Bringing Safety, Fairness & Legitimacy to Dance Competitions: Inside the ICDR Movement - Episode 47

Bringing Safety, Fairness & Legitimacy to Dance Competitions: Inside the ICDR Movement

No Starving Artist Podcast — Episode Recap with Jamie Hodgins

In this episode of the No Starving Artist Podcast, we sit down with Jamie Hodgins — dancer, educator, adjudicator, event owner, and founder of the International Competitive Dancer Registry (ICDR) — to discuss one of the most important conversations happening in the dance industry today: safety, verification, and legitimacy in competitive dance.

From safeguarding dancer media to creating verified competition records and bringing structure to an unregulated industry, this conversation explores why dance is often called the “wild west” — and how ICDR aims to change that.

If you care about dancer safety, fairness in competition, or the future of dance as a legitimate ecosystem, this episode is essential listening.

Meet Jamie Hodgins

Jamie Hodgins has worn nearly every hat in the dance world — competitive dancer, teacher, choreographer, adjudicator, host, and event owner. His latest project, the International Competitive Dancer Registry (ICDR), is a verification platform designed to bring safety, structure, and transparency to the competitive dance industry.

His mission is simple: create systems that protect dancers while strengthening trust across studios, competitions, and families.

Why Dance Has Been Called the “Wild West”

Unlike many youth activities, dance has grown rapidly without standardized systems for verification, safety, or record keeping.

Currently, there is:

• No universal way to verify dancer identity

• No centralized record of awards or participation

• Limited safeguards around media distribution

• No consistent structure across competitions

• Minimal regulation despite working primarily with minors

This lack of infrastructure creates gaps in safety, fairness, and legitimacy across the industry.

The Inspiration Behind ICDR

Jamie was inspired by the structure seen in traditional sports organizations, where athlete data is verified and protected through governing systems.

Seeing how sports track participation, protect data, and validate credentials raised an important question:

👉 Why doesn’t dance have the same level of support and structure?

ICDR was created to bring similar systems — without removing autonomy from studios or competitions.

What Is the International Competitive Dancer Registry?

ICDR is a verification platform that assigns dancers a unique ID number, allowing their participation, awards, and credentials to be securely tracked across competitions.

The platform focuses on three core pillars:

• Safety

• Fairness

• Legitimacy

By verifying dancers and guardians, ICDR creates a secure identity layer that integrates with existing competition systems rather than replacing them.

Safeguarding Dancer Media

One of the biggest concerns in competitive dance is how easily performance media can be accessed or shared.

Currently, many competitions rely on minimal security measures, such as birthdates, to access videos — creating potential privacy risks.

ICDR aims to strengthen media access through:

• Verified identities

• Guardian authentication

• Multi-factor login systems

• Controlled access to performance content

These measures help ensure that sensitive media is only viewed by authorized individuals.

Creating Fairer Competitions

Without verified data, competitions often rely on honor systems for age divisions and experience levels.

This can lead to:

• Misclassified dancers

• Disputes between studios

• Last-minute category changes

• Perceived unfairness

With verified profiles, competitions can confirm eligibility before events begin, reducing confusion and creating more consistent experiences for dancers.

A Verified Record of Achievement

Currently, most dancers’ accomplishments exist only as trophies or memories.

ICDR aims to create a secure digital record where dancers can track:

• Competition participation

• Awards and placements

• Certifications

• Event history

This record can help dancers showcase their experience for auditions, job applications, or educational opportunities.

Bringing Legitimacy to Dance Careers

One major challenge in dance is the lack of standardized verification compared to other industries or sports.

Without formal records, dancers often rely on self-reported resumes that are difficult to verify.

A centralized record system helps elevate the credibility of dancers and reinforces the value of their training and experience.

Addressing Privacy Concerns

ICDR emphasizes that it does not replace competition systems or control media hosting.

Instead, it acts as an identity layer that enhances existing workflows while ensuring privacy compliance and data protection.

Parents maintain control over their child’s information, and access is limited to authorized users.

Industry Pushback & Resistance to Change

Like many innovations, ICDR has faced hesitation from parts of the industry concerned about change or misunderstanding the platform’s purpose.

However, the goal is not to govern dance — but to provide tools that empower organizations while preserving independence.

As awareness grows, more events and providers are beginning to explore integration.

Why Structure Matters for the Future of Dance

Without systems to support legitimacy and safety, dance programs often struggle to be taken seriously by institutions like colleges or funding bodies.

Creating verified records and stronger infrastructure helps position dance as a more respected and supported discipline.

Giving Dancers and Parents a Voice

A major theme of the conversation is empowering dancers and families to participate in shaping the future of the industry.

By verifying profiles and supporting new systems, they help create safer environments and more transparent processes for future generations.

Final Thoughts

This episode highlights a turning point for competitive dance.

As the industry continues to grow, the need for safety, fairness, and legitimacy becomes increasingly important. Systems like ICDR represent a step toward a more organized and respected future — one where dancers are protected, accomplishments are recognized, and trust is strengthened across the community.

Learn More About ICDR

You can explore the platform and show your support here:

CompetitiveDancer.com

Jamie also welcomes conversations with studio owners, event organizers, and educators interested in learning more about how ICDR works.