The World Dance Championship is an invitation-only event hosted by the Star Dance Alliance. Dance teams from around the world travel to New Jersey for this prestigious event in the hopes of being crowned a world champion. We have seen teams from Australia, England, China, and Canada join the American teams in past years. Having bested countless teams in an elimination-style structure, the winners can truly say they are the world champs!
The event is traditionally held during the last week of July at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. This year the event will run from July 24th thru August 1st. Only group routines perform at this competition (no solos, duos, or trios).
How To Qualify
The much-coveted Golden Ticket!
In order to qualify for the World Dance Championship, a routine must have received a “Golden Ticket” at a regional or national competition that year. The event could have been any of the SDA-affiliated competitions(Starpower, Revolution, NexStar, Believe, or Imagine). There are multiple ways to earn one; we typically receive ours by placing within the top three numbers at our regionals in each age division (only one is awarded per studio, per age division).
Other ways to receive one include: Placing first overall in two regional events, being awarded a “Wild Card,” or being invited to the Battle of the Stars or Big Show at a national event. For more clarity, you can visit the World Dance Championship’s website.
How It Works
Each day of the competition, specific divisions are scheduled to perform. For example, the novice petite and novice junior categories will compete on the first day of the event this year (2024). While not separated by genre, the routines are grouped together by size (small, large, and lines) and age:
Petite = 8 and under
Junior = 9 to 11
Teen = 12 to 14
Senior = 15-19
All eligible routines will perform their routine once; when all of them have gone, the semifinal awards ceremony will take place. All of the dancers from that category will take the stage at that time. In the past, the hosts have announced special awards (i.e., Excellence in Tap, Showmanship, Performance Quality, Hip-Hop, etc.) during the first awards ceremony. Unlike other Star Dance Alliance competitions, no adjudications are announced (ex. 5-star elite, Diamond, Platinum etc.).
The Final Five
At this point, they will announce a break. The teams that did not “make” The Final Five can exit the venue while the qualifying teams can prepare to compete their routines one more time. After all five routines have performed, another awards ceremony begins to reveal the placement of The Final Five. The last time we went, all teams in The Final Five receive banners with the top three receiving large trophies. The “cup” trophy awarded to first place typically contains apples, which makes for a great photo opportunity if your team is lucky and talented enough to win one.o
Is It Worth It?
As you would expect, the answer to this question is “It depends.” By the time the World Dance Championship takes place, many studios have already moved on to next year’s choreography and/or training. Senior-level routines may need to reblock a number in order to perform it, as many graduates are ready to move on to college or other post-graduation plans. Families may find the expense and effort needed to travel to New Jersey to be too much to justify. As a studio that has attended Worlds many times, it is sooo worth it just to see the smile on the kids faces as they are taking the stage with the best of the best.
No one that has experienced the thrill of being announced as a world champion could deny that it made for a memorable moment in their dancer’s life. And even if you don’t come home with that apple-filled cup, just knowing that you earned the right to dance on the same stage as the world’s best is an accomplishment in itself.
Other Things To Know
Each routine is “done” within one day.
The event is free for spectators. With larger divisions, the seating can run out (some spectators bring their own folding chairs and camp out around one of the TV’s for a better view).
Parking is free at the venue, but it can be tricky to get a spot in the garage (the earlier you get there, the better).
There is a concessions stand that serves a variety of food.
You can use one of two sets of bathrooms. The first is near the front of the building, near the concessions stand. The other is behind the warm-up area, located behind the stage.
The emcees often interview the dancers before they perform their routines. These interviews are broadcast on the big screens in between numbers.
Three warm-up areas (with dance floors) are located behind the stage.
The dressing room is a large area on the side of the venue. The lighting is extremely poor, so you might want to bring a travel light (or lighted mirror).
Space can get VERY tight in the dressing room. The few tables get taken pretty quickly, as do the power outlets.
Star Dance Alliance merchandise is for sale in an area towards the front of the building.
The World Dance Pageant (a competition for soloists) often overlaps the World Dance Championship. If your dancer is participating in both, they may need to miss Pageant rehearsals and/or classes to compete in the WDC. Email Alice ahead of time to notify her and make arrangements.
The professional-level camera work, lighting, interviews, etc., may be overwhelming to first-timers. If you’ve never attended an event of this caliber, prepare to be wowed!
More answers can be found on the WDC F.A.Q. page
2024 Schedule
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 - All Level 1 Petite / All Level 1 Senior
THURSDAY, JULY 25 - All Level 1 Junior / Level 1 Productions (11 & Under)
FRIDAY, JULY 26 - All Level 1 Teen / Level 1 Productions ( 12 & Over) / All Extraordinary Ability Level (Special Needs Division)
SATURDAY, JULY 27 - Only the World Dance Pageant will be held this day
SUNDAY, JULY 28 - All Level 2 Teen
MONDAY, JULY 29 - All Level 2 Petite
TUESDAY, JULY 30 - All Level 2 Junior / All Level 2 Production (11 & Under/12 & Over) / All Level 3 Junior
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31 - All Level 2 Senior / All Level 3 Petite / Level 3 Productions (12 & Over) / Grand Lines (12 & Over)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1 - All Level 3 Teen / All Level 3 Senior / Level 3 Productions (11 & Under) / Grand Lines (11 & Under)
Age Divisions: Petite - 8 & Under / Junior - 9-11 / Teen - 12-14 / Senior - 15-19