COMPETITION GUIDELINES

Please read these rules carefully before registering for an IDC competition.

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Our goal is to give dancers of all levels the opportunity to perform on stage, receive professional feedback, and gain valuable competition experience in a supportive environment.

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These rules help us make the competition fair, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.

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1. AGE CATEGORIES​

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Dancers compete in different age divisions:

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Age Division

- Minis: 6–8 years

- Pre-Competitive: 9–11 years

- Juniors: 12–13 years

- Teens: 14–15 years

- Seniors: 16–18 years

- Adults: 19–25 years

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How is age calculated?

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Your age is determined by how old you are on the day of the competition.

For example, if you are 12 on the competition day, you will compete in the Juniors division.

IDC may check dancers' ages at registration or check-in. All dancers must bring a valid form of identification, such as a passport or national ID card.

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Pointe Shoe Rules

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These rules apply to Classical Ballet and Neoclassical performances.

• Minis and Pre-Competitive: Pointe shoes are not allowed.

• Juniors: Pointe shoes are optional. Dancers performing on pointe and in flat shoes compete together. Judges will consider the use of pointe shoes when evaluating choreography, which accounts for 10% of the total score.

• Teens, Seniors, and Adults: Pointe work is generally expected. Dancers may perform in flat shoes, but this may affect their score because pointe technique is part of the expected skill level.

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2. DANCE STYLES

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IDC welcomes many different dance styles.

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You can register your routine in one of the following categories:

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• Classical Ballet / Neoclassical

• Contemporary/ Lyrical Dance

• Modern Dance

• Character Dance / National Dance / Folklore

• Jazz Dance / Showdance / Musical (without singing)

• Hip Hop / Street / Commercial / Funk

• Choreographic Composition (abstract or experimental works)

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Important: If there are very few routines in a particular category, IDC may combine it with another category for ranking purposes.

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3. ENTRY TYPE (SOLO/DUO/TRIO/GROUPS)

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Routines are divided according to the number of dancers performing:

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Entry Type: Number of Dancers

Solo: 1 dancer

Duo / Trio: 2–3 dancers

Group: 4 or more dancers

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IDC may combine or adjust competition categories depending on the number of registrations.

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How Are Ages Calculated for Duos, Trios & Groups?

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If dancers in the same routine are different ages, we calculate their average age.

We add together the ages of all dancers, divide by the number of dancers, and round down to the nearest whole number.

 

Example:

Five dancers are aged 14, 14, 13, 11, and 15.

14 + 14 + 13 + 11 + 15 = 67

67 ÷ 5 = 13.4

We round down to 13.

The group therefore competes in the Juniors division (12–13 years).

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How Many Solos Can One Dancer Perform?

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IDC Berlin

Each dancer may register a maximum of:

• 2 Classical Ballet / Neoclassical solos

• 2 Non-Classical solos (all other dance styles combined)

This means a dancer may perform up to 4 solos in total in Berlin.

Each solo receives its own score and individual category ranking.

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However, for the Top 3 Overall Solo awards, only the dancer's highest-scoring solo will count.

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This ensures that the same dancer cannot take more than one Top 3 Overall Solo placement.

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IDC Swiss Edition

Each dancer may register a maximum of 2 solos in total, regardless of dance style.

For example, you may register two Ballet solos or two Contemporary solos, or one of each.

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4. PERFORMANCE TIME LIMITS

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Every routine must stay within the following time limits:

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Entry Type: Maximum Duration

Solo: 2 minutes 30 seconds

Duo / Trio: 3 minutes

Group (up to 11 dancers): 3 minutes 30 seconds

Large Group (12+ dancers): 4 minutes

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Need more time?

You may purchase up to 60 additional seconds for your routine. This must be arranged and paid for in advance.

If your routine exceeds the time limit without prior approval, points may be deducted or the routine may be disqualified.

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5. REGISTRATION AND PAYMENTS

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Registration Fees

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Registration fees may differ depending on the event and location.

Please check the relevant competition page on our website for current prices.

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Registration Deadlines

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• Registration closes when the event is full or when the published registration deadline is reached, whichever comes first.

• Music must be uploaded by the published music deadline.

• A registration is only confirmed once payment has been received and all required waivers have been submitted.

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Important: Submitting a registration form does not automatically guarantee a place in the competition. Only signed dancers waivers and payment does.

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Cancellations, Refunds & Credits

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We understand that unexpected situations can happen.

If a dancer is injured more than 2 weeks before the competition:

A refund of the entry fee may be granted if the dancer cannot participate because of a medically confirmed physical injury.

The following conditions apply:

• IDC must receive the cancellation request at least 14 days before the first competition day.

• An official medical certificate from a specialist physician is required.

• The certificate must be on the physician's official letterhead and include a signature and practice stamp.

• A note from a general practitioner or family doctor is not sufficient.

• All documents must be sent to kontakt@idc-dance.com.

If the cancellation is made less than 2 weeks before the competition:

A credit equal to 50% of the entry fee will be issued, provided the cancellation is supported by the required medical documentation.

If the dancer cancels for a reason other than a medically confirmed physical injury:

No cash refund will be issued. A credit may be provided instead.

Refunds and credits apply only to competition entry fees. Other costs, such as travel, accommodation, and personal expenses, are not covered.

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6. MUSIC REQUIRMENTS

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Every routine must have its music uploaded by the published deadline.

Please follow these rules:

• Upload your music through the official registration system.

• Make sure your music file is clear and suitable for playback in a theatre.

• IDC may ask you to replace music files that are damaged or of poor quality.

• Bring a USB stick with a backup copy of all your music.

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Music Copyright

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The dancer, teacher, or registering school is responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary rights to use their chosen music.

If unauthorized music use leads to legal claims or additional fees, responsibility rests with the person or school that submitted the music.

Participants are not responsible for arranging a GEMA registration.

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7. COMPETITION RULES & BEHAVIOUR

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All routines are performed live on stage in front of our jury and audience.

To make the competition enjoyable and fair for everyone, the following rules apply:

• Costumes, music, choreography, and props must be appropriate for an audience of all ages.

• Offensive, discriminatory, or sexually suggestive performances are not permitted.

• All dancers, teachers, parents, and supervisors must treat others respectfully.

• Bullying, harassment, verbal abuse, or intentionally disturbing another dancer's performance is not allowed.

• Serious misconduct may result in disqualification.

• The jury's decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

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Registration Limits for Schools

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IDC may limit the number of routines that one school can register, depending on the number of available places.

 

2027 Berlin Limit: 25 Entries

2027 Swiss Edition Limit: 18 Entries

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If your school has additional routines, you may request to place them on a waiting list.

We will contact you if more performance spaces become available.

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Stage Rehearsals

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Private rehearsals on the competition stage are not permitted.

All dancers should arrive prepared and should rehearse their choreography in advance.

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Exception for Minis:

A special stage-spacing session will be provided for the Minis division before their competition begins.

This allows our youngest dancers to become familiar with the stage.

The session is for checking positions and spacing only, not for performing full rehearsals.

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8. BACKSTAGE RULES & SUPERVISORS

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To keep the backstage area safe and organized, access is limited to dancers, staff, and registered supervisors.

Dancers under 18 must have an adult supervisor responsible for them backstage.

Each school may register 1 supervisor for every 8 dancers.

For example:

• 8 dancers = 1 supervisor

• 16 dancers = 2 supervisors

• 24 dancers = 3 supervisors

Supervisors may be teachers, parents, or legal guardians.

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What Does a Supervisor Do?

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Supervisors are responsible for:

• Accompanying their dancers backstage.

• Making sure dancers are ready and arrive on stage at the correct time.

• Helping dancers leave the backstage area promptly after their performance.

All supervisors must register in advance. Instructions will be sent after the school completes its competition registration.

Registered supervisors may access the backstage areas and audience seating, subject to availability.

If the audience is full, paying ticket holders have priority for seats.

Important: Unregistered adults are not allowed backstage. Failure to follow this rule may result in disqualification of the dancer or school concerned.

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9. HOW DOES JUDGING WORK?

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Every routine is evaluated by four professional jury members.

Each judge awards a maximum of 100 points, based on four criteria.

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Judging Criteria: Percentage

Technique: 40%

Artistry & Stage Presence: 30%

Choreography: 10%

Staging & Performance Execution: 20%

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What Do the Judges Look For?

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Technique (40%)

How well the dancer performs the movements, including accuracy, coordination, control, and technical skill.

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Artistry & Stage Presence (30%)

How the dancer expresses the music, communicates emotions, performs with confidence, and connects with the audience.

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Choreography (10%)

The creativity, originality, and overall effectiveness of the choreography. (For ballet routines: level of technical difficulty of the routine- pointe shoes taken into consideration)

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Staging & Performance Execution (20%)

How clean and well-prepared the performance is, including timing, formations, synchronization, spacing, and overall presentation.

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How Is the Final Score Calculated?

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Each of the four judges gives a score out of 100.

We remove the lowest of the four scores and add together the remaining three.

Example:

• Judge 1: 85 points

• Judge 2: 88 points

• Judge 3: 90 points

• Judge 4: 92 points

The lowest score (85) is removed.

88 + 90 + 92 = 270 points

The routine's final score is therefore 270 out of 300.

This system helps reduce the influence of one unusually low score.

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10. AWARDS, RANKING & PRIZES

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At IDC, we celebrate every dancer's achievement.

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There are three important parts to our awards system:

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1. Performance Level: The pin you receive based on your score.

2. Category Ranking: Your placement compared with other routines in your specific category.

3. Top 3 Overall Awards: The highest-scoring performances across different dance styles.

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Here is how each one works.

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A. Performance Levels – Everyone Receives a Pin!

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Every routine receives a Performance Level pin based on its final score.

Final Score: Performance Level

150–179 points: Merit Pin

180–225 points: Topaz Pin

226–239 points: Silver Pin

240–290 points: Gold Pin

291–300 points: IDC Legend Pin

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Example:

You score 250 points.

You receive a Gold Pin.

It does not matter whether you finished in 1st place or 20th place. Your pin is based on your score, not your ranking.

Every routine receives a pin.

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B. Category Rankings – What Place Did I Finish?

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Every routine is ranked against other routines in the same competition category.

 

A category is determined by:

• Age division

• Dance style

• Entry type (Solo, Duo/Trio, or Group)

Example:

A 13-year-old dancer performs a Contemporary Solo.

Their category is:

Juniors – Contemporary – Solo

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The dancer is ranked against the other Junior Contemporary soloists.

Each category has its own rankings, from 1st place onward.

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C. Awards Ceremony – What Is Announced on Stage?

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There is an awards ceremony after each age division finishes its performances.

At the ceremony:

First: Every routine receives its Performance Level and pin.

Then: We announce the Top 3 Overall performances.

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We do not announce every individual category ranking on stage.

 

Instead, we look at the highest scores across different dance styles.

We announce three separate Top 3 lists:

• Top 3 Overall Solos

• Top 3 Overall Duos/Trios

• Top 3 Overall Groups

 

Example:

Imagine 30 Junior soloists perform Contemporary, Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop routines.

We compare the scores of all 30 solos.

The three highest-scoring eligible solos are announced as the Top 3 Overall Junior Solos.

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This means you might finish 1st in Junior Contemporary Solos but not be announced in the Top 3 Overall, because three dancers from other styles received higher scores.

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Your individual category ranking still counts. It is simply not announced during the ceremony.

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D. Berlin Awards Ceremonies

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In Berlin, Classical and Non-Classical performances take place on different days.

Therefore, we award the Top 3 Overall separately for Classical and Non-Classical performances.

 

Classical Days

Includes Classical Ballet, Open Classical, and Neoclassical.

For each age division, we announce:

• Top 3 Classical Solos

• Top 3 Classical Duos/Trios

• Top 3 Classical Groups

All Classical styles are combined when determining these winners.

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Non-Classical Days

Includes Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Jazz, Showdance, Hip Hop, Commercial, National Dance, and other Non-Classical styles.

For each age division, we announce:

• Top 3 Non-Classical Solos

• Top 3 Non-Classical Duos/Trios

• Top 3 Non-Classical Groups

All Non-Classical styles are combined when determining these winners.

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Remember: Classical and Non-Classical scores are not combined for these Top 3 awards.

Each section has its own winners.

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E. How Do I Find Out My Exact Ranking?

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After the competition, the complete rankings for all individual categories will be available.

You can request your detailed results and placement by contacting IDC by email or through your registration portal.

Even if your name was not announced in the Top 3 Overall, you can still find out exactly where you placed in your category.

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F. What Happens if Two Routines Have the Same Score?

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If two routines receive exactly the same final score, a tie is announced.

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G. Best Overall Talent Award

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The Best Overall Talent Award is a special award for the highest-scoring soloist in each age division.

This award is given to the soloist who achieves the highest overall score across all dance styles in their age division.

The winner receives the Best Overall Talent Award and a special prize, which will be announced separately.

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H. Other Special Awards & Prizes

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IDC may also present additional awards, including:

• Most Improvement

• Greatest Artistry

• Best Choreography

• Scholarships to dance schools, intensives, or workshops

• Gift vouchers

• Dancewear prizes

• Cash prizes

Special awards and prizes may vary depending on the event.

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The 4 Most Important Things to Remember:

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1. Everyone receives a pin based on their score.

2. Every routine receives a ranking within its own category.

3. Only the Top 3 Overall solos, duos/trios, and groups are announced during the awards ceremony.

4. All individual category rankings are available after the competition.

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11. AUDIENCE & TICKETS

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Family, friends, and supporters are welcome to watch the competition!

• The competition is open to the public.

• Audience seating is limited, so we recommend purchasing tickets in advance.

• Tickets may be purchased online or at the door, depending on availability.

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Photography & Video Recording

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Photography and video recording by audience members are not permitted.

IDC will arrange professional photo and video coverage of the event.

Media from the competition will be made available after the event.

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12. COMPETITION SCHEDULE & MASTERCLASSES

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Competition Schedule

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The detailed performance order will be shared approximately 1–2 weeks before the competition.

This schedule will show when each dancer or routine is expected to perform.

Please make sure you check the schedule carefully and arrive on time.

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Masterclasses

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IDC may offer additional masterclasses during the competition weekend.

• Masterclasses are open to competition participants and other interested dancers.

• You do not need to compete at IDC to attend a masterclass.

• Participation in masterclasses is completely optional.

• Registration information, schedules, and prices will be announced on the event website.

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13. CHOREOGRAPHY & COPYRIGHT PERMISSIONS

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Some choreographies are protected by copyright, meaning they cannot be performed publicly without permission.

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Which Choreographies Need Permission?

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• Choreographers who died more than 70 years ago: Their works are generally in the public domain and may be performed without copyright permission, provided no other protected rights apply.

• Living choreographers or those who died within the last 70 years: Written permission from the copyright holder is generally required.

For example, choreographies by George Balanchine are protected and require appropriate authorization.

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Who Is Responsible for Permission?

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The dancer, teacher, or school registering the routine is responsible for obtaining any required choreography permissions.

If a routine is performed without the necessary permission and this results in legal claims or fees, the registering dancer or school is responsible, subject to applicable law.

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Our Goal at IDC

IDC is a competition, but winning is not the only goal.

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We want dancers of different ages, backgrounds, and experience levels to feel welcome on stage.

Whether this is your first competition or you are training for a professional dance career, we hope you leave IDC with valuable feedback, new experience, and motivation to keep improving.