National Competition Body
British Dance Council
Britain's governing body for competitive DanceSport
Best For
Competitors and professionals in the British DanceSport tradition
Overview
British Dance Council, formed in 1929 as the Official Board of Ballroom Dancing. The official WDC member federation for Britain and recognized governing body for Ballroom, Latin, Sequence, and Freestyle dance in the United Kingdom.
History
Established in 1929 when an informal committee of the British dance teachers' organisations adopted the title Official Board of Ballroom Dancing; it took the name British Dance Council in 1985.
Formed as the governing body representing the dance teachers' organisations in Great Britain.
Oversees all competitions and championships organised in Great Britain, including the British, United Kingdom and International Championships.
Convened the 1950 Edinburgh meeting at which the International Council of Ballroom Dancing — today's World Dance Council (WDC) — was formed, and remains the WDC member body for Britain.
Governs Sequence Dancing, a British competitive format in which all couples on the floor dance the same pre-set routine simultaneously.
Governance & Structure
Governed by a council representing the professional dance teachers' organisations in the UK.
Member bodies include teacher training organisations (ISTD, IDTA and others) and competition organisers.
Sets competition rules and adjudication standards for the UK through its Rules and Competitions committees, with a separate Freestyle Rules Committee (FRC).
The WDC member body for Britain.
Competition Structure
Recognises professional and amateur competitions throughout the United Kingdom.
Divisions include Professional, Amateur and age-graded categories.
Styles: Ballroom, Latin American, Sequence and Freestyle.
The British National Championships crown Britain's professional and amateur champions.
Key Programs
British National Championships
Annual professional and amateur championships determining Britain's national champions.
Licensing and Registration
Application and licensing for adjudicators, amateurs, professionals and competition promoters.
Competition Recognition
Official recognition for UK competitions and championships and their results.
Membership & Access
Adjudicators, amateurs, professionals and promoters register and hold licences directly with the BDC (application forms and the MyBDC account on its site); dance teachers belong through the BDC's member teacher organisations.
Related Organizations
World Dance Council
International Federation
The British professional ballroom tradition
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
Syllabus & Certification
The gold standard in dance teaching qualifications since 1904
International Dance Teachers' Association
Syllabus & Certification
Teaching the world to dance since 1903
Explore More Leagues
Discover how the dance world connects — from local studios to international championships.