page_title: Eurovision Dance Contest
section_title: Participation
hierarchical_section_title: Eurovision Dance Contest / Participation
context_page_description: The Eurovision Dance Contest was an international dancing competition that was held for the first time in the United Kingdom on Saturday 1 September 2007.
  The contest was similar in format to the long-running Eurovision Song Contest and was organized by both the Eurovision association and the International DanceSport Federation. The IDSF credits the existence of the contest to Richard Bunn of rbi network, Geneva, former EBU controller of sport, who convinced the EBU to create the programme.
context_section_description: When the competition was first planned, the aim was to begin with ten to twelve participating countries and expand in subsequent years. However, the response rate was greater than anticipated and it proved difficult to turn away the additional countries interested in participating in the event. For logistical reasons, a limitation on number of participants was established. In order to ensure the event was a success, the EBU invited participating broadcasters from member countries to take part. In several countries, where the EBU had more than one member, two broadcasters expressed interest. The final decision of which broadcaster would represent those countries was decided by either an internal accord by the two broadcasters, or by a draw, conducted by the EBU.
  Sixteen countries; Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the host country the United Kingdom all débuted in the very first Eurovision Dance Contest in 2007. In June 2008, Switzerland announced their withdrawal from the 2008 contest without specifying a reason, while Germany withdrew from the 2008 event the same month, due to comparatively low ratings for the 2007 contest in the country. Spain was originally due to take part in 2008, but withdrew in August 2008 just fifteen days before the event, reportedly due to a scheduling clash with the country competing in a qualifying match for the FIFA World Cup 2010, which was taking place the same evening. Azerbaijan also joined that year.
  Belarus intended on competing for the first time in 2009 but the contest was cancelled. Although the 2009 contest never happened Austria, Finland, Lithuania, Sweden and the Netherlands had confirmed they would not compete in the third contest.
caption: Participation since 2007:   Entered at least once   Never entered, although eligible to do so   Entry intended