Scoring Hub

Global

International dance scoring

Dance has a more global footprint than cheer, and 'international scoring' actually spans three very different worlds: the IASF Open division and the invitation-only World Dance Championship in the team/all-star sphere, the DanceSport federations, and the entirely separate tradition of classical ballet competition. Each runs on its own rules.

All-Star International

IASF — Open division at The Dance Worlds

Invite-Only Team Title

World Dance Championship (Star Dance Alliance)

DanceSport

WDSF & WDC (ballroom / Latin)

Classical

Prix de Lausanne · YAGP · WBC · USA IBC

IASF — the all-star international path

IASF governs the Junior and Open divisions at The Dance Worlds under a rubric distinct from the USASF Senior sheet. The Open division is where international teams compete head-to-head, and the top 3 teams per country advance from Semi-Finals to Finals. Junior bid eligibility runs through the IASF age grid, with qualification by video submission rather than an in-person bid performance.

  • Open division for international teams
  • IASF age grid required for Junior bid eligibility
  • Junior teams qualify by video submission (separate from the Senior path)
  • Rules contact: dance.rules@iasfworlds.com · documents: iasfworlds.com

See the All-Star page for the full rubric

The caption-by-caption Worlds rubric, bid-eligible categories and routine specifications are covered on our All-Star dance scoring page. This page focuses on the broader international landscape around it.

The World Dance Championship (invite-only)

Separate from IASF, Star Dance Alliance caps its competition circuit (Starpower, Believe, NexStar, Revolution, Imagine and others) with the invitation-only World Dance Championship. A genuinely scarce invite — sometimes called a "Golden Ticket" — is earned by finishing top-3 overall, winning first place twice, or being selected as a wild card at an SDA regional. It is the most cheer-like team invitation in the dance world, but it lives entirely inside the SDA family of brands.

DanceSport & other federations

WDSF

World DanceSport Federation — competitive ballroom and Latin (DanceSport), the Olympic-recognized governing body for that discipline. A different ecosystem from studio/all-star dance.

WDC

World Dance Council — the other major international body for ballroom and Latin dance, with its own competition structure.

ICU

International Cheer Union — primarily cheer, with some dance crossover. Relevant where national federations run combined programs.

National federations

Most countries have their own dance-team governing body that sets domestic rules and selects teams for international events.

Classical ballet competitions — a different world

International ballet competitions are not part of the studio circuit or the all-star world at all. They use scoring frameworks rooted in classical ballet adjudication, and the prize is rarely a trophy — it is scholarships, training places and contract offers. For ballet-track dancers, these events can be genuine career launchers.

Prix de Lausanne

The premier classical competition for young dancers, held in Switzerland each January. Widely regarded as a major career launcher.

Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP)

A global competition with regional rounds feeding into New York finals, known for substantial scholarship awards.

World Ballet Competition (WBC)

A global ballet competition based in Orlando, with multiple age divisions.

USA International Ballet Competition (USA IBC)

Held in Jackson, Mississippi on a quadrennial cycle — one of the most prestigious in the world.

How ballet competitions are scored:

  • Classical variations drawn from set repertoire (Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Giselle and others)
  • Contemporary solos, frequently choreographer-set
  • A panel of artistic directors rather than a competition adjudication tier
  • Scholarships, training places and contract offers as the primary prize

For US dancers considering international

International experience is rare but valuable, especially on the ballet track — Prix de Lausanne and YAGP have launched many professional careers. The all-star (IASF) and DanceSport paths exist too, but each requires dedicated research and a real travel commitment. Weigh the goal (exposure, scholarship, professional contract) against the cost before committing a season to it.

Where to find the official documents

IASF: iasfworlds.com. World Dance Championship: worlddancechampionship.com. DanceSport: wdsf.org and wdcdance.com. Ballet: prixdelausanne.org, yagp.org, worldballetcompetition.com, usaibc.com. Dance Collective links only — always defer to the organizer for current rules.

Related reading: All-Star dance scoring · Studio competitive scoring · Scoring glossary.

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