Competition WORLD DANCE OPEN CUP 2025 POM – PON & CHEER DANCE & CHEERLEADERS will be governed by the World Dance Open Cup Pom-Pon Cheer Dance rules and is intended for all schools, clubs, dance groups without prior nomination from all over the world.

Age group (age is assessed according to the calendar year of the competition):

• Minikids (4 - 8 years)

It is also possible to include dancers 1 year older, who will be no more than 9 years old on the day of the competition. The condition is that these dancers can make up a maximum of 49 % of the formation's dancers. The lower age limit is not restricted but recommended.

 

• Children (8 - 11 years)

It is possible to include dancers who are younger or 1 year older. The condition is that these dancers can make up a maximum of 49 % of the formation's dancers. The lower age limit is not limited, but is recommended.

 

• Juniors (12 - 15 years)

It is possible to include dancers who are younger or 1 year older. The condition is that these dancers can make up a maximum of 49 % of the formation's dancers. The lower age limit is not limited, but is recommended.

 

• Youth (15 - 18 years)

It is possible to include dancers who are younger or 1 year older. The condition is that these dancers can make up a maximum of 49 % of the formation's dancers. The lower age limit is not limited, but is recommended.

 

• Adults (19 - 30 years)

There is no upper age limit. Younger dancers can also be included. The lower age limit is not limited, but is recommended.

 

Categories:

• Solo
• Duo
• Trio 3 dancers
• Small groups (Small team) 4 - 10 dancers
• Large groups (Large team) 11 and more dancers
• SuperShowcase 30 and more dancers

 

General Rules

It is not allowed for any dancer to compete against himself or herself. A dancer cannot participate in more than one team in the same age group.

 

Definition of a Duo

A Duo is defined as two persons dancing as individuals and can be of any gender.

 

Definition of a Trio

A Trio is defined as three dancers in the following combinations.

• Three ladies/girls
• Three men/boys
• Two ladies/girls & one man/boy
• Two men/boys & one lady/girl

 

Music

The music is of the dancers’ own choice. If you were unable to upload your music to the registration system during registration, you can upload your music during personal check-in at the competition venue. Dancers must bring their music on a flash drive in mp3 format to the competition in case the pre-registered data is unreadable or damaged by the sound engineer.

 

Time limits

Solos, Duos and Trios: Music must be between a minimum of 1.30 and a maximum of 2 minutes.

Small Teams: Music must be between a minimum of 2.30 and a maximum of 3 minutes.

Large Teams: Music must be between a minimum of 2.30 and a maximum of 4 minutes.

Super Showcases: Music must be between a minimum of 3.30 and a maximum of 5 minutes.

 

Dress Regulation

Dance costumes must be well fitted, age appropriate and tasteful.

 

Competition Styles

Any style of dancing or type of music is allowed with no restriction in tempos.

 

Pom Cheer Dance competition format

Each dancer or team performs alone to their own music.

 

Lifts and Acrobatics

Lifts and acrobatics are allowed. When building pyramids only 1 floor above the ground is allowed.

 

Props

Hand props are obligatory with two Pom-Poms per dancer. Any change of the Pom-Pons between the team members must not exceed 10 seconds. When building a pyramid it is allowed to leave the Pom-Pons on the floor for 10 seconds.

Stage props are not allowed.

 

How to perform Pom Cheer Dance disciplines

• Pom-Pon Cheer Dance is a choreographed performance.
• The character of the performance could be in any style. It is possible to use gymnastic elements like skips, jumps or elements of folklore dances if the music underlines this type of dancing.
• Gymnastic elements must be in harmony with the choreography and should never be obvious. It is very important to connect idea, music, choreography and costume.
• Presentation and image is also important.
• The Pom-Poms must be used in harmony with correct handling. Variety and the grade of difficulty will be evaluated.
• It is useful to have skilful dancers in the team but the team is judge as a whole and not on individuals.

 

Evaluation system

The competition has its own specific rules, so the course of the competition is different from what you may be used to. The judges, similar to figure skating or gymnastics, awards points in five different criteria (technique, harmony with music, performance, choreography, artistic impression), so it is not important how many competitors compete in a given discipline.

Depending on the performance, dancers are awarded GOLD, SILVER or BRONZE. Dancers are awarded 2 times. Once for their performance level and technique and then in the grand final, if they are nominated for it based on points.

This means that if the performance is poorly performed (sum of points), competitors receive BRONZE and GOLD or SILVER are not awarded. This evaluation system is therefore motivating, because all teams and soloists can still fight for the GOLD award and the best 7 with GOLD awards (based on the number of points) are nominated for the GALA – GOLD FINALE. Only here will everyone compete for the title of Absolute World Cup Winner, by demonstrating their technique, when the judges takes the given discipline into account in a special point criterion. The best 7 choreographies will therefore dance 2 times, although they may be in their category alone in the initial classification.

It gives meaning and motivation to the dancers and coaches that they have not trained in vain and can present their performances to an international judges, which will evaluate the performances of the choreographers and dancers with qualified points.

The point evaluation system can be found here:

https://youtu.be/OIT2EvQ3aLM?si=L0agYPwUwLycArQG.

Also important for motivation is the award for the best choreography, which will receive a trophy, a voucher in the value of the starting fee of the winning choreography and this year also a barrel of regional beer or lemonade.