Rules & Information
World Dance Challenge - Experience It All
World Dance Challenge is an exciting international dance event specifically for dance schools and studios from all over the world. A complete dance experience in an Olympic style dancers village for dancers of all different standards. COMPETE in multiple rounds against dancers and groups from dance schools all over the world. LEARN and improve your skills by taking various Masterclasses, Workshops and more with leading dance experts. ENJOY traveling to a new destination, opening ceremony, DJ parties, day tours, leisure time and fun with your dance friends and family.
How does it work?
• Qualify with your dance school/studio either at your Live Country Qualifier, Online Video Qualifier or through a Dance World Cup live qualifier.
• Dancers who qualified wishing to compete at the World Championships are then required to select one of the affordable dancer’s packages. There are optional packages for supporters as well. The packages include accommodation, tickets, workshops, team jackets, photos and videos of your performances and much more. (See Packages Information Document).
• Travel with your dance school/studio and family to Europe where the WDC World Championships will be held in 2022 at a breath-taking resort turned into a dancers village. Spend some optional extra time after the event during Easter weekend in Europe exploring this beautiful country.
• Compete in the first round, the Challenger round. If you receive a top placing, you move through to the Finals round. The top 25 routines from the Finals round move on to the Grand World Champion round where massive cash prize and awards are up for grabs. During all the rounds there are prize giving’s with awards.
• During the competition there are many Masterclasses, Workshops, Choreography classes in different genres and skill levels, as well as Teacher Seminars and Motivational Speeches presented by leading international dance experts. All included in the packages for dancer and teachers.
• In between all the dancing, take some breaks and enjoy day tours and excursions to beautiful surrounding destinations with your family and dance friends. Visit the beach, relax at the pool and enjoy the DJ parties at night. The Opening Ceremony will surely be a highlight, making memories that will last forever.
World Dance Challenge - Qualifiers
LIVE COUNTRY QUALIFIERS
• Routines will compete at their country’s national competition for top honours and will be judged by a panel of international expert judges and stand the chance to advance to the World Championships. The top 6 routines in each section will receive certificates, trophies and/or medals at the prize giving.
• Routines receiving a score of 80 or more marks will qualify to compete in the Upper Division at the World Championship Challenger round.
• Routines receiving a score between 65 and 79 marks will qualify to compete in the Main Division at the World Championship Challenger round. Routines placed in the Main Division with a mark of 75 to 79 can request to compete in the Placement Division to better their scores and advance to the Upper Division at the World Championships Challenger round.
• Dancers can compete in more than one solo or duet/trio in the same section in the qualifier round, but only the highest scoring routine will be placed. There are no limitations on group entries.
• Various sponsorship to attend the World Championships will be awarded to the top dancers, groups and dance schools during the Live Country Qualifiers.
VIDEO Qualifiers
• Where a country does not have a live qualifier or a dance school cannot attend the live qualifier due to the distance to the live qualifier, video entries can be submitted for the World Championships.
• Routines receiving a score of 80 or more marks will qualify to compete in the Upper Division at the World Championship Challenger round.
• Routines receiving a score between 65 and 79 marks will qualify to compete in the Main Division at the World Championship Challenger round. Routines placed in the Main Division with a mark of 75 to 79 can request to compete in the Placement Division to better their scores and advance to the Upper Division at the World Championships Challenger round.
World Dance Challenge - World Championship
2022
CHALLENGER ROUND
• Routines will compete in either the Main division or the Upper division as determined by their scores at the qualifiers.
The Main and Upper divisions will have their own separate prize giving’s and rankings.
• In the Upper division the 3 highest scoring routines will advance to the World Championship Final round without having their scores revealed. The routines not advancing to the Final round will be ranked and the top 6 will receive certificates, medals and/or trophies.
• In the Main Division the top 6 highest scoring routines will receive certificates, medals and/or trophies. Routines scoring 85 and higher in the Main division may stand a chance to advance to the Final round.
• Teachers will receive judges audio comments directly after the routines have competed which can be used to polish the routines going through to the Final round.
• Dancers can compete in more than one solo or duet/trio in the same section in the Challenger round, but only the highest scoring routine will be placed or can advance to the Final round. Dancers can compete in multiple small and large groups in the same section, but these groups must have at least 50% different dancers for all routines to be placed or advance to the final round.
FINAL ROUND
• Routines will compete in their section for a ranked placing for top honours, cash prizes and awards. The overall top 25 highest scoring routines from different disciplines in solos, duet/trio’s, small groups, large groups and productions (as per table below) will win cash prizes and advanced to the Grand World Champion round.
Solos: Top 5 (5 different disciplines)
Duet/Trio: Top 5 (5 different disciplines)
Small Group: Top 5 (5 different disciplines)
Large Group: Top 7 (5 different disciplines)
Productions : Top 3
GRAND WORLD CHAMPION ROUND
• The prestigious grand finale, the Grand World Champion round will see the best selected 25 routines from the Finals round competing against each other for the title of World Dance Challenge Grand World Champion. The overall top 3 placings will be announced at the Awards Night with huge cash prizes, and best category routines will receive awards. Further awards will include but not be limited to:
- Best overall dance school
- Best dance school per genre
- Recognition for outstanding teacher
- Best Male, Best Female, Best Choreography
Winners of the Grand World Championship Round will stand a chance to win their share of amazing cash prizes.
Smaller cash prizes split between top 3 places of solo, duet/trio, small and large groups.
Major cash prizes going to overall winners
World Dance Challenge - Summary of Rules
Age Divisions:
A competitors age is taken on 1 January of the year of the WDC World Championships.
| Age Division | Age |
|---|---|
| Mini | 9 years and under |
| Children | 10 & 11 years |
| Junior | 12 & 13 years |
| Teen | 14 & 15 years |
| Senior | 16 to 18 years |
| Adult | 19 to 27 years |
For duo/trio and groups, the age division is calculated by average age. The decimal point is always dropped. The average age of each entry must not drop more than one age division below the age of the oldest dancer in the entry, regardless of the actual average age. The maximum age of competitors is 27 years.
Genres:
• Acro Dance
• Ballet
• Contemporary Modern
• Lyrical
• Jazz
• Show dance
• Hip Hop & Street Dance
• Commercial
• Tap
• Production
Categories & Time Limits
| Category | No. of Dancers | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | 1 | 2 Minutes |
| Duet/Trio | 2 to 3 | 2 Minutes |
| Small Group | 4 to 10 | 3 Minutes |
| Large Group | 11 and more | 4 Minutes |
| Production | 20 and more | 6 Minutes |
Music can be up to 10 seconds over the time limit. Any music over the 10 seconds time limit will not be accepted on the entry system.
Dates and Schedule
Dates and schedule for the next season will be announced on the website.
Registration Fees
Every dancer will pay a registration fee of €10 per competition season to compete at a Live Country Qualifier, Online Video Qualifier or at the WDC World Championship.
Entry Fees for the World Championship
| Category | Main or Upper Divisions | Placement Division |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | €60 | €80 |
| Duet/Trio (per dancer) | €30 | €40 |
| Group (per dancer) | €20 | €25 |
| Production | €15 | €20 |
Entry Allowance
Dancers can compete in more than one solo or duet/trio in the same section in the live and video Qualifiers, as well as the Challenger round at the World Championships, but only the highest scoring routine will be placed, or can advance to the Final round at the World Championships. Dancers can compete in multiple small and large groups in the same section, but these groups must have at least 50% different dancers for all routines to be placed, or advance to the final round at the World Championships.
Ballet Specific Shoes Permitted
| Age Division | Age | Shoes Permitted |
|---|---|---|
| Mini | 9 years & under | Soft shoes |
| Children | 10 to 11 years | Soft shoes |
| Junior | 12 to 13 Years | Soft shoes and Point Shoes |
| Teen | 14 & 15 years | Soft shoes and Point Shoes |
| Senior | 16 to 18 years | Soft shoes and Point Shoes |
| Adult | 19 to 27 Years | Soft shoes and Point Shoes |
Judging
| Allocated For: | Points |
|---|---|
| Technical Level | 20 points |
| Quality & Level of Performance | 20 points |
| Choreography & Entertainment | 20 points |
| Expression & Personality & Grooming | 20 points |
| Knowledge & Interpretation & Musicality | 20 points |
Genre / Style Descriptions
Acro Dance
Style Description:
A routine showing clear acrobatic elements / tricks, with linking dance moves, steps and choreography combined with a smooth transition between the two. 60% Acrobatic elements should dominate the routine to 40% dancing. Routines are not advised to have more than 2 of the same acrobatic elements / tricks repeated, or directly after one another.
Acrobatic Movement Allowances: Included but not limited to Gymnastic work, contortion and flexibility work, balancing work and tumbling work, e.g.; walkovers, backovers, balances (hand, head, forearm, chest), splits, aerials (side, front) and back handsprings.
Ballet
Style Description: Dancers can perform Repertoire, Classical and Neo-Classical or Demi Character. Strong technical ballet movements which expresses the controlled flow of the dancers. Poise, gracefulness and agility are important.Acrobatic Movement Allowances: No tricks are allowed.
Ballet Specific Shoes Permitted:
| Mini | 9 years & under | Soft pumps |
| Children | 10 & 11 years | Soft pumps |
| Junior | 12 & 13 Years | Soft pumps and Pointe Shoes |
| Teen | 14 & 15 years | Soft pumps and Pointe Shoes |
| Senior | 16 to 18 years | Soft pumps and Pointe Shoes |
| Adult | 19 to 27 Years | Soft pumps and Pointe Shoes |
Repertoire Specifications:
| Mini | 9 years & under | No Repertoire |
| Children | 10 & 11 years | No Repertoire |
| Junior | 12 & 13 Years | Repertoire with slight changes |
| Teen | 14 & 15 years | Repertoire with slight changes |
| Senior | 16 to 18 years | Repertoire with no changes |
| Adult | 19 to 27 Years | Repertoire with no changes |
Contemporary / Modern
Style Description: Contemporary dance focuses on the freedom of movement with no limitations. It is an experimental dance form that originates from a classical style. A combination of techniques ranging from ballet and modern are often used. It explores dancing of our time with futuristic elements that can include dynamic and strong movements, release, flexed feet, angular lines and unusual movements of the body. This can also be combined with a strong story line. Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction, with multiple and simultaneous actions.
Acrobatic Movement Allowances: No limitations to type of tricks but should not dominate the routine. Suggested that the routine does not have more than 20% tricks
Jazz
Style Description: A grounded energetic style, with clean and strong lines emanating from the hips and chest. Jazz dance includes strength, flexibility and conditioning technique and progressions including turns, kicks, leaps, strong contractions through the chest and hips, isolations, parallel passes, shoulder twists and hinges. As long as the jazz dance vocabulary is used, the music can vary. From classic jazz, theatre jazz or Broadway to modern day music. The choreography must use the fundamental jazz dance techniques, styles and dance elements/steps that show the dance as a fully constructed piece of jazz choreography
Acrobatic Movement Allowances: A very small amount of acrobatic, flexibility work, balancing work and tumbling work are allowed.
Showdance
Style Description: A routine with a cohesive theme, or a storyline with a clear understandable beginning, middle and end, encompassing a combination of techniques and styles. The choreographic creation must use dance techniques to form a complete structured piece. Show dance routines will many times have eye catching costumes and make up, and props may form an integral part of the theme or to portray the storyline.
Acrobatic Movement Allowances: Acrobatic, flexibility work, balancing work and tumbling work are allowed but dancing must dominate
Hip Hop & Street Dance
Style Description: A street-based dance style and dance expression with choreography that can combine different dance styles of Hip Hop such as breaking, popping, locking, krumping wacking, voguing and experimental. This is a personal expression of emotions, so creativity is very important.
Acrobatic Movement Allowances: Acrobatic/Break dancing movements, flexibility work, balancing work and tumbling work are allowed but dancing must dominate.
Commercial
Style Description: Self or newly created choreographies as seen on music videos inspired by a strong MTV impact. It is a commercial style of Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop or other styles. The accent is on presentation, precision, style, expression, and performance.
Acrobatic Movement Allowances: Acrobatic/Break movements, flexibility work, balancing work and tumbling work are allowed but dancing must dominate.
Tap
Style Description: Routine shall contain clear tap technique and consist primarily of tap work with the use of arms. No pre-recorded tap sounds are permitted on the music. Single or double taps are allowed.
Acrobatic Movement Allowances: No tricks are allowed.
Guidelines and Rules
1. To attend the World Championships finals, dance schools and dancers must qualify either through a live qualifier or the online video qualifier.
2. To qualify for the World Championships, a routine must score at between 65 and 79 for the Main division, and 80 or more for the Upper division.
3. Routines that qualified entering the World Championships can be changed in accordance with the judges’ comments received in order to improve the performance. Dancers may be exchanged, removed or added on request from the competition director. Dancers cannot be exchanged in a solo routine.
4. Dancers will compete under the country where their dance school is located or where they are a current resident.
5. World Dance Challenge reserves the right to ask proof of a dancers age.
6. By entering a World Dance Challenge competition, you accept that the decision of the judging panel is final and cannot be changed. Teachers, dancers or parents will not be allowed to confer with the judges.
7. Any dancer competing in a dance competition takes certain inherent risks. These may include, but are not limited to, sprains, pulled muscles and broken bones. Participation in this competition indicates the acceptance of such risks by dancers. By virtue of entering the competition and event, it is agreed that dancers shall not hold World Dance Challenge or its officers, directors or staff responsible for injuries sustained while in attendance or participating in the event.
8. The World Dance Challenge is not responsible for personal property loss or theft to either dancers or other persons
9. By entering a World Dance Challenge competition, dancers consent to being captured on video, photographs and live recording at any time during the event either on stage or in and around the competition venue. Video and photos may be used by World Dance Challenge in advertising and promotional materials, on the World Dance Challenge website, social media and distributed to the press.
10. Routines cannot compete out of section. Should a routine be late for their section they can perform at a later stage at the discretion of the competition director. However their scores will not be taken into consideration for any ranking or advancing to a next round.
11. All dancers (and their audience) must arrive at least one (1) hour prior to their scheduled performance time at the competition venue. Dancers shall report backstage five (5) routines in advance before they are scheduled to go on stage, accompanied by a school director or teacher.
12. Dancers and teachers have access to the dressing rooms. Parents have no access to the dressing rooms or backstage unless they are registered as assistants by the school director.
13. If dance movements, lyrics in the music or costuming is deemed too suggestive or otherwise inappropriate for our family audience, it shall not be scored or points deducted, and the routine may also be prevented from starting or stopped at any time. Such determination shall be made by the panel of judges or by the competition director.
14. Special lighting effects, fire, smoke or live props are not permitted during any performance. No liquids or any other substances are allowed on stage at any time, this includes bubbles, water, powder, sand or other substances that may affect the stage. No confetti or any item that requires the stage to be cleaned after the performance is allowed. A penalty will be added to the routine that may results to disqualification.
15. Props are allowed provided their size and weight are suitable for the venue and can be carried on the stage by the dancers and teacher within 30 seconds. All props are used at the risk of the dancer and the teacher and World Dance Challenge will not be responsible for the safekeeping of any props.
16. Dancers cannot dance again if they forget their dance and run off stage. If the music stops during a performance due to a technical issue in the theatre the routine will be allowed to dance again. If a routines music will not play then the routine will have to perform without music.
A costume malfunction will not be seen as technical error.
17. School directors, teachers or choreographers are not allowed to come on stage nor to hold up signs or give signals to dancers on stage during a performance
18. Flash photography and professional video and cameras are not allowed in the theatre at any time.
19. Any dancer, teacher or parent that shows signs of Unsportsmanlike Conduct or Ill Behaviour towards any person at the competition will be asked to leave the venue immediately. Any dancer or teacher displaying Unsportsmanlike Conduct or Ill Behaviour towards any other dancer or teacher or school/studio backstage will be asked to leave backstage immediately and risk the cancellation of their entries for that day. Should the offence continue repeatedly the competition director may disqualify the dancer or dance school from the entire competition. When a dispute arises the school directors must bring it under the attention of the competition manager or director who will deal with it appropriately.
Sections
| Age Division | Category | Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Mini | Solo | Acro Dance |
| Mini | Solo | Ballet |
| Mini | Solo | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Mini | Solo | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Mini | Solo | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Mini | Solo | Tap |
| Mini | Duet/Trio | Acro Dance |
| Mini | Duet/Trio | Ballet |
| Mini | Duet/Trio | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Mini | Duet/Trio | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Mini | Duet/Trio | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Mini | Duet/Trio | Tap |
| Mini | Small Group | Acro Dance |
| Mini | Small Group | Ballet |
| Mini | Small Group | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Mini | Small Group | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Mini | Small Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Mini | Small Group | Tap |
| Mini | Large Group | Acro Dance |
| Mini | Large Group | Ballet |
| Mini | Large Group | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Mini | Large Group | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Mini | Large Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Mini | Large Group | Tap |
| Age Division | Category | Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Children | Solo | Acro Dance |
| Children | Solo | Ballet |
| Children | Solo | Contemporary Modern |
| Children | Solo | Lyrical |
| Children | Solo | Jazz |
| Children | Solo | Show Dance |
| Children | Solo | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Children | Solo | Tap |
| Children | Duet/Trio | Acro Dance |
| Children | Duet/Trio | Ballet |
| Children | Duet/Trio | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Children | Duet/Trio | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Children | Duet/Trio | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Children | Duet/Trio | Tap |
| Children | Small Group | Acro Dance |
| Children | Small Group | Ballet |
| Children | Small Group | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Children | Small Group | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Children | Small Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Children | Small Group | Tap |
| Children | Large Group | Acro Dance |
| Children | Large Group | Ballet |
| Children | Large Group | Contemporary Modern |
| Children | Large Group | Lyrical |
| Children | Large Group | Jazz |
| Children | Large Group | Show Dance |
| Children | Large Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Children | Large Group | Tap |
| Age Division | Category | Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | Solo | Acro Dance |
| Junior | Solo | Ballet |
| Junior | Solo | Contemporary Modern |
| Junior | Solo | Lyrical |
| Junior | Solo | Jazz |
| Junior | Solo | Show Dance |
| Junior | Solo | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Junior | Solo | Tap |
| Junior | Duet/Trio | Acro Dance |
| Junior | Duet/Trio | Ballet |
| Junior | Duet/Trio | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Junior | Duet/Trio | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Junior | Duet/Trio | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Junior | Duet/Trio | Tap |
| Junior | Small Group | Acro Dance |
| Junior | Small Group | Ballet |
| Junior | Small Group | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Junior | Small Group | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Junior | Small Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Junior | Small Group | Tap |
| Junior | Large Group | Acro Dance |
| Junior | Large Group | Ballet |
| Junior | Large Group | Contemporary Modern |
| Junior | Large Group | Lyrical |
| Junior | Large Group | Jazz |
| Junior | Large Group | Show Dance |
| Junior | Large Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Junior | Large Group | Tap |
| Age Division | Category | Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Teen | Solo | Acro Dance |
| Teen | Solo | Ballet |
| Teen | Solo | Contemporary Modern |
| Teen | Solo | Lyrical |
| Teen | Solo | Jazz |
| Teen | Solo | Show Dance |
| Teen | Solo | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Teen | Solo | Tap |
| Teen | Duet/Trio | Acro Dance |
| Teen | Duet/Trio | Ballet |
| Teen | Duet/Trio | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Teen | Duet/Trio | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Teen | Duet/Trio | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Teen | Duet/Trio | Tap |
| Teen | Small Group | Acro Dance |
| Teen | Small Group | Ballet |
| Teen | Small Group | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Teen | Small Group | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Teen | Small Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Teen | Small Group | Tap |
| Teen | Large Group | Acro Dance |
| Teen | Large Group | Ballet |
| Teen | Large Group | Contemporary Modern |
| Teen | Large Group | Lyrical |
| Teen | Large Group | Jazz |
| Teen | Large Group | Show Dance |
| Teen | Large Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Teen | Large Group | Tap |
| Age Division | Category | Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Senior | Solo | Acro Dance |
| Senior | Solo | Ballet |
| Senior | Solo | Contemporary Modern |
| Senior | Solo | Lyrical |
| Senior | Solo | Jazz |
| Senior | Solo | Show Dance |
| Senior | Solo | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Senior | Solo | Tap |
| Senior | Duet/Trio | Acro Dance |
| Senior | Duet/Trio | Ballet |
| Senior | Duet/Trio | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Senior | Duet/Trio | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Senior | Duet/Trio | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Senior | Duet/Trio | Tap |
| Senior | Small Group | Acro Dance |
| Senior | Small Group | Ballet |
| Senior | Small Group | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Senior | Small Group | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Senior | Small Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Senior | Small Group | Tap |
| Senior | Large Group | Acro Dance |
| Senior | Large Group | Ballet |
| Senior | Large Group | Contemporary Modern |
| Senior | Large Group | Lyrical |
| Senior | Large Group | Jazz |
| Senior | Large Group | Show Dance |
| Senior | Large Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Senior | Large Group | Tap |
| Age Division | Category | Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | Solo | Acro Dance |
| Adult | Solo | Ballet |
| Adult | Solo | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Adult | Solo | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Adult | Solo | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Adult | Solo | Tap |
| Adult | Duet/Trio | Acro Dance |
| Adult | Duet/Trio | Ballet |
| Adult | Duet/Trio | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Adult | Duet/Trio | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Adult | Duet/Trio | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Adult | Duet/Trio | Tap |
| Adult | Small Group | Acro Dance |
| Adult | Small Group | Ballet |
| Adult | Small Group | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Adult | Small Group | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Adult | Small Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Adult | Small Group | Tap |
| Adult | Large Group | Acro Dance |
| Adult | Large Group | Ballet |
| Adult | Large Group | Contemporary Modern / Lyrical |
| Adult | Large Group | Jazz / Show Dance |
| Adult | Large Group | Hip Hop & Street Dance / Commercial |
| Adult | Large Group | Tap |
| Age Division | Category | Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Mini, Children & Junior | Production | Combined Styles |
| Teen & Senior | Production | Combined Styles |
| Adult | Production | Combined Styles |
Sections may be split or combined at the discretion of the competition director. When entries are submitted online each routine will be entered according to the unique discipline. On any combined sections, entries will show which discipline it is entered under so that it is clear for the judges.