Many dancers have auditioned and have been selected to compete as a part of the largest and most prestigious dance team in Canada to compete at the IDO World Tap Championships in Reisa Germany, this November 26-30 2019. There are two groups of dancers representing Canada, one based in Ontario and one based in Alberta, but both of these groups are all part of one team. 

The International Dance Organization (IDO) has over 250, 000 member dancers over 6 continents. This world championship event is considered the "Olympics of Dance", with only one Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal awarded to each division. 

The National Director of Team Canada Dance, Bonnie Dyer, comments "Canada has been quite successful in all dance disciplines at the World Championships and this is mainly due to the high standards of training that our local studios offer” and that “It is also great to see the ‘best of the best’ in Canada, dancers from various studios, towns and provinces coming together onto one team with one goal – to represent Canada!”

This year, myself, Claudia Chamzuk from the Vancouver Tap Dance Society, has been selected to represent Canada. 

While many people were relaxing over this summer, I gladly spent my holidays and weekends to train and prepare for this event. Although many other countries around the globe provide support for their dancer, in Canada there is no government assistance for Team Canada Dance, so I am required to raise my own funds to be able to attend this competition. 

"The IDO is a member of The Association for International Sport for All (TAFISA) and also a contracted partner of EUSA that is associative partner with FISU.  On the website www.ido-dance.com you will find more information on Dance Sport.  IDO Vice-President and Sport Director Fiona Johnson-Kocjancic states that the “International Dance Organization promotes dancers as the true athletes that they are.  In many of the European countries dance is considered a sport”.  The IDO National member organizations that are recognized by the National Olympic Committees in Europe receive yearly money grants for every solo and duo/couple who place Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Adult categories at the IDO World Championships.  Dancers are also entitled to governmental money grants, scholarships, paid health insurance, physiotherapists, and body conditioning classes.  It is unfortunate that Canada still does not recognize our dancers as the athletes they are when they compete at world level competitions.  These athletes train for many hours per day, some up to 7 days a week!  Our dancers must fundraise and seek sponsorship on their own to cover the cost to attend these competitions."

I hope that you will help support me so I will be able to proudly represent your community as well as Canada at the World Championships.

For more information on Team Canada Dance, please visit www.teamcanadadance.ca