In 1979, the American Ballet Competition was incorporated to support the first United States International Ballet competition by providing financial, administrative and artistic support for American dancers competing in international competition. ABC sponsored a total of 56 ballet dancers participating in 12 ballet competitions around the world, 18 of whom won medals, and 12 advanced to the finals, and many winners went on to careers with The Joffrey Ballet, New York City Ballet, and American Ballet Theater. In 1983, Dance Affiliates was formed as the local presenting component overseen by an advisory board and artistic director. In 1992, this advisory board was reorganized into a Board of Directors to serve as its governing body. The organization legally changed its name to Dance Affiliates in November 2005 to more appropriately reflect its current focus and mission and its long history of dance presentation.

For more than 25 years, Dance Affiliates has been a major force in supporting world-class dance, primarily through its core program called Dance Celebration, the region's only major annual series of contemporary dance. Dance Celebration's origins go back to 1972 when founder Randy Swartz initially presented dance at the Walnut Street Theater where he was executive director.