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PORTOROZ-PORTOROSE INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION

Categories

Competition categories

The Portorož-Portorose International Ballet Competition welcomes dancers of all nationalities in three age categories. Age is determined on the opening day of the Competition, 13 July 2027. All competitors are adjudicated and ranked individually, and no separate categories based on gender apply.

International ballet competition categories — IBC Portorož-Portorose 2026

Category I

Juniors

Age range: 15 to 18 years
Birth dates: Born between 14 July 2008 and 13 July 2012, inclusive
Open to: Dancers of all nationalities
 
Junior competitors demonstrate the technical foundations and artistic promise of the next generation of professional ballet dancers. The category offers emerging dancers an international stage on which to perform before a distinguished jury and audience.
International ballet competition categories — IBC Portorož-Portorose 2026

Category II

Young Professionals

Age range: 19 to 22 years
Birth dates: Born between 14 July 2004 and 13 July 2008, inclusive
Open to: Dancers of all nationalities
 
The Young Professionals category is intended for advanced dancers preparing to enter, or beginning to establish themselves in, the professional ballet world. Competitors are expected to demonstrate secure classical technique, artistic individuality, musicality and stage presence.

Category III

Seniors

Age range: 23 to 26 years
Birth dates: Born between 14 July 2000 and 13 July 2004, inclusive
Open to: Dancers of all nationalities
 
The Seniors category brings together dancers working at an advanced or professional level. Competitors are evaluated according to the highest standards of classical technique, artistic maturity, musicality, versatility and stage presence.
International ballet competition categories — IBC Portorož-Portorose 2026

Category I — Juniors

Age range: 15 to 18 years
Birth dates: Born between 14 July 2008 and 13 July 2012, inclusive
Open to: Dancers of all nationalities
 
Junior competitors demonstrate the technical foundations and artistic promise of the next generation of professional ballet dancers. The category offers emerging dancers an international stage on which to perform before a distinguished jury and audience.
International ballet competition categories — IBC Portorož-Portorose 2026

Category II — Young Professionals

Age range: 19 to 22 years
Birth dates: Born between 14 July 2004 and 13 July 2008, inclusive
Open to: Dancers of all nationalities
 
The Young Professionals category is intended for advanced dancers preparing to enter, or beginning to establish themselves in, the professional ballet world. Competitors are expected to demonstrate secure classical technique, artistic individuality, musicality and stage presence.

Category III — Seniors

Age range: 23 to 26 years
Birth dates: Born between 14 July 2000 and 13 July 2004, inclusive
Open to: Dancers of all nationalities
 
The Seniors category brings together dancers working at an advanced or professional level. Competitors are evaluated according to the highest standards of classical technique, artistic maturity, musicality, versatility and stage presence.

Category I — Juniors

International ballet competition categories — IBC Portorož-Portorose 2026
Age range: 15 to 18 years
Birth dates: Born between 14 July 2008 and 13 July 2012, inclusive
Open to: Dancers of all nationalities
 
Junior competitors demonstrate the technical foundations and artistic promise of the next generation of professional ballet dancers. The category offers emerging dancers an international stage on which to perform before a distinguished jury and audience.

Category II — Young Professionals

International ballet competition categories — IBC Portorož-Portorose 2026
Age range: 19 to 22 years
Birth dates: Born between 14 July 2004 and 13 July 2008, inclusive
Open to: Dancers of all nationalities
 
The Young Professionals category is intended for advanced dancers preparing to enter, or beginning to establish themselves in, the professional ballet world. Competitors are expected to demonstrate secure classical technique, artistic individuality, musicality and stage presence.

Category III — Seniors

Age range: 23 to 26 years
Birth dates: Born between 14 July 2000 and 13 July 2004, inclusive
Open to: Dancers of all nationalities
 
The Seniors category brings together dancers working at an advanced or professional level. Competitors are evaluated according to the highest standards of classical technique, artistic maturity, musicality, versatility and stage presence.

Competition disciplines

The live Competition consists of two rounds. In either round, competitors may perform as soloists or in a pas de deux and may change their mode of performance between rounds. In the Final, the contemporary choreography may be performed as a solo or duet. Competitors are always adjudicated and ranked individually.

Classical Solo (Variation)

Dancers performing as soloists present two classical variations selected from the compulsory Competition repertoire. Finalists may not repeat either variation performed in the First Round; the complete classical programme for the Final must be different.

Pas de Deux

Competitors may perform a complete classical pas de deux in either round. Partners may be competitors from the same or a different age category, or registered non-competing partners. Each competitor is adjudicated individually. A pas de deux performed in the First Round may not be repeated in the Final.

Contemporary Choreography

Each finalist must perform a contemporary choreography as a solo or duet. The work must have been created after 13 July 2017 and must be clearly distinguishable from classical ballet technique. The maximum duration is 3 minutes for a solo and 5 minutes for a duet, with a tolerance of up to 10 seconds.

Competition structure — Two rounds

RoundDateAdvancement Criteria
First Round13–15 July 2027Up to 10 per category; maximum 30 finalists; minimum score 75.00
Second Round — Final16–17 July 2027Final ranking and selection of prize winners
Awards & Gala18 July 2027Awards Ceremony and Gala Ballet Concert
Official Departure19 July 2027Departure by 10:00
    • Maximum admitted through Video Pre-Selection: 80 competitors across all three categories
    • All performances take place on the open-air stage of the Amphitheatre of Avditorij Portorož-Portorose
    • Stage dimensions: 20 × 15 m | Wooden sprung floor with Harlequin Allegro vinyl dance flooring | Clear height: 10–12 m
    • All stage rehearsals, Competition performances and the Gala Ballet Concert are open to the public
    • All finalists receive a Finalist Diploma

Competition programme — Repertoire requirements

The live Competition has two rounds. The programme requirements below apply equally to Juniors, Young Professionals and Seniors.

First round — Classical repertoire

In the First Round, every competitor performs one of the following:

      • One complete pas de deux from the compulsory Competition repertoire, comprising entrée, adagio, male variation, female variation and coda; or
      • Two classical variations from the compulsory Competition repertoire

Second round — Final: Classical + Contemporary

Each finalist performs in a single evening a classical and contemporary programme with a classical component not performed in the First Round:
Classical (choice of one):
      • One complete pas de deux from the compulsory Competition repertoire
      • Two classical variations from the compulsory Competition repertoire
 
Plus Contemporary (mandatory):
      • A contemporary solo or duet
      • Created after 13 July 2017
      • Solo: maximum 3 minutes (tolerance of up to 10 seconds)
      • Duet: maximum 5 minutes (tolerance of up to 10 seconds)

Other conditions

      • In both rounds, competitors perform their complete programme for that round during a single Competition evening.
      • The Competition programme includes an Awards Ceremony and a Gala Ballet Concert featuring competitors selected by the Jury.
        At the Gala Ballet Concert, dancers perform the programme selected by the Jury or Organiser without a performance fee.
      • Participation in the Gala Ballet Concert is required in order to receive a cash prize.
      • Competitors provide their own ballet costumes, rehearsal wear, pointe shoes and slippers. The Organiser does not provide hairdressers, make-up artists or dressers.

Ready to Compete?

Applications are submitted for Video Pre-Selection. There is no limit on the number of applicants, and a maximum of 80 competitors will be selected for the live Competition. The application deadline is 15 February 2027. 
Complete Regulations
Apply Now → Application page
 
For full technical requirements, repertoire guidelines, and entry conditions, please refer to the complete  Regulations .
For questions regarding categories and eligibility: ibc-portoroz@ibc-portoroz.org