About MBDC
One Vision, One Body for All - Dance Teachers, Dance Competitors, Dance Students, Dance Examiners, Dance Adjudicators and Dance Enthusiasts.
MBDC History
The Malaysia Ballroom Dance Council (“MBDC”) was registered with the Registrar of Societies on 12 December 2014. MBDC is a national body formed to unite all ballroom dance bodies in Malaysia. Our tagline is: “One Vision, One Body for All – Dance Teachers, Dance Competitors, Dance Students, Dance Examiners, Dance Adjudicators, and Dance Enthusiasts”.
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The principal office bearers comprise of : the President, two (2) Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, nine (9) Committee Members, two (2) Internal Auditors, and Legal Adviser.
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One of MBDC’s key goals is to introduce Ballroom Dancing and Dancesport to people of all ages. Ballroom dancing teaches balance and poise, as well as encouraging good grooming, courtesy and mutual respect with one’s dance partner. Ballroom dancing is not just a sporting activity in competitions but a great social activity for enjoyment, with numerous benefits ranging from increasing physical activities and participating in an art form, which is routed in technique, and giving opportunity for a creative outlet, to making new friends with shared interests.
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In 2021, total population of Malaysia is estimated at 32.7 million. MBDC’s road map is to help build up a dance population constituting 1% of the country’s population.
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The aim of MBDC is to promote Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia as an epicenter of Ballroom Dance Championships in Asia.
"Freedom To Dance For All"
Dato Dr. Geoffrey Tan, The President of MBDC
Freedom To Dance (FTD) is a movement launched by Richard Gleave and Anne Gleave back in 2010: in the fervent belief that every dancer should have the right to dance wherever they wish, without restrictions. FTD serves to encourage all dance competitors to compete in any organized competitions without restrictions from controlling franchise holders especially where the local franchise holders choose not to sanction any competitions.
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Thus far, the dancing world is quite political and divisive i.e. there are a few bodies that seek to regulate and dictate the rules of engagement. That is these bodies set the rules for necessary qualifications and competitions: who are eligible to compete as dance competitors (professional and amateur levels) and who can judge at these events as Adjudicators. Each of these bodies seeks to protect their own turf. In fact, the behaviors of some of these international dance bodies are the classic examples of relics from the Cold War era. Unfortunately, this unhealthy practice had also permeated into the Malaysian dancing scene for far too long. This has hitherto also stifled the growth and standards of ballroom dancing talents in the country.
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In fact, dance competitors from different bodies should be able to meet to compete with each other instead of being confined and restricted to only events sanctioned by their own bodies. Dancers should compete wherever and whenever they choose and like, instead of being dictated to by their respective bodies. This is another reason why MBDC was founded i.e. to provide a level-playing field for all stakeholders in the dancing fraternity. MBDC advocates transparent adjudication. MBDC supports and endorses any Ballroom Dance competition and championship that enhances and promotes our dancers in their quest to attain world class standards.
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All these factors inevitably contribute toward promoting the physical, social and emotional well-being of our dancers, competitors, adjudicators and event organisers. MBDC subscribes to the concept of Freedom to Dance for All.
MBDC's MISSION
MBDC's mission is to encourage and promote Ballroom Dancing as an integral part of the development of Performing Arts and Dancesport in Malaysia
MBDC's VISION
As a national dance body, MBDC's vision is to unite all ballroom dance bodies in Malaysia, to foster greater harmony and communicate happiness within dancing community and the country at large.
MBDC’s three sacred principles
of Truth, of Honor, and of Virtue.
Introducing Dancesport to Public Schools
At a time when a growing number of our children are obese and schools are dealing with numerous disciplinary issues and other behavioral problems, providing a healthy physical outlet for children and young people is more important than ever. We at MBDC believe that introducing Dancesport to our schools may be the key to guiding students toward a happier and more healthier life style.
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In June 2015, MBDC secured approval from the Ministry of Education to introduce Dancesport as an extracurricular subject for primary and secondary schools in the country. This unique program to teach Ballroom and Latin dances in our public schools can improve children’s and students’ fitness, engagement in physical activities, social skills, self-esteem and classroom behavior. Dancing improves fitness through increased physical activities and assist students in developing personally, socially and intellectually. The Ministry of Education has since approved that school students participating in Dance Competitions endorsed by MBDC will be eligible for additional extracurricular points.
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To ensure consistency and quality of teaching methods, the MBDC Examination Board has conducted Medalist Examinations throughout the country since December 2021. We believe MBDC is the only dance body in Malaysia having the singular honour of conducting our own dance examinations in the country and possibly in Asia. In time, we hope that this will help create a bigger talent pool of dancers to help us produce our very own world dance champions.
Dance Tourism
Once upon a time, we talk about medical tourism which is now a big global phenomenon. In many countries in Europe and the United States, ballroom dancing events generate huge revenues for hospitality and tourism.
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As a reference, the Blackpool Dance Festival in the United Kingdom was first held in 1920. It was reported that the recent Blackpool championships attracted in excess of 20,000 competitors and spectators from more than 60 different countries over the 9- days dance festival. This event had contributed greatly to Blackpool and UK tourism. In China, ballroom dancing has been a fast-growing activity and business over the past 20 years and formed part of the government’s drive for their citizens to lead a healthier lifestyle, with over 50 million people now registered as ballroom dancers with official Chinese bodies.
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MBDC is similarly promoting dance tourism to Malaysia.
"We do the very best we know how – the very best we can; and we mean to keep on doing so"
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Abraham Lincoln