WDSF Annual General Meeting 2026: Shaping the Future of Global DanceSport from the Heart of Rome
ROME, ITALY – The global DanceSport community gathered today at the prestigious Great Hall of the Caesars within the Hilton Rome Airport for the2026 World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Annual General Meeting (AGM). Marking a weekend of profound strategic discussions, the AGM brought together delegates representing 55 member countries to vote on crucial institutional changes and celebrate the sport's monumental global trajectory.
A Visionary Opening and Warm Welcomes
The assembly commenced with an opening address by WDSF President Mr. Shawn Tay. Welcoming the international delegates, Mr. Tay reflected on a year defined by stellar milestones, emphasizing the sport's massive explosion in visibility across social media platforms. He highlighted the roaring success of the WDSF DanceSport Festival in Blackpool, the historic participation at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, and looked forward to an ambitious year ahead for Breaking, which is set to feature prominently at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Following the President, Ms. Laura Lunetta, WDSF Vice President for Communication and President of the host federation, FIDESM, delivered an inspiring welcome speech:
"WDSF’s AGM is a great honour for us. Our capital becomes again the centre of the global DanceSport community as we gather here to shape the future of our beloved sport."
In a poignant segment of the morning, Mr. Shawn Tay extended formal congratulations to all newly elected presidents of the WDSF National Member Bodies (NMBs) and associate organisations, before leading the chamber in a moment of silent reflection to honour the prominent figures and presidents within the dance community who sadly passed away this year.
The initial protocol concluded with a warm message of greetings from the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Mr. Luciano Bonfiglio, who expressed his sincere gratitude for the continuous development efforts led by the WDSF governance.
Unlocking the Dreams of Athletes
As the meeting transitioned into administrative matters, Ms. Anastasia Glazunova, Chair of the WDSF Athletes’ Commission, took the stage to present the symbolic quote chosen to define the spirit of this year's AGM, authored by Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the 2025–2033 term:
"All of you in the room have the responsibility and the keys to unlocking the future dreams of athletes." Kirsty Coventry, IOC President
Elaborating on the weight of these words, Ms. Glazunova addressed the delegation directly:
"Those keys are not symbols of authority. They are symbols of responsibility. The decisions we make today will shape the opportunities available tomorrow."
Following the formal approval of the agenda by the delegates, the floor opened for comprehensive reports from the Presidium, commissions, and working bodies. Structural progress was the definitive theme of the day, with several crucial governance and competitive updates successfully carried by the assembly:
Modernised Administrative Notices: An amendment to the WDSF Statutes now permits official notices regarding member expulsions to be transmitted via secure electronic means, such as email, alongside traditional registered letters. This modification preserves all necessary legal safeguards while significantly upgrading administrative speed and efficiency.
Stricter Eligibility Standards: In a vital step for international competitive integrity, the Competition Rules were revised to establish strict passport-based nationality requirements for athletes representing their countries in WDSF Title Events and WDSF Cups, whilst successfully clarifying the rules regarding changes in country representation.
New Pathways for Retired Athletes: The assembly approved a formal, fair, and practical pathway for retired Professional DanceSport (PD) athletes to apply for a WDSF "B" Adjudicator License through their respective National Member Bodies. This allows the federation to leverage their vast competitive expertise on the judging panels while upholding rigorous refereeing standards.
Refined Dispute Resolution: A legal refinement was made to the WDSF Internal Dispute Resolution Code to correct text errors and modernise drafting standards. Crucially, it introduces a strict definition for "persistent interest," ensuring that official party status is strictly granted to entities with a concrete, continuing stake in the proceedings.
Institutional Confirmations and Prestigious Recognitions
The assembly ratified the official confirmation of Interim Chairperson Dr. Brian Nook, who has served as a valued member of the WDSF Ethics Committee since 2023. Dr. Nook brings unparalleled academic and administrative prestige to the role, serving as the Dean for Academic Affairs at the Palmer College of Chiropractic, holding a Doctorate in Chiropractic, and concurrently acting as the General Secretary for the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic.
The closing stages of the meeting celebrated outstanding international athletic triumphs, introduced by Mr. Nenad Jeftic, WDSF 1st Vice-President and VP for Sports. A special recognition was awarded to B-Girl Royal for her exceptional athletic achievements and her recent nomination as the Athlete of the Month by the International World Games Association (IWGA). Accepting the distinction, an emotional B-Girl Royal expressed:
"Breaking is my life, thank you very much WDSF and CDSF for this."
Furthermore, world-renowned icons Marius-Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska were honoured for their meteoric career and for achieving the spectacular spot of 1st runner-up in the global race for the prestigious IWGA Athlete of the Year. WDSF President Shawn Tay personally presented this global IWGA recognition to the President of the German DanceSport Federation (Deutscher Tanzsportverband e.V.), Mr. Tim Rausche, who accepted it on behalf of the athletes.
Adjournment and Looking Forward to 2027
Bringing the landmark session to a close, President Shawn Tay noted the significance of the weekend's collective triumphs and encouraged entrusted National Member Bodies to contact the WDSF Office as soon as possible so that the federation can formally announce the official host city for the 2027 AGM. Reflecting on the successful weekend, Mr. Shawn Tay concluded:
"Thank you all delegates, staff, volunteers and everyone who contributed to the success of this AGM and WDSF’s journey over the past year. Thank you very much."
