{This week, we have a guest post from local queer history enthusiast and dancer Sean Buckley – K.}
Each year, during the first week of January, the United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC) holds a world championship with many different dance genres such as Two-Step, West Coast Swing, Line Dance, Cha-cha, Night Club, Waltz and more.
Getting to the annual world stage takes a year-long commitment and dedication: dancers must compete at UCWDC-sanctioned events in order to be eligible to hit the floor of the World Championships. The qualifying events are hosted in many countries, including a Calgary competition at the Hyatt Regency downtown. With so many official UCWDC competitions, the organization dramatically influences the ethos of the global dance community.
In January 2023, the UCWDC made waves throughout the global dance community by changing their official rules to allow any gender to dance with any gender—making history! Previously, dancers and dance pairs were limited to binary gender roles but the UCWDC committed to greater inclusion. The new rules must be adhered to throughout the entire global competition network.
As Keith Armbruster (UCWDC President and Calgary Dance Stampede Director) puts it:, “We value inclusion. Our roots inform our desire to be friendly, accessible, and welcoming to a diverse range of participants, regions, dance styles, and music. We strive to be welcoming, accessible, honest, ethical, and treat others with fairness, dignity, and respect.”
The upcoming World Championships next January (in Dallas, Texas) will be the first time the UCWDC world stage will host diverse competitors from around the world. The floor will not just be supporting the weight of dancers’ feet but also diversity. As the dancers challenge the dance floor for various world titles, the UCWDC challenges the world for greater inclusivity.
Calgary Gay History 