International Competitive Dancer Registry

What International Competitive Dancer Registry does

International Competitive Dancer Registry (ICDR) is a Toronto-based, Ontario-incorporated nonprofit-oriented corporation that operates a privacy-compliant identity verification registry for the competitive dance industry. Its core product, the danceID, is a unique anonymized digital identifier assigned to verified dancers, with biometric identity verification (government ID scan plus selfie comparison) performed for dancers and their legal guardians. The platform also provides a secure media redemption system restricting access to performance photos and videos to verified guardians, centralized waiver management, and a portable digital portfolio of competition history, placements, and achievements. Technology is built on Microsoft Azure infrastructure with bank-grade encryption, multi-factor authentication across all account types, and a zero-retention policy that deletes government ID images and selfies after verification, leaving only encrypted audit tokens.

The platform is positioned explicitly as neutral industry infrastructure rather than a governing body, competition, or registration system. It complies with COPPA (via PRIVO Safe Harbor), GDPR, PIPEDA, and BIPA, and operates across Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions. Distribution is community-led: dance studios onboard competitive teams and notify dancers/guardians to verify; 38+ Canadian competitions require or are implementing ICDR verification; and technology partners such as DanceBUG integrate ICDR's verification layer into media distribution workflows. As of April 2026, the platform reported 22,000+ completed verifications.

ICDR's business model is freemium. On April 29, 2026 (International Dance Day), the company permanently removed all baseline costs for core danceID verification, explicitly stating there will be no looming subscription for baseline protections. The company generates no disclosed revenue today; planned Phase 2 (ICDR 2.0) optional paid services — including participant accident insurance, verified resume builders, ICDR-ID cards with partner discounts, and on-site identification tools — are in development but not yet priced or launched. A Founding Member program (through August 31, 2026) invites community participation in shaping Phase 2. The leadership team includes Executive Director Jamie Hodgins (25+ years dance industry experience), CTO Bryce Hunter, Privacy Compliance Officer/Product Lead Monica Valencia, and CMO Michael Tasner, supported by an advisory bench of dance industry professionals.

Name

International Competitive Dancer Registry

Legal name

International Competitive Dancer Registry, Inc.

Website

https://icdrdance.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

International Competitive Dancer Registry (ICDR) operates a free, privacy-compliant identity verification registry for competitive dancers and their guardians, issuing anonymized danceIDs on Microsoft Azure. It serves Canadian and U.S. dance studios, competitions, media providers, and technology partners, with paid Phase 2 services planned.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Core Verification (Free Tier): The foundational danceID verification system is provided entirely free of charge for all dancers. This includes identity verification of dancers and guardians, secure media access controls, and centralized waiver management. The free tier is intended to remove financial barriers and ensure universal accessibility to baseline safety protections.
2. Optional Ancillary Services: Future optional paid services planned for Phase 2 include participant accident insurance, verified resume builders, and professional profile features. These services will be offered as optional add-ons to generate revenue while maintaining free core protections.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ICDR operates the competitive dance industry's first independent, privacy-compliant identity verification infrastructure. Its core offering, the danceID, is a unique verified digital identifier assigned to each competitive dancer, supported by guardian identity verification, secure performance media access controls, centralized waiver management, and a portable digital portfolio documenting training, competition results, and achievements. The platform is provided free to all dancers and is integrated by dance studios, competitions, and events across North America.

Product overview

The International Competitive Dancer Registry (ICDR) is a privacy-compliant identity verification platform for the competitive dance industry. The core offering centers on the danceID system, which provides verified dancer identities, secure media redemption, centralized waiver management, and digital portfolio/legacy records. The platform operates in two phases: ICDR 1.0 delivers verified dancers, simplified waivers, and safeguarded media; ICDR 2.0 (planned) expands the ecosystem with accident insurance, protected dancer data, tracked histories/resume generators, dancer ID cards, and on-site identification tools. The core danceID and baseline verification are provided free of charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• danceID A unique, verified digital identity assigned to each competitive dancer. The danceID serves as a centralized, protected identifier that follows dancers across studios, events, and competitions, enabling age and identity verification, secure media access controls, and portable digital portfolios. It is provided free of charge to all dancers.
• Verified Dancer Registry A centralized, protected, and verified registry of competitive dancers that connects and protects the dance community, providing a single secure source of truth for dancer identity and age data.
• Secure Media Redemption System A secure media access system that ensures performance photos and videos are accessible only to verified guardians via two-step authentication, protecting minors from unauthorized distribution of their digital footprint.
• Centralized Waiver Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 22,000+ verifications completed as of April 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

51 partnerships are on record, tiered core and partner.

• DanceBUGcoreTechnology or IntegrationDanceBUG is listed as ICDR's Technology Partner, committed to developing secure, privacy-first solutions that protect dancer data and streamline safety protocols. DanceBUG provides dance industry software integration, with ICDR serving as an independent verification layer that integrates with DanceBUG's existing media distribution systems.
• PRIVOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRIVO is ICDR's privacy partner for COPPA Safe Harbor certification. PRIVO is an FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor program and leading privacy solutions expert. ICDR's protocols are independently monitored by PRIVO, ensuring compliance with COPPA, PIPEDA, and GDPRkids. PRIVO also provides identity verification services for parental consent.
• Accelerated Dance ExperiencepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition that has partnered with ICDR to implement industry-leading privacy protections, setting new standards for participant safety and family trust.
• Believe DancepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Breaking Bounds DancepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Break Thru Dance ChallengepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• CanDance CompetitionpartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Canadian Dance FinalspartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Dance Attack EventspartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Destiny Dance ComppartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Directions DancepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Elevation Dance ChallengepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Embody Dance ConferencepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• EMPWR ExperiencepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Evolve Dance CompetitionpartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Extreme Dance ChallengepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Fever Dance ChampionshipspartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections. Competition Consultant Jerome Bobb serves as Director.
• Glow Dance ComppartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• KARV Dance ChallengepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Mercy Dance ProductionspartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Northern Stars DancepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• The One Dance ExperiencepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Plie PreppartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Reel Talent PropartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Runway Dance ConnectionpartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Shooting Stars Dance ComppartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• SOL Dance CollectivepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Star Catchers DancepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• This Is It DancepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• True West DancepartnerOthersForward-thinking dance competition partner implementing ICDR privacy protections.
• Dance MediapartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner using their platform to amplify the message of participant safety and privacy, championing transparency and fostering a culture of respect for young performers.
• Dance Motion MarketingpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner amplifying safety and privacy messaging.
• Jack the PublicistpartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner amplifying safety and privacy messaging. Jack-Malcolm Samedi, ICDR's PR lead, founded Jack The Publicist Group.
• Impact Dance AdjudicatorspartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner amplifying safety and privacy messaging.
• NSAdancepartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner amplifying safety and privacy messaging.
• Dancers Against CancerpartnerOthersNonprofit charitable partner dedicated to helping dancers and dance families facing cancer by providing financial assistance, emotional support, and community resources.
• Acrobatic ArtspartnerOthersLike-minded organization within the dance industry that aligns with ICDR's mission and works together to advance participant privacy, safety, and family confidence.
• The Bridge Dance ProjectpartnerOthersLike-minded organization within the dance industry that aligns with ICDR's mission.
• IACDPpartnerOthersLike-minded organization within the dance industry that aligns with ICDR's mission.
• More Than Just Great DancingpartnerOthersLike-minded organization within the dance industry that aligns with ICDR's mission.
• NDEOpartnerOthersLike-minded organization within the dance industry that aligns with ICDR's mission.
• DIACCpartnerOthersPartner in Safety collaborating to strengthen accountability, implement clear protocols, and ensure every young performer is safeguarded.
• Healthy Dancer CanadapartnerOthersPartner in Safety collaborating to strengthen accountability and ensure dancer safety. ICDR complements Healthy Dancer Canada's work in dance education, health, and safety.
• Dance AwarenesspartnerOthersPartner in Safety. DA:NCE Awareness featured Executive Director Jamie Hodgins discussing urgent challenges facing competitive dance.
• ADAPT SyllabuspartnerOthersAchievement partner focused on recognizing excellence through the lens of safety and integrity.
• Dancers Beyond LabelspartnerOthersResource partner dedicated to establishing and maintaining the highest safety standards for minors.
• Double GoodpartnerOthersResource partner dedicated to establishing and maintaining the highest safety standards.
• Inside DancepartnerOthersResource partner dedicated to establishing and maintaining the highest safety standards.
• Mindful DancerspartnerOthersResource partner dedicated to establishing and maintaining the highest safety standards. Co-founded by ICDR Ambassador Rebecca Brettingham-Filice.
• Judge AlliancepartnerOthersResource partner dedicated to establishing and maintaining the highest safety standards.
• Prism Dance AdjudicatorspartnerOthersResource partner dedicated to establishing and maintaining the highest safety standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Acrobatic Arts: Acrobatic Arts is a dance-education curriculum and certification provider and a listed ICDR Organizational Partner. It is comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant in the dance-training market and a partner through which ICDR reaches studios and instructors.
• PRIVO: PRIVO is ICDR's privacy partner and the FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor program that delivers its parental-consent and identity-verification flows. It is comparable as the underlying compliance infrastructure ICDR depends on, and also serves similar child-privacy / identity-verification roles for other youth-facing platforms.
• DanceBUG: DanceBUG is a dance-industry media and software platform and ICDR's named technology partner. It is comparable because it sits in the same competitive-dance software ecosystem where ICDR distributes its verification layer, and integration with DanceBUG is a key distribution channel for ICDR's media-redemption use case.
• NUVO Dance Convention: NUVO is a major North American dance convention and competition circuit that overlaps with ICDR's competition-side customer base. It is comparable as a downstream event partner where ICDR's verification is consumed, and as a key node in the competitive-dance ecosystem ICDR depends on for adoption.

Broad incumbents

• Dance Studio Pro: Dance Studio Pro is an established dance-studio management and registration platform used across the competitive-dance industry. It is comparable as a broad incumbent that already handles registration, waivers, and student records - adjacent functional territory to ICDR's centralised waiver and verified record offerings.
• USA Gymnastics: USA Gymnastics operates athlete membership, background screening, and SafeSport integration for competitive gymnasts - a structural analog to ICDR's danceID system. It is comparable as an established governing-body identity/verification layer in an adjacent youth sport vertical that ICDR could expand into.
• Mindbody: Mindbody is a large, broad wellness and fitness business management platform that includes dance studios among its customers. It is comparable as a broad incumbent that handles registration, waivers, and parent communications at scale; ICDR competes for mindshare within the same dance-studio operational workflows.
• Jackrabbit Dance: Jackrabbit Dance is a leading dance-studio management platform serving many of the same studios and competitive-dance customers ICDR targets. It is comparable as a broad incumbent in the dance operations software stack; ICDR positions itself as a complementary identity layer rather than a replacement, but both vie for the studio admin budget and workflow.

Regional players

• National Dance Council of America: NDCA is the largest US-based sanctioning body for competitive dance, operating teacher certification, competition rules, and a dancer registry. It is comparable as a US-focused dance governance and registry body that overlaps with ICDR's verification role, though NDCA is geographically US-centric and ICDR is currently Canada-centric.

Direct peers

• U.S. Center for SafeSport: The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the closest analog to ICDR: an independent, centralised registry focused on athlete identity, eligibility, and safety in youth sports. Both organisations act as an independent safety/verification layer above existing governing bodies and competitions, making SafeSport the most directly comparable model in concept and role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Competitive Dancer Registry