Absolutely unacceptable to target Brian. He is free to express his views. US is not Venezuela , not yet anyway.
Has nothing to do with his job.
L
Leigh Bradshaw
5 years ago
The attack on Brian Baker, asking for his removal from the NDCA, is at the very least, a sophomoric attempt to vilify a member of the dancesport community, using only a sarcastic facebook post as evidence.
I have been a part of the dance community for over a decade. I have seen the integration of all races, creeds, sexual orientations, ages, religions, and nationalities. Those who participate in Ballroom, socially & competitively, cross both economic and social demographics. It is the genuine love and appreciation of this sport that unites us.
The attack on Brian Baker, as deplorable as it is, is much worse. It gave a voice to those who carry intolerant hatred and wicked bigotry for others who have outspoken political views different from their own. Attacks like this may be fun to watch on the news, but they have no place in the Ballroom community. It is the acceptance of our diversity, in all ways, that separates the Ballroom world from so many of its athletic and artistic counterparts. It’s sickening to think a small group of mean girls would be willing to destroy a member of the NDCA, an instructor, a major participant in NDCA competitions, a husband and father, because they manipulated a simple facebook post into a threat- a post that anyone with common sense knows is a joke and absurd.
Assigning blame to one man for competitors leaving a competition is outrageous. By doing this, they belittle those who bring real, important concerns to the NDCA. They belittle those who have legitiment complaints.
I do not know Brian Baker personally, but I have seen him with his students at many competitions over the years. Never once have I witnessed Brian or any of his students behave in any way other than professional.
Since competitions started after Covid-19 lockdowns, Brian Baker seems as if he is complying with mask mandates and other rules the competition organizers have put in place to keep their attendees as safe as they can from Covid-19. If Br
V
Vyacheslav Polubnev
5 years ago
This is insanity...where does this stop?
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
100% supporting you!
L
Less Antman
5 years ago
Few people have done more to support NDCA events during the Panic of 2020.
D
Dancesport community of USA
5 years ago
We are supporting you!
J
John Hall
5 years ago
Ballroom is a sport where we are judged by our peers. A lot of talented people have signed that other petition. Some comments there hint of political disagreements motivating their signature. Some comments are obsessively vindictive, calling for extreme and unusual punishment. I ask then, is it far fetched to believe any of those talented undersigned people, if given the power to judge their peers, could be trusted to remain impartial? This is a small community compared to other sports and odds are some of them will one day have power to decide how well Brian (and arguably more importantly, his students) perform in competition. Its no secret online what my political beliefs are. Should I now be concerned that I may not get the full fairness of my peers because I chose to support Brian and his family by publishing my name HERE with my comment? More importantly, I have concerns that my support of Brian would affect anyone I dance with in competition. I'm very protective of my partner so I will tell you all right now this is my own opinion and I will not even discuss this issue with her in private. That other petition is a trouble maker, causing people to pick sides on an issue none of us want to. It now forces people on both sides to begin questioning the other sides integrity. It goes both ways. That was very unprofessional to create a petition and circle it around on social media looking for signatures. All over a joke Facebook post with a hand drawn fake note. Thanks for reading, dance your butts off as often as possible, and have a great day.
M
Michael
5 years ago
I despise cancel culture.
S
Sharon Gentling
5 years ago
I was a member of the ProAm Collective FB private group until I was cancelled. These toxic ladies are full of anger and hate and spend all day reinforcing each other. The accusations and vitriol they have leveled against organizers, pros, and judges, appalled me. They ridiculed those of us who enjoy dancing a lot of heats, and competing for top student, top teacher, top studio, which was hurtful, especially since they knew we all could see their posts. Honestly, before I joined this private group, I had no idea this existed in the ballroom world. The very definition of bullying.
Their latest obsession is Brian Baker. Brian is passionate about his beliefs, and a razor sharp, sarcastic, jokester. Not a mean or dishonest bone in his body. My husband is the same. And yes, many of the petition signers have had political opinion disagreements with Brian.
What I hope is these ProAm Collective women will be cancelled from the ballroom world, not Brian. Since they only dance scholarships, and are pissed off they are required to dance any singles to qualify, they won’t be missed.
T
Tatyana Heath
5 years ago
Featured
Freedom of speech is important. Brian Baker is professional and caring person.
Do not make ballroom dancing political.
R
Ryan Duvall
5 years ago
Totally disappointed in the dance free community.
D
Da-Nay Copelton
5 years ago
One comment should NOT ruin someone’s PASSION
A
Alexandra Hopper
5 years ago
Enough is enough
S
Steve Beinart
5 years ago
It is way past time to cancel Cancel-Culture.
I
ilya reyzin
5 years ago
Featured
The fact that we need to do this is ridiculous. The fact that group of people decided to do that based on a Facebook post is even more ludicrous. The fact that organizers have nothing to do with any of these people speaks volumes.
M
Michaele Giles
5 years ago
Featured
What happened with being tolerant? This is unethical to remove an individual based on their beliefs.
R
Ronald Tritto
5 years ago
Cancel culture is unfair.
J
Jessica Stout
5 years ago
Featured
Political views should be separate from dance. One is irrelevant to the other and I would hope in a country where we are guaranteed freedom of speech, one's political views would not be held against them.
J
Joanna Skorupa
5 years ago
You are absolutely right.
I fully support your actions
Absolutely unacceptable to target Brian. He is free to express his views. US is not Venezuela , not yet anyway. Has nothing to do with his job.
The attack on Brian Baker, asking for his removal from the NDCA, is at the very least, a sophomoric attempt to vilify a member of the dancesport community, using only a sarcastic facebook post as evidence. I have been a part of the dance community for over a decade. I have seen the integration of all races, creeds, sexual orientations, ages, religions, and nationalities. Those who participate in Ballroom, socially & competitively, cross both economic and social demographics. It is the genuine love and appreciation of this sport that unites us. The attack on Brian Baker, as deplorable as it is, is much worse. It gave a voice to those who carry intolerant hatred and wicked bigotry for others who have outspoken political views different from their own. Attacks like this may be fun to watch on the news, but they have no place in the Ballroom community. It is the acceptance of our diversity, in all ways, that separates the Ballroom world from so many of its athletic and artistic counterparts. It’s sickening to think a small group of mean girls would be willing to destroy a member of the NDCA, an instructor, a major participant in NDCA competitions, a husband and father, because they manipulated a simple facebook post into a threat- a post that anyone with common sense knows is a joke and absurd. Assigning blame to one man for competitors leaving a competition is outrageous. By doing this, they belittle those who bring real, important concerns to the NDCA. They belittle those who have legitiment complaints. I do not know Brian Baker personally, but I have seen him with his students at many competitions over the years. Never once have I witnessed Brian or any of his students behave in any way other than professional. Since competitions started after Covid-19 lockdowns, Brian Baker seems as if he is complying with mask mandates and other rules the competition organizers have put in place to keep their attendees as safe as they can from Covid-19. If Br
This is insanity...where does this stop?
100% supporting you!
Few people have done more to support NDCA events during the Panic of 2020.
We are supporting you!
Ballroom is a sport where we are judged by our peers. A lot of talented people have signed that other petition. Some comments there hint of political disagreements motivating their signature. Some comments are obsessively vindictive, calling for extreme and unusual punishment. I ask then, is it far fetched to believe any of those talented undersigned people, if given the power to judge their peers, could be trusted to remain impartial? This is a small community compared to other sports and odds are some of them will one day have power to decide how well Brian (and arguably more importantly, his students) perform in competition. Its no secret online what my political beliefs are. Should I now be concerned that I may not get the full fairness of my peers because I chose to support Brian and his family by publishing my name HERE with my comment? More importantly, I have concerns that my support of Brian would affect anyone I dance with in competition. I'm very protective of my partner so I will tell you all right now this is my own opinion and I will not even discuss this issue with her in private. That other petition is a trouble maker, causing people to pick sides on an issue none of us want to. It now forces people on both sides to begin questioning the other sides integrity. It goes both ways. That was very unprofessional to create a petition and circle it around on social media looking for signatures. All over a joke Facebook post with a hand drawn fake note. Thanks for reading, dance your butts off as often as possible, and have a great day.
I despise cancel culture.
I was a member of the ProAm Collective FB private group until I was cancelled. These toxic ladies are full of anger and hate and spend all day reinforcing each other. The accusations and vitriol they have leveled against organizers, pros, and judges, appalled me. They ridiculed those of us who enjoy dancing a lot of heats, and competing for top student, top teacher, top studio, which was hurtful, especially since they knew we all could see their posts. Honestly, before I joined this private group, I had no idea this existed in the ballroom world. The very definition of bullying. Their latest obsession is Brian Baker. Brian is passionate about his beliefs, and a razor sharp, sarcastic, jokester. Not a mean or dishonest bone in his body. My husband is the same. And yes, many of the petition signers have had political opinion disagreements with Brian. What I hope is these ProAm Collective women will be cancelled from the ballroom world, not Brian. Since they only dance scholarships, and are pissed off they are required to dance any singles to qualify, they won’t be missed.
Freedom of speech is important. Brian Baker is professional and caring person. Do not make ballroom dancing political.
Totally disappointed in the dance free community.
One comment should NOT ruin someone’s PASSION
Enough is enough
It is way past time to cancel Cancel-Culture.
The fact that we need to do this is ridiculous. The fact that group of people decided to do that based on a Facebook post is even more ludicrous. The fact that organizers have nothing to do with any of these people speaks volumes.
What happened with being tolerant? This is unethical to remove an individual based on their beliefs.
Cancel culture is unfair.
Political views should be separate from dance. One is irrelevant to the other and I would hope in a country where we are guaranteed freedom of speech, one's political views would not be held against them.
You are absolutely right. I fully support your actions
Stop cancel culture