Website:  http://icldi.com/

Welcome to the Home of the International Consortium of Line Dance Instructors (ICLDI)!!!!  

        We are an organization that offers dance teachers an opportunity to complete their dance instructor certification throughout the USA. We are administered by an Executive Council (EC) that is comprised of the senior officials selected to serve (see EC names below). The EC establishes policy guidance and regulations governing the operation of the organization.

Our premier certification offering is referred to as the Accelerated Instructor Certification Program (AICP) and contains the following:

• two-day training program of 12 hours that awards participants a Level 1 certification designation;
• one-day six (6) hour training session that awards attendees a Level 2 re-certification;
• both training sessions require the participants to pass an examination successfully;
• all course participants are required to have and maintain certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
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The AICP includes professional training for dance instructor certification in Odenton, MD and focuses on the fields of business development, legal aspects of dance instruction, physical therapy, injury prevention, teaching techniques, dance appreciation and music theory. 

We offer a diverse range of instructor training to meet the cultural, entertainment, and recreational interests of our customers across the US. Whether you are looking to meet new dance instructors and just get away from your daily instruction duties, participation in the AICP sponsored by The International Consortium of Line Dance Instructors can help. The following EC membership is presented:

Executive Director, Sharon Lynn Holmes, M.S.

Administrative Officer, Lorraine Jones Wardlaw, M.S.

Dance Development Director, Lawrence Bradford, Master Instructor

Dance Outreach Director, Melodye Robinson, M.S.

Attorney Advisor, Rebecca Letsome

Eastern Regional Director, Aline Goodman

Southern Regional Director, Sheila Cash-Carter

Mid-Western Regional Director, Marilyn Sanders (Acting)

Western Regional Director, Harriette Coggs-Stuckey, M.S

!!!!!Shed the stress and worry of everyday dance life.

Attend our certification sessions and enjoy a fantastic time of learning with other dance instructors.

As a leading provider of line dance instructor certification programs, we take pride in offering the best technical and professional training.  

The International Consortium of Line Dance Instructors (ICLDI) was founded in 2010 and has trained and certified line dance instructors across the country.

The ICLDI operates a national program under the leadership of an Executive Director, Program Directors and administrative staff located

in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area. Our central office is located in Odenton, MD and our staff

of certified line dancers in Odenton, MD are supported by four Regional Directors in the Eastern, Southern, Mid-Western, and Western parts of the

country. These ICLDI Officers comprise the Executive Council that develops operating policy and guidance for the consortium. The ICLDI

comprises certified instructors with many years of teaching experience. Currently, all applicants applying to join the organization must have

two years of dancing experience with a minimum of 12 months and 105 hours of instruction. Also, supplemental workshops will be offered to the

members to expand their learning and understanding of music and dance appreciation.

We also have members with experience in aerobics, Zumba and other forms of dance. We offer three levels of instruction that starts with the

Accelerated Instructor Certification Program (AICP), Level 1 and Level 2. The Level 2 class was introduced in 2015. The Level 3 AICP is under

development and will lead to Master Instructor designation; plans are to offer Level 3 in 2020. Level 3 will include 18 hours of instruction

and an examination for dance instructor certification in Odenton, MD. The level 3 instruction is expected to include proficiency in the Universal Unit

System, successful completion of a formal class in music appreciation and understanding how to execute the dance patterns of hand/swing dance, of

Hand & Swing, Salsa, Mambo, Lindy, and Ballroom.

The first three requirements are considered critical and must be achieved annually to remain an active member:

• Pay annual membership dues by the date required;*
• Maintain valid and active CPR designation;*
• Attend annually a minimum of four (4) hours of instructor continuing education;*
• Hold with high regard and integrity the organization/certification earned;
• Work on at least one ICLDI program committee or initiative;
• Attend at least one class of an ICLDI instructor for support/information sharing;
• Teach a minimum of three (3) advertised classes or six (6) individual dances;
• Participate in a minimum of two (2) of the six (6) bi-monthly conference calls held annually.
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The ICLDI has committees that are used to develop and implement policy for the organization. Each committee has a Chairperson responsbile for

program management. All members of the ICLDI are asked to participant on at least one committee.

Here are the current committees that are operational:

1. Social Media- includes work on the establishment/maintenance of the Facebook and Twitter (TBD) pages.

2. Website - works to ensure the information on the site reflects the current status of the organization.

3. AICP - develops and plans certification classes to be offered to the dance instructor public.

4. Outreach/Membership - works to share information about the organization with the dance industry.

5. Dance Development - researches and selects critical line dances to be used to strengthen techncial skills/abilities of members.

6. Retreat - plans the bi-annual educational and social retreat for the organization. 

7. Music Partnership - committee to work with musicians to obtain permission to use music with dances.

8. Dance Terms - committee updates the listing of common line dance terms and steps.

9. Fellowship - committee to recognize special events experienced by members & present ICLDI momentos.

ICLDI Union Crew Award Recipients

The Union Crew (UC) is a line dance organization located in Baltimore, MD. In January of each calendar year, the UC hosts their annual line dance awards ceremony. Their event is a weekend celebration devoted to recognizing the members of the R&B/soul national line dance community for outstanding and exceptional accomplishments. The awards presented are based on decisions made by the UC leadership and the individual winners of select categories based on the highest number of votes attained. The UC Awards event presents the winners of the best in categories from the four regions of the country, east, south, west and mid-west.  

Each year, the UC awards presents their most prestigious award, the Lifetime Achievement Award based on Oustanding Contributions to the Line Dance Community.They also present awards for such categories as, best choreographer, best dance, most improved dancer, upcoming choregrapher, best instructor, a classic award and new and special categories based on the accomplishments made by line dancers during the year. Members in the ICLDI have received many awards over the 10 years of the event.

Here are the awards earned :

2008 - Lifetime Achievement Award, Sharon Lynn Holmes

2008 - Stepologist Award, Meldoye Robinson

2009 - Trubo Man Award, Michael Elmore

2010 - East Coast Instructor Award, Danita Moses

2011 - Line Dance Made Easy Award, Aline Goodman

           New Choregrapher Award, Terri Moore

2012 - Lifetime Achievement Award, Kenneth Johnson

           East Coast Instructor Award, April Love Jones

2013 - East Coast Instructor Award, Denise Bryant

2014 - Classic Award, Sharon Lynn Holmes

           East Coast Instructor Award, Rose Williams

           Humanitarian Award, Roland Ford

2015 - Showcase Performance Award - LDC: Michael Elmore, Sam Tucker, Sharon Lynn Holmes & Sheila Snipes

2016 - Up and Coming Choreographer Award, Patricia Lowe-Copeland

2017 - Lifetime Achievement Award, Roland Ford

2017 - Best Southern Dance (Choreography), Rolline Sullivan

2017 - Turbo Man Award, Douglas Hawkins