Recent Milestones

DanceSport as a Unifying Force

The following joint declaration was drafted between the representatives of the different organisations at the conclusion of the meeting of the IDSF Vision 2012 Working Group on 25 October 2009:

IDSF Vision 2012 Working Group

On 25 October 2009 the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF) Working Group on VISION 2012 met for the first time in Sant Cugat, ESP, to discuss the further proceedings in trying to have IDSF evolve into the World DanceSport Federation. Present at the first meeting of the IDSF Working Group were: IDSF Presidium Members Freitag, Hinder, Sietas and Tay French DanceSport Federation President Marty German DanceSport Federation President Allert Italian DanceSport Federation President Galvagno and Technical Secretary Valeri World Rock ‘n’ Roll Confederation President Kerpan-Izak and Secretary General Herrmann International Dance Organization Senior Vice-President Storbratten International Professional DanceSport Council President Tondon International Paralympic Committee Wheelchair DanceSport Manager Charitaki and Technical Director Andersen United Western Country Dance Council – International Affairs President Bartholomew International Cheer Union Secretary General Olson and Adviser Jacki IDSF Advisers Bunn and Hilfiker

IDSF Annual General Meeting

On 14 June, the 2009 IDSF Annual General Meeting held in Macau, CHN, unanimously passed the following motion: "That this meeting directs and encourages the Presidium to continue working on VISION 2012, and to establish a working group including representatives of Associate Members, representatives of other key IDSF Member Bodies and representatives of other dance disciplines. The meeting directs that this working group shall consider all the information and questions raised in the 2009 IDSF Forum in Macau and also any responses or questions received from IDSF Members during or after the Forum. The working group’s work will be communicated on a regular periodic basis to all IDSF Member Bodies, and all IDSF Member Bodies are encouraged to provide their comments in writing."

Agreement with UCWDC

The United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC) becomes an IDSF Associate Member. The corresponding contract was signed in Salou, Spain, on 7 December 2008. During the 2008 IDSF Youth Standard World Championships held in the Catalan resort, IDSF President Carlos Freitag and UCWDC's Jeff Bartholomew affixed their signatures to a contract which has IDSF recognise the UCWDC as the sole worldwide representative of Country Western Dance and Line Dance. UCWDC, on the other hand, supports the fundamental principles and essential values of Olympism, the aspirations that IDSF and its members be part of the Olympic Movement, and the strict adherence of IDSF and its members to the World Anti-Doping Code. UCWDC also pledges to support IDSF efforts to evolve into the World DanceSport Federation in the foreseeable future.