Dance Becomes Professional Sport
The International Dance League announced its inaugural season, establishing dance as a global professional sport for the first time. This marks a significant milestone in recognizing dance's athleticism and international popularity. The formalization could open new career paths for dancers and change how we view competitive dance.
While the idea of competitive dance isn't new, with the first international tango tournament held in 1907, the professional infrastructure has been lacking. For decades, even elite dancers with millions of online followers have had limited career paths, often working as background performers for musicians or in commercials. The International Dance League (IDL) aims to change this by creating a structure where dancers are treated as professional athletes with contracts and salaries. The league was founded by Connor Lim, president of the online dance tutorial platform STEEZY, and launched with a successful $7 million seed funding round. This investment allows the IDL to provide paid contracts, cover travel expenses, and offer prize money for the competing teams, with $20,000 for the first-place team at its launch event. The inaugural season will feature six renowned dance crews from around the globe: 1 Million (South Korea), Brotherhood (Canada), GRV (USA), Jam Republic (Singapore), Quick Style (Norway), and The Royal Family (New Zealand). These teams collectively have over 250 million followers and 20 billion views, bringing a massive existing fanbase to the league. The season will consist of six events in cities including New York, Vancouver, Sydney, and Seoul, culminating in the crowning of a season champion. To ensure cultural authenticity, the IDL has established a Cultural & Historical Advisory Board featuring street and club dance legends like Buddha Stretch and Mr. Wiggles. This board will guide the league in accurately and respectfully representing the various dance styles showcased in the competition. The league also fosters emerging talent through a community division, which allows local teams to compete at IDL events.
