2026 applications are now open
Auditions & Qualification
Everything you need before you apply — how qualification works, who can enter, what it costs and what your video needs to show.
Step by step
How qualification works
- 01
Enter your studio details
The teacher or studio principal applies on behalf of their dancers. You enter your details once, at the start.
- 02
Build your entries
Add every piece you are submitting — championship, category, performers and audition video. Your studio details stay filled in.
- 03
Review and pay
Check the full list, see the total calculated for you, and pay for every entry in one secure Stripe transaction.
- 04
Receive your submission IDs
Each piece is given its own unique six-digit submission ID, confirmed on screen and by email.
- 05
Judging
Three judges independently score Technique, Composition and Image out of 10 each — 30 points per judge, 90 overall.
- 06
Results and selection
An entry scoring 84 or above out of 90 qualifies automatically. Entries scoring 78 to 83 are ranked as reserves and offered a place if one is declined. Places at each championship are limited, so after the closing date entries are offered in score order within their category and age group.
Where you are heading
2026 Championships
| Championship | Location | Competition | Entry deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDO World Modern & Contemporary Championships | Podčetrtek, Slovenia | 21–25 November 2026 | 11 Sept 2026 |
| IDO World Jazz Championships | Podčetrtek, Slovenia | 26–29 November 2026 | 11 Sept 2026 |
| IDO World Acrobatic Championships | Mikołajki, Poland | 3–4 December 2026 | 18 Sept 2026 |
Only championships currently accepting applications appear in the application form.
Who can enter
Eligibility
Dancers must reside in, or be citizens of, the United Kingdom. Applications are made by the studio owner or dance teacher on behalf of their dancers — one teacher can enter as many pieces as they wish in a single application.
There is no cap on how many entries a studio may submit, and every piece is judged entirely on its own merit.
Age divisions (2026)
- Children 12 and under
- Junior 1 13–14
- Junior 2 15–16
- Adults 17 and over
A dancer’s division is set by how old they are on 31 December of the competition year — not their age on the day they compete. Where an entry contains dancers of different ages, the division follows the oldest performer.
A dancer may compete in two age divisions by dancing up, but not in the same category, and the age gap between dancers in an entry is limited. See the full rules before entering a dancer outside their own division.
Entry categories
Categories & fees
Solo
1 performer
£15
per entry
Duo
2 performers
£20
per entry
Small Group
3–7 performers
£30
per entry
Formation
8–24 performers
£40
per entry
Fees are per entry unless stated otherwise. The application form adds up your total automatically as you build your entries — you will always see the full amount before you reach checkout.
If your dancers qualify
The fees above cover the audition itself. Once a place is offered and accepted, there are three further fees for each dancer going to the championships.
- £35 Starter Fee paid to the competition organiser
- £35 IDO Fee the dancer’s IDO licence for the year
- £35 Team UK Fee Team UK membership for the year
£105 per dancer, for the year. Charged once per dancer however many pieces they are in — a dancer in a solo, two duets and a group pays it once, not four times — and it covers every championship they compete at that season.
Nothing is due until a place has been offered and you have accepted it. Travel and accommodation are separate and remain the responsibility of the studio.
Audition video
Video requirements
Every entry needs its own audition video. You can either paste a link from YouTube or Vimeo, or upload a file directly — whichever is easier for you.
Judges watch your video embedded directly in the judging system, so there is nothing for them to download and nothing to go wrong on the day.
- Unedited — a single continuous take
- Filmed in landscape orientation
- MP4 format for direct uploads
- Under 4GB per file
- The whole body visible throughout
- One video per entry
- YouTube or Vimeo links must be public or unlisted, not private
Judging
How entries are scored
Skill, execution, timing.
Choreography, creativity.
Performance, presentation.
What each mark means
- 9–10 Outstanding
- 8 Excellent
- 6–7 Good
- 5 Fair
- 3–4 Satisfactory
- 1–2 Weak
Every judge works to the same scale, so a mark means the same thing whichever judge gives it.
What the overall score means
Three judges score each entry out of 30, giving a total out of 90. Qualifying is not the same as being selected — places at each championship are limited.
- 84–90 Automatic qualifier Qualifies automatically and is offered a place first, in score order.
- 78–83 Reserve Ranked as a reserve and offered a place if one is declined.
- Below 78 Below the benchmark Not qualified on this occasion.
An entry reaching 84 out of 90 qualifies automatically and is offered a place first, in score order.
An entry scoring 78 to 83 is ranked as a reserve, and is offered a place if one is declined.
Team UK then confirms which qualifying entries take the places available, because the number of pieces each championship can accept is limited by its Event Participation Number. Meeting the score is a requirement for selection, not a guarantee of it.
Before you apply
Rules & declarations
You will be asked to confirm these when you submit each entry. The full rules — eligibility, age divisions, categories, video, scoring and conduct — are on the Competition Rules page.
Read the Full Rules- Dancers must reside in, or be citizens of, the United Kingdom.
- Applications are submitted by a studio owner or dance teacher, not by dancers or parents directly.
- Each entry needs its own audition video — one video cannot be reused across entries.
- Videos must be unedited and filmed in landscape orientation.
- Direct uploads must be MP4 and under 4GB. YouTube and Vimeo links are also accepted.
- The number of performers must match the category selected.
- All participants must show respect to judges, organisers and fellow competitors.
- Entries are only released to the judging panel once payment has been confirmed.
Ready to enter?
Enter your studio details once, add every piece you are submitting, and pay for them all together.
Start an Application