Did you know that 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of USA Dance? Here’s a little history for you.
USA Dance: Purpose and Early Years
USA Dance, Inc. was originally organized in 1965 as the United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association, Inc., also known nationwide as USABDA. Its purpose was to promote the acceptance of ballroom dancing in the Olympics.
In 1965, during the organizational stage of USA Dance, the late Normand Martin, a leading social and competitive dancer and ballroom dance champion, gathered a group of interested dancers to petition the Olympic Committee for the inclusion of Ballroom Dancing in the Olympics. Although those early efforts to be included in the Olympics failed, it became clear during the development of the bylaws that the dance community of the American dancer extended far beyond accommodating the “International Style” competitors who were interested in the Olympics. As the founders worked on defining the dancing guidelines and requirements to be considered in the development of the Bylaws, the American Style competitor and a vast number of serious and dedicated Social Dancers suddenly came into focus.
The resultant Bylaws of USA Dance addressed four very important areas of association: the International Style competitors, the American Style competitors, the Social dancers, and the Youth and College dancers. While helping the athletes compete nationally and internationally, those early plans of USA Dance also helped set the stage for the availability of ballroom floors, music, and venues for the Social dancers, who were then and still are the backbone and strength of USA Dance.
In January 2005, a corporate resolution was filed with the state of Virginia, changing the organization’s name to USA Dance, Inc.
USA Dance Becomes a National Organization
During its early years, USA Dance primarily consisted of a small number of members in the greater New York area, a few in the Washington, D.C. area, and some on the West Coast. In 1978, the Mid-Eastern Chapter was formed, which initiated actions to expand USA Dance to more regions of the country and begin establishing a national organization. National elections were held in 1979, and the following years marked the beginning of the current organization, with chapters forming in several states.
During the 1980s, efforts began to integrate all amateur ballroom dance organizations in the United States under USA Dance. In 1985, the organization reorganized and was granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. New bylaws were formulated, establishing a national organization with a regional and chapter structure. In 1987, a unification election formally brought all amateur dancers into one national organization, which was subsequently recognized by the international governing body, the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF). Since then, USA Dance has served as the National Member Body for all forms of DanceSport in the United States.
USA Dance: Growth Since the 1980s
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) coined the term “DanceSport” in the early 1980s.
Since the 1985 reorganization, USA Dance has concentrated on promoting the growth of all styles and forms of DanceSport, including both competitive and recreational social dancing. This initiative included a program to establish a network of chapters in each state. These efforts were highly successful, yielding significant growth each year in the number of dancers, chapters, and associated activities such as competitions, workshops, and social dances. Many volunteers dedicated their time and resources to promoting ballroom dance and DanceSport in colleges and secondary schools.
In 1999, a separate Social Division was established to promote and guide the growth of sports and exercise through social dancing in the United States. The goal was to encourage social dancing as a healthy lifelong recreational activity suitable for families. Today, this remains the largest division of dancers within USA Dance.
In 1999, the Collegiate Network was restructured, and the volunteer staff expanded to create a promotional and management organization capable of meeting the immense challenge of bringing social ballroom dancing and DanceSport to every college and secondary school in this nation. This is a major goal for USA Dance volunteers in the next decade.
Journey Into The Olympics
In 1997, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted the WDSF full recognition as the International Governing Body for DanceSport, and in 1999, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) granted affiliate membership to USA Dance. Subsequently, USA Dance became the Recognized Sports Organization for DanceSport in the United States, as designated by the USOPC, and the National Member Body of the WDSF.
In 2018, the DanceSport discipline Breakin’ was added to the Youth Olympic Games program and was subsequently included in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, held in Paris, France. Viktor Montalvo of USA Dance won the Bronze Medal for the United States.
USA Dance’s Focus on Current Activities
USA Dance continues to focus its activities on programs that allow members to enjoy dancing, accomplish their dance objectives, and promote the sport.
There are currently 117 USA Dance Chapters situated in communities across the United States. These chapters frequently gather dancers who enjoy dancing and warmly welcome beginners to the ballroom floor. They also organize and promote educational initiatives for the public regarding the health benefits of recreational ballroom dancing and DanceSport, the competitive variant of ballroom dancing. These programs highlight the physical, mental, and social advantages of dancing and strive to enhance dancing skills among individuals of all ages and abilities.
The Collegiate program continues to thrive. Its goal is to establish a line of communication with Collegiate dancers across the country, keeping them informed about special dance events, competitions, clubs, and news related to the dance community.
USA Dance conducts annual national, regional, and local DanceSport Championships while maintaining a calendar of these events. National DanceSport Champions of all ages compete for the chance to represent their country in the World DanceSport Federation World Championships. Representatives from the United States are also sent to the World Games, which highlight Olympic-recognized sports not included in the Olympic Program.
USA Dance’s Mission
USA Dance’s mission is to improve the quality and quantity of dance in the United States. It is a nationwide 501(c)3 non-profit organization with over 6,000 members from across the United States who love ballroom dancing and appreciate its excitement, romance, and social and health benefits.
