KDC | KONNECTING Dance

Main Page

Cover & Choreography Contest
12. September 2026

Workshop & Battle
13. September 2026

CONTEST SIGN UP IS CLOSED
BATTLE SIGN UP NOW OPEN

Get your audience Tickets!

ABOUT THE KDC 2026

Dear dancers, dear community,

We are incredibly grateful and very happy to now be hosting the KDC together with you for the fourth year already.

What started as a space for K-pop cover dance has, over the years, become so much more — a place where we celebrate dance together and support each other, no matter the genre or the language of the music!

K-pop has always been our foundation. The starting point through which so many of us found each other!

At the same time, we are changing. As dancers, as artists, as people who have in part been moving within the same bubble for over a decade. And that is exactly what we want to reflect with the KDC as well.

We are allowed to grow. To appreciate what came before, to look back on it with care, and still move forward. To discover new possibilities without letting existing structures hold us back.

For me as the organizer of the KDC, K-pop no longer stands only for the most perfect possible cover, but for inspiration, freedom, and a way to express yourself — but also to find who you are and who you want to be!

For me, K-pop cover stands for the freedom to be inspired by something and to create something of your own from it.

That’s why this year we are consciously opening up new possibilities:

Whether it’s a detail-accurate cover with a focus on precision, performance or completely original artistic approaches — I want to encourage you to bring your very personal connection to dance onto the stage.

Furthermore, we invite you to spend a second day with us to dance together at our KDC workshop day

The KDC should be a place where we meet once a year in a healthy competition, but also take the time to appreciate the art of every single dancer and take something away for ourselves.

I’m looking forward to filling the stage with you. 🤍

– Alena

NEU: JUDGES WORKSHOP DAY

Although we'll be spending the entire Contest Day dancing, it somehow never feels like enough. :-)

That's why we don't just want to see our judges perform a short showcase. We want you to experience the people sitting at the judges' table as more than the ones giving scores and handing out awards. We want you to get to know them beyond the competition.

At the end of the day, we're all dancers—and what could be better than taking classes together, learning something new, and sharing the joy of movement?

That's why we're introducing the KDC Workshop Day for the very first time this year!

50% discount for KDC Contest & Battle participants
25% discount for KDC Contest & Battle audience

SCHEDULE

10:30 Check In

11:00 - 12:00 CLASS 1 - ANNE - Warm Up & Freestyle Concept

12:15 - 13:15 CLASS 2 - MIHAELA & SOPHIA - Experimental Collab

13:15 - 13:30 BREAK

13:30 - 14.30 CLASS 3 - VISHANA Heels Choreo

14:45 - 15:45 CLASS 4 - NAYA Hip Hop Choreo

LOCATION IGS MÜHLENBERG

Simply send us an email with the subject line "KDC Workshop Sign Up" and include the following information:

Full name of all participants
Email address of all participants
Which class(es) you would like to book?

info@konnectingdance.com

TICKETS

1 Class: 15€
2 Classes: 25€

Full Pass: 45€

KD ALL STYLE BATTLE

POP THE BUBBLE - ONE COMMUNITY:

Under this motto, we're bringing the entire dance scene together on one floor!

K-Pop dance draws inspiration from countless dance styles—from Hip-Hop and House to Waacking, Vogue, Krump, Jazz, Contemporary, and many more. Behind the K-Pop community are dancers from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines.

Despite that diversity, different communities often remain in their own bubbles.

With "Pop the Bubble," we want to break down those barriers and create a space where dancers from all styles can meet, learn from one another, and share the dance floor together.

Whether you're looking to gain your very first battle experience or challenge yourself against experienced dancers, there's a category for everyone. Enter as a Rookie, give it a try, and see how far you can make it. Or compete in the Open Category, designed for dancers who already have battle experience.

After the pre-selection, the battles begin. In 45-second 1vs1 rounds, you'll dance your way through each stage. Can you make it from the Top 16 to the Top 8, Top 4, and all the way to the Finals?

JUDGES

Our international judging panel will evaluate your performances. We're excited to welcome three unique dancers who each bring their own perspective, style, and expertise to the floor.

You can find detailed introductions to each judge on our Instagram very soon!

HOST

Our battle will be hosted and guided by Ezgi from Berlin.

Ezgi Ivy is a DJ, dancer, host, and event organizer based in Berlin.

She is part of the Berlin Basement Jam team and one of the main organizers of Woodland Battle in Kirchheim unter Teck, MalaKesk Battle in Stuttgart, Woodz030 Battle in Berlin, and Ivy Sessions in Berlin.

In addition, she produces events for organizations and associations, including block parties for Sisterqueens in Berlin, and hosts community battles every two months in cooperation with Motions Berlin.

Providing the soundtrack for the day is Liz, aka Gassi.

From Afro and Krump to 2000s hits—she's got it all. All styles, all vibes.

Check the form on the main page!

Sign-up is open until we reach the maximum number of participants.
There will be a limited number of spots available for spontaneous participants on site!
First come, first served!

MINIMUM AGE

Our battle is open to participants of all ages.

Participants under 18 must send us a parental consent form in advance. We will provide the form via email.

PARTICIPATION FEE

10€ per Person

TIMETABLE

16:30 Check In

17:00 Pre Selection

18:00 Top 16 / 8 / 4

19:00 Break & Jam

19:30 Judge Demo

19:45 Finale

20:00 Goodbye

We would like to sincerely thank the Cultural Office of the City of Hanover for supporting and funding our battle event.

SIGN UP CLOSED

MULTIPLE PARTICIPATION

Dancers may only participate in two categories, meaning they may only perform twice.

Here are some examples for clarification:

Allowed would be participation:

as a solo in Cover and as a solo in Choreography Show
as a solo in Cover and as part of a Cover group
etc.

Not allowed would be:

as a solo in Cover, as a solo in Choreography, and as part of a Cover group
as a solo on the Explorers Stage and as part of a Cover group
etc.

However, it is still allowed to register for more than 2 categories in the preliminary round and make a final decision afterward if you are accepted in more than one category.

Participants of the Explorers Stage may only perform in this category.

SIGN UP CLOSED

RULES: K-POP COVER

One full song! Intros, dance breaks, etc. are allowed as long as they originate from the artist themselves and have a source (e.g. fancams) — therefore, a music cut is also allowed.
The number of members of the original performers is not relevant.
Any song that you interpret as K-Pop is allowed. Please contact us if you have any questions! This can include:
- Japanese and Chinese songs by K-Pop groups
- English-speaking groups such as XG, K-Pop Demon Hunters, Katseye
- Songs that were produced for casting shows or similar
- etc.
English-language songs and performances with a supposed K-Pop connection are not allowed, such as covers and performances by K-idols to English-language songs.
There must be a YouTube video of the chosen cover choreography, which must be provided as a source

The maximum length of the show is 3:30 minutes for groups and 3 minutes for solos.

The minimum length of the show is 3 minutes for groups and 2:30 minutes for solos.

A music cut is allowed as long as it remains one song. This means:

Rearranging, omitting, or repeating parts, also to reach the required song length
Adding intros or remixes of the same song

Points will be deducted for exceeding the time limit by +10 seconds as well as for performances that are shorter than the minimum by -10 seconds.

SIGN UP CLOSED

RULES ALL STYLE CHOREOGRAPHY

These rules apply to the All Style Choreography category:

Song Selection

Both a single song and a mix are allowed — therefore, a music cut is also permitted.
Any song from absolutely any genre is allowed!

Choreography

It is not allowed to copy existing choreographies.
Any creative work of other choreographers, whether from the internet or from classes, may NOT be used.
Choreography shows must consist of 100% your own ideas!
Any props require prior registration and may not be permitted.

The maximum length of a choreography show is 3 minutes for groups and 2:30 minutes for solos.

The minimum length of a choreography show is 2:30 minutes for groups and 2:00 minutes for solos.

Points will be deducted for exceeding the time limit by +10 seconds as well as for performances that are shorter than the minimum by -10 seconds.

SIGN UP CLOSED

RULES EXPLORERS STAGE

Selection of Participants:

We reserve the right to use the truthful information provided in your application as the basis for the final selection of participants. The Explorers Stage is an open, non-judged stage where newcomers can gain their first stage experience, and not an additional performance opportunity for experienced performers.

Rules

All songs and all performances are allowed. There are no restrictions regarding genre, music cuts, cover, or choreography.

The maximum length of an Explorers Stage show is 3 minutes for groups and 2:30 minutes for solos.

Participants of the Explorers Stage may only perform in this category.

JUDGES

The KDC aims to establish a high-quality, fair competition that recognizes the effort and talent of all participants.

A fundamental part of this is our five-member expert jury.

Important selection criteria for deciding who will be on the panel this year include covering a wide range of disciplines, as well as many years of experience in Germany’s K-pop scene, and experience working as commercial dancers and coaches.

You can find detailed profiles of our judges on our Instagram.

Don't forget to check out our KDC Workshop Day happening the sunday after!

JUDGING CRITERIAS FOR THE FINALE

The KDC is divided into a preliminary round via video submission and a live on-stage final. The criteria for the preliminary round can be found below.

The judging criteria differ depending on the category. The general criteria are:

Quality of movement
Stage presence
Facial expressions
Use of stage, formations
Musicality, synchronization
K-Pop feeling
Accuracy of covering
Composition, creativity
Outfits
Level of difficulty
Dance education level

The weighting of the judging criteria for this year will be adjusted together with the jury and published once finalized.

The scoring sheet will be published for all participants after the contest.

PARTICIPATION FEES

As is often the case, nothing in life is free. Since Konnecting e.V., as a community-oriented association, does not aim to and is not allowed to make a profit, we charge a reasonable participation fee to make such a large event possible <3

The collected funds are used exclusively to cover the four-digit costs of such an event, which include, among other things:

Venue rental
GEMA
Fair compensation for the jury + travel costs
Professional lighting technology
Professional photographers and videographers

The participation fees are:

Solo
- 20€

Groups – per dancing person
- 18€
Explorers Stage Solo
- 15€
Explorers Stage Group – per dancing person
- 12€

LOCATION AND STAGE

Yay! This year, the KDC will once again take place in the auditorium of the IGS Mühlenberg. With its huge stage, as well as professional lighting and technical equipment, we felt very comfortable there!

The stage measures 10 meters in depth and 12 meters in width. This year, entrance is only from the left side (from the audience’s perspective), and exit is to the right side.