ADC|IBC — Youth International Ballet Competition
St. Petersburg, Florida — Mahaffey Theater · USA
Dates confirmed30 March – 5 April 2027
- Length
- 7 days
- Entry fee
- $375 flat for the virtual phase · semi-final fees not published
- Deadline
- Entries from 1 November to 31 December · videos by 15 January
- Age reference
- ⚠️ The rules page shows an out-of-date reference date — confirm before entering
Age categories
- Primary — 9–11 years old
- Junior — 12–14 years old
- Senior — 15–21 years old
Levels
Pre-competitive — Strictly pre-professional, a single track. Professionals are excluded; Studio Company and Trainee positions are allowed.
Variations
- Set variation — First round: a set variation learned on the spot · 9–21 years old
- Repertoire — Second and third rounds, from a set list · 9–21 years old
- Free — A prepared contemporary solo · 9–21 years old
Three rounds. The first counts for a third of the score: a graded technique class, a set variation learned on the spot, and coaching. Pointe work compulsory from 12.
Masterclasses. Included, including remote access.
Jury. Not published for 2027, nor by name for previous editions. The final round is judged by a different panel from the earlier rounds.
What you can win. A scholarship network reporting 175 to 250 awards on average. Around 325 soloists are invited to the finals.
Worth knowing. Very accessible from Europe thanks to the video application and the Berlin semi-final. The first round, graded on a class and a variation learned on the spot, tests adaptability rather than polish.
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Built from official websites and published rulebooks, checked in September 2026. Nothing is guessed: where a date, a fee or a jury is not published, the guide says so rather than inventing one. Rules change from season to season — always check the competition's own site before entering.