ArtSense
Dance Festival & Competition

ArtSense Internatioal Dance Festival & Competition 2026

(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Date: 6-9 August, 2026

Competition Date: Fri, 7-August, 2026

Venue: Dominus Arts Venue | KL Campus

1. INTRODUCTION

The Artsense International Dance Festival & Competition is a professional platform designed to celebrate excellence in dance while encouraging creativity, cultural appreciation, and artistic expression.

The festival provides dancers with opportunities to perform, showcase their talent, and receive recognition through a structured adjudication system.

Artsense promotes artistic development, performance confidence, and cultural exchange in a fair and inclusive environment.

2. OBJECTIVES

• Promote technical excellence and artistry in dance performance

• Encourage creativity, storytelling, and musicality

• Provide opportunities for stage experience and performance development

• Foster international cultural exchange

• Recognize and reward outstanding talent through structured awards

3. COMPETITION STRUCTURE

The competition consists of Solo and Group / Ensemble categories, with defined dance styles for solo performances and an open category for group performances.

3.1 Solo Categories

Participants must register in the category that represents their choreography:

1. Ballet – Classical or neoclassical ballet focusing on technique and posture

2. Contemporary / Lyrical – Expressive dance emphasizing fluidity, emotion, and storytelling

3. Jazz / Musical Theatre – Energetic, stage-based choreography emphasizing rhythm and performance energy

4. Hip Hop / Street / K-Pop – Urban or commercial dance styles emphasizing groove, isolation, and stage attitude

5. Cultural / Traditional Dance – Traditional, folk, or heritage dances; inclusive of all cultural dance styles
   
   

 3.2 Solo Age Groups

Age Group

• Age 6–9 - Junior A

• Age 10–12 - Junior B

• Age 13–15 - Youth A

• Age 16–18 - Youth B

• Age 19 & above - Adult

3.3 Solo Performance Duration

• Junior A: Age 6–9 (2 min 30 sec / Max: 1 Performance Piece)

• Junior B: 10–12 (3 min / Max: 1 Performance Piece)

• Youth A: 13–15 (3 min 30 sec / Max: 1 Performance Piece)

• Youth B: 16–18 (4 min / Max: 1 Performance Piece)

• Adult: 19 & above (4 min / Max: 1 Performance Piece)

• Timing begins from the first movement or first note.

• Exceeding duration may result in being stopped or mark deductions.

• All solo performances must use MP3 backing tracks.
  
  

3.4 Group / Ensemble Category

The Group / Ensemble Category is an Open Category for all dance styles and age combinations.

Divisions by number of dancers:

Number of Dancers

• Duet (2 pax in a group)

• Trio (3 pax in a group)

• Quartet (4 pax in a group)

• Small Group (5–12 pax in a group)

• Large Group (13+ pax in a group)

Performance Duration:

• Duet / Trio / Quartet

  • 4 min

• Small Group (5–12)

  • 5 min

• Large Group (13+ dancers)

  • 6 min

Rules:

• All group performances must use MP3 backing tracks

• Timing begins with the first movement

• Exceeding duration may result in stopping or mark deduction

• Any dance style may be performed (Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Cultural, or experimental)
  
  

Awards:

• All participants in group performances receive a trophy and certificate

• Grand Champion Group: only 1 Championship Trophy for the group + certificate for each participant

JUDGING CRITERIA

Criteria & Weight

• 1. Technical Execution (30%)

  2. Artistic Expression (25%)

  3. Choreography & Composition (20%)

  4. Stage Presence & Teamwork (15%)

  5. Overall Impression (10%)

• Technical Execution: precision, control, alignment, technique

• Artistic Expression: emotion, storytelling, musicality

• Choreography & Composition: creativity, originality, structure

• Stage Presence & Teamwork: confidence, projection, group coordination

• Overall Impression: general performance impact

5. AWARDS & CHAMPIONSHIPS

5.1 Scoring System

Award & Score Range

• 90–100 - ArtSense Distinction Award

• 80–89 - Gold

• 70–79 - Silver

• 50–69 - Bronze

• 0–49 - Certificate of Participation

5.2 Championship Awards

Solo Age Category Champion:

• Highest-scoring participant in each age group

• Award: trophy + certificate
  
  

Group / Ensemble Grand Champion:

• Highest-scoring group overall

• Award: 1 Championship Trophy for the entire group + certificate for each participant
  
  

5.3 Participant Awards

• Solo: trophy + certificate

• Group: trophy + certificate for each participant

• Grand Champion Group: 1 Championship Trophy for the whole group + certificate for each participant

6. PERFORMANCE REGULATIONS

• All performances must use MP3 backing tracks

• Participants must report 30 minutes before scheduled performance

• Timing begins with the first movement or note

• Exceeding duration may result in stopping or mark deductions

7. ADJUDICATION & FINAL DECISION

• All performances are evaluated by a panel of professional adjudicators

• No comment sheets provided unless stated by organiser

• Awards and results announced on the competition day

• All results are final and non-negotiable

8. ORGANISER RIGHTS

The organiser reserves the right to:

• Amend rules if necessary

• Combine or divide categories based on participation

• Adjust schedule to ensure smooth operations

• Use participant images/videos for promotion

The ArtSense International Dance Festival & Competition provides a prestigious, inclusive, and professional platform for dancers worldwide.

With structured awards, fair adjudication, and clear rules, the festival encourages dancers to perform confidently, explore their creativity, and celebrate diverse dance cultures.

This proposal aligns with ArtSense’s philosophy of artistic excellence, performance confidence, and cultural appreciation, ensuring consistency with the Artsense Music Competition framework.