Is Dance Sport?

In mid 2010 the WDC invited the IDSF to meet on neutral grounds and explore if (for the good of all those connected with Ballroom & Latin American dancing) a way could be found to aid the progress and development of dance. Throughout the world the majority were crying out for accord. The WDC listened and sought to find ways to make a better world. IDSF were not interested because their power and control were more important to them and they rejected the chance to simply meet and explore.

At the time the IDSF reason was "we are moving in different directions". They never clarified this statement but many interpreted it that the WDC were not totally embracing certain dreams of the IDSF. Later we learnt that the IDSF President opposing a motion at the 2010 IDSF AGM ( a motion that IDSF simply meet and talk to explore if there were ways for progress) stated that the WDC had to accept it was sport. This might have impressed the IDSF delegates to whom it was said but it did not help dancesport nor did it advance progress.

The 2 other claims made by the IDSF President at that time do not stand examination and that is a shame. It is important to be able to believe you are being given fact and can trust that information.

However let us move forward and what do we find even IDSF have now changed their Hymn Sheet and today it is "Artistic Sport".

The big question though must be is Ballroom & Latin American Dancing truly sport? Undoubtedly in competitions we have competitive dance but does that make it sport? What are the competitors attempting to achieve?

Lets think now. You have spent months training and your national championships are approaching. Hours and hours have been invested in coaching, training, learning and practising.


You have selected the costume you will wear even considering hairstyle. Why? Was it to make the appearance attractive and drawing interest? Was it to add to your image and enhance your dancing and display your movement and actions? Or was it some super new synthetic fabric so you could go faster or enable you to perform more gymnastic actions?


Now it is the big day and you walk out on to that floor what is in your mind?

1) Do you want to be faster than anyone else, jump higher and further than anyone else? Do more spins and back bends and splits than anyone else? Show you have greater strength and can knock anyone out the way if necessary?

2) Do you want to show you have good technique, great artistry, superb musicality - able to exptess and respond to the music? Do you want to portray the characterisation of each dance and show the man/woman connection. Do you want to be showing beautiful lines and always the most elegant picture? Are you dancing from your heart and wanting to express emotions and be admired by the audience (and the judges) for your dancing?


If you answer is (2) do you really believe that you are taking part in a Sports tournament? Oh yes you have to be supremely fit but so then do all the ballet dancers and even cabaret dancers throughout the world. They are proud to be called dancers.

Are you ashamed to be a dancer?