Why Compete?

Originally published in April 2016 NASSPDA Newsletter

Posting: January 6, 2022
By: Benjamin Soencksen

Our small, but growing community, whether we are socially and/or competitively engaged, needs and deserves the commitment of all of us at every level, if we indeed desire growth and more opportunities. Many involved socially in our same-sex dance communities are hesitant or even flat out refuse to consider competing. One of the main reasons often given focuses around winning. For me that was actually never the impetus to join couples on the competitive dance floor, though once I did, it was, of course, an added goal.

When I was in my teens, I was asked to join the very first youth competition in my area. It was clear to me that I wouldn’t have a winning chance, but it also occurred to me that by participating I would help build momentum for bringing Dancesport to more young people and lend greater importance to any win of any couple participating. So, my dance partner and I borrowed outfits, persuaded our parents to pay our dues as well as entry fees and drive us to the event. We had a blast!

There were kids as young as 5 years old as well as the maximum age 18 (sometimes, the younger disappeared below the petticoats of the older couples). We had no idea that so many kids enjoyed this sport/activity as much as we did. We did our best, slipped and fell in the Quickstep, got entangled with and bumped into other couples, made a mess of some dances (3 Latin and 3 Standard dances in the same outfits), and excelled in others, and made the first cut out of over 40 couples. We didn’t win, but we had an unforgettable experience and the knowledge that we contributed to the meaning of the first place of that event and the formation of a youth movement, which resulted into a multitude of opportunities for young dancers.

In my opinion therefore, the impetus for competing in any kind of sport should always be foremost about participation, not about winning any glorious titles or shiny medals. And in my experience, every participant in a same-sex dance competitions gets everywhere and at any event, whether it be the Gay Games in Sydney, April Follies in Oakland or the Pink Jukebox Trophy in London, a very warm and appreciative welcome by all in attendance. Of course, one can spend a lot of financial resources on this sport to make it as much as possible a winning prospect, but one doesn’t have to and it will still be a very satisfying and exhilarating experience, helping with one’s growth in one’s own dancing.

Even though I’m no longer competing myself, I’m still trying to stay involved, because I believe that it is vital for us all to have opportunities for expression and enjoyment. It is my hope that you all enjoy being part of the social and/or competitive same-sex dance scene in your area and help to spread the word or, even better, get further involved in whichever way you can.