An Open Letter 03/08/2016

Dear Athletes,

I refer you to a news item that our Communications team has published on worlddancesport.org yesterday. According to “There Is Still Time,” the deadline to register for the upcoming German Open Championships and for the two GrandSlams held in Stuttgart from 11 to 13 August has been extended until Sunday 7 August.

So if you haven’t done so already, you have a few more days to enter what has traditionally been the GrandSlam leg with the highest participation. We all remember the years, not too long ago, when close to 400 couples per section danced in the Beethoven Hall from the early morning hours through midnight, on three consecutive days, to determine the winners.

Different factors have caused these numbers to dwindle over the past few years. From the economic to the geopolitical and everything in between, these factors can all been explained – rationally – and they affect everyday life as much as they do DanceSport. 

So as we anticipate the lowest participation in quite some time, we need to be prepared to become reflective agents of change. What will need to be done to get back to the status quo? WDSF, for instance, is aware that the situation regarding the National Member Body for Russia needs to be sorted out urgently. And I am certain that the GOC organisers have also given much thought to corrective measures. 

What should have us worried more at this point is the fact that among the absentees in the Stuttgart leg are couples very high up in the GrandSlam Rankings.

The reputation of the GrandSlam Series is built on its ability to gather the absolute best couples at periodic intervals and at different locations throughout the world. The GrandSlam competitions provide the attractive, prominent and level field of play for all couples – including the best. The hosts and the world governing body jointly ensure the high prize money, the broad media exposure and the expert judging panels at all locations.

That quite a few top couples decide to stay away from the GrandSlam Stuttgart this year can only be interpreted as an expression of their collective discontent with one (or more) of the fundamentals above. Unfortunately, we have experienced boycotts at recent Championships already. It was too late to call on the couples then, but “There Is Still Time” now. That’s why I plead that they reconsider their position and dance in the longest-running and biggest GrandSlam of the Series this year too. A boycott cannot be the solution, but dialogue can. I am ready to listen.

I look forward to see you in Stuttgart!

With my best personal regards,

Lukas Hinder

WDSF President