I would like to make a few comments.
First- David E. & Fran, it was great seeing the both of you again this past weekend. (and for those who attended and/or competed that I don't recognize by their user name ID). Second- With all the complaints that amateur & pro/am competitors had about how expensive it is to compete at pro/am comps, why weren't they competing this past weekend in Cherry Hill, NJ? (This is mainly towards american style dancers those who live in the Northeast & Mid Atlantic regions) Amateurs, the price couldn't be beat- Sat. banquet dinner, open pro and open championship competitions, UNLIMITED entries on Sunday, room Sat. night, and more-- only for $160 each. Even though that ISTD is mainly known for international style, they also have syllabi for american style. This is not an advertisement for the comp, but I'm tired of competing in american gold, pre champ, and champ divisons uncontested. Not to mention the judges seeing the same four routines four times in a row-sixteen dances consecutively. I'm not saying that our routines are boring, but after seeing them once or twice is enough for them. At least, if others were out there, they would be able to compare. The pro american comp, was also poorly attended with only 3 competitors. The ISTD is going out of their way to keep the amateur costs down by offering unlimited entries (what we always complain about), but not many are taking advantage of this. Their next comp is in Feb 2001. Hope to see more of you then. Thank you.

Thanks Len.
It is always enjoyable to dance against good dancers and the USISTD North American Championships provided that to we amateurs. The pros stayed away because Rogers is running their competition a week later. They first gave Sandy Fortuna grief by starting to have their comp the same day as hers in April. Now they have moved it to July , only a week away from the ISTD comp. Where is the NDCA?? The New York crowd chose to do the closest one to save on travel and living expenses and so they were absent from the ISTD comp. The front of the program was empty with almost no contested pro-am heats, the back was full with heavily contested amateur heats. As you have stated, the only exception was the american style events. If history is correct, the amateur events at the Rogers comp will not be well attended. Only the championship rounds will be contested. A couple of years ago they made the event a living hell for the syllabus and prechampionship amateurs and since that time these heats have not been well attended. We look forward to seeing you at the Nationals in August, another event which has spotty attendance.