The Ballroom Dancers' Federation is a

sport Sport is a physical activity or game, often Competition, competitive and organization, organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The numbe ...

organization An organization or organisation (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English; American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), see spelling differences) is an legal entity, entity—such as ...

. It was founded in 1958 to give a voice to competitive

ballroom dancers Ballroom dance is a set of European partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world, mostly because of its performance and entertainment aspects. Ballroom dancing is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and tele ...

. A previous organisation, called the Competitors' Federation had been disbanded soon after its formation in 1946.

Goals and responsibilities

The purpose of the BDF is: :1. To promote the spirit of good fellowship and sportsmanship and to protect and advance the interests of professional competitors and professionals in general. :2. To further the goodwill and co-operation between those who utilise the services of its members and the governing Dance Sport bodies. These general aims are interpreted mainly from the point of view of professional competitors, though many of its activities do also benefit amateur competitors. The Federation has been responsible for starting many events: *The International Congress held biennially at the British Open Championships in Blackpool, where lectures on all aspects of the profession are presented. *The Night of 100 Stars, which is the showcase for the Dance Sport industry. *The type of world championships known as ''Classic Show Dance'' and ''South American Show Dance'', were originally called ''segue events'' which was the innovation of the BDF. *Twenty-five years ago, the Federation resurrected the ''Star Championships'' originally run by the now defunct Star newspaper in the famous

Earls Court Exhibition Centre Earls Court Exhibition Centre was a major international exhibition and events venue in London, England. At its peak it is said to have generated a £2 billion turnover for the economy. It replaced exhibition and entertainment grounds, original ...

. Later the Championship was held in the Great Room of the

Grosvenor House Grosvenor House was one of the largest townhouse (Great Britain), townhouses in London, home of the Grosvenor family (the family of the Dukes of Westminster) for more than a century. Their original London residence was on Millbank, but after t ...

Park Lane Park Lane is a dual carriageway road in the City of Westminster in Central London. It is part of the London Inner Ring Road and runs from Hyde Park Corner in the south to Marble Arch in the north. It separates Hyde Park, London, Hyde Park to ...

together with a dinner dance called the Star Ball. *The BDF awards have grown to be one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in the world today. *The Ballroom Dancers’ Federation have undertaken the responsibility of organising European and World Championship events granted by the

World Dance Council The World Dance Council Ltd (WDC), is a registered limited company, the legal successor to the ''International Council of Ballroom Dancing'', and was established at a meeting organized by Phillip J. S. Richardson on 22 September 1950 in Edinburgh, ...

to Great Britain. This has been achieved with the support of generous sponsors. Delegates from the executive committee of the Federation sit on the board of directors for the

British Dance Council The British Dance Council was formed in 1929 as the Official Board of Ballroom Dancing (OBBD). The name was changed in 1985 to the British Council of Ballroom Dancing and in 1996, the name was changed to British Dance Council. The BDC is the reco ...

; the Federation sees a major part of its role as bringing about changes in the BDC.

References

Dance organisations in the United Kingdom Ballroom dance Competitive dance 1958 establishments in the United Kingdom Arts organizations established in 1958 {{ballroom-dance-stub

Goals and responsibilities

See also

References