WORLD OF DANCE ROME
24-25-26 Aprile 2026 - Palapellicone (Lido di Ostia - Roma)

WORLD OF DANCE ROME 2026

24th APRIL

Workshop

25th APRIL

Competition

26th APRIL

Competition

RULES INDEX

  1. Registration Process
  2. Division for WOD Rome 2025
  3. WOD Summit e WOD Finals Competition invite & Competition Process
  4. Special Rules for K-POP
  5. Registration and payment
  6. Music
  7. Pre-Show Packet
  8. Judge’s Panel & Scoring System
  9. Deductions and Disqualification
  10. Main Stage Area & Back Stage Specs
  11. Awards & Prizes

Please read the entire rules carefully before registering for the race.

1.Registration Process

Audition Video
Your audition video should be your most recent performance or most recent rehearsal video. Regardless, be sure to submit the video that best represents your or your group’s abilities.

IMPORTANT: THE VIDEO DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO REPRESENT THE PERFORMANCE THAT WILL THEN BE PERFORMED ON STAGE AT WORLD OF DANCE. 

THESE ALSO MEAN IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR THE NUMBER OF DANCERS TO BE THE SAME NOR FOR THE DANCERS TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME AS IN THE PERFORMANCE YOU WILL BRING TO ROME.

Unfortunately we cannot accept dance class videos as audition videos. Entries that include dance class videos will not be accepted.

If you are a solo dancer you can not compete more then one time in the same category. You can dance in multiple category with crews or duos or trios but only one solo is accepted. For example you can compete with a solo and a duo in the same category but you can’t compete with two solos in the same category.

PLEASE NOTE: Starting this year, the application process via audition videos will also apply to the K-Pop Division and K-Pop Crew Division categories.

2. WOD Rome 2026 Categories

Below you will find a list of the categories competing for the World of Dance Rome with the detailed rules for each category.

25th April Divisions

  • KIDS A DIVISION: 1 to 4 dancers. Up to 12 years of age.
  • KIDS B DIVISION: 1 to 4 dancers. From 13 to 15 years of age.
  • JUNIOR STUDIO DIVISION: Minimum 5 dancers. Up to 15 years of age included, for every 5 dancers you can add a dancer over 15 years old. (Beginners category)
  • ADULT STUDIO DIVISION: Minimum 5 dancers. Open Age. (Beginners category)
  • PRE-JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION: Minimum 5 dancers. Up to 12 years of age.
  • JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION: Minimum 5 dancers. Up to 17 years of age. 18-year-old dancers are admitted only if they turned 18 after January 1, 2026..

26th April Divisions

  • K-POP DIVISION: 1 to 4 dancers. Open Age.
  • K-POP CREW DIVISION: Minimum 5 dancers. Open Age.
  • JUNIOR DIVISION: 1 to 4 dancers. From 16 to 17 years old.
  • UPPER DIVISION: 1 to 4 dancers. From 18 years and up.
  • TEAM DIVISION: Minimum 5 dancers. Open Age.

There are no dance genre distinctions in the categories (except for K-Pop), World of Dance is open to all dance styles, get on stage and express yourself in the way you love the most.

In the event that there is too low a number of entries in some categories, the management reserves the right to merge multiple categories into a single category.

The management reserves the right to move a participant or a participating crew from the category requested during registration to a more suitable category in compliance with the subdivision criteria established in this regulation.

Please note: The only categories that guarantee an invitation to the WOD Summit in California are:

  • Pre-Junior Team Division
  • Junior Team Division
  • Team Division.

3. WOD SUMMIT E WOD FINALS COMPETITION INVITE & COMPETITION PROCESS

All crews of 5 or more members competing in PRE-JUNIOR TEAM, JUNIOR TEAM and TEAM DIVISION will have the opportunity to compete at the World of Dance Summit regardless of their final ranking or score on the individual qualifier event they are competing in.

At the World of Dance Summit Competition, there will be two rounds of competition in three divisions to qualify for the World of Dance Finals Competition. The three competing divisions at World of Dance Summit Competition will be the following:

Pre-Junior Team Division

12 and under

Junior Team Division

17 and under

Team Division

All ages

PRE-JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION (Under 12): 

Ages: 12 and under* // Group size: 5 or more
Experience/Background

  • Dancers have performance experience, though they may be newer to the community and industry setting.
  • Dancers demonstrate a developing and consistent understanding of formations and stage use.
  • Choreography complexity varies according to age and group level.
    *Eligibility: All dancers must be 12 years of age or younger as of January 1 2026 of the competition year. Dancers who begin the season at age 12 and celebrate their 13 birthday later in the year may remain in the Pre-Junior Team Division and continue with their team through the conclusion of that competition year, including finals.
  • Teams composed of dancers younger than the Junior Team Division age range (under 12) may elect to participate in the Junior Team Division. This must be applied to the entire team and not
    on an individual basis.

JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION (Under 17): 

Ages: 17 and under** // Group size: 5 or more
Experience/Background

  • Dancers have performance experience in a pre-professional, community, or industry competition settings.
  • Dancers demonstrate a consistent and efficient understanding of formations and stage use.
  • Choreography reflects maturity, precision, and sustained complexity throughout the set.
    **Eligibility: All dancers must be 17 years of age or younger as of January 1 of the competition year. Dancers who begin the season at age 17 and celebrate their 18 birthday later in the year may remain in the Junior Division and continue with their team through the conclusion of that competition year,
    including finals .
  • Currently enrolled high school students who are 18+ on January 1 of the competition year may contact World of Dance for eligibility.
  • Teams composed of dancers younger than the Junior Team Division age range (under 13) may
    elect to participate in the Junior Division. This must be applied to the entire team and not on an individual basis

TEAM DIVISION: 

Ages: All Ages // Group Size 5+
Experience/Background

  • Dancers have performance experience in professional, pre-professional, community, or industry competition settings.
  • Dancers demonstrate an advanced understanding of intricate formations and stage use.
  • Choreography showcases originality, creativity, and a high degree of complexity throughout the set.

Teams will be invited to compete in a specified round based on their Bell Curve Score (please review “Bell Curve” section) at a qualifying event. The competition process for World of Dance Summit Competition will commence in the following round order:

  • World of Dance Summit: Challenger Round (89.99 or less in the bell curve)
  • World of Dance Summit: Championship Round (90 or above in the bell curve)
  • World of Dance Finals Competition: The top ten teams from each of the competing
    divisions from the Championship Round will compete in the “World of Dance Finals
    Competition.”

To see the entire WOD SUMMIT 2026 rules you can click on the following LINK.

4. K-POP SPECIAL RULES

Yes, starting this year, it will also be necessary to send an audition video for the K-Pop and K-Pop Crew categories.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, as long as the artist has promoted K-Pop in South Korea. (Songs by international artists such as XG will be eligible as long as they have promoted songs in South Korea on TV programs such as Mnet etc.)

Yes

No

Yes. (Backup dancers will be considered in the total count. For example, if a duo has three backup dancers, with a total of five people, they will not be able to access the K-Pop Division but only the K-Pop Crew Division.)

Yes

Yes

Yes

For any additional requests please write an email to italy@worldofdance.com

5. REGISTRATION & PAYMENT

To make the registration request, simply click on the appropriate link within https://linktr.ee/woditaly and fill it in in all its parts. Once you have completed the registration request, you will have to wait a few days to receive the response via email.

Once you have been accepted to compete, you will need to:

  • Fill in all parts of the official PDF document which will be sent to you via email. Completing the PDF in all its parts is mandatory in order to confirm your registration. The payment methods for registration fees will be sent in the same email.
  • Pay the registration fee. The payment methods for the registration fees will be sent in the same acceptance email.

Registration Requirements

Please complete the whole online registration form. Every field is important, so please pay close attention.

If your dancers ages do not fall within the age category selected during registration, your group will be disqualified.

If you bring multiple crews and your dancers perform multiple times, they will pay a registration fee for each performance. Please let us know so we can carefully prepare the lineup, respecting your crews and dancers.

Payment Requirements

The registration costs (for each dancer for each category) for the World of Dance Rome 2025 categories are as follows:

K-POP DIVISION
45 euros

K-POP CREW DIVISION
40 euros

KIDS A DIVISION
55 euros

KIDS B DIVISION
55 euros

JUNIOR DIVISION
60 euros

PRE-JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION
50 euros

JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION
50 euros

JUNIOR STUDIO DIVISION
45 euros

ADULT STUDIO DIVISION
45 euros

UPPER DIVISION
60 euros

TEAM DIVISION
50 euros

Only crews participating in the K-Pop Crew Division, Pre-Junior Team Division, Junior Team Division, Junior Studio Division, Adult Studio Division, and Team Division categories will be entitled to 1 single choreographer pass.

Registration must be confirmed with payment within one week of receiving the acceptance email, otherwise your registration will be cancelled.

6. MUSIC

To complete the registration process, you must send the music no later than April 12th, 2026. All music must be prepared in mp3 format at 320 kbps and sent to music@worldofdanceitaly.com.

Email subject: Dancer or Crew name – name of the event [es. “My crew – WODRM26 ”]

Music Screening Process

Once your group submits music, the World of Dance team will review it to ensure it meets standards. No swearing or offensive language is permitted. World of Dance is a family event and all music will need to be cleaned up.

PLEASE NOTE: Music will only be analyzed if submitted by March 31, 2026. Any music received after this date will not be analyzed. Please note if your music contains profanity or offensive or vulgar language your crew will get deduction on the final score.

If your group is asked to clean up the music more than twice, they may be disqualified from the event.

MAXIMUM PERMITTED PERFORMANCE LENGTH

KIDS A DIVISION: 1.30 minutes

KIDS B DIVISION: 1.30 minutes

JUNIOR STUDIO DIVISION: 4.00 minutes

ADULT STUDIO DIVISION: 4.00 minutes

PRE-JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION: 5.00 minutes

JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION: 5.00 minuti

K-POP DIVISION: 1.30 minutes

K-POP CREW DIVISION: 4.00 minutes

JUNIOR DIVISION: 2.00 minutes

UPPER DIVISION: 2.00 minutes

TEAM DIVISION: 5.00 minutes

It is in no way permitted to exceed these durations. A deduction will be applied if the time exceeds the limits. If your music length exceeds the limits by too many seconds, the organizers may disqualify you from the competition at their discretion.

The choreographer will still have to bring with him (on the day of the event) a USB stick with a copy of the same music. The music contained in the USB stick must necessarily be the same one approved by the World of Dance team. This copy will be requested ONLY IF there are problems with the music received via email.

In the event that the music on the stick is different from the one approved, the crew will no longer be able to carry out the performance and will be prevented from participating in the World of Dance in the future. Don’t try to elude the rules!

7. PRE-SHOW PACKET

To prepare you for your performance we will send you a pdf presentation a few days before the event. The presentation will include: the times of the day, crew check-in, sample jury sheet and many other essential information for participating in the event.

No performance schedules will be communicated in advance of the event date.

8. JUDGE’S PANEL & SCORING SYSTEM

Curious to know how voting works? For each event the designated jury will decide the votes of the crews. The jury will be composed as follows:

  • K-POP & K-POP CREW DIVISION: 3 JUDGES + 1 HEAD JUDGE.
  • KIDS A/B DIVISION: 3 JUDGES + 1 HEAD JUDGE.
  • JUNIOR STUDIO & ADULT STUDIO DIVISION: 3 JUDGES + 1 HEAD JUDGE.
  • JUNIOR & UPPER DIVISION: 3 JUDGES + 1 HEAD JUDGE.
  • PRE-JUNIOR, JUNIOR TEAM & TEAM DIVISION: 5 GIURATI + 1 HEAD JUDGE

All judges will meet the eligibility, training, skill level and requirements established for a World of Dance event.

For the categories KIDS A, KIDS B, JUNIOR, PRE-JUNIOR TEAM, JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION, JUNIOR STUDIO DIVISION, ADULT STUDIO DIVISION, UPPER DIVISION, and TEAM DIVISION, all judges will follow the following voting criteria:

  • PERFORMANCE (Facials – Energy – Stage Presence – Showmanship) = 20% (20 points out of 100 total points)
  • TECHNIQUE (Cleanliness of Routine – Dynamics in Movement – Execution – Foundations – Body Control – Musicality – Timing / Synchronization) = 20% (20 points out of 100 total points)
  • CHOREOGRAPHY (Originality of Routine – Creativity in Routine – Concept – Variety of Routine – Musicality) = 20% (20 points out of 100 total points)
  • CREATIVITY (Music Selection – Transitions – Theme – Staging/ Blocking) = 20% (20 points out of 100 total points)
  • PRESENTATION (Costume – Performance Attire – Hair & Make-Up Attitude – Facial Expression) = 20% (20 points out of 100 total points)

Only for K-POP DIVISION e K-POP CREW DIVISION all judges will follow the following voting criteria:

  • PERFORMANCE (Facials – Energy – Stage Presence – Showmanship) = 20% (20 points out of 100 total points)
  • TECHNIQUE (Cleanliness of Routine – Dynamics in Movement – Execution – Foundations – Body Control – Musicality – Timing / Synchronization) = 20% (20 points out of 100 total points)
  • DIFFICULTY (Complexity of routine – Transitions – Variety of Routine) = 20% (20 points out of 100 total points)
  • STAGE PRESENCE (Attitude – Facial Expression – Lip sync) = 20% (20 points out of 100 total points)
  • PRESENTATION (Costume – Performance Attire – Hair & Make-Up Attitude – Facial Expression) = 20% (20 points out of 100 total points)

ATTENTION:

  • In the case of a jury made up of 3 jurors, the final score will be calculated through the arithmetic mean of the three scores assigned by the three jurors of the category.

    Example: Judge 1 = 82 | Judge 2 = 91 | Judge 3 = 78

    Judge 1 + Judge 2 + Judge 3 = 82 + 91 + 78 = 251 / 3 (judges number) = 83,33 Final Score.

  • In the case of a jury made up of 5 judges, the final score of each crew will be calculated by discarding the judge with the highest score and the judge with the lowest score and taking the arithmetic average of the remaining scores.

    Example: Judge 1 = 74 | Judge 2 = 80 | Judge 3 = 85 | Judge 4 = 78 | Judge 5 = 68

    The votes of Judge 3 (highest vote) and Judge 5 (lowest vote) are discarded and the final score is calculated as follows:

    Judge 1 + Judge 2 + Judge 4 = 74 + 80 + 78 = 232 / 3 (judges number) = 77,33 Final Score

DEDUCTIONS

  • UNAPPROVED PROPS: -1 points from final score (unapproved set pieces may result in disqualification)
  • WRONG MUSIC LENGTH: -0,25 points from final score
  • PROFANITY IN MUSIC: -0,1 points from final score

9. DEDUCATION AND DISQUALIFICATION

DEDUCTIONS

  • UNAPPROVED PROPS: -1 points from final score (unapproved set pieces may result in disqualification)
  • WRONG MUSIC LENGTH: -0,25 points from final score
  • PROFANITY IN MUSIC: -0,1 points from final score

DISQUALIFICATION

Any crew, dancer, choreographer, or school director who displays disrespectful, unsportsmanlike, or otherwise unbecoming behavior will be immediately disqualified from the competition, regardless of whether the behavior is directed at the jury, the public, the organization, other crews, or any other individual.

10. MAIN STAGE AREA & BACK STAGE SPECS

Venue / Staging

The dimensions of the stage will be approximately 12×10 meters. Other questions can be asked to the event manager by writing to italy@worldofdance.com.

Due to the nature of the location and the number of participants it will be almost impossible to provide private dressing rooms to the crews, however they will have ample space available to rehearse and prepare before the performance.

We remind you that all crews will be responsible for their own objects, bags and clothing.

The location, World of Dance staff and all people working on the event will not be held responsible for losses or any theft or damage to items left unattended.

Props

Do you have props? They must go through our approval process. World of Dance staff must approve all props; please email us at italy@worldofdance.com to request approval.

All props must be fireproof and must not cause any damage to the stage. The following are not permitted:

  • Powdered/dusty materials: sand, dust, talcum powder, Holi powder, etc.
  • Granular materials: salt, sugar, small beads, etc.
  • Light/Volatile particles: fine dust, confetti, etc.

Use of props not approved in advance by the organizers will not be permitted.

Tech: Due to time constraints, stage rehearsals will not be permitted.

11. AWARDS AND PRIZES

World of Dance will hold an awards ceremony at the end of each day of competition for all categories.

Winners will receive event trophies for first, second, and third place. Additionally, the top finishers in each category will receive a prize:

25th APRIL 2026 DIVISIONS

KIDS A DIVISION: 150 euros

KIDS B DIVISION: 200 euros

JUNIOR STUDIO DIVISION: 300 euros

ADULT STUDIO DIVISION: 350 euros

PRE-JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION: 300 euros

JUNIOR TEAM DIVISION: 500 euros

26th APRIL 2026 DIVISIONS

K-POP DIVISION: 200 euros

K-POP CREW DIVISION: 350 euros

JUNIOR DIVISION: 250 euros

UPPER DIVISION: 300 euros

TEAM DIVISION: 1000 euros

Prizes will be paid within 60 days of the event itself.

Furthermore, in each category there will be 3 special prizes: Best Theme, Best Costume, Crowd Favorite.

For anything not expressly provided for by the regulation you can send an email to italy@worldofdance.com for any clarifications.