The Official Message
Events
The official message for
Dance Day 29 April 2026
Competition is the heartbeat of sports, but in the arts it is very marginal—which is normal. While athletic excellence is easily measured, artistic merit is notoriously difficult to quantify.
As young dancers increasingly seek titles to distinguish themselves, competitions have proliferated—but unlike strictly regulated sports championships, dance competitions remain unchecked.
Our priority is protecting dancers and the teachers who prepare them. To ensure a “winner” title carries genuine weight, organizers must adhere to universal standards. The **International Dance Council** has issued these essential guidelines
– Liability: Full insurance coverage and a legally responsible person must be identified.
– Transparency: Jury members, competitors, and winners must be listed publicly.
– Integrity: Rules must guarantee neutrality and fair play; the organizer should not appoint the jury.
– Fairness: Categories should be based on years of training, not age.
– Validation: No winner should be declared in categories with fewer than 10 competitors.
When competitions are oversaturated and titles are handed out too freely, winning loses its value and competing becomes a trap.
As much as performing, teaching, or creating dance should remain totally free, competing should be effectively regulated. This year,
Dance Day is dedicated to the urgent regulation of competitions.
