About Us
Our Mission
NAEDA works to promote and expand inclusive social and competitive partner dancing throughout North America. We support dancers and dance communities by developing consistent competition standards, providing resources, encouraging growth and participation, and fostering spaces where dancers of all genders, identities, backgrounds, abilities, and partnership configurations are welcomed and celebrated.
Rooted in the LGBTQIA+ community and the history of same-gender partner dancing, NAEDA honors that legacy while continuing to evolve toward a more inclusive future for equality dance.
What We Do
NAEDA supports the equality dance community by:
- Promoting accessible, inclusive opportunities for dancers from diverse backgrounds
- Developing and maintaining standards for equality dance competitions
- Supporting social and competitive dance opportunities that welcome all partnership configurations
- Providing resources and connections for dancers and organizers
- Working with dance organizations, competition organizers, and other community partners
- Encouraging the growth and development of equality dancing throughout North America
Our History
NAEDA began as the North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association (NASSPDA), created to support the growing same-gender partner dance community in North America. One of the organization’s early priorities was establishing consistent rules and standards for competitions and creating opportunities for same-gender couples to compete, connect, and participate in partner dancing.
Over the years, NASSPDA continued to grow alongside the community it served, supporting competitions, social dancing, education, and connection while remaining rooted in the LGBTQIA+ community.
In 2025, the organization became the North American Equality Dance Association (NAEDA). The change reflected an evolution already taking place within the organization and the broader equality dance community: welcoming dancers of all genders and partnership configurations while continuing to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and same-gender dancers who built its foundation.
Today, NAEDA carries that history forward while working toward an increasingly inclusive future for social and competitive partner dancing.
Learn More About NAEDA
Meet the Board | Governance & Elections | Contact Us