International Dance League outlines vision ahead of Seoul competition

The International Dance League (IDL) has outlined its ambitious vision for expanding its global presence, with South Korea serving as a strategic foothold in its journey toward becoming the world’s first professional dance league. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul ahead of the league’s upcoming event, Connor Lim, co-founder and CEO of IDL, emphasized the country’s role in fostering growth within Asia. The Seoul competition, scheduled for Saturday at Kyung Hee University's Grand Peace Palace, marks the fourth stop in IDL’s inaugural season, following events in New York, Vancouver, and Sydney. Six teams, including Korea’s 1Million, will participate in the Seoul round, vying for points that will determine their standing ahead of the final championship in Los Angeles. Lim highlighted Seoul’s unique position as a cultural and entertainment hub, citing its robust dance scene, thriving K-pop industry, and appeal as a tourist destination. These factors, he argued, make the city an ideal base for attracting international fans and participants. Attendees from Japan and Hong Kong have already begun traveling to the event, underscoring the league’s growing reach. “Korea is a really good jumping-off point and a really good place to set our roots,” Lim stated. The league plans to maintain a consistent investment in the city, building upon its existing franchise team and strengthening ties with the local dance community. The structure of IDL mirrors traditional sports leagues, featuring a season-long format in which teams accumulate points, rankings, and ultimately contend for a championship title. This model contrasts sharply with the episodic nature of many reality-based dance competitions, such as Mnet’s Street Woman Fighter. While acknowledging the success of such programs in elevating dance talent, Lim pointed out fundamental differences in how they operate. Reality TV shows, he explained, rely on unscripted production and often replace participants, whereas IDL focuses on creating a sustainable professional environment where teams and performances evolve over time. “The biggest flaw of reality TV shows is that they keep changing out talent,” he noted. When asked whether dance could be considered a legitimate sport, Lim acknowledged the ongoing debate but drew parallels to other disciplines that have gained recognition through structured competition. He cited figure skating, surfing, and skateboarding as examples of activities that were once viewed skeptically but have since become widely accepted. “Our format is built to be more of a spectator sport, but it's still as objective as any of those other sports that already exist,” he said. The league has operated under this framework for two to three decades, refining its approach to ensure fairness and consistency in judging. Lim also clarified that IDL does not aim to encompass all forms of dance. Instead, the league specializes in choreographed team dance, setting it apart from individual freestyle battles and all-style competitions. Rather than competing with local dance communities, the league seeks to collaborate with them, offering support and resources as it expands into new regions. “It is not an or, it is an and,” he said. “We can exist and build dance from a competitive team choreographed base, and that doesn’t take away from people going to local competitions. Those will always exist.”