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We have received the following statement from Janick Loewe & Pia Lundanes. Janick and Pia come from Denmark and one of the best results up to date was the 3rd place at the Amateur Rising Stars Latin in Blackpool 2008. They are the national championships finallists in both Latin and Ballroom styles. Check their profile page.

We hereby announce our withdrawal from the Danish Dance Sport Federation and thereby the IDSF. The main reason for this is our passion and love for dancing. We want to be able to be in control of our own lives and make our own decisions, and this we only find possible if we liberate ourselves in order to be independent.

We want to make it clear that this decision has not been taken in the interests of anybody else. We also want to state that we are not in any way against neither the Danish Dance Sport Federation, nor the IDSF. However, this decision has been pushed forward by the ultimatums we have had to face. As young amateur dancers we have been put in a situation by the global dance sport conflict where both our own and other dancers’ careers might be jeopardized by us making the wrong choices. At this time in our lives we are doing our best to succeed in both dancing and university educations. Since the exam periods are normally at the same time as major championships in England, we have been dependent on the collaboration with the Danish Dance Sport Federation to help us move exams. This help, however, will eventually be withdrawn if a couple participates in (by IDSF) non-recognized events. This means that we have to choose between freedom of choice and assistance in our challenge to complete university educations without letting our dancing carrier suffer.

We can not accept that the choices we make will have consequences for other Danish dancers or the Danish Dance Sport Federation. We are fully ready to accept any consequence there might be for any choice WE make. When we are put in a situation were the careers of Danish top couples and the granting of major championships to the Danish federation are put on our shoulders (as published on the website of the Danish federation) we must announce that this is ethically out of proportion and we have no other choice than leaving the federation. This enables us to make our own decisions that will only affect us and our own careers, and avoid any consequences for our club, federation and fellow dancers.

Our feeling is that any Dance Organisation should work in support of the competitors in the development in their careers. We have the feeling that this principle in our situation is abandoned, due to a global conflict where we as competitors are victimized. We are very sorry that the global conflict in the dancing world is played over the shoulders of competitors and has come to a point where we as young amateur dancers, trying to pursue our dreams and passion for dancing, have to make a decision of this calibre.

We are dancers by heart and we always will be, and find it necessary to make certain sacrifices to stand up for what we believe in.