Members of the Managing Committee, Nenad Jeftic and Tony Tilenni, discuss WDSF's vision and growth following the 2024 AGM

Forum 2024 discussion Nenad, Tony Sergey

In a post-AGM interview, WDSF’s Vice President for Sports, Nenad Jeftic, alongside First Vice President and Vice President for Finance, Tony Tilenni, outlined the federation’s forward-looking strategies to build on DanceSport’s Olympic success. They discussed key growth opportunities, challenges facing the organization, and initiatives to enhance national engagement and financial sustainability as WDSF moves into an era of global expansion.

WDSF’s Vision for DanceSport Post-Paris Olympics

Following the recent WDSF Annual General Meeting (AGM), members of the Managing Committee outlined a strategic plan to leverage DanceSport’s increased visibility after the Paris Olympics. The Olympic debut of DanceSport was a major milestone, as Nenad Jeftic reflected, “We were very excited to deliver the Olympic Games, and we were not absolutely sure how that would look.” He emphasized the significance of the event, noting that it provided a crucial opportunity to showcase DanceSport’s global appeal. “It was an opportunity to demonstrate our readiness to compete at the highest level,” Jeftic remarked, marking the Olympic experience as a pivotal moment for the federation.

Building on this success, Jeftic expressed confidence that the momentum from the Olympics would fuel further development. “The passion and energy we brought to the Games are what we aim to maintain going forward,” he stated. Looking to the future, he declared, “This is just the beginning of what we want to achieve,” underscoring WDSF’s commitment to expanding DanceSport on the global stage.

The plans for growth, however, had been in place long before the Paris Games. Tony Tilenni pointed out that DanceSport’s global expansion had been a key focus of preparations. “We have been planning this well before the Paris Games and well before the annual general meeting,” he explained, highlighting the “very positive” lineup of high-level events, particularly in Breaking, set to take place alongside traditional DanceSport disciplines.

With an ambitious calendar ahead, Tilenni noted that major events like the World Games, Asian Games, and Pan American Games, along with the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, would be instrumental in DanceSport’s continued growth. “The program of DanceSport, not just in Breaking but also in Latin and Standard, is absolutely huge and growing,” he said. This extensive schedule reflects WDSF’s goal to “develop all disciplines to their fullest potential, irrespective of whether or not they have an opportunity to get access to the Olympic Games.”

Addressing Key Challenges in DanceSport’s Growth

The AGM also underscored significant challenges facing WDSF as the organization rapidly expands. Jeftic highlighted a pressing challenge for WDSF: keeping pace with the rapidly evolving demands of the global sports market while aligning the federation’s 100 national member bodies. “The world is developing so fast,” he explained. “It’s challenging to explain this pace to 100 national member bodies, but we are seeking support to keep up with these dynamic demands.” He emphasized the need for WDSF to proactively address these demands with the help of strong external partnerships.

Tilenni identified financial resources as another critical focus area, given WDSF’s accelerated growth and professionalization. “We’re getting very good engagement with potential sponsors and media partners,” he stated optimistically, affirming that sponsorships and advertising will play a vital role in supporting WDSF’s ambitious growth strategy.

Strengthening Engagement with National Federations

Jeftic underscored the crucial role of effective communication in strengthening WDSF’s connections with its national federations. Reflecting on DanceSport’s Olympic debut, which reached an audience of 325 million and generated €93 million in media value, Jeftic recognized the challenge of ensuring effective information flow across the organization. “The amount of information coming through is massive, and trying to communicate that effectively to our national member bodies and athletes becomes very difficult,” he explained, stressing the need to “evolve our communication strategy” to fully harness this visibility and ensure clarity for all stakeholders.

A key aspect of supporting grassroots development is the emphasis on education. Tilenni pointed out that “education is something we are trying to provide in every part of the WDSF system,” explaining that knowledge is the foundation of progress within DanceSport. For him, raising the “level and quality of the athletes” is essential, but equally important is the development of skills among officials, trainers, and judges to maintain high standards across all disciplines. He believes this comprehensive approach to education is fundamental to advancing DanceSport at every level.

Financial Strategies to Ensure Sustainable Growth

In response to the challenges posed by global inflation, the recent AGM addressed the critical issue of financial sustainability for DanceSport. Tony Tilenni, acknowledged the broad impact of inflation, stating, “Inflation affects business, sport, families, and everyone.” He emphasized the importance of finding strategies that allow WDSF to adapt its financial approach without burdening its members and athletes. Tilenni highlighted the necessity of securing new revenue streams, noting, “The opportunities are huge. We’re getting very good engagement with potential sponsors and media partners.”

Tilenni also stressed that managing costs effectively will be vital in this economic climate. “We need solutions that allow us to balance our revenues and expenses in a way that protects the integrity of our programs,” he explained. By focusing on both increasing revenues and controlling costs, WDSF aims to ensure that its growth initiatives do not compromise the resources available to support athletes, events, and development efforts within DanceSport.