WDSF Scrutiny Congress 2025: Strengthening Standards of DanceSport

The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) held the Scrutiny Congress 2025 on 18 September, marking another step in its mission to safeguard fairness and professionalism in competitions worldwide. Traditionally held in person, this edition —following the one that took place in July 2025 in Wuxi, People’s Republic of China— marked a significant change by transitioning to a virtual format. The decision was made both to support scrutineers whose licenses had expired or were close to expiry, and to assist National Member Bodies (NMBs) in ensuring they have qualified scrutineers available for their events.

By adapting the format to current needs, the congress ensured continuity in training and licensing while reinforcing the essential role of scrutineers in guaranteeing accuracy, transparency, and integrity across all DanceSport competitions.

STRONG INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION

The congress gathered 48 participants from 28 countries, a highly encouraging figure that reflects the global commitment to maintaining professional standards within DanceSport competitions. While many attendees joined in order to renew their licenses, the congress also welcomed nine newcomers, marking their first step towards becoming WDSF-licensed scrutineers. These candidates will now be required to attend a second in-person congress and successfully complete examinations to obtain their license.

OBJECTIVES AND LECTURERS OF THE CONGRESS

Led by distinguished lecturers Nenad Jeftic and Dallas Williams, the congress focused on a wide range of educational and technical objectives, including:

Training both licensed and aspiring scrutineers in the latest techniques and software
Providing comprehensive education on WDSF judging systems and result calculation methods
Ensuring standardized competition result management across all WDSF events
Upholding the integrity of DanceSport through proper scrutineering practices
Meeting the educational requirements for licensed WDSF scrutineers
Enhancing competition workflow management

TOPICS

Participants were guided through a series of in-depth sessions covering essential aspects of scrutineering, such as:

Scrutineer Responsibilities – pre-competition preparation, competition workflow, result uploading and verification, documentation standards, and measures to prevent result manipulation.

Licensing Information – pathways for upgrading from “B” to “A” licenses, renewal processes, and continued education requirements.

WDSF Judging Systems – including the Skating System, Absolute Judging System (AJS3 and AJS24), and systems for Formation, Show Dance, Synchro, and Choreographic categories.

Technical Infrastructure – LAN/Wi-Fi setup, troubleshooting, security and backup protocols, and hardware requirements.

Certified Scrutineering Software – setup, configuration, data management, and result verification.

WDSF President Shawn Tay highlighted the importance of the congress, stating:

“The Scrutiny Congress plays a vital role in safeguarding the integrity of our competitions. By ensuring that scrutineers are well-trained, updated, and fully equipped with the latest tools, we not only maintain transparency and fairness but also strengthen the trust that athletes, officials, and spectators place in DanceSport. The remarkable international participation this year reflects our shared commitment to excellence.”

The congress also introduced upcoming software updates planned for 2026, with a transition and training period to ensure all scrutineers adopt the improvements smoothly, reinforcing professional accuracy and efficiency.

PRACTICAL LEARNING AND CLOSING SESSIONS

To consolidate knowledge, the event concluded with workshops, practical exercises, and a final Q&A session. Participants also received study materials, including case studies and written resources, to support their continued professional development.

LOOKING AHEAD ROME

The WDSF will continue to advance the education and professional development of its officials through a series of important upcoming events that will take place in Rome (Italy) during the first week of October. This series includes the

STAY CONNECTED

Stay up to date with the latest DanceSport news and events by following the WDSF on its official channels:

Published on 15 September 2025