West Coast Swing as a synonym for "Western swing" appears in a 1961 dance book, and was used in an advertisement by Skippy Blair in 1962 but wasn't incorporated into mainstream swing circles until the late 1960s. Blair credits Jim Bannister, editor of the Herald American newspaper in Downey, California, for suggesting the name "West Coast Swing".
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Christine McDonald is a former Professional ballroom dancer, specializing in International Style Standard. With husband Brian McDonald, she is a former 3-time Scottish National Amateur Champion, a 3-time European Professional Standard finalist, a European Professional Standard runner-up, as well as a 4-time United States National Professional Standard Champion. Christine has also been one of the organizers of the Embassy Ballroom Championships (Embassy Ball) since 1980 and has been inducted into the Millennium DanceSport Championships Hall of Fame in 2012.
The World Dance Council Education Department (WDCED) is an educational organization arranged under the World Dance Council to inspire, stimulate and promote excellence in education in DanceSport educators, coaches, adjudicators and dancers through instruction, development of knowledge, and understanding of the history of past Ballroom legends and endeavors.
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), formerly known as the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF), refers to the International Sports Governing Body of DanceSport and Wheelchair DanceSport. WDSF is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
Brian McDonald, known for his contribution, devotion and dedication to ballroom dancing in the United States and worldwide, is a former Professional ballroom dancer, specializing in International Style Standard. With wife Christine McDonald, he is a former 3-time Scottish National Amateur Champion, a 3-time European Professional Standard finalist, a European Professional Standard runner-up, as well as a 4-time United States National Professional Standard Champion. Brian has been the President of the National Dance Council of America since 1994 and one of the organizers of the Embassy Ballroom Championships since 1980.
Larry Dean is the organizer of The Triple Crown & Crown Jewel DanceSport Championships, a series of four fantasy DanceSport competitions synonymous with five star hotels, world class shows, superb ballrooms, and stunning gifts. Larry is a past president of the Florida Dance Teachers Association as well as the National Dance Teachers Association of America and a past vice-president of the National Dance Council of America.
The Ballroom Dancers' Federation International was founded in 1997 to promote the spirit of good fellowship and sportsmanship and to protect and advance the interest of competitors, demonstrators, coaches, teachers, adjudicators, scrutineers and promoters internationally.
Ballroom dancing is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, Ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television.
Arūnas Bižokas is a former professional ballroom dancer who competed under WDSF and WDC, representing Lithuania until 2007 and after 2007 representing the United States. 11 times WDC Professional World Champion, World Amateur, European, International, UK, and British Champion in Standard division.
The World Dance Council (WDC), is a registered limited company, and the legal successor to the International Council of Ballroom Dancing, and was established at a meeting organised by Phillip J. S. Richardson on 22 September 1950 in Edinburgh. For a period from 1996 to 2006, the WDC was known as the World Dance & DanceSport Council.
