mehl@cs.iastate.edu (Mark M Mehl) (02/10/90)
About in October, someone posted a query to news.groups asking if
there was interest in starting a modern-dance news group. Then,
in December, another posting by someone else suggested starting a
ballroom-dance news group. Afterwards, the idea got kicked about
in e-mail, then in the rec.folk-dancing news group in late December
and early January. Suggestions to expand the charter of
rec.folk-dancing to include a broader forum were met with "very"
mixed feelings. More discussions followed in e-mail, which produced
the following new group proposal.
The rec.arts.dance Charter
--------------------------
This is to be an unmoderated discussion forum on all dance forms
and issues not already represented on Usenet. Currently, the only
dance-oriented news group on Usenet is rec.folk-dancing. This
group is devoted to any folk-dancing form or issue. This includes
international folk, contra, square, round, cajun (including two-step),
western square, morris, and country-type dancing (clogging).
Currently, this means rec.arts.dance will include discussions on
modern, ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom (all swing variants, waltz
variants, fox trot, quickstep, cha cha, rumba, samba, tango, mambo,
salsa, lambada), polka, disco, hustle, nightclub freestyle, slam
(I suppose), and whatever else comes along.
The rec.arts.dance news group will also include discussions about
dance troops, specific dancers, camps and workshops, competitions,
styling, and equipment. Moreover, this group welcomes queries
concerning what dance clubs or organizations are in your area
(please use restricted distribution) and how to get started dancing.
Music issues may be cross-posted to this group provided that the
already established rec.music.* groups on Usenet lack the proper
audience focus for the discussion. For example, the question:
"Where can I get good tango music on CD?" is targeted at dance
people rather than music listeners; therefore, cross-posting to
rec.arts.dance and rec.music.cd (or rec.music.misc) with followups
to rec.music.cd would be appropriate. Another example question
might be "Where can we get latin-style dance music for a standard
jazz ensemble?", which could be cross-posted to rec.music.makers
and rec.arts.dance with followups to rec.music.makers. Again, the
dance people will often know bands--which may not read Usenet--that
would be willing to share/sell arrangements.
Although some forms of dance maybe inappropriate under the "arts"
classification (e.g. freestyle, slam), dancing--in general--is
considered an art form like music; therefore, we strongly believe
dance groups belong in the rec.arts.* hierarchy along with the 15
other established rec.arts groups.
rec.arts.anime rec.arts.books rec.arts.comics
rec.arts.drwho rec.arts.int-fiction rec.arts.misc
rec.arts.movies rec.arts.movies.reviews rec.arts.poems
rec.arts.sf-lovers rec.arts.startrek rec.arts.tv
rec.arts.tv.soaps rec.arts.tv.uk rec.arts.wobegon
================
We wish to open discussions for the creation of rec.arts.dance for
approximately 3 weeks. If the prospects look favorable, then a
call for votes will follow this discussion period. Please fell
free to post any constructive suggestions concerning the group name
or charter during this discussion period. We appreciate your input
and support.
--
/\ Mark M Mehl, alias Superticker (Supertickler to some)
<><> Internet: mehl@atanasoff.cs.IAstate.edu
\/ UUCP: {{mailrus,umix}!sharkey,hplabs!hp-lsd,uunet}!atanasoff!mehl
Disclaimer: You got to be kidding; who would want to claim anything I said?