History

The chronology of the World DanceSport Federation's emergence and the consolidation of dance as sport is outlined below. The complete history of WDSF and DanceSport is available under the menu on the left.

1935

Fédération Internationale de Danse pour Amateurs (FIDA) is founded in Prague, CZE.

1956

FIDA is dissolved.

1957

IDSF is founded under the name of International Council of Amateur Dancers (ICAD) in Wiesbaden, GER.

1960

First TV broadcast of a DanceSport competition airs in Germany.

1990

ICAD changes its name to International DanceSport Federation.

1992

IDSF becomes a member of the General Association of International Sports Federations (SportAccord).

1995

IDSF and DanceSport are provisionally recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

World Rock 'n' Roll Council (WRRC) joins IDSF.

IDSF becomes a member of the the International World Games Association (IWGA).

1997

IDSF and DanceSport are granted full recognition by the 106th Session of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland.

IDSF becomes a member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF).

IDSF enters into a representation agreement with the International Management Group IMG for the production and worldwide distribution of DanceSport television coverage.

DanceSport premieres in The World Games held under the auspices of IWGA and the patronage of the IOC.

2001

IDSF establishes an Anti-Doping Commission and subscribes to the World Anti-Doping Code.

2003

IDSF creates the Grand Slam Series for Latin and Standard.

2004

International Dance Organisation (IDO) joins IDSF.

2006

IDSF establishes an Athletes' Commission and a Disciplinary Council.

2007

IDSF celebrates the golden jubilee of its founding at the Annual General Assembly (AGM) held in Barcelona, ESP.

IDSF presents its development plan VISION 2012 to the AGM.

IDSF launches the Eurovision Dance Contest in association with the European Broadcasting Union.

IDSF assists professional athletes in creating their own organisation, the International Professional DanceSport Council (IPDSC), and collaborates with it in all matters pertaining to competitions, rules and compliance with the Anti-Doping Code.

2008

IDSF starts implementation of the VISION 2012 plan.

2009

IDSF VISION 2012 Working Group meets for the first time.

IDSF beats all existing attendance records with the DanceSport events at The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung, TPE.

IDSF draws up the first blueprints for games of the artistic sports under the working title “Sport & Art” and involves SportAccord in their development.

2010

IPDSC dissolves and becomes the IDSF Professional Division. IDSF urges all National Member Bodies to organise tournaments for professional athletes within their competition structures.

DanceSport premieres in the Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China.

2011

The IDSF Annual General Meeting held in Luxembourg agrees to change the name of the federation to World DanceSport Federation - WDSF.

2013

The World DanceSport Games were held in Kaohsiung, Taipei.

2016

On 6th December Breaking was accepted into the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

2017

Marked the 60th Anniversary for the WDSF.