BDSA News

We are proud to announce that the British DanceSport Association (BDSA)  has been shortlisted for the Safer Sport Award  at the London Sport Awards 2026 ! This prestigious nomination recognises the meaningful impact we are making to improve safeguarding, safety and wellbeing across the extracurricular dance and dance sport sector. Being shortlisted by London Sport is a significant milestone for our organisation and a powerful recognition of the safeguarding reform work we hav

Safeguarding should never be optional. Yet across the UK, thousands of children and vulnerable adults take part in extracurricular activities every day in environments where safeguarding standards can be inconsistent, unclear, or in some cases completely absent. That is why the British DanceSport Association (BDSA) is launching Midday Matters , a CEO-led webinar series designed to address urgent safeguarding concerns and drive practical change across the extracurricular secto

At the British DanceSport Association (BDSA), we believe the future of dance sport should be shaped by those who live it every day. That belief has led to an exciting and important step forward for our organisation: the launch of the BDSA Youth Advisory Group (BDSAYAG) . This new initiative places young people firmly at the centre of our work, ensuring their voices, experiences and ideas help guide how dance sport is governed, developed and supported across the UK. Why a Yout

A Brilliant Weekend for BDSA Team GB and NI at the European Confederation of Dance Sports (“ECDS”) European Championships - It was an exciting and rewarding weekend for the British DanceSport Association (“BDSA”) Team GB and NI, who travelled to compete at the ECDS European Championships held in Burgas, Bulgaria. The team delivered exceptional performances across every category, and their results reflected the skill, discipline and determination they brought to the floor.

Remembrance Day: A Moment to Reflect and Remember - Today, the British DanceSport Association stands alongside the nation in quiet remembrance of all who gave their lives in service to our country.

Government Confirms DBS Reform Reflecting NSF Recommendations: The British DanceSport Association (BDSA) welcomes the UK Government’s recent confirmation that new legislation will soon allow self-employed individuals working with children and vulnerable adults to apply directly for enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

The British DanceSport Association (BDSA) is delighted to announce its partnership with the independent charity Crimestoppers to launch a dedicated phone line and online reporting service designed to protect dancers and strengthen safeguarding across the UK dance community.

Twenty elite athletes from dance, figure skating, and gymnastics were interviewed to understand their lived experiences of psychological safety and different coaching behaviours. This research addresses a critical gap in sport psychology literature and seeks to inform athletes, coaches, sporting organisations and policy makers on the importance of psychological safety in this unique sporting context.