Global Dance Challenge International Competition is taking place in Shanghai, China, from February 1 – 7, 2021. All International participants will submit videos, to be shown during the live competition in Shanghai.
All competitors will be adjudicated by the same jury, with virtual competitors’ videos interspersed between live competitors. This year's competitors will be accepted by invitation only from GDC International. If you are a competitor that has received an invitation to join this year's International Competition, please email us at registration@gdancechallenge.com for more information regarding competition fees and how to register.
Interested in competing for the Global Dance Challenge Awards? Check the competition eligibility criteria below.
The Global Dance Challenge is open to general and professional dancers from all around the world ages 6 - 22, of all economic, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds.
Candidates pay a set fee for a unique creative experience inclusive of competing and coaching from world-renowned master teachers and choreographers.
For duet competitors, age division will be determined by the age of the older of the two participants.
For group & ensemble competitors, age division will be determined by the average age of all competitors of the group or ensemble.
Competitors are divided into the Professional Division (A) and General Division (B). Professional Division is for dancers who train for 20 or more hours per week in a specific genre. All dancers who train for less than 20 hours in a specific genre are placed in the General Division Category for that genre.
Please note: it is possible for a competitor to belong in the Professional Division Category in one genre and General Division Category in another.
If you are entering for more than one category please register for all categories at the same time. Please do not submit separate registrations for separate categories. Registration fees need only be paid once. Masterclass fees must be paid per category.
Categories - Professional Division
If the competitor trains in Classical Ballet for more than 20 hours a week, they should enter in Category A, otherwise they should enter Category B General Division.
Time limits for each type of entry may be found here.
Category A solo competitors must prepare a semi-final solo and final solo. Solos must be two different solo pieces in any of the following styles:
- Neoclassical Ballet welcomes original choreography or most creations of the late 20th or 21st century. For example, A W. Forsythe or J. Kylian style choreography would be considered neoclassical.
*Candidates must clear the right to perform original choreographic repertoire prior to entry
- Classical Ballet Solo should be choreographed in the style of 18th to 20th century. Dancers in the A-1 Professional Ballet , B-1 General Ballet and B-2 General Ballet may present a classical variation or a piece of original choreography utilizing classical technique.
- Contemporary Ballet Solo (on pointe) For females, this should be original choreography set with contemporary movement but executed on pointe. For males, original choreography should be set with contemporary and ballet vocabulary. If the solos are not on pointe, the participant should be placed in the Open Category.
- Category A Ballet Competitors may choose from the list of example classical variations below or a piece of original choreography utilizing classical technique.
See Examples for variations on classical variations.
* For those who train over 20 hours but cannot qualify for Category A-1 due to age discrepancies, GDC reserves the right to make exceptions based on letter of reference(s) from school of training and/or instructor with brief summary of dance experiences of the competitor.
**Original choreographic creations for GDC are very much appreciated.
***GDC reserves the right to designate the correct category of the participants’ entry. You must reserve all rights to the music and choreography for your performance. GDC is not liable for any fees or claims against usage.
If the competitor trains in Chinese Dance for more than 20 hours a week, they should enter in Category A-C, otherwise they should enter Category B-C General Division Chinese Dance.
The Chinese Dance category includes Chinese traditional and Chinese minzu dances. Participants are welcome to perform various representations of Chinese Cultural dances with choreography suited to the candidate’s age and capability.
*The right to perform original choreographic repertoire must be cleared by choreographers prior to entering. original choreographic creations for GDC are very much appreciated
Time limits for each type of entry may be found here.
Category A-C competitors need only prepare one piece, which will be presented for the semi-finals and the finals.
*GDC reserves the right to designate the correct category of the participants’ entry. You must reserve all rights to the music and choreography for your performance. GDC is not liable for any fees or claims against usage.
If the competitor trains in Contemporary Dance for more than 20 hours a week, they should enter in Category A-D, otherwise they should enter Category B-D General Division Contemporary.
Time limits for each type of entry may be found here.
Category A-D solo competitors need only prepare one solo, which will be presented for the semi-finals and the finals. Submissions must be performed barefoot/demi. On pointe performances for Category D are not permitted.
*GDC reserves the right to designate the correct category of the participants’ entry. You must reserve all rights to the music and choreography for your performance. GDC is not liable for any fees or claims against usage.
If the candidate trains in Classical Ballet for less than 20 hours a week, they should enter in Category B General Division.
Time limits for each type of entry may be found here.
Category B solo competitors need only prepare one solo, which will be presented for the semi-finals and the finals. Competitors in B category may present a classical variation or a piece of original choreography utilizing classical technique. Competitors in B General Division may perform on demi or on pointe.
See Examples for variations on classical variations.
**Original choreographic creations for GDC are very much appreciated.
***GDC reserves the right to designate the correct category of the participants’ entry. You must reserve all rights to the music and choreography for your performance. GDC is not liable for any fees or claims against usage.
Category B-C is for competitors who train in Chinese Dance for less than 20 hours a week.
The Chinese Dance category includes Chinese traditional and Chinese minzu dances. Participants are welcome to perform various representations of Chinese Cultural dances with choreography suited to the candidate’s age and capability.
*The right to perform original choreographic repertoire must be cleared by choreographers prior to entering. original choreographic creations for GDC are very much appreciated
Time limits for each type of entry may be found here.
Category B-C solo competitors need only prepare one solo, which will be presented for the semi-finals and the finals.
*GDC reserves the right to designate the correct category of the participants’ entry. You must reserve all rights to the music and choreography for your performance. GDC is not liable for any fees or claims against usage.
Category B-D is for competitors who train in Contemporary dance for less than 20 hours per week.
It is important that the choreography is suited to the competitor’s age and capability. Original choreographic creations for GDC are very much appreciated!
Time limits for each type of entry may be found here.
Category B-D solo competitors need only prepare one solo, which will be presented for the semi-finals and the finals. All solos in Category D must be performed barefoot/demi. On pointe solos are not permitted in Category D.
*GDC reserves the right to designate the correct category of the participants’ entry. You must reserve all rights to the music and choreography for your performance. GDC is not liable for any fees or claims against usage.
The scoring system is evaluated on a 100-point system.
Points will be given in the following areas:
The semi-final score is made up of two parts (master class + stage performance), while the final score will be determined by stage performance scores.
Semi-final total score = 20% master class results & 80% program results
Finals total score = 100% program results. Semi-final scores have no affect on final results and standings.
Professional Division
Ballet A1/A2/A3 (solo, duet, small group dance, ensemble dance): Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards
Chinese dance A-C1/A-C2/A-C3 (solo, duet, small group dance, ensemble dance): Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards
Contemporary dance A-D1/A-D2/A-D3 (solo, duet, small group dance, ensemble dance): Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards
General Division
Ballet B1/B2/B3/B4 (solo, duet, small group dance, ensemble dance): First, Second, and Third prizes
Chinese dance B-C1/B-C2/B-C3 (solo, duet, small group dance, ensemble dance): First, Second, and Third prizes
Contemporary dance B-D1/B-D2/B-D3 (solo, duet, small group dance, ensemble dance): First, Second, and Third prizes
*Awards will be given within the Solo, Duet, Group and Ensemble sub categories that are in Category A, B, C, & D
The Organizing Committee of the GDC International Youth Dance Competition will select the first, second and third outstanding entries in each division from all the participating competitors in each Category. Category A, Category A-C, Category A-D, Category B, Category B-C and Category B-D. The winning works will receive the following bonus prizes:
First place is 10000 yuan.
Second place 7500 RMB
Third place 5000 RMB
* all awards are established by the GDC International Youth Dance Competition jury, and the above special awards and bonus prizes may not be awarded.
We applaud all contestants and their instructors on their hard work and beautiful presentations and congratulate the following Global Dance Challenge 2019 winners on their accomplishments!
Overall Top 3 marks in each category
Category A