What "nationals" means
Nationals is each production company’s season-ending championship — larger, longer, and more prestigious than its regionals, usually held in late spring or summer. For most brands, qualifying is straightforward: routines earn a bid to nationals simply by competing at (or placing at) a regional during the season. Because every brand runs its own, "we’re going to nationals" means a different event depending on which company’s circuit a studio competes on.
The Dance Worlds
The Dance Worlds is a distinct, elite championship — the studio-dance equivalent of cheer’s Cheerleading Worlds — held each spring at ESPN Wide World of Sports near Orlando under IASF/dance-industry governance with Varsity. It is bid-only and aimed at the top studio teams, competing in dance divisions (like pom, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary) at an international level. It is not the same as a production company’s "nationals."
How bids and qualification work
For brand nationals, qualification is usually automatic or near-automatic through the regular regional season — check each company’s rules. For The Dance Worlds, teams must earn a bid at a sanctioned partner event during the season, similar to how cheer Worlds bids work. Bids belong to a team in a specific division. Our bids guide breaks down the dance-specific path.
More questions, answered
Is "nationals" the same at every dance competition?
No. Each production company runs its own nationals, so the event differs by brand. Most make qualifying easy — often just competing at a regional earns a bid — but the location, format, and prestige vary. "Nationals" describes a type of event, not one specific championship.
What is The Dance Worlds?
An elite, bid-only world championship for top studio dance teams, held each spring near Orlando under dance-industry (IASF) governance with Varsity. Teams earn bids at sanctioned events and compete in dance divisions at an international level — distinct from any single brand’s nationals.
How does a team qualify for The Dance Worlds?
By earning a bid at a sanctioned partner event during the season, awarded to a team in a specific division. It is an elite path — most studio teams compete at brand nationals rather than The Dance Worlds. See our dance bids guide for the specifics.
Do dancers have to qualify for nationals?
Usually the qualification is easy — many brands award a nationals bid just for competing at a regional, so most competition-team routines end up eligible. Check the specific company’s rules, since a few tie nationals eligibility to placing at a regional.
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