The International Council of Directors of the Ballroom Dancers' Federation International views with great concern the announcement of Professional World Championships to be organised by a newly formed association, namely the IPDSC. From information currently available, it seems this is an association headed by Amateurs and has the support of the IDSF in presenting Professional World Standard and Latin Championships. Clearly, this move is designed to be in direct conflict with the WDC and its long-established Professional World Championships.

The precise reasons for this will be known only to those who instigated it but suffice to say, it is for purely political reasons that an Amateur body should organise a Professional championship in direct conflict with the Professional governing body. It is not the BDFI’s intention to become involved in such political arguments. However, it must be clear to everybody that the greater the number of World Champions there are, the more diminished in value the titles become. The BDFI is firmly against the recent trend of creating ever more World Championships.

Until recently the only World Championship titles were those administered by the WDC and IDSF. Now, each time a breakaway association is formed it creates its own World Championship – this is a ludicrous situation and one that must be stopped. If not, where will it end? Five, six, 10 World Championships!? Ultimately, the title would become meaningless.

Instead of the fragmentation of associations we are presently experiencing, it is time for the world of competitive dancing to unite. The BDFI implores those with a mind to divide the world of dance sport into factions for their own self-interest to reconsider – it is vital for the future of dance that there is no more than one Professional and one Amateur World Championship in each style. All those with an interest in the future must support this concept from the administrators to the competitors.

The International Council of Directors of the BDFI

Sami Helenius