Dancers aged 8 and above with strong technical training in acro, jazz, modern, or contemporary can apply. We welcome applicants from all studios across the UK.

No. Dancers from any studio, training background, or region in the UK are eligible to audition, as long as they meet the technical requirements.

All auditions are submitted online. Once you complete the application form, you’ll receive instructions on how to prepare and upload your audition video and headshot.

Your audition will be reviewed by our panel of coaches and choreographers. If you’re successful, you’ll be contacted with next steps and further information about rehearsals and events.

Your audition requires a small entry fee, depending on the number of dancers in your piece: Solo £12 per dancer Duo £15 per duo Trio £21 per trio Group £30 per group These fees support the administration and review of your submission.

Once selected to compete, the following fees are due to register with IDO and the competition organisers: IDO License Fee £35 - Annual registration required to compete at any IDO event (paid once per year). IDO Start Fee £35 - One-off entry fee paid to the competition organiser per event. IDO UK Fee £35 - Annual registration fee specific to IDO UK members. These are separate from travel, accommodation, and costume costs.

Travel arrangements—including flights—must be managed by the dancer and their family. That said, most competitions have a hotel and shuttle coordinator. IDO UK will support with: Group hotel bookings where possible Sharing organiser contact details if direct booking is preferred Providing logistics support as needed Please confirm travel timelines early to avoid issues.

Each routine must adhere to the time guidelines listed below. Make sure your piece fits the appropriate length for your chosen division:

Please use the chart below to identify the correct division based on year of birth: Division Age Birth Years Children 12 and under 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Junior 1 13–14 years 2011, 2012 Junior 2 15–16 years 2009, 2010 Adult 17 and over Born in 2008 or earlier

To ensure fairness across competition categories, age divisions are determined based on the eldest dancer in each routine. Please read the specific rules carefully: Duo Age Rules The eldest dancer determines the age division. A younger partner must be no more than 3 years below the minimum age of the division. The total age gap between dancers may not exceed 3 years. Trio, Group & Formation Age Rules Dancers may be up to 3 years younger than the age division, provided: No more than 50% of the dancers are in that younger range. All remaining dancers must fall within the official age bracket.

All music tracks must be uploaded in advance of the competition. You’ll receive a dedicated upload link from IDO UK once entries are finalised.

Props are permitted for most disciplines except for Acro. Dancers are responsible for setting up their props within the allowed setup time (15–45 seconds, depending on category). Lifts are not allowed in Children’s age divisions—except in Acro. Please review your discipline-specific guidelines carefully to ensure compliance.