World Dance Pageant – What To Expect

Back when my daughters were just little nuggets, we had our first experience at Star Dance Alliance’s World Dance Championship (WDC). Since we’ve been involved with dance, this event has been held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. During the WDC, I would occasionally hear the emcees talk about the World Dance Pageant (WDP), but I really had no idea what it was really all about. I didn’t know it then, but my girls would participate in the pageant in a few short years.

What Is the World Dance Pageant (WDP)?

According to their website:

“The World Dance Pageant is a spectacular three day solo competition, like no other competition out there. Contestants will compete in talent, interview, modeling and technique classes. The title of Mr & Miss World Dance will be presented to outstanding contestants that are goal-oriented and show great poise within their dancing and every-day life.”

“The World Dance Pageant is preparing today’s dancer for the future. The WDP experience will teach dancers life skills and how to audition and interview for the rest of their life. Contestants will meet new friends and make contacts with people from all across the country.”

Your dancer does not need to prequalify to participate in the World Dance Pageant. As long as they have a solo, they can register. The event is typically held during the last week of July.

My girls have participated in the World Dance Pageant twice (in 2018 and 2021), so I’ve written this article based on those experiences. Please keep in mind that the procedures, events, rules, etc. may change for the current and future years. 

Registration

When you register your dancer, you will be required to submit answers to a number of interview questions. Your dancer might need to name their favorite school subject, dance style, hobbies, achievements, and more. 

Before the event, you will need to submit a headshot and action shot of your dancer. When your dancer performs their solo, their headshot will be displayed on the screens on the side of the stage. The headshot will also appear in the program. The action shot will be displayed on picture boards in the hallway of the Expo Center. You will also need to submit your dancer’s solo music electronically by a given due date.

What to Expect

When you arrive at the Expo Center, you will need to check in (doors usually open around 7:30 a.m.). At that time, your dancer will receive their welcome packet and contestant number, and meet their WDP coordinator. This person is generally assigned to all of the contestants in an age division (petite, junior, teen, and senior). Following that, the dancers and their chaperones will attend an orientation and meet-and-greet within their age group. After that, the groups begin to follow their designated schedules. 

Opening Routine – All of the contestants will perform in an opening number at the start of the finale on the third day of the event. The dancers will rehearse for this every day of the pageant. Be sure to read the dress code for both the rehearsals and the actual performance. In 2021, Manny Castro (one of my girls’ favorites) was the choreographer, and the kids danced to a fun, upbeat JLo mix. My girls had a blast, and still talk about their experience to this day.

Adjudicated Events

Your dancer will complete each of these four categories, beginning on Day 1. 

Audition Classes

The dancers are offered five audition classes, during which they will be judged and scored. These include ballet, tap, contemporary/lyrical, hip-hop, and jazz. The classes are located in the breakout rooms, toward the entrance of the Expo Center. Each contestant must take the ballet class; at least two other classes are required. If a dancer takes all five classes, the scores from the lowest two are dropped. During the classes, the participants are evaluated for confidence, how well they memorize and execute the choreography, and other factors. Spectators are not allowed in the audition classes.

Modeling

If your dancer has ever dreamed of walking a runway, they will have their shot at the World Dance Pageant! Wearing formalwear, each contestant will take the stage individually to execute the walking pattern they learned in rehearsal. At the end of their walk, they will greet the crowd and judges, and give their name, number, age division and a quick fact about themselves. The judges are looking for confidence, poise, natural-sounding introductions, and other factors. Because this happens onstage in the large auditorium, spectators can watch this portion of the event.

Interview

Each petite, junior, and teen contestant will answer questions in front of a judging panel for three minutes. Senior participants will be questioned for five minutes. The judges will draw from the answers your dancer submitted in their online registration. Female contestants should wear a dress or suit, and males should wear dress pants with a shirt and tie (or suit). Each participant will be evaluated on how naturally they respond, confidence, eye contact, and other criteria. Typically, the interviews have been conducted in the hotel next door to the Expo Center (currently Harmony Suites). Spectators are not allowed in the interview rooms.

Talent 

This is your dancer’s solo! Honestly, you would be hard-pressed to find a more impressive place to watch your dancer perform their solo than on this amazing stage. The camera work, lighting, background, and everything else about the production are top-notch. The routine cannot exceed two minutes and forty-five seconds. Only people with WDP lanyards have traditionally been allowed backstage (we got one per contestant in our welcome packets). Your dancer can warm up in the designated areas behind the stage before their performance. Contestants will be judged on technique, presence, how well they execute the choreography, and more. 

The Awards Show and After Party

On the third day of the pageant, the dancers typically start their day by rehearsing the opening number and the staging for the awards show. After that, one or more age groups might need to  finish up one of the adjudicated portions, while the others have a lengthy break before they need to return for the pre-show rehearsal in the early evening. 

Spectators can enter the venue when the doors open at the conclusion of rehearsal (around 5:45 or so). The show begins with the opening number, in which all the dancers perform (with past winners being featured). Then all of the contestants get dressed in their formalwear again, and are introduced onstage. After that, the emcee will announce the top five finalists in each age division. Those finalists will prepare for a final performance of their solo on the big stage. After the finalists have danced, all the participants are gathered onstage again for the awards. The overall winners are announced and crowned, and other awards are given as well (Mr./Miss Congeniality, class recognition awards, scholarships, etc.).  

At the conclusion of the awards ceremony, the dancers and their chaperones get to party! In 2021, each contestant had their name emblazoned on a large circular sticker on the floor (which you can take home afterwards). In the breakout room, a DJ spun some tunes to get the kids grooving. My girls grabbed some light-up sunglasses, and dove (practically headfirst) into the candy bar. I truly enjoyed watching my kids laugh, dance, and have fun with both new and old friends from the pageant, making it a great end to a wonderful experience.

Before You Go

Register early! The number of participants is capped, and you will be placed on a waitlist once the online registration closes out. Be on the lookout for emails from the WDP to alert you when registration opens (in 2023, it opened in early April).

Pay attention to the due dates for submission of solo music, headshots, etc.

While you might be tempted to forgo this step, be sure to read the rules far in advance. Points can be deducted for lateness, inappropriate dress or behavior, and more. Prepare yourself so you don’t encounter any nasty surprises!

The WDP usually overlaps with the World Dance Championship (WDC). In 2021, my girls actually had to skip two of their audition classes to compete a group number in the Championship, which ultimately hurt them in the pageant. The staff was very understanding and accommodated us as best as they could, but my daughters were more than a bit stressed and exhausted from juggling both. If your dancer is participating in both events, check the schedules far in advance and reach out if you see a potential conflict. And let your WDP coordinator know when you meet them.

Check the dress code for everything far in advance (younger female contestants have been limited to tea length dresses for formalwear, for example). Pack all the correct shoes and attire for all of the audition class genres (ballet, hip-hop, jazz, contemporary/lyrical, and tap). Be sure that your dancer’s formalwear shoes are appropriate, and that they can actually walk in them. 

If you have an “extra” of something, pack it. One of our dance friends got black grease on her dress on the way to the interview, and needed to scramble to buy another. 

Keep a record of your dancer’s answers to the interview questions you submitted during registration, as they will be used to conduct the interview portion of the pageant. Practice by asking your dancer each question, prompting them to answer in complete sentences, make eye contact, enunciate their words, and expand on their responses.

Your dancer will be given an opportunity to learn the walking pattern and rehearse before the adjudications. But they should prepare and rehearse their introduction beforehand. 

Bring an umbrella or other protective gear (like a poncho). During our experiences, the interviews were conducted in the hotel next door to the Expo Center (there is no covered walkway in between the two venues). Mother Nature doesn’t care about your dancer’s appearance, unfortunately.

Record the talent/solo music on a blank flash drive so you can hand it in during registration. It will not be returned to you, so make sure it has nothing else on it.

The open portions of the event are live-streamed, so be sure to share the link with friends and family that cannot attend in person.

During the Event

Check in early for the individual events (modeling, interview, and talent/solo). Plan on being at least 20 minutes early to all of these. The contestants will go in numerical order, so they do not allow latecomers. The exact times for the solo/talent, interview, and modeling appointments will be provided on a schedule.

Dancers should wear their formalwear shoes for the modeling rehearsal. 

Have your dancer take all five audition classes, unless there is a genre that they have little to no experience with. If a contestant doesn’t take a regular hip-hop class, for example, they might be better off taking a break during that time. One of the finalists last year (2022) attempted the tap class, but decided to bow out part of the way through.

Encourage your dancer to be a good sport. The competitive dance world is both small and huge, so it pays to establish a positive reputation for your dancer and your family.

A Final Word

Yes, this is a competition so it’s natural for the kids to dream of winning. But you might want to remind your children that talented dancers fly in from all over the country to participate in the WDP, so there is absolutely no shame in not being a finalist or winning an award.

With my girls, I stressed how rewarding the entire experience is, and that it will make them more confident in their dancing and in their lives. Reminding our kids about how fun the after party will be, and how this is an opportunity to make friends and take classes from amazing teachers, will help to lessen their disappointment if they harbor unrealized hopes of winning it all. The entire staff at the WDP works hard to make it a positive, rewarding time, and your dancer can look back on these memories with joy and pride.

Don’t forget to check out Dancing at the Meadowlands Expo Center and World Dance Championship – What You Need to Know for more info!