July 30, 2008, 1:13 p.m. (Message 53256, in reply to message 53253)
Hi all, This is a very complex issue in many ways. To suggest that the RSCDS does its thing and the devisor does their thing is rather disingenuous. Here the RSCDS is generic as a term in reference to this topic. the same occurs with local branch books, etc. When one submits a dance to another forum, especially some influential group of peers, it is not like publishing for yourself. For yourself, you can write dances suggest music and either people like them or they don't but it hardly matters in the sense that almost all dances die of natural causes. When you devise a dance and it is sent to some group which is seen as infuential; first if the dance is accepted then you have a much greater chance of this dance being danced often. Presumably people submitting hope their dances will be danced and appreciated; they are your babies. Second, if people don't love them then they are not liking your babies. Third, you have a much greater chance of it being rejected, which is pretty demoralizing. Nobody likes being said no to. So if you have the dance accepted and the group choose music different than what you wish, then there is a significant dilemma. what should you do? These choices are difficult. It is not an even power relationship unless you are very determined. I find them very hard and especially when sometimes particular music is in mind when dances are written. Often what happens is that you go with the flow and whereas locally the music you want is the one that will be used, but elsewhere other tunes will be used. Even when it comes down to some negotiation, it is like negotiating with the bank; they have the money and you don't. It was once said ``Why are academic arguments so passionate'' Answer ''Because the stakes are so low'' By they way, this does not reflect any activity I have had with the RSCDS and I have no knowledge of them re this. But to suggest that being ``annointed'' by the RSCDS has no influence on some dance being danced often is silly, and that as a consequence that group should be very careful with making sure it is completely correct is a corollary. best rod