The International Dance Organization is an official, independent, politically neutral, non-profit, world dance and dance sport federation, registered in Slagelse, Denmark, for Performing Arts, Street and Couple Dances. Members of the IDO are national dance federations; only non-profit organizations can join. The biggest IDO competitions, running for more than a week, are World Dance Olympiad in Moscow around 1 May and the Dance Week in Riesa with Tap Dance and Show Dance in the end of November.
Since 1998 the IDO is headed by the IDO President:
Nils Hakan Carlzon, Sweden
Bill Fowler, USA
Jörn Storbraten, Norway
Michael Wendt, Germany
Structure
The IDO Executive Presidium runs the daily business and consists of the President, the Senior Vice President and the Executive Secretary. The IDO Presidium consists of the EPM and 6 Vice Presidents with specific duties. Nils Hakan Carlzon and Bill Fowler have been honored as Honorary Lifetime Presidents. The presidium is elected at the Annual General Meeting in a staggered election every year with 3 officers each year. The President and two Vice Presidents for a three-year term, the following year the Senior Vice President and two Vice Presidents for a three-year term, and the following year the Executive Secretary and two Vice Presidents for a three-year term. The three Department Directors, Performing Arts, Street Dance and Couple Dance, are elected every three years at their Annual Department Meeting and also serve on the Presidium. The AGM is also responsible for all changes in the statutes and by-laws. The ADMs are responsible for the Dance Sport rules, which are ratified by the AGM. To enable the experts in each specific field to discuss their department matters at the level where the dancers are, IDO has installed the following committees and departments:
Adjudication committee
Disciplinary committee
Education committee
Latino/Couple Dance department
Performing Arts department
Street Dance department
Chairperson of scrutineers
Worldwide memberships and structure
IDO has more than 90 member nations and contacts on all six continents, representing more than 250,000 dancers worldwide. To ensure growth and focus on existing intercontinental and new countries worldwide, the IDO has installed ambassadors to develop the IDO idea and structure in
Asia / Asia-Pacific and Africa - Michael Wendt, Germany,
From 1991 until 2013, IDO was an affiliated member of the World Dance Council, in London. From 2006 to 2012, IDO was also an affiliated member in the International DanceSport Federation. This enabled IDO to have its titles officially recognized. When the IDSF changed its name to the World DanceSport Federation, the IDO decided not to become an affiliated member thereby holding its independence. In 2013 for the first time IDO worked together with the World DanceSport Federation which is member of SportAccord and recognized by the International Olympic Committee organizing their dancers to participate in Salsa at the WORLD GAMES 2013 in Cali, Colombia and in Hip Hop & Caribbean Dances at the World Dance Sport Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Besides running competitions and festivals, IDO established its Hall of Fame to honor dance celebrities, dancers and dance enthusiasts who have made significant contributions to IDO’s Dance World. IDO also follows the anti-doping requirements requested.
Dance disciplines and competitions
Each year the IDO organizes World, Continental and Regional championships and cups in the IDO dance disciplines.