Dancing as fast as they can

They’re suffering volunteer fatigue in the dance world these days. It’s a symptom of the condition that other local groups have long had to deal with over the years. Whether it’s Soccer, Basketball, the Scouts and Guides or Hockey, getting people to volunteer their time, is a lot sometimes more of a challenge than the activities themselves.

This time the lack of willingness to step up is putting a highly recognized Dance Competition on the shelf for a year. The May 2007 event, a much anticipated competition has been canceled while Jazz Productions Association reorganizes and streamlines its procedures.

The Daily News featured the dancing disappointment on its front page Wednesday.

DANCE COMPETITION IS SET TO MISS A BEAT
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Pages One and Three

After careful consideration, Jazz Productions Association (JPA) has decided to cancel the May 2007 B. C. Annual Dance Competition in Prince Rupert.

“This was a difficult decision and one the board did not take lightly,” said Teresa Mackereth, JPA President. “We assure everyone we plan to use this year to reorganize and streamline our procedures.”

She said there were various reasons the board mad the decision. Several long-term board members had noted that personal commitments will keep them from focusing on their usual JPA responsibilities. Also, although JPA breaks records every year for financial support and donations, volunteer time has dwindled significantly.

“We are going to stream line procedures and see if we can come up with more efficient ways to get things done, but there will still not be a competition next year if more people don’t volunteer,” said JPA board member Jennifer Kloppers.

“Parents are doing a good enough job of volunteering the week of the competition, but the week after (the competition) we start meeting to plan next year.That’s how much work goes into this.”

The competition requires a year-round commitment of time and bodies in the right places, she said. The association needs volunteers to attend bingos, committee meetings, fundraising events, town meetings, letter writing and mailing sessions, poster distribution campaigns and other events.

The annual event, which takes place in May, usually draws hundreds of dancers from across Western Canada to compete in the week-long competition at the Lester Centre of the Arts during the shoulder tourism season.

Dancers compete in solos, duets and groups in ballet, tap, jazz and musical theatre in front of nationally and internationally renowned adjudicators.

The community has always been very supportive of the festival financially, helping contribute $55,000 in scholarships that are handed out, including the international exchange between Canadian, Australian and U. S. Dancers of the Year. However, the 14 member board of directors has not seen a lot of new blood moving up into the executive positions.

For example, they’ve had the same president since 1988.

The positions of president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer are voted on by the board annually. Mackereth said the executive positions are almost always filled by the same board members because very few people are ready or have time for the added responsibility. The board of directors feels that the next generation of dance parents needs to consider getting more actively involved on the JPA board if they would like to see the continuation of the competitions.

“Most of the people on that board have seen their kids come and go through dance. There’s a younger generation – I’m only 32- there’s a generation my age that is missing from the board. We are looking to see a younger generation that wants to take this for another 10 years really show up,” said Kloppers.

Even getting enough parents out to volunteer during the week of the event has been difficult. Last year, parent’s who didn’t volunteer paid $50. However, it has become clear that it’s parents’ time that would be more valuable to the association in order to continue this event.

If parents or any community member wants to support the B. C. Annual Dance Competition in 2008, they need to show their commitment to the year-round effort it takes to host the competition at the JPA annual general meeting in November.

Watch for a general meeting announcement closer to the date.

For more information, please contact Jazz Productions Association of B. C. at 627-7982 or visit their web sit at www.bcadc.com.