Organizers Ask Country Line Dance Team To Leave Competition
Members of a regional women’s country line dance team were met with discrimination at a Seattle dance convention over the weekend. The Borderline Dance Team, set to perform at the Emerald City Hoedown, were reportedly asked to leave by organizers after their American flag-themed shirts made some attendees feel “triggered and unsafe.”
According to a post on the team’s Facebook page, they were told that their flag tops were offensive to some convention goers and were given an ultimatum: remove the flag tops and wear street clothes, or be provided with old convention shirts to perform in. The team opted to not perform at all, standing in solidarity with their team and their patriotic values.
In an interview with 770 KTTH, co-captain Lindsay Stamp clarified that their costumes were not meant to make any political statements. “We’re a patriotic group. We support our military, our veterans, our first responders. We’re a group of patriots,” she said.
The group’s Facebook post also mentioned that another team, West Coast Country Heat, also did not perform as they too proudly wear the colors of their country. Both teams stood together and put their actions into words, according to the post.
However, Rain Country Dance Association, the LGBTQ+ dance community that organized the convention, indirectly addressed the incident on Facebook. They stated that they were working on clearing up any misunderstandings and would release a follow-up statement later in the week.
In a comment, board president Ziadee Cambier mentioned that there was no disqualification or asking to leave and that they were currently in communication with the dance teams to mend their relationships.
In her interview with 770 KTTH, Stamp mentioned that she did not think there was any miscommunication and that the situation was quite clear. She also expressed her desire for more conversations about acceptance and inclusivity, beyond just one’s immediate comfort zones.
It is reported that the Borderline Dance Team was not the only group to face discrimination at the convention. The group’s post stated that their friends from West Coast Country Heat also experienced the same treatment.
Despite the discrimination, the group showed class and dignity in walking out of the convention. They emphasized that they wear the flag as a symbol of freedom, even if they may not always agree with the current state of things.
Rain Country Dance Association has yet to directly address the situation and has disabled comments on their Facebook post. However, this incident has sparked a conversation about inclusivity and acceptance across different groups and beliefs.
Stamp’s final statement in the interview was a call for more acceptance and understanding for those outside of one’s comfort zone. This incident serves as a reminder that true inclusivity means accepting and respecting all individuals, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds.