Soon after its inception in 1998 the Ballroom Dancers’ Federation International applied for and was accepted as an Affiliate Member of the World Dance Council.  The Terms of Affiliation were agreed between the two parties and were on the basis that the BDFI retained its status as an independent organisation.

The relationship has endured for some 20 years during which time delegates from the BDFI would attend meetings of the WDC’s Executive Board, Competitive Dance Committee and AGM each time they were held.  As well as reporting back to the International Council of Directors and members of the BDFI as a whole, this allowed the BDFI to have an input on all matters debated and decided by the WDC.

The BDFI also actively encouraged its members to become registered with the WDC as adjudicators or competitors if they were not already and was instrumental in assisting various Professionals to obtain WDC Adjudicating Licences when they were having difficulties doing so.

For reasons that are unclear to the BDFI, the WDC recently decided to change the Terms of Affiliation of the BDFI’s membership.  The revised terms included items that the Directors of the BDFI believe would seriously limit its ability to remain independent.  Various negotiations took place in order to find a compromise that would be acceptable to both parties.  However, it proved impossible to satisfy the requirements of the WDC and retain independence for the BDFI.

The Directors and the members of the BDFI believe that its independent status is fundamental to its existence.  It is therefore with regret that the BDFI’s Affiliate Membership of the WDC has come to an end.

Existing members may be assured that the International and National Directors will continue to support the membership worldwide and to uphold the professional standards which have always been the Federation’s objective. All BDFI events and Competitive sponsorships will continue as usual, when the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.