Outrage caused by WDSF rules.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/row-over-yellow-sash-hits-dance-world/story-fn7x8me2-1226224717328

A BALLROOM brouhaha over a yellow sash has pirouetted into a ballet of insults.

Ballroom dancing champions Matthew Rooke and Anna Longmore, who say they were were ejected from a national competition for wearing a yellow sash, are seeking legal advice and demanding an apology.

But the powerful World DanceSport Federation claims the couple deliberately disrupted the Australian Dancesport Championships in Melbourne and deserved to be ousted from the event.

The issue stems from the WDSF suspending six Australian couples for dancing in competitions not registered with the federation.

Eleven-time champions Rooke and Longmore wore the yellow sash - yellow is used worldwide as a sign of support for any given cause - during their honour dance in support of the couples suspended.



But in scenes straight out of Strictly Ballroom, incensed organisers ejected Rooke and Longmore for their stand.

This week, as they left Melbourne to compete in Singapore and London, Rooke said: "We feel hurt and embarrassed. We are seeking legal advice and we want an apology.

"Our silent protest has become a national and international issue."

Their "silent" protest has indeed reverberated around the world.

Local officials were left angry and embarrassed because Melbourne will host the World Dance Sport Standard Championships in November.

ADC organiser Margaret Lonsdale declined to comment.

But WDSF executive Tony Tilenni said the couple's yellow sash moment was misguided.

"It definitely was not a silent protest. It was an escalating protest," Mr Tilenni said.

"They were seeking to disrupt the championship.

"They had supporters asking people to wear yellow ribbons and scarves and to join their movement. There are appropriate forums for a political point of view, but you don't do it during an event.

"I have never seen it happen in the 45 years I've been involved with dance sport. Never.

"No one is bigger than the event. If they think they're important because they've won it 10 or 11 times, I'm sorry, they're not."

Rooke rejected the claims. He said their stand had garnered support worldwide and accused the WDSF of spinning a smokescreen.

Mr Tilenni said dancers were free to compete wherever they want.

But WDSF events have rules, including no dancing at contests not registered with the federation.

He said events not registered with the WDSF "blatantly undermine the international federation".

"We are a federation that complies with sports principles, philosophies and rules including anti-doping.

"There are rules in sport and in life. It's not anarchy."

The national body for dance sport is Dancesport Australia, which is a member of the WDSF.

Dancesport Australia has about 3000 dancers on its books.

Rooke said: "The ridiculous part is we pay fees to a national body only to be told by an international body where we can and can't dance."

He claimed the WDSF rulebook is about vying for a spot at the Olympic Games.

"There is an Olympic dream which has been burning for 80 years. But it's a farce," he said

"It's not going to happen. Yes, this is a sport, but it's an art form as well."

Mr Tilenni countered: "Name a sport where people don't have to abide by the rules. The bottom line is, the rules were enforced."