NEW YORK FINALS

RULES AND REGULATIONS

I. Application

Participation in VKIBC Finals is by invitation only. All dancers need first to submit an Application on our website.  After the Application is reviewed, only those dancers invited to participate can submit a Registration in the Classical Competition and/or the Contemporary and Neo Classical Competition and/or the FreeStyle Dance Competition. Invited dancers will receive the password to access the Registration page.


An audition video must be submitted along with the application form.  The video must showcase at least one variation as a solo OR duet/ensemble as applicable. The videos must be no longer than 5 minutes and be in the form of a YouTube or Vimeo link. Please make sure to include the video link on your Application.


Application fees (all dancers):

  • US$ 100 FOR THE CLASSICAL COMPETITION

  • US$ 100 FOR THE CONTEMPORARY/NEO-CLASSICAL COMPETITION

  • US$ 100 FOR THE FREESTYLE DANCE COMPETITION

  • US$ 200 IF APPLYING FOR TWO COMPETITIONS

  • US$ 300 IF APPLYING FOR THREE COMPETITIONS

  • Payment by PayPal, US check, Apple Pay, credit card or wire transfer. In case of wire transfer, please contact VKIBC for banking information.
    Please note: ALL Application fees are non-refundable.

    Note: We encourage dancers who are invited to compete and who need a visa to the United States to request a letter of invitation as early as possible so that you have enough time to get your visa

    Foreign dancers: if you need a letter of invitation, for visa reason:

  • PLEASE EMAIL: vkibc.registrar@gmail.com

  • Include name as it should appear in the letter and your official address

II. Registration

REQUIREMENTS

Registration is considered complete when:

  • You fill out the form online

  • You email the signed Liability Waiver 

  • You email your passport information page with date of birth and photo to vkibc.registrar@gmail.com

  • You have made the payment via PayPal, US check, Apple Pay, credit card or wire transfer. Note: Please contact VKIBC for banking information in case of wire transfer. ADD automatically US$15 to each payment via wire transfer.

Reminder: ONLY those dancers invited to participate AFTER THE APPLICATION PROCESS will receive a password to access the Registration form.

A. Classical Competition

Registration for the Classical Competition is open to dancers ages 9-26 and is divided into 5 divisions:

  • Pre Youth (9-10) Pas de Deux not allowed

  • Youth (11-12) Pas de Deux not allowed

  • Student (13-14) Pas de Deux not allowed

  • Junior (15-17)

  • Senior (18-26)

Classical Solos cannot be repeated in the same rounds.

All competing ages are as of April 1, 2025.

Dancers must choose all classical variations and pas de deux from the Repertoire List.

Contemporary pieces performed by dancers must have been choreographed between 2015 and 2024.


Contemporary Pieces in Classical competition:

  • Solo: No longer than 2.5 minutes

  • Duet: No longer than 4 minutes


Participants competing with a Pas de Deux can have a non-competing partner. Partners in a Pas de Deux can be from different divisions. Evaluation and scoring is done individually. In the case of a Pas de Deux or duet where both dancers are competing, if one of the competing partners does not pass to the following round, he/she has the obligation to continue partnering as long as his/her partner is still competing.


Pre Youth and Youth: pas de deux not allowed
One Round: 2 Classical Solo Variations (solos must be different)


Student: pas de deux not allowed
1st Round: 2 Classical Solo Variations (solos must be different)
2nd Round (Final): 1 Contemporary Solo


Junior:
1st Round: 2 Classical Solo Variations (solos must be different) OR 1 Classical Pas de Deux
2nd Round (Final): 1 Classical Solo Variation (can be repeated from previous round, no Pas de Deux) AND 1 Contemporary Solo

Senior:
1st Round: 2 Classical Solo Variations (solos must be different) OR 1 Classical Pas de Deux
2nd Round (Final): One Classical Solo Variation (can be repeated from previous round, no Pas de Deux) AND one Contemporary Solo of your choice. In addition, selected dancers will compete for the Lifar Prize by dancing One Compulsory Serge Lifar Classical Variation:  either “Mazurka“ (male) or “La Cigarette” (female)


Registration fees:
Classical Competition

  • Pre Youth and Youth Division: US$400

  • Student Division: US$450

  • Junior Division: US$475

  • Senior Division: US$475


    Classical Competition fees include all classical pieces to be performed from the repertoire, master classes and stage run through rehearsals.
    Payment accepted via PayPal, US check, credit card, Apple Pay or wire transfer. Note: ADD automatically US$15 to each payment via bank wire.
    Please note: Registration fee is non-refundable.

B. Contemporary and Neo Classical Competition

Contemporary: Dancers on demi-pointe or barefoot.
Neo Classical: Dancers on pointe.

Registration for the Contemporary and/or Neo Classical Competition is possible in the following divisions:

  • Solo Division I (11-14)

  • Solo Division II (15-17)

  • Solo Division III (18-26)

  • Duet Division

  • Ensemble (no age requirement)


All competing ages are as of April 1, 2025.
Contemporary and Neo Classical pieces performed by dancers must have been choreographed between 2015 and 2024. 

Length of pieces:

  • Solo: No longer than 3.5 minutes

  • Duet: No longer than 4 minutes

  • Ensemble: No longer than 5 minutes


Solo - All participants compete with one contemporary solo. 
Duet - Both participants compete with one contemporary duet.
Ensemble - All members of the ensemble compete with one contemporary piece. Each dancer is required to register and each must pay individual registration fee.

Registration (Reminder: invited dancers only):
Contemporary and Neo Classical Competition

  • Solo: US$275 for 1 piece danced

  • Duet: US$400 for the couple for one piece danced ($200 per dancer on each registration)

    Non competing partners DO NOT pay the fee.

  • Ensemble (3 to 10 dancers): US$100 per dancer for 1 piece danced.

  • Ensemble (11 dancers or more): US$75 per dancer for 1 piece danced.


    Payment accepted via PayPal, US check, credit card, Apple Pay or wire transfer. Please contact VKIBC for banking information in case of wire transfer. Note: ADD automatically US$15 to each payment via bank wire.

    (See Contemporary and Neo Classical Registration form for more details)
    Contemporary and Neo Classical Competition fees include all pieces to be performed, master classes and stage run through rehearsals with time allowing.

C. Free-Style Competition

  • No Age Limit. Mandatory Requirements:

    Solos: one big jump and any turns;

    Duets: one overhead lift and one mid range lift and any kind of turns;

    Ensembles: All of the above allowed.

    Dancers can perform any style with the exception of hip hop and break dance. Dances can be on pointe, demi-pointe, bare feet, soft shoes or heels.

    Music: See list of FreeStyle pieces allowed on New York 2025 competition page.

    $100 per dancer per piece.

    Payment accepted via PayPal, US check, credit card, Apple Pay or wire transfer. Note: ADD automatically US$15 to each payment via bank wire.
    Please note: ALL fees are non-refundable.

III. Payment

When submitting payment please include the name of the participant in the Memo section.

If the participant's name is not submitted with the payment, the registration will remain incomplete if we cannot identify who paid.

Payment accepted via PayPal, US check, credit card, Apple Pay or wire transfer. Please contact VKIBC for banking information in case of bank wire.

Note: ADD automatically US$15 to each payment via bank wire.
Please note: ALL fees are non-refundable.

IV. Competition Schedule

APRIL 7th: Registration starts 10am. Class 1 hour at 1pm. Stage rehearsal from 2 pm on. All classical competitors rehearse.

After that, Classes every day from 10am to 11am.

APRIL 8th: Round 1 Classical —> Seniors, Juniors and Youth.

APRIL 9th: Round 1 Classical Student. Open stage for Seniors, Juniors Round 2. Competition, followed by Open stage rehearsal. APRIL 10th: stage rehearsal Contemporary and Freestyle followed by competition.

APRIL 11th: Class in the morning. In the evening, Gala and Award Ceremony at The Kaye Playhouse, East 68th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues. APRIL 12th: Audition class with selected members of the Jury.

Competition and Classes: New York Live Arts, 219 West 19th, Manhattan.

GALA: The Kaye Playhouse, East 68th Street, between Park and Lexington, Manhattan.

V. Regulations

ONLINE SIGNATURES
All electronic signatures are considered binding official signatures.

PERSONAL INSURANCE

Participant or their legal representative declares having all necessary insurance for the duration of the participation in the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition. VKIBC cannot be held responsible for an emergency of any nature, including but not limited to medical or personal.

CHOREOGRAPHY AND MUSIC RIGHTS
Participants must ensure they have cleared all dance and music rights before performing their contemporary pieces. VKIBC cannot be held responsible for any piece performed without the proper clearances.

LIABILITY WAIVER

All participants :

Please download the form here: Liability Waiver

Sign, scan and email to vkibc.registrar@gmail.com with your name and division in the file name.

PHOTO / VIDEO
During the Competition: Dancer or his/her legal representative grants VKIBC the perpetual and irrevocable right to use his/her name, photographs or video footage in all forms and in all media and in all manners, without any restrictions for editorial, advertising, trade promotion, exhibition, or any other lawful purpose. Dancer or his/her legal representative waives any right to inspect or approve the video footage or photograph(s) or finished version(s), including written copy that may be created and appear in connection therewith. Dancer or his/her legal representative agrees that the Photographer(s) and Videographer(s) own the copyright of these photographs and video footage, and hereby waives any claims he/she may have based on any usage of the photographs and video footage, or works derived therefrom.

COSTUMES / PROPS
VKIBC does not require costumes for pieces, though VKIBC does recommend them as it enhances the dancer's performance. If the dancer is not able to use costuming, VKBIC asks the dancer to wear clean practice clothes (e.g. black leotard, clean tights).

Props are permitted; they must be moved on stage by the dancers and removed promptly after their pieces.

Baby powder or any substance that might remain on the flooring (such as body lotions or glitter) are not permitted and is not allowed at VKIBC.