INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVE DANCER REGISTRY
Inside Dance has an advertising and promotional partnership with International Competitive Dancer Registry. ICDRDANCE.COM
Inside Dance had the privilege of sitting down with Jamie Hodgins, Executive Director of International Competitive Dancer Registry (ICDR), on the incredible efforts taking place across the dance industry with a mission of keeping our artists safe in today’s world of technology.
Share with our readers the mission of International Competitive Dancer Registry (ICDR) in today’s industry?
Our mission is simple: bring the same physical care, safety, and integrity found in-studio and at events into the digital ecosystem our industry relies on. Currently, dancer data is fragmented across too many systems, creating security vulnerabilities and a digital footprint that families can’t control. Without a single source of truth, it is impossible to fully support dancer recognition, family investment, or to ensure true privacy compliance and athlete-grade data stewardship, crucial in today’s digital landscape. ICDR bridges this gap with one verified danceID, designed to further secure every system in dance. Built on a foundation of digital safeguarding and fairness through participant and guardianship verification. We’re not changing workflows; we’re providing the security infrastructure to protect and strengthen them.
Being a professional performer, artist and connected to the dance competition circuit yourself, how does this hit home for you?
I grew up watching my sister move through sport with structure, protection, and verified systems; something I never had as a dancer. Today, she leads at the national level, and I’ve seen firsthand what verifying and identifying competitors brings to the structure of sport so I am just asking; “Why don’t we verify competitors in dance?” Dance deserves that same level of respect and assurances that the system is fair and safe. ICDR is our way of building that trust back creatively and intentionally. It’s long overdue, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it.
For parents who have children in other youth sports, tell us how ICDR relates?!
This isn’t new; it’s just new to dance. In other sports, parents expect verified systems, data control, and clear records. In dance, they invest just as much, if not more, without these same offerings. ICDR gives families ownership of their own digital footprints and minors’ media; they’re not wearing hockey gear. Just wait until we roll our participant accident insurance releasing liability across the whole season.
Let’s break it down… SAFETY. FAIRNESS. VERIFIED. Why is this more important than ever?
Because the industry has grown faster than the systems supporting it. Right now, there are gaps around identity, data, and fairness. ICDR closes those gaps. Verified dancers. Protected data. Fewer errors and yes, fewer chances to cheat. A more level playing field. Studios and their dance families have been asking for the industry to address these things for years, they just haven’t been offered a collective voice or comprehensive solution until now.
ICDR has created such a simple process to join and be a member. Tell us more!
It starts with one simple step: verifying a parent or guardian with a driver’s license or passport. From there, we create a secure, permanent connection to the dancer,
powered by multiple factor authentication and consent-based permissions. That
unlocks a verified, portable danceID that follows them wherever their journey takes
them. It’s fast, private, and built with real security, so anytime that data is used, it’s
trusted, verified, and protected.
Currently, members can become Founding Members. Share with us the perks of this opportunity!
Founding Members aren’t just joining; they’re shaping what comes next. Every
verification is a vote for a safer, fairer industry. We’re spotlighting these dancers,
studios, events and changemakers and offering early access to insurance,
incentives, and a voice in what we build moving forward.
You and your team have made incredible strides in educating the industry across North America. Share some recent conversations and support that the ICDR has gained!
There’s real momentum right now. Conversations are happening at every level with studios, events, software providers, and major industry leaders. What’s been most powerful is the alignment. Forward- thinking champions, like our US Strategy Lead Kim McSwain, recognize the problem and are now part of building an industry- wide solution. The voices or historically isolated interests are now assembling as a united front for digital stewardship. Leaders and artists including Brian Friedman, Sophia Lucia, Ryan Foley, and so many more are beginning to share their stories and their support. And this is just the beginning. We’re witnessing a shift from awareness to action in real time, committed to help bring back the faith that may have been lost in some parts of our competitive experience; not by a lack of love by the community, but by the previously unimaginable pace at which the digital landscape is currently evolving. This powerful shift is only possible with the support of studios and dancers standing together. This is what progress looks like. This is what protecting the industry we all love looks like. This is what the dance community is making possible, together.
Next steps?! What does the future look like for members of ICDR?!
We are moving toward a single, verified digital identity for every dancer, replacing unsecure, fragmented profiles with universal recognition and ironclad data safeguarding. To reach this future, we need studio leadership which starts with a conversation. We have built an impartial, software-driven standard to verify every major player in our arena. And yes, I use that term intentionally: this is about bringing the same objective, a sport-grade security infrastructure to dance that has supported athletes in every arena for decades.
The ‘wild wild west’ era of unregulated data practices in dance is over. The secure infrastructure is here, the industry is ready, and families are waiting for modern privacy protections. This is a system built by us, for us. We may be a community of individuals, but today, we are a community choosing to secure our future and thrive together.
“At Dance Extreme, our mission is to awaken the greatness in every
child—and that starts with creating safe, supportive environments. ICDR provides the structure and accountability our industry needs to ensure that all dancers are protected and empowered to thrive.”
REBECCA
BRETTINGHAM-FILICE
Dance Extreme Owner,
London Ontario
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