The information below was provided by the World Dance Council (WDC):

WDC Amateur League
September 2007

In May 2007 at the Annual General Meeting of the World Dance Council the decision to form the WDC Amateur League was adopted. This was not, as was viewed by some, a knee-jerk reaction to developments initiated by other International Organisations but a totally new concept that Dancers, their Coaches/Trainers, Adjudicators and Organisers have been demanding for many, many years.

It has long been said that Competitors and their Coaches only want to have a truly Open System of Competitions, free from Political restrictions where the couples can do what they do best i.e. Dance. There was a need for the threat of bans, suspensions and other perceived restrictions to be removed for Competitive dance to flourish. Major Open competitive events such as the British Open (Blackpool), United Kingdom Open, International Open, Dutch Open , etc. continue to promote this ideal and show by their continued success that this is what the vast majority of people involved in the Dance world demand.

The old ideas of monopolies or cartels are no longer valid and a free and open Market is the only way forward.
The WDC has decided to support this principle with the formation of the Amateur League. Amateur Competitors in their thousands are exercising their free choice and registering with the WDC Amateur league. There have been no pressures applied to anyone to join, only the promise that the best Events, best Adjudicators and best Competitors will be taking part. The WDC are so committed to this ideal that no restriction will be placed on non WDC registered competitors at these events. This transparency, the WDC is confident, will lead to all couples exercising their own sound judgement to become part of this new concept.

This Press release is being addressed to you to keep you informed of these long overdue decisions. All couples look to you the Coaches/Trainers for guidance in their careers and Dance development. We, the Coaches/Trainers Commission hope you give your support and leadership to all couples who seek the best course for their Dance futures in an Open Market system that :-

1. Promotes the right to choose

2. Removes the threat of restriction

3. Gives the opportunity to express yourself freely.

4. Gives direct access to the policy makers of the Dance Business through the formation of
Commissions.

5. Seeks to defend the rights of Competitors, Coaches/Trainers and Promoters to operate within
a Free and Open Market.

WDC Coaches/Trainers Commission