International Dance League
| International Dance League | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | IDL Global |
| Genre | |
| Created by |
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| Presented by |
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| Judges |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| Production | |
| Production locations | |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Release | July 26, 2025 |
The International Dance League (IDL) is an international competitive professional dance league featuring six established, well-known international dance crews, referred to as 'pro teams' that compete for first place through open-style choreography infusing numerous dance genres.[1] Founded by Connor Lim of STEEZY Studio, The IDL is a league-based ecosystem for professional dance in live events through the pro division and community divisions.[2][3] The series launch event started on July 26, 2025, with the competitive dancing series started on May 2, 2026 through live-streaming platforms.
The show is hosted JustMaiko,[4] Megan Batoon, and Ricky Cole; with Clay Boonthanakit as an analyst to the performances.
The IDL employs a select panel of judges who critique the dance crews through a scoring criteria sheet awarding points to a pro team in a two-round format per each series.[5] The head judging panel consists of Nicolas Bégin and Dr. Arnel Calvario, who watch over the league; create and enforce rules; and preserve the results of the main judging panel.[6]
Format
The International Dance League show consists of the Pro Division and the Community Division within each series of the season.[7] In the Pro Division, only six teams participate: Quick Style (Norway), Brotherhood (Canada), GRV (USA), Royal Family (New Zealand), Jam Republic (South East Asia), and 1Million (South Korea).[1][8]
Pro divisions
In Round 1, all six teams are matched up into predetermined pairs where they perform one routine for the judges and the fan vote in hopes to proceed to Round 2.[9] Which ever pro team wins their round advances to the second round with the losing pro team being 'knocked-out' of the series. The points that judges award, are added to their overall season standings.[10]
In Round 2, the winning three teams then perform an entire new routine in a three-way battle. Judges scores are averaged out for the groups and depending on who wins first, is awarded seven points; second is awarded five points; and third is awarded three points, which is added to their overall standing for the season. Depending on the three teams standings, their cash prizes are also reflected on their ranking.[9][10]
2025 season
The launch event contained only one series in Los Angeles, California at the Shrine Expo Hall on July 26.[4]
2026 season
The 2026 season changed to having six series instead of one series as it became the inaugural competitive season. These six series take place in New York City, Vancouver, Sydney, Seoul, and two in Los Angeles (a normal series & the Championship series).[11][12]
The Pro Divisions are the exact same as last season with an extended five more series and an additional two more judges. The final series, Series 6, is where the Championship takes place. However, teams are seeded in Round 1 depending on their overall season standing (e.g. first place team competes against the sixth place team) instead of it being predetermined. By Round 2, the winner is crowned as the "IDL Champion" for the season.[13]
Community divisions
Community Divisions features top community dance teams worldwide for 10 junior teams and 10 adult teams. Teams are evaluated off of cohesion, quality, competition history, and readiness. Only first, second, and third place are chosen and receive prize money. There are new teams per each series starting in the 2026 Season.[14]
Series overview
2025 season
The 2025 season took place in Los Angeles at the Shrine Expo Hall on July 26 as the launch event and exhibition showcase for the league. It was hosted by JustMaiko. Brian Friedman, Tessandra Chavez, Tricia Miranda, and Sheopatra were the judges for the night.
In the adult Community Division, V Mo took first place, followed by Hyphen and Commonality taking second and third.[9][15]
| Match | Pro Team | Song | Result | Points | Season Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | |||||
| Match 1 | GRV | "GTA" by Meek Mill feat. 42 Dugg | 82.25 | 5 | 5 |
| Quick Style | "Revenge" and "Everybody Dies in Their Nightmares" by XXXTentacion | 76.00 | 0 | 0 | |
| Match 2 | Brotherhood | "Move" by Lecrae & 1K Phew | 92.00 | 5 | 5 |
| Royal Family | "Savage" by Royal Family Dance Crew | 86.00 | 0 | 0 | |
| Match 3 | Jam Republic | "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" by The Offspring | 78.50 | 2 | 2 |
| 1Million | "Can We Luv" by 1Million feat. Etham | 80.50 | 3 | 3 | |
| Round 2 | |||||
| 3rd | 1Million | "Crush" by Leilani | 81.81 | 3 | 6 |
| 2nd | GRV | "Ocean Drive" by Duke Dumont | 95.69 | 5 | 10 |
| 1st | Brotherhood | "Wish" by Tyga; "All That Matters" by Justin Bieber; "Going Off" by P-Lo | 99.50 | 7 | 12 |
2026 season
The 2026 Season is the inaugural start of The IDL competitive series.[8]
Series 1: New York
The 2026 Season kicked off with Series 1 in New York City, USA at the Hammerstein Ballroom on May 2.[16] It was hosted by JustMaiko and Megan Batoon. Amari Marshall, Dr. Arnel Calvario, Arturo Lyons, Chonqiue Sneed, Jamal Sims, and LeTasha Barnes were the judges for this series. Ricky Cole and Clay Boonthanakit were the analysts. Saweetie was the halftime performer for this series.[8]
In the adult Community Division, Naratiiv took first place, followed by The Squad and Day One taking second and third.[17]
| Match | Pro Team | Song | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | ||||
| Match 1 | Quick Style | "N95" by Kendick Lamar | 87.50 | 4 |
| GRV | "Don't Get Me Started" by Ace Hood | 86.51 | 3 | |
| Match 2 | Brotherhood | "Jealous Type" by Doja Cat | 94.51 | 7 |
| 1Million | "How It's Done" by Huntrix | 87.33 | 0 | |
| Match 3 | Jam Republic | "Get Out My Way" by Tedashii feat. Lecrae; "Nothing I Can't Do" by Tedashii feat. Trip Lee and Lecrae | 82.49 | 1 |
| Royal Family | "Tuyo" by Royal Family Dance Crew; "Kilometre" by Burna Boy; "Phonk Brasilerio Fresco" by DJ Moigus & DJ FKU | 86.67 | 6 | |
| Round 2 | ||||
| 3rd | Royal Family | "After Party" by Don Toliver; "Toxic" by Britney Spears | 86.25 | 3 |
| 2nd | Quick Style | "Freestyler" by Bomfunk MC's; "Freestyler V3" by Bazu | 89.97 | 5 |
| 1st | Brotherhood | "Mannequin" by Pop Smoke; "What's it Gonna Be?!" by Busta Rhymes feat. Janet Jackson; "Uproar" by Lil Wayne feat. Swizz Beatz | 99.28 | 7 |
Series 2: Vancouver
Series 2 took place in Vancouver, Canada at the Thunderbird Sports Center on May 23.[18] It was hosted by JustMaiko and Megan Batoon. Cheyenne Kibblewhite, Handy Yacinthe, Stephen Grey, Comfort Fedoke, Carlos Irizarry, and Nicolas Bégin were the judges for this series. Ricky Cole and Clay Boonthanakit were the analysts.
In the adult Community Division, Northside took first place, followed by C-Fam and Nonstop taking second and third.[19]
| Match | Pro Team | Song | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | ||||
| Match 1 | Royal Family | "Nissan Altima" by Doechii; "Mamushi" by Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba; "Lick the Beat" by Parris Goebel | 85.84 | 3 |
| 1Million | "Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown feat. T-Pain | 87.00 | 4 | |
| Match 2 | Quick Style | "Dancing Box" by Modeselktor feat. TTC | 84.00 | 0 |
| Jam Republic | "Caught Up" by Usher | 88.35 | 7 | |
| Match 3 | Brotherhood | "Get Back" by Ludacris; "Outta Your Mind" by Lil Jon ft. LMFAO | 93.16 | 7 |
| GRV | "Jealous Type" by Doja Cat; "Demons" by Doja Cat | 90.17 | 0 | |
| Round 2 | ||||
| 3rd | 1Million | "Nissan Altima" by Doechii | 85.54 | 3 |
| 2nd | Jam Republic | "Love in this Club" by Usher | 86.31 | 5 |
| 1st | Brotherhood | "I Want You Back" by NSYNC | 93.81 | 7 |
Series 3: Sydney
Series 3 took place in Sydney, Australia at the The Hordern Pavillion on June 20.[20] It was hosted by Ricky Cole. Stephen Grey, Mel Charlot, Comfort Fedoke, Shaun Evaristo, Chonqiue Sneed, and Dr. Arnel Calvario were the judges for this series. Clay Boonthanakit was the analysts.
In the adult Community Division, ID CO took first place, followed by The Home Base and Wan Squad taking second and third.[21]
| Match | Pro Team | Song | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | ||||
| Match 1 | Jam Republic | "One Time Comin'" by YG | 81.00 | 0 |
| GRV | "One Time Comin'" by YG1 | 88.83 | 7 | |
| Match 2 | 1Million | "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga | 86.00 | 7 |
| Quick Style | "Takedown" by Huntrix | 82.00 | 0 | |
| Match 3 | Royal Family | "Stupid Hoe" by Nicki Minaj; "Gyal Like Me" by Parris Goebel; '"Crown Heavy" by Royal Family Dance Crew | 88.17 | 0 |
| Brotherhood | "Toxic" by Britney Spears | 92.17 | 7 | |
| Round 2 | ||||
| 3rd | 1Million | "S**BARU" by Shirorou feat. Kasane Teto & Hatsune Miku | 89.37 | 3 |
| 2nd | GRV | "Unlock the Swag" and "No Flex Zone" by Rae Sremmurd | 90.77 | 5 |
| 1st | Brotherhood | "After Party" by Don Toliver | 93.19 | 7 |
^Note 1: Although given the chance to change the song by the league, both teams decided to keep the same song for their sets.
Series 4: Seoul
Series 4 took place in Seoul, South Korea at the Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace on August 1.[11] It was hosted by Dulock. Haeni Kim, Amari Marshall, Cheyenne Kibblewhite, Comfort Fedoke, Gina Michael, Dr. Arnel Calvario, and Nicolas Begin were the judges for this series. Clay Boonthanakit was the analysts.
In the adult Community Division, The Stories took first place, followed by UPeepz and Bawz taking second and third.
| Match | Pro Team | Song | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | ||||
| Match 1 | GRV | "F*ck Up Some Commas" by Future; "Bugatti" by Ace Hood | 84.08 | 0 |
| Royal Family | "Family Ties" by Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar; "Up!" by Bianca Oblivion; "Demons" by Doja Cat | 87.83 | 7 | |
| Match 2 | Brotherhood | "Family Ties" by Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar | 87.83 | 7 |
| Quick Style | "Pasta" by Karpe | 84.83 | 0 | |
| Match 3 | 1Million | "Judas" by Lady Gaga | 88.25 | 6 |
| Jam Republic | "Family Ties" by Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar; "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga | 85.58 | 1 | |
| Round 2 | ||||
| 3rd | Royal Family | "Genius" by Pop Smoke, Lil Tjay, and Swae Lee; "Anaconda" by Nicki Minaj | 87.91 | 3 |
| 2nd | 1Million | "What's Up Danger" by Blackway & Black Caviar | 89.84 | 5 |
| 1st | Brotherhood | "Takedown" by Huntrix; "Get Out My Way" by Tedashii feat. Lecrae | 92.25 | 7 |
Series 5: Los Angeles
Series 5 is set to take place in Los Angeles, USA at the Shrine Expo Hall on September 19.[11]
Championship (Series 6): Los Angeles
The Championship (Series 6) and finale for the 2026 Season is set to take place in Los Angeles, USA at the Shrine Expo Hall on September 20.[11]
| Rank | Pro Team | Representing | NYC | VAN | SYD | SEO | LA | CHAMP | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brotherhood | Vancouver | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | TBD | TBD | 56 |
| 2 | 1Million | South Korea | 0 | 7 | 10 | 11 | TBD | TBD | 28 |
| 3 | Royal Family | New Zealand | 9 | 3 | 0 | 10 | TBD | TBD | 22 |
| 4 | GRV | Los Angeles | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | TBD | TBD | 15 |
| 5 | Jam Republic | Southeast Asia | 1 | 12 | 0 | 1 | TBD | TBD | 14 |
| 6 | Quick Style | Oslo | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TBD | TBD | 9 |
Criteria and judging
Judging and scoring
The judging criteria consists of ten categories within two parameters: Design and Execution, with each category containing 10 points.
| Design (50 Points) | |
|---|---|
| Category | Description |
| Complexity of Choreography | Level of difficulty implemented through movement such as, but not limited to weight changes, varied intricate movement, isolations, tempo changes, etc. |
| Staging | Use of varied formations & creative ways to move from one formation to another to allow for quick & seamless transitions. Adequate use of the performance floor. |
| Musicality | Use of choreography that interprets and responds to instrumentation, rhythmic variations, vocals, and lyrics in the music. Movements should highlight the depth and complexity of the selected track. |
| Creativity | Original movements, concepts, and transitions that make the routine unique, refreshing, and distinguished from others. |
| Stylistic Athleticism | Use of choreography that demonstrates high-level athleticism (movements requiring significant strength, power, control, and technical skill) within the context of the styles being used. |
| Execution (50 Points) | |
| Cleanliness | Consistent unison and timing by the team. Uniformity of team movement within choreography and skills. |
| Technical Execution + Authenticity | Proper usage and execution of movements that are authentic to the styles from which they originate. |
| Spacing | Consistent and even positioning of dancers throughout all formations and transitions that provides clarity of intended staging and pictures. |
| Projection / Communication | Ability to convey a unified message and connect with the audience throughout the performance. Includes: expression, emotion, interaction within the team, energy, and entertainment value. |
| Stamina | Consistent energy management and execution throughout the entire routine. Athletes maintain the same level of power, control, and commitment from beginning to end. |
Criteria and Logistics
The roster for a team must contain a maximum 30-dancer and minimum 20-dancer roster with each dancer wearing a numbered jersey. Out of the roster, only 20 dancers are able to perform in one series.[9]
Teams must prepare two original performance sets that have not been used before in other previous sets.[5] Teams are free to choose a style of choreography of their choice. It's open-style allows for teams to choose a creative approach on cross-genre dances within the competition of their sets.[11] Majority of styles used take influence from hip-hop dance, street dancing, breakdancing, jazz, dance hall, Afrobeats, Amapiano, waacking, and voguing.[1]
Broadcast and sponsorship
The IDL series are streamed live through Twitch and YouTube through their own channel, with broadcasts including co-streamer collaborations and other media content.[25][26][27] On July 27, 2026, ESPN had signed a global rights agreement with The IDL to stream and re-run previous series shows of the 2026 season on heir ESPN2 channel.[28][29]
Sponsor and support from brands was considered to be essential to establish the infrastructure and financial support of the league.[25] Honda is the founding partner and sponsor of the league with The IDL's stage named as the "Honda Stage".[30] E.l.f Cosmetics and Cîroc were also named as sponsors for the 2026 season.[25][31]
References
- 1 2 3 Albaran, Natalie (2026-03-24). "The International Dance League Wants to Treat Dance Teams Like Sports Teams. What Does That Look Like?". Dance Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Fuchs, Jay (2025-11-18). "Dance makes it to the major leagues". thehustle.co. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Chowdhry, Amit (2025-11-07). "IDL: $7 Million Seed Funding Raised To Launch Global Professional Dance League". Pulse 2.0. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- 1 2 Rice, Nicholas; Stern, Abby (2025-07-27). "Derek Hough Attends Dance Event in L.A. After He and Wife Hayley Erbert Reveal They're Expecting Their First Baby". People.com. Archived from the original on 2025-07-29. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- 1 2 Derdeyn, Stuart (2026-05-21). "This Vancouver team is on top of the dance world. Here's how they did it". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "IDL Announces Its 2026 Head Judges: Dr. Arnel Calvario-Ripkens and Nicolas Bégin - International Dance League". www.idl.pro. 2026-03-03. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "How it works". www.idl.pro. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- 1 2 3 Saponara, Michael (2026-04-02). "Saweetie to Perform at IDL's Inaugural Event in NYC". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- 1 2 3 4 Albaran, Natalie (2026-05-18). "Inside the International Dance League's Electric Season 1 Opener". Dance Spirit. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- 1 2 STEEZY (2025-06-13). How It Works | IDL - International Dance League. Retrieved 2026-06-28 – via YouTube.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Kaplan, Kayla (2026-03-04). "International Dance League Announces Inaugural Season, Establishing Dance as a Global Professional Sport". www.businesswire.com. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Nusbaum, David (2025-11-18). "International Dance League Closes $7-Million Seed Round". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ IDL: international dance league (2026-02-19). IDL - How It Works. Retrieved 2026-06-28 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Community Divisions FAQ". www.idl.pro. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "IDL Launch Event 2025 - Community Division". YouTube. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "International Dance League: New York Series - Hammerstein Ballroom 05/02/26". www.cityguideny.com. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- 1 2 "IDL 2026 New York Results". www.idl.pro. 2026-05-02. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "IDL (International Dance League)". thunderbirdarena.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- 1 2 "IDL 2026 Vancouver Results". www.idl.pro. 2026-05-23. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "International Dance League - The Hordern Pavilion". The Hordern Pavilion. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- 1 2 "IDL 2026 Sydney Results". www.idl.pro. 2026-06-20. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "IDL 2026 Seoul Results". 2026-08-01. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ "IDL 2026 Current Results". www.idl.pro. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ "2026 Season Rulebook". www.idl.pro. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- 1 2 3 Orosa, Roberto (2026-05-08). "e.l.f. Cosmetics Steps Into Competitive Dance With Global IDL Partnership". DesignRush. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Karlovitch, Sara (2026-05-07). "E.l.f. spotlights competitive dance with new sponsorship". www.marketingdive.com. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Vilensky, Sophie (2026-04-29). "Hey, International Dance League—Can e.l.f. Have This Dance?". Byrdie. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Maglio, Tony (2026-07-27). "International Dance League's First Media Rights Deal Is With ESPN (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ Libbey, Dirk (2026-07-27). "ESPN and The International Dance League Have Announced a New Broadcast Partnership". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ Capper, Addison (2026-08-04). "Honda Backs International Dance League as Founding Partner". Little Black Book. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
- ↑ Arias, Juanita Chavarro (2026-03-26). "How the Cîroc Athletic Club Platform is Tapping into Passion Points". Event Marketer. Retrieved 2026-06-28.