Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Improving the Cutie Awards and a Bit More


Improving the Cutie Awards and a Bit More 130129

The 2012 Cutie Awards are now behind us. From the beginning of the process to the final dance closing the ceremony, I received input from Dance Queens members concerning the process. Thank you to all of you who cared enough to identify issues and suggest solutions. 

The Cutie Awards moved Dance Queens from an organization that provides information to support SL dancing to an expanded role of recognizing excellence. The process also caused some fracturing of the group. I think most people felt that the Cutie Awards raised the bar on dance performance, increased a sense of an SL dance community and created a whole lot of fun. Some, perhaps only a few, felt that the Cuties were divisive and a sham ... an exercise in self congratulation.

Wherever you fall in your view of the Cuties, I think all can agree that the idea of recognition, the Cuties, is out like the genie out of the bottle. We now have the choice of forgetting the idea of the Cuties or trying to improve the process.

One decision that I have made is that I won't be further involved in decision-making for the Cuties. This is a personal decision on my part. I am no longer having fun with DANCE QUEENS and even the pleasure I receive from dancing is much lower. Bernard Herzog said to me during the Awards ceremony, "Your success is your downfall." He was referring to the challenge of getting on the Audience sim, but he was spot-on for the broader context of the Awards for me.

By stepping aside this may make it easier to bring together those of you with different views of the 2012 Cutie Awards. It does create a significant leadership hole. Somehow you, the dance community, needs to define how to create a better Cutie Awards or let them die a natural death. I will leave that to you to decide how and will provide whatever help I can from the experience of running the 2012 Cuties.

I am also taking a few weeks off from DANCE QUEENS to let the dust settle and decide what to do about the other things we do such as the blog, the database, the annual Dance Festival, etc. I know many of you care deeply about DANCE QUEENS and how it supports your love of dancing. Perhaps, the solution you come up with for the Cuties will set a direction for how to manage the broader group.

Please, do not send me your expressions or feeling on this. I have many, many friends here and this is the not the end rather only the beginning of a change in how DANCE QUEENS works.

Please, do communicate using the blog. You can see the people who can post on the right side. You can communicate through them or, if you want to post directly, contact me at nottoo.wise@gmail.com and I will add you as an author.

xxx
Nottoo