International Dance Organization

The International Dance Organization (IDO) is an official, independent, politically neutral, non-profit world dance and dance sport federation, registered in Slagelse, Denmark. It governs competitions and activities in performing arts, street dance/urban disciplines, and couple dances. Members of the IDO are national dance federations, and only non-profit organizations are eligible for membership.
The IDO organizes a wide range of international competitions, including World and Continental Championships across multiple dance disciplines. Some of its major events run for more than a week and include World Championships in Show Dance, Tap Dance, Ballet, Modern & Contemporary Dance, Jazz Dance, and Street Dance styles, hosted annually in various countries.

IDO was founded on September 18, 1981, by four countries: France, Gibraltar, Italy and Switzerland. The founder and first General Secretary was Moreno Polidori from Italy.
Leading the IDO:

IDO General Secretary Moreno Polidori, Italy (1981 – 1998)
Since 1998 the IDO is headed by the IDO President:

Nils Hakan Carlzon, Sweden (1998 – 2008)
Bill Fowler, USA (2008 – 2011)
Jörn Storbraten, Norway (2011 – 2014)
Michael Wendt, Germany (2014 - 2021)
Prof. Dr. Velibor Srdic (2021 - 2022 acting president)
Prof. Dr. Velibor Srdic (2022 - today)

The IDO Executive Presidium (EPM) 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 Hakon Carlzon, Bill Fowler and Michael Wendt have been honoured as Honorary Lifetime Presidents.
The election of the Presidium takes place in a staggered system according to which the President, the Senior Vice President, the Executive Secretary/Treasurer and two (2) Vice Presidents (A, B) are elected in year 1, the
four other Vice Presidents (C, D, E, F) are elected in year 3, each for a term of four (4) years. The three Department Directors, Performing Arts, Street Dance and Couple Dance, are elected every three years at their Annual Department Meeting (ADM) and also serve on the Presidium. Same for the elected chairpersons of the Continental Conferences.
The AGA 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 AGA. 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
Couple Dance department
Performing Arts department
Street Dance department

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. For example in

Asia / Asia-Pacific - Michael Wendt, Germany,
The Americas - Bonnie Dyer, Canada.
Iberian peninsula - Seamus Byrne, Gibraltar
Besides running competitions and festivals, IDO established its Hall of Fame to honour dance celebrities, dancers and dance enthusiasts who have made significant contributions to IDO’s Dance World.
IDO also follows the anti-doping requirements requested.
IDO is affiliated to TAFISA and EUSA.

Each year the IDO organizes World, Continental and Regional championships and cups in the IDO dance disciplines.

Mini Kids
Children
Junior I
Junior II
Adults
Adult 2
Seniors

Solo female
Solo male
Duo
Couples
Trio (Tap Dance only)
Group/Team (3-7 dancers)
Formation (8-24 dancers)

PERFORMING ARTS DISCIPLINES

Acrobatic Dance
Ballet/Pointe
Belly Dance/Oriental
Bollywood
Flamenco
Folklore Dance
Jazz Dance
Modern Dance and Contemporary Dance
Performing Arts Improvisation
Show Dance
Tap Dance
Productions
STREET DANCE DISCIPLINES

Breaking
Popping
Hip Hop
Hip Hop Battles
Disco Dance
Disco Dance Freestyle
Disco Dance Show
Disco Slow
Street Dance Show
Productions
COUPLE DANCE DISCIPLINES

Argentine Tango (Tango, Milonga, Tango Vals and Tango Fantasia)
Bachata
Caribbean Dances (Salsa, Merengue, Bachata)
Caribbean Show
Couple Dance Formations
Hustle/Disco-Swing/Disco-Fox
Jitterbug
Latin Show
Latin Style
Merengue
Salsa
Salsa Rueda de Casino
Synchro Dance
West Coast Swing
Productions

Official IDO website
IDO intro (3:51) on YouTube
World Dance Olympiad
World Showdance Championships
Dance Week Riesa
IDO Competitions in Youtube