This is regarding the angry mail sent out by Ryan Francois in Sept 1999


From: Paul Overton <kingfish@slip.net>

Fellow enthusiasts,

As you know, my tolerance for reactionary and passionate e-mails is very
high. Therefore, I don't post very often. But in terms of the current
subject on the table for review, I feel I must.

Here are the lessons I have learned about dancing and, indeed, life in the
past 5 years.

1. Organized competitions (as they are now) are bad for the dance. Knowing
what I know now, I wish I could go backward in time and un-enter every
contest I have ever been in. Here's why:

The judging criteria is sketchy at best. I have seen people go out and
absolutely SMOKE everyone else and then lose. One judge at NADC actually
put Dawn Hampton in 2nd place after she pounded every 20 year old that went
up against her in to dust. Luckily, she won anyway. Second, competition
breeds homogenization. This has happened to many dances as they have turned
in to sports. Competitors watch the couples who win and strive to make
their dancing the same as the winner's. West Coast swing is a great example
of this. Competitive trends in West Coast Swing are almost as traceable as
fashion trends in society. Do we really all want to dance the same? Lastly,
a BIG truth about competition. The title you win means bupkus. NOTHING. It
doesn't mean you are the best. In fact, you probably aren't. You just
happened to be the best that showed up. Or the one that the judges prefered
(see paragraph above). I know that if Steven, Ryan, David, or a host of
others had shown up at ALHC last year, I would have been dogmeat. I'm not
the dancer they are. I have no illusions about that. So, I guess what I'm
saying is, do yourself a favor and stay home. The only real competition is
against your ego. I'd much rather be known as Paul, the capable teacher and
ambassador of Lindy Hop than, Paul, American Lindy Hop Champion. The latter
means less than nothing to me. I know, "easy to say in hindsight."

2. People and organizations who deserve a comeuppance, WILL get one. Sooner
or later, you gotta make a deposit in the Karma bank. There is NO overdraft
protection.

3. Nobody can take over Lindy Hop. So don't worry about it. People have
tried, people have failed. There is no Great Menace lurking in the shadows,
just waiting for the right moment to jump out and destroy what we've built.
Being paranoid when you could be dancing is a waste of time.

4. Don't talk smack in public. Everyone has an opinion. Most of them are
adopted from the leaders of any given community. Express your feelings,
state your opinion, but don't say hurtful things.

5. The only thing worse than an ineffective organization, is an effective
one. Stop forming groups. Seriously. It makes people feel bad. Whether it
be the High Level Group, The Savoy Style Group, or whatever, just know that
by joining, you are alienating someone.

Lastly, just because I have observed and learned these things, doesn't mean
I'm good at them. But I do try. Everyday.

Sincerely,
Paul

p.s. Read Lao Tzu.

"You never know who's in the kitchen."
			Dawn Hampton