Ballroom dance became a contested sport at the beginning of the twentieth century when dance halls were converted into venues for competition. In 1907, the first Tango competition took place in Nice, France. Paris, Berlin, and London later followed with international ballroom competitions and continue today.

The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) coined the term "DanceSport" in the early 1980s. DanceSport has become an engaging activity that is uniquely accessible and sociable, allowing participants to improve physical fitness & mental well-being, to interact, and to compete at all levels and ages. Everybody can move to music, and dance removes all barriers of age, gender, and culture.