Expression International Dance Competition
February 20, 21 and 22, 2026
Expression Competition
Expression International Dance Competition: International competition of classical dance, choreographic composition, modern contemporary, hip hop and free style, open to dance students of all nationalities aged 6 and over for soloists, couples and groups. Numerous scholarships have been awarded to the main dance institutions in the world, as well as prize money and internships. The Competition creates educational and professional opportunities for young dancers, serving as a springboard for a career in the world of dance. For twenty years on the splendid stage in Florence at Danza in Fiera, over 5,000 dancers from all over the world have participated in the competition.
Competition performance order by day / section / category
Friday 20 February 2026
• Hip Hop and Urban Dances
Soloists: Children (from 9.30 to 10.00) • Junior (from 10.00 to 10.15)• Over (from 10.15 to 10.30)
Couples: Children (from 10.30 to 10.40) • Junior (from 10.40 to 11.00) • Over (from 11.00 to 11.15)
Hip Hop and Urban Dance Soloists and Couples Awards
Groups: Children (from 11.45 to 12.00) • Junior (from 12.00 to 12.45) • Over (from 12.45 to 13.45)
Hip Hop and Urban Dance Groups Awards
• Choreographic Composition
Soloists: Children (from 14.15 to 14.30) • Junior (from 14.30 to 15.15) • Over (from 15.15 to 16.00)
Choreographic Composition Soloists Awards
Couples: Junior (from 16.15 to 16.30) • Over (from 16.30 to 17.00)
Groups: Children (from 17.00 to 17.15)
Choreographic Composition Couples Junior and Over and Groups Children Awards
Groups: Junior (from 17.30 to 18.30) • Over (from 18.30 to 20.30)
Choreographic Composition Groups Junior and Over Awards
Saturday 21 February 2026
• Classical and Neoclassical Ballet
Soloists: Children (from 09.30 to 10.00) • Junior (from 10.00 to 10.45) • Over (from 10.45 to 11.45)
Couples: Junior (from 12.00 to 12.10) • Over (from 12.10 to 12.20)
Classical and Neoclassical Soloists and Couples Awards
Groups: Children (from 12.45 to 13.00) • Junior (from 13.00 to 13.30) • Over (from 13.30 to 14.00)
Classical and Neoclassical Groups Awards
• Modern Dance / Contemporary
Soloists: Children (from 14.15 to 14.30)
IDA Lab Performance “Inachevé” edited by Daniela Cipollone and Daniele Baldi
Modern Dance / Contemporary Soloists children Awards
Soloists: Junior (from 15.00 to 17.00)
IDA Dance Lab Performance “Peace” edited by Roberta Fontana and Michael D’Adamio
Modern Dance / Contemporary Soloists junior Awards
Soloists: Over (from 17.30 to 22.30)
Modern Dance / Contemporary Soloists over Awards
Sunday 22 February 2026
• Modern Dance / Contemporary
Couples: Children (from 09.30 to 09.45) • Junior (from 09.45 to 10.00) • Over (from 10.00 to 11.00)
Experience Dance Company performance (edited by Matteo Addino)
Modern Dance / Contemporary Couples Awards
Groups: Children (from 11.30 to 11.45) • Junior (from 11.45 to 13.30)
Modern Dance / Contemporary Groups Children and Junior Awards
Gruppi Over (from 14.00 to 17.30)
Modern Dance / Contemporary Groups Over Awards
* The times are indicative with possible delay or advance of performance even of 60 minutes. The exit orders with the precise times divided by section and category will be published approximately 10 days before the beginning of the Competition.
Enter the world of Concorso Expression
The most important international dance competition
Participate and win cash prizes, scholarships and special prizes! For all information see the Rules page.
The competition is organized by International Dance Association
Modern, Contemporary
Classical and Neoclassical Ballet
Hip Hop and Urban Dance
Choreographic Composition
Expression International Dance Competition is confirmed, every year, a great and long-awaited dance appointment! Very pleasant also the context of Danzainfiera, which calls all dance's operators, professionals and also fan. For the youngest, the competition is a good opportunity for show their abilities, as well as a valuable experience to improve themselves through comparison with other dancers.
It’s really very nice to see so many young people loving dance! The commitment is great and the performances are generally harmonious, good from a technical point of view, with beautiful costumes and results of interesting ideas.
The level of competition improves year after year! For me who participated in several editions, it was nice to review among the participants some familiar faces and observe their progress. Any advice for everyone? Choose the music that best suits your work, using also expressiveness as true artists, to represent through dance what music expresses.
I was surprised and impressed by the entity of the whole event: it is really great! I found the technical level of the participants very varied, as often happens in competitions where there are no preselections. But everyone tried to figure it out, trying to bring home the best possible experience.
I found the IDA dance universe very interesting. The competition is a good showcase for the kids, and it is very important that the variations thought by the teachers are really appropriate to the age and talent of the pupil, to enable the jury to express itself in the best possible way and to facilitate the jury’s opinion.
Expression is an important showcase whose essential ingredients are energy, passion and seriousness. The competition has always been distinguished by the high number of participants. The advice I can give to all hip hop dancers is to give space to creativity, choreography, costumes and all the elements of a show, without forgetting to enhance the techniques hip hop.
Scholarships and Special Prizes past editions
