What it is
The WDO held its first meeting in Blackpool on 30 May 2019 as "World Dance Organisers", was registered in England as a non-profit community interest company that September, and took the name World Dance Organisation in December 2020. It describes its aim as championships with equal opportunity for all dancers.
It covers amateur and professional dancers, seniors, children and youth, and Pro-Am. It is independent of WDSF and WDC and is not recognised by the IOC.
Members
Unlike WDSF, the WDO does not work through one national body per country. Its members are individuals and organisations: competitors, adjudicators, organisers, national organisations that apply, and affiliated international bodies. It does not publish a member count.
Competition system
| Group | Age |
|---|---|
| Juvenile I, II, III | Under 8, under 10, under 12 |
| Junior I, II | Under 14, under 16 |
| Youth I, II | Under 19, under 21 |
| Amateur and Professional | Over 16 |
| Senior I to IV | 35/30, 45/40, 55/50, 65/60 |
| Pro/Am | Age bands up to 81 and over |
Registration. Every competitor registers with the WDO each calendar year and earns ranking points only while registered.
Ranking. Points come from ranking events and Grand Slam ranking events; the ranking has been rolling since 2025.
Judges. Adjudicators need a WDO licence plus a national or WDO-approved qualification, and must hold the licence for two years before judging a world or continental title. World championship panels for amateurs and professionals have eleven judges from at least six countries.
Main events
World Championships are open to all registered dancers, with no limit on entries per country; the WDO had approved 25 world titles for 2026 by November 2026. Below them come continental championships in six regions, ranking and Grand Slam ranking events, recognised events (cups, trophies and grand prix) and formation championships.
How it is governed
The WDO is run by a Board of Directors serving three-year terms, at most two in a row, supported by committees and advisers. Its board page lists the current directors.
Official links
We do not print the names of current presidents or board members, because they change. The links above go to the federation's own list.
This page is an independent summary written from the body's own published sources. DanceFlow is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sanctioned by it.
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Sources
Checked on November 3, 2026. Each document is linked in the language it was published in. Where sources disagree, the text says so.