Aerial dance

AERIAL DANCE REGULATIONS

An explosion of technique, strength, and suspended elegance.
At the World Dance Competition, Aerial Dance comes to life through silks, hoop, and special apparatus, where every movement tells a story in the air. Open to performers aged 10 and up, this discipline blends acrobatics and artistry into one powerful performance.

The Aerial Dance discipline includes:

• Aerial Silks
• Aerial Hoop
• Aerial Hammock NEW
• Mix Aerial Apparatuses

1. PURPOSE

International Aerial Dance Competition to proclaim the winners of the Euro-Asiatic World Festival-Competition of National Culture and Arts, open to amateur and professional athletes aged 8 and up, registered with AICS or other Promotion Bodies, Federations, Associations, or as individuals.
These regulations are mandatory for all participants in the “World Competition of Dance Peoples and Cultures.”
Failure to comply with the rules will result in disqualification from the competition.

2. PARTICIPATION

The International Final is open to scholarship winners who obtained their awards during in-person selections held throughout the national territory. The official list of selections or via Video Entry.

IMPORTANT: Category winners are exempt from future selections and automatically qualify for the next level category in the Finals.

3. APPARATUS

Participants may compete in the following divisions according to the apparatus:

• SILKS – SOLO/DUO
• HOOP – SOLO/DUO
• HAMMOCK – SOLO
• MIX APPARATUS

If the minimum number of participants for a specific aerial apparatus is not reached, the performers will be placed in the mixed apparatus category, divided by age.

4. CATEGORIES

Participants may compete in the following AGE GROUPS:

• MINI: 8–11 years old
• YOUTH: 12–17 years old
• JUNIOR: 18–29 years old
• OVER JUNIOR: 30–45 years old
• SENIOR: 45 years and older

If a minimum of three participants is not reached within the same age group, that group will be merged with the next higher or lower category. Example: from Junior to Senior or vice versa.

LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY

Each performer’s experience depends on multiple factors; it is difficult to regulate experience levels universally, but this division serves to protect all participants.
For example: a person with 5 years of aerial training may still be Amateur, while another with the same amount of time could be Elite — it depends on training type, consistency, etc.
We provide general guidance under Section 5 – Required Movements per Category.

AMATEUR: Performers with at least 3 years of experience and/or who can execute the required movements for this category.
Minimum required: REVERSE or AERIAL INVERSION without using the apparatus for assistance.

PRO: Performers with at least 5 years of experience and/or who can execute the required movements for this category.
Minimum required: REVERSE or AERIAL INVERSION with extended legs.

ELITE: Performers with more than 5 years of experience and/or who can execute the required movements for this category.
Minimum required: REVERSE or AERIAL INVERSION with extended arms.

DUO: Category divided only by age groups. Duos may be mixed and of different age groups but must register under the age group of the oldest performer.
Minimum required: REVERSE or AERIAL INVERSION with extended legs.

MIX AERIAL APPARATUS: Category divided only by age groups. As a special category, no required movements are set.

5. AERIAL DANCE EVALUATION CRITERIA

Technical and Artistic – Score from 1 to 10 (including half points)

Artistic:

• Stage presence and interpretation

• Quality of movement

• Choreographic coherence

• Creativity

• Musicality

Technical:

• Required movements by category (see Section 5)

6. ARTISTIC CRITERIA

Stage Presence / Interpretation:
Evaluation begins the moment the performer steps onto the stage. Every gesture visible to the audience and jury—from adjusting the fabric, hoop, or mat to exiting the stage—is important. Expression, posture, mood, and atmosphere all matter. Decide your stage demeanor, gaze, pace, and remember to breathe.

Movement:
Beyond clean technical execution, fluidity between transitions is key. The quality of movement must be intentional and meaningful to the performance. Rigidity communicates one thing; a relaxed body, another.

Choreographic Cohesion:
Floor work is not required, but if present, it must be refined. A “purposeful walk” is preferable to unnecessary acrobatics. The transition between floor and air is crucial; neglected entrances or exits compromise the entire performance. Costumes should not compensate for artistic or technical gaps — simple and comfortable is best, allowing movement and line visibility. Props must serve a purpose; otherwise, they may result in penalties.

Creativity:
Magic, originality, inspiration, imagination — every person has unique qualities worth highlighting, even shyness, nervousness, or clumsiness. Aerial dance isn’t just for graceful, flexible “princesses.”

Rhythm and Musicality:
Pauses, breathing, and changes in speed or movement quality make a performance engaging. Musicality is not just following the music but embodying it.

7. TECHNICAL CRITERIA

Aerial dance is a circus discipline — not derived from gymnastics. It’s alive and constantly evolving, and its technical elements cannot be rigidly codified without losing its essence: emotion. Each performance must be unique, not a checklist of tricks.

To protect competitors, we’ve established divisions by both age and level.
Exercises listed below serve as a guide to ensure freedom of creativity.

REQUIRED MOVEMENTS PER CATEGORY

DUO:

Silks and Hoop – free routine. Judging criteria will evaluate both technical and artistic aspects.

MIX APPARATUS:

As a special category, no required movements. Apparatus provided by the school or artist. May include solo, duo, trio, or more performers using a single rig point. Evaluation will consider both technical and artistic aspects.

AERIAL SILKS – AMATEUR

Minimum requirement: REVERSE or AERIAL INVERSION without assistance from apparatus.

AERIAL SILKS – PRO

Minimum requirement: REVERSE or AERIAL INVERSION with extended legs.