The World Dance Council is delighted to announce a new initiative for the benefit of registered active competitors in the United States of America.
Following  rumour  of  correspondence from US competitors to the WDC, the WDC took extensive steps and implemented thorough enquiries.  In  fact , no formal correspondence has yet been made.   
We have, however been advised that an alleged ‘open letter’ was recently published in a US dance publication called “Dance Bleat”.
The letter was apparently from top professional dancers in the United States and criticized the WDC for not selecting US judges in recent years to officiate on World Championship panels. The letter claims that the WDC’s actions are malevolent (sic; evil and ill contrived).
Although the WDC has never formally received this letter, we are taking it at face value.
The WDC has been responsible for running the World Professional Championships for 57 years. Today we have over 60 member countries and each of them has an equal vote in our democratic charter. Our list of Professional World Champions is a “who’s, who” of the dance business and we (WDC) are, first and foremost, an organization that represents Professional dancers, dance teachers and dance studios.
We pride ourselves in offering Professional dancers a fair, unbiased and ethical arena for them to perform their artistry and we offer Professional competitors the most lucrative opportunities in the dance world; (the WDC Asian tour alone provides a cash prize purse in excess of $1,000,000).
Hence, we are acutely aware that our titles and our dancers are the Dance world’s finest asset and we are determined to protect them.  Our dancers are our priority. 

The world of Ballroom Dancing said goodbye to its "champion" Bill Irvine MBE (ICBD President 1980-1982) on Thursday 21st February at the St. Leonards Church, London.

The Service, lead by Officiating Minister: Rev.Mandy Hodgson, was followed by dancers and friends from Europe, Asia and North America.

Oliver Wessel-Therhorn presented an excellent Eulogy of Bill Irvine's life from the beginning in Forsyth, Scotland, which was honoured by spontaneous applaus from an emotional congregation.

Bill Irvine MBE (WDC Honorary President), a man of positive ilk who never allowed a negative emotion to influence his ideals wished to be remembered as follows:

With this ideal in mind the "Wake" that followed in the Starlight Studios generated an atmosphere as Bill would have wished with toasts of champagne, a special redition of "That's why Bill Irvine was our Champ" by Oliver Wessel-Therhorn and light conversation.

The World Dance Council President, Mr. Donnie Burns MBE and President of the DTV Mr. Franz Allert gave their signatures to a memorandum of agreement between both parties, and wish to confirm that the entire agreement remains completely valid and in force.

The last two years will be viewed by many all over the world of dance as regrettable in relation to restrictions and political manoeuvring in certain areas, none appearing to have the good of dancers at heart.

Dear competitors all over the world,

I feel that I have to respond to your requests for transparency in the matter of Assen.
I've never before read such a bunch of propaganda, misleading statements and pure lies in one letter stating
"Setting the record straight. Here are the real facts".

The Amateur League has now over 40 member countries with over 55 member-organisations. Thousands and thousands of registered supporters.

Since May the WDC AL has been growing and growing. Our people are working very hard to bring the necessary structures in view and before the end of this year, the WDC AL will be in full operation.

In the civil court, The Hague, Netherlands, under the jurisdiction of Judge Mrs. J.M. Willink, the IDSF member, NADB, confirmed, in a humiliating climb-down, what we have all known for a very long time.

In the case of Neil Jones (competitor and Dutch Champion) vs. NADB (IDSF member Federation for Netherlands, one of the several Dutch Amateur Federations), the court learned that there was "No case to answer " due to the fact that, in a seemingly reluctant and humiliating climb-down only days before the trial, (which had preambled for several months), the NADB now gave a court pledge that, contrary to several months` advice to the opposite,

The Dance Sport Executive Board of the World Dance Council is delighted to announce the formation of the Amateur Dance Commission.

This Commission will have the responsibility of dealing with all matters relating to the new WDC Amateur League. The commission will be entitled to a seat on the Dance Sport Executive Board with the equivalent voting rights of the Coaches and Competitors Commissions.

WDC Amateur League launched with combined prize-money of over 700,000 US Dollars in Asia alone!!!

Following the acceptance of a proposal from Canada on their Annual General Meeting, the WDC has formed a new Amateur League in support of the wishes of her members and according to the principals of the open market.

I have today written to Mr. Carlos Freitag, President of the International Dance Sport Federation, a copy of which is enclosed with this Press Release.

Whilst many responsible and moderate people within the Dance Sport world will have viewed the recent belligerence and tone of IDSF press statements with dismay and understandable concern for the future, the World Dance Council remains committed to a dignified positioning and reasonable and moderate political position in support of freedom for all in the Dance Sport community.

It is this politic which has kept the WDC and the stakeholders of the prestigious and major Dance Sport events in harmony, in support of the World Series and the open market, whilst radicals on the IDSF side have isolated themselves from the mainstream. ....more

There have been many decades of relationship between the World Dance Council (formally ICBD) and the International Dance Sport Federation (formally ICAD). True there have been problem areas and in general certain countries have proven to be in themselves, problematic but nonetheless, through the joint committee which was unilaterally disbanded by IDSF, it was possible to govern relatively harmonious relations in the Dance world by and large. ....more

The World Dance Council (WDC), of London, England - the only worldwide accepted body representing Professional Dance and Dance Sport, advises that one of its constituent body's was suddenly sued in the Court of Modena, Italy on Friday, 2nd February 2007 by the IDSF member.

The IDSF member asked for an Italian Court order ("injunction") to stop the planned Italian Championships on 3rd & 4th February 2007.

The IDSF members lawyers argued that these championships were being planned unlawfully, basing arguments on previous claims by the President of their member body in Italy, that the IDSF through their Olympic recognition, had sole rights and that implementation of World Anti-Doping measures were not being enforced. The same President is even on record as having insisted that "in Italian Olympic Sports law the word `Professional` is illegal". ....more

Dear Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentleman,

I am, as I think most people in the Danceworld, very unhappy about the situation we are facing. And, I am not happy about the actions and decisions that are taken from the Presidium of IDSF and WDC.

We are now facing court cases initiated from both sides and we are right in the middle of a very unnecessary and damaging war.

I appeal to both sides STOP THIS MADNESS! Stop it at once!....more

The President
IDSF

Dear Carlos,

As a delegate to the World Dance Council and a Director of the British Dance Council, I find myself in complete agreement with the sentiments expressed in the open letter written to you from Karl Breuer on February the 5th 2007.....more

Mr. President,
dear Carlos.

Since the IDSF General Meeting in Wels, Austria, I have remained silent for a long time - perhaps too long. The development from the GOC 2006 to a pitiful pseudo-World Championship for Professionals in Madrid January 2007 cannot and should not remain without comment any longer.

Being almost 60 years, in my beloved Dance Sport, I request the right to write this letter as an Amateur Dancer, Amateur World Champion, the first dancer to be presented with the Silver Laurel given by the President of The Federal Republic of Germany, worked as a Professional Dancer, Trainer and then served as President of the World Dance Council for many years. ....more

The Competitors' Commission has been actively negotiating with the IPDSC and the WDC on behalf of all the Professional Competitors throughout the World.

Your Managing Committee has sought the opinion of as many competing professionals as possible in the short space of time allowed to negotiate.more

The WDC Presidium hereby announces that the Membership of the Consiglio Italiano Dansa Sportiva (CIDS), for Italy, to the World Dance Council Ltd will be suspended from 1st January 2007. ......more

The WDC Competitors Commission in June, free of pressure or interference, voted unanimously NOT to support the IDSF Italian members alleged "Professional" events. In so doing, the Professional competitors have demonstrated exemplary loyalty to the WDC and the profession, and we in turn are honour bound to protect them, and their efforts and assets, together with our own.

The recent announcement of IDSF that an Italian non-presidium member, a person therefore NOT internationally elected to any position of authority by the IDSF membership, but simply appointed by a core of the Presidium without recourse nor consultation with member-federations, will be allowed to run IDSF professional World titles in Ballroom and Latin, is a direct attack on our own couples' efforts and an attempt to devalue their titles, ergo an attack on the titles and assets of the profession itself.

Whilst it could be argued that it is not strictly WDC business, the situation of an unelected radical tail waiving the IDSF dog and dragging the dance world down a disruptive road to conflict is great cause for the concenr of all responsible people who sincerely care. ......more

Life is so easy if someone else does all the thinking! In many parts of the world dictatorial regimes save the masses from the pain of thinking themselves and decide over their daily activities and future. In an ideal world this would be the best system; an honest and responsible regime that does all that for all of us.

Still strangely enough most people prefer a different system, where they are free to make their own decisions; where to go and what to do. The World Dance Council has great respect for this freedom of choice.

Freedom of choice, however, has nothing to do with choose whatever you like (opportunism), but a lot with taking personal responsibility, not only for yourself, but also for your environment, the past, the present and the future, and especially all structures that allow you this freedom. ......more

The organisation of World and European championships has a long history. Ever since the official establishment of the World Dance Council (before I.C.B.D.) and the I.D.S.F. (before I.C.A.D.) the respective titles have gained prestige all over the world. Over the years both the amateur and professional titles are now perceived as "genuine" and recognised and respected throughout the entire danceworld. This thanks to the efforts of both WDC and IDSF.

For competitors a sound and clear layer to help them in their careers. Many, many highly respected names have passed the path from being first world champions in the amateur-section, to later becoming a finalist or world champion in the professional section. The two are strongly connected and were mutually respected. Both WDC and IDSF can rightly claim the credits for the recognition of these respective titles and for the great help in the individual careers of so many.

Ferruccio Galvagno President (FIDS) tried to intigrate professional couples into FIDS because the number of Amateur couples is not increasing   more ...

The World Dance & Dance Sport Council, formerly International Council of Ballroom Dancing (ICBD) on the occasion of its Annual General Meeting in Blackpool on 1st June 2006 formally evolved to a title-change for only the third time in over 50 years of history.

The membership unanimously approved the Presidium recommendation to change its name to that of World Dance Council (WDC).

The directors (Presidium) and members of the World Dance Council are to announce the launching of the World Dance Council light entertainment commission.

The World Dance Council (WDC) is asserting its authority as the only World body with the right to administrate, grant and run all recognised World Ballroom Champion Titles.

The Council, made up of sixty one (61) members representing virtually every dancing country in the world (one member per country) has decided to retain the event rights and appoint an organiser of their choosing to return the World Ballroom Champion Titles to a position of importance and meaning.