Aerial dance

AERIAL DANCE REGULATIONS

An explosion of technique, strength, and suspended elegance.

Within WDCP&C, Aerial Dance comes to life through silks, hoop, hammock, and every aerial apparatus you can imagine—where each movement tells an emotion in flight. Open to artists aged 10 and over, this discipline blends acrobatics, dance, and art into one powerful and expressive performance.

PARTICIPATION METHODS

The International Final is open to winners of a Scholarship obtained during live selections held throughout the national territory and published here: Selections, or through Video Entry.

IMPORTANT: Winners of the Amateur category are exempt from selections and have direct access to the Final, as per regulations they automatically advance to the Pro category.

Participants are strongly advised to carefully read the General Event Regulations, which are mandatory to correctly complete the registration for any WDCP&C event.

SETUP AND EQUIPMENT

Participants may compete in the following divisions:

• SILKS – SOLO / DUO / GROUP

• HOOP – SOLO / DUO / GROUP

• HAMMOCK – SOLO / DUO / GROUP

• MIXED APPARATUS – SOLO / DUO / GROUP

Rigging System – Final Competition

Five anchoring points will be available:

• 1 central manual pulley system, equipped with certified static rope for aerial use

• 4 lateral pulley points, equipped with certified static rope for aerial use

Height adjustment of the suspension point is possible on pulley anchoring points.
All setup and movement operations will be carried out exclusively by a qualified and certified technician specialized in lifting systems.

IMPORTANT – ARTIST CATEGORY ONLY:
If height adjustment is required during the performance, it is mandatory to bring your own rigger. All setups will still be checked by the event technician.

SILKS

Certified silks suspended with swivel, total length 8 meters.
Colors will be communicated during the setup phase.

HOOP

Certified hoops, wrapped and suspended from a single anchoring point.
Installation includes a closed-loop polyester tubular spanset (1.5 m, black) with swivel to allow controlled rotation.

Available outer diameters: Ø 85 cm, 90 cm, 95 cm, 100 cm

HAMMOCK

Not provided.

MIXED APPARATUS

Not provided.

SAFETY MATS

The use of safety mats is mandatory for all participants.
Size: 2 m x 2 m – height 40 cm

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

Each school or individual participant may use their own apparatus during the performance, provided it is declared during registration.
The equipment must comply with safety standards and be suitable for the intended use.
The participant assumes full responsibility for its integrity and certification, formalized through a specific liability form provided during final registration.

CATEGORIES

AGE GROUPS

• MINI: 8–11 years

• YOUTH: 12–17 years

• JUNIOR: 18–29 years

• OVER JUNIOR: 30–45 years

• SENIOR: 45 years and over

If fewer than three participants are registered in an age group, it may be merged with the adjacent age group.
If participation is excessive, the organization reserves the right to split the group (e.g. YOUTH A / YOUTH B).

COMPLEXITY LEVEL

Experience varies greatly between participants; therefore, levels are indicative and designed to ensure fairness and safety.
Details regarding required movements are outlined in Art. 6 – Required Movements by Category.

LEVELS

AMATEUR – Silks, Hoop, Hammock
Minimum of 3 years of experience and/or completion of required movements.
Focus on clean choreography, controlled transitions, and balance between strength and flexibility.
Less is more.

PRO – Silks, Hoop, Hammock
Minimum of 5 years of experience, or advancement from Amateur by winning first place.
Advanced mastery, fluid transitions, lightness, body awareness, and strong expressive quality are required.

ARTIST
Divided by age groups only. Solo artists may use any permitted aerial apparatus.
The goal is complete integration between body and apparatus—where technique dissolves into expression.
Performance goes beyond technique, emphasizing research, awareness, lightness, and stage presence.

DUO
Divided by age group. Allowed on all apparatus, including mixed.
Pairs may be mixed age and gender; category is determined by the oldest participant.

GROUP
Divided by age group.
From 2 to 5 aerial apparatus, mixed ages and genders allowed.
Category determined by the oldest participant.

MIXED APPARATUS
Solo category divided only by age group.
No required movements.

JUDGING AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

The jury consists of:

• 2 Artistic Judges

• 2 Technical Judges

• 1 Head Judge

Names and biographies will be published on the official website.

SCORING

Artistic Score: 1–50 points (half points allowed)

• Stage presence and interpretation

• Movement quality

• Choreographic coherence

• Creativity

• Musicality

Technical Score: 1–50 points (half points allowed)

• Required movements by category (Art. 6)

Judges’ decisions are final and will be published on the official website.

ARTISTIC CRITERIA (SUMMARY)

• Stage Presence & Interpretation

• Movement Quality & Transitions

• Choreographic Cohesion

• Creativity

• Rhythm & Musicality

TECHNICAL CRITERIA

Aerial dance is a circus discipline, not derived from gymnastics.
It must not become a standardized sequence aimed solely at scoring points.
Required movements are guidelines, allowing full creative freedom.

REQUIRED MOVEMENTS BY CATEGORY

(All tables and movement requirements remain exactly as defined in the original Italian regulation, translated terminology included: Flexibility, Strength, Drops, Rolls, Spins, Prohibited Elements, Optional Ground Work, Bonus Movements, etc.)

➡️ Structure, quantities, tolerances, and prohibited elements are unchanged.

BONUS

PRO CATEGORY BONUS:
Up to 3 bonus points per group, based on difficulty and execution.

BONUS APPLICABLE TO ALL CATEGORIES:

• +5 SHOW BONUS – Creative construction and stage presence

• +5 GROUND–AIR BONUS – Artistic and coherent connection between ground work and aerial apparatus

PENALTIES

Up to -5 points may be applied for:

• Late presentation

• Failure to greet jury and audience

• Leaving the apparatus unnecessarily

• Unsafe or distracting external performers

• Prohibited elements

• Exceeding time limits

• Poor or damaged music files

• Unsafe costumes or accessories

• Visible logos or brands

• Unsafe props or abandoned stage objects

• Non-compliance with regulations

PERFORMANCE DURATION

Failure to submit music will result in disqualification without refund.