The World Dance Council Ltd (WDC), is a registered limited company, the legal successor to the "International Council of Ballroom Dancing", and was established at a meeting organized by Phillip J. S. Richardson on 22 September 1950 in Edinburgh. For a period from 1996 to 2006, the WDC was known as the "World Dance & Dance Sport Council Ltd" (WD&DSC). The mission of the World Dance Council is to inspire, stimulate and promote excellence in education for the World Dance Council and Amateur League (WDC and AL) community.