Charity Event Champions, ICAD Membership ICAD, USABDA Outreach Chapter Activities President Mary Wethington President Mary Wethington President Peter Pover President Peter Pover January-February 2015 13 will continue. However the main focus of Cover USABDA activities will be on actions to Story enable members to achieve their dance goals DAN and to grow the sport, regardless of what may SA CE U happen some day regarding the Olympics.” As Archie Hazlewood summarized: “USABDA [now known as USA Dance] has developed into a nationwide nonprofi t World Games World Games organization of thousands of volunteers, who 2013 Standard 2013 Latin love ballroom dancing and appreciate the Yuriy Nartov & Edward Golbert & Helmut Roland Yulia Blagova Helmut Roland Maryann Krasko excitement and romance, as well as the social and health benefi ts, that ballroom dancing The Olympic Journey — World Games brings into their lives. At grass roots level 2013 in Cali, Colombia. 30,000 fans and the best of Standard, Latin and Salsa. Championships. United States representa- in communities, colleges and secondary DanceBeat/Keith Todd tives also are sent to the World Games which schools all over the country USABDA are held for Olympic recognized sports that provides opportunities for the public to are not yet in the Olympic Program. engage in affordable ballroom dancing and In 1999 a separate division was estab- DanceSport. Beginners are welcomed, helped lished to promote and guide the growth to get started and then assisted in achieving of social ballroom dancing in the United their goals.