top of page
250326_KDC_2025_Logo-Rework-Final.png
K-Pop Cover Dance & Choreography Contest 
13. September 2025

English Version
 
ABOUT THE KDC 2025

Dear Dancers, dear Community,

​

We are beyond excited and incredibly proud to host the KDC for the third year in a row with all of you!

​

For us, K-Pop Cover Dance is a passionate hobby, but in the dance world, it’s often not seen as a legitimate dance style. While other dance genres have numerous funded competitions, the K-Pop scene lacks comparable opportunities. We want to change that and give K-Pop Cover Dance the recognition it deserves – as an art form, as a competitive sport, and as a vibrant, diverse community!

​

With KDC, we provide K-Pop dancers with a professional stage where you can showcase your talent and gain valuable experience – under fair conditions and with a jury that truly appreciates your performance!

​

Whether you're on stage or cheering from the audience – KDC konnects!

​

Thank you for your incredible support – we can’t wait for your registrations!

CATEGORIES
Kategorien

You can apply in the following categories:

  • Solo Cover

  • Solo Choreo

  • Group Choreo (2 or more people)

  • Small Group Cover (2 to 4 people)

  • Large Group Cover (5 or more people)
     

Dancers can participate in a maximum of two categories (see "Multiple Participation" for details).

We offer two different competition formats, which mainly differ in their judging criteria:

​

COVER & CHOREOGRAPHY

​

Perform either a K-Pop song in its original form or get creative and choreograph your own show using K-Pop as inspiration and foundation.

For choreography, the focus is on creativity and thinking outside the box. Adapting, rearranging, and reinventing are encouraged. The judging criteria will emphasize composition and creativity rather than just technique.

​

MULTIPLE PARTICIPATIONS

Dancers are allowed to participate in only two categories, meaning they can perform a maximum of two times.

Here are some examples for clarification:
 

 Allowed:

  • Solo Cover & Solo Choreography Show

  • Solo Cover & part of a Cover Group

  • etc.
     

Not allowed:

  • Solo Cover, Solo Choreo & part of a Cover Group

  • etc.
     

However, dancers can apply for more than two categories in the preliminary round.

RULES
Regeln

COVER

​

A full song! Intros, dance breaks, etc. are allowed as long as they originate from the artist themselves and have a verifiable source (e.g., fancams) – meaning music edits are also permitted.

  • The original number of members in the group does not matter.

  • Any song with a K-Pop connection is allowed, including:

    • Japanese and Chinese songs by K-Pop groups

    • English-speaking groups like XG

    • Songs produced for survival shows, etc.

Not allowed:

  • English ("Western") songs and performances, even if they have a K-Pop connection, such as:

    • Studio Choom Artist of the Month performances

    • Covers & performances of English songs by K-Pop idols

Choreography must be covered as accurately as possible. Reasonable adjustments to formations due to group size or modifications of tricks/stunts are allowed.

A YouTube video of the chosen choreography must be provided as a reference.

​

Performance Length:

  • Maximum:

    • Groups: 4:00 minutes 

    • Solos: 3:30 minutes

  • Minimum:

    • Groups: 3:00 minutes 

    • Solos: 2:30 minutes

​

Music editing is allowed as long as it remains within a single song. This means:

  • Rearranging, omitting, or repeating parts to adjust the song to the required length

  • Adding intros or remixes of the same song

​

Points will be deducted for:

  • Exceeding the time limit by more than 10 seconds

  • Performances that are too short by more than 10 seconds

CHOREOGRAPHY

​

Song Selection

Both a single song and a mix are allowed – meaning music edits are permitted.

Any song with a K-Pop background is allowed, including:

  • Japanese and Chinese songs by K-Pop groups

  • English-speaking groups like XG

  • Songs produced for survival shows, etc.

Not allowed:

  • English songs with a K-Pop background, such as:

    • Studio Choom Artist of the Month performances

    • Covers & performances of English songs by K-Pop idols

​

Choreography

It is allowed to use original K-Pop choreographies as a base for your Choreography Show and modify existing concepts (according to Cover rules). However:

  • Borrowed sequences must not exceed 4 counts of 8 at a time

  • A maximum of 30% of the total performance may consist of existing K-Pop choreography

Not allowed:

  • Copying existing choreographies that are not K-Pop choreographies, even if they have a K-Pop connection, such as:

    • Studio Choom Artist of the Month performances

    • Concept videos/performances by idols for English songs

    • Choreographies from Korean choreographers or dance studios

    • Any choreographic material from other creators, whether from the internet or dance classes

Choreography Shows must include your own original ideas!

​

Performance Length:

  • Maximum:

    • Groups: 3:00 minutes

    • Solos: 2:30 minutes

  • Minimum:

    • Groups: 2:30 minutes

    • Solos: 2:00 minutes
       

Points will be deducted for:

  • Exceeding the time limit by more than 10 seconds

  • Performances that are too short by more than 10 seconds

JUDGES
Judges

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

​

A key element of this is our five-member expert jury. When selecting this year's judges, we focus on covering a wide range of disciplines, extensive experience in Germany’s K-scene, and professional backgrounds as commercial dancers and coaches.

​

Our judges will be announced gradually during the preliminary round.

JUDGING CRITERIAS
Bewertungskriterien

The evaluation criteria vary by category. The general criteria are:

​

  • Quality of movement

  • Stage presence

  • Facial expressions

  • Stage usage & formations

  • Musicality & synchronization

  • K-Pop feeling

  • Accuracy in covering

  • Composition & creativity

  • Outfits

  • Level of difficulty

​

The weighting of this year's evaluation criteria will be adjusted in collaboration with the jury and published here soon.

LOCATION
Location

The contest will again take place this year at IGS Mühlenberg in Hannover.

The stage dimensions are 12 meters in length and 10 meters in depth.

Fotos-Umbau-Aula-Travseren-5-scaled.jpeg
Fotos-Umbau-Aula-Travseren-4--scaled.jpeg

We recommend arriving by tram from the main station (Hbf) using lines 3 or 7 to Wettbergen, and getting off at the "Mühlenberger Markt" stop. From there, it’s just a few meters straight ahead, and you will easily spot the large school complex.

There is plenty of parking in the area. Directly at the school, you can park at the lot next to the sports halls.

PRIZES & SPONSORS
Preise

We are excited to offer you amazing sponsors, generous prize money, as well as trophies and certificates as rewards and recognition this year.

​

The top 3 in each category will receive the following prizes:

​

Solo:
1st: 125€ & goodie bags
2nd: 100€ & goodie bags
3rd: goodie bags

​

Small Groups:
1st: 150€ & goodie bags
2nd: 100€ & goodie bags
3rd: goodie bags

​

Large Groups:
1st: 200€ & goodie bags
2nd: 150€ & goodie bags
3rd: goodie bags

​

ENTRY FEES
Startgebühren

As it goes in life, nothing is free. Since Konnecting Dance is a non profit team, we charge a reasonable entry fee to make such a large event possible. <3

The funds raised will be used exclusively to cover the four-digit costs of organizing such an event, which include, among other things:

​

  • Venue rental

  • GEMA fees

  • Fair payment for the jury + travel expenses

  • Professional lighting technology

  • Professional photographers and videographers

​

The entry fees are as follows:

  • Solo:

    • 20€

  • Groups (per dancer):

    • 18€

​

The fees are due once participation in the final has been confirmed!

VORRUNDE PER VIDEO

In the community, there are now many K-Pop competitions, all tailored to different dance levels. Our Konnecting "Open Stage" also offers a perfect entry point for rookies who want to try performing on stage!

​

For the KDC, however, we have decided on a video pre-selection to bring the best 10-15 acts per category to the stage!

​

This is a preliminary round! The contest has already begun!

​

We kindly ask you to treat your video with the same quality and effort as your stage performance.

We want to communicate this directly because rejecting talented dancers every year is heartbreaking for us—especially when factors like poor lighting or using an outdated video affect the evaluation.

​

Additionally, we want to compare all submissions fairly. This is only possible with your most recent performance!

​

Therefore, your video must include an uncut INTRO:

Preliminary Round Video - Intro:

​

  • Solo: Briefly state your name, where you’re from, and what you’ll be dancing to, followed by "This is my preliminary round for KDC 2025." After that, get into position, start the music, and dance. ONE TAKE.

  • Group: One member should state the group’s name, where you’re from, and what you’ll be dancing to, followed by "This is our preliminary round for KDC 2025." After that, get into position, start the music, and dance. ONE TAKE.

  • The intro does not count toward your performance time. We start counting your 30 seconds from the first move on!

​

Preliminary Round Video - Dance:

  • Cover Category: K-Pop choreography of your choice, adhering to the rules.

  • Choreography Category: Your own choreography (mixing/remixing from a cover is allowed, adhering to the rules).

  • The dancers in the video may differ from the final lineup, as long as it is discussed and confirmed beforehand and done so the quality of your performance does not suffer.

  • Your submission video does NOT need to show what you will perform in the contest.

​

Please provide the song title and the source of the original choreography in the registration form. If relevant inspirations were used in the Choreography category, please include those as well.

​

Preliminary Round Video - Guidelines:

  • Performance length: 30 seconds (+/- 5 seconds). Excessive overlength will lead to disqualification.

  • One take, no cuts.

  • HD or higher + sufficiently bright lighting.

  • Proper choice of portrait or landscape orientation (e.g. Portrait for solo = cool / for a 10-person group = not ideal)

  • Upload only on YouTube (not Shorts!) + Unlisted (not private!)

​

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Technique

  • Synchronization

  • Movement quality

  • Facial expressions

  • Formation (for groups)

  • Accuracy in covering (for cover category)

​

Additional for Choreography Show:

  • Creativity

  • Your information on the planned Choreography Show will be considered in the evaluation.

​

WHAT WE DO NOT EVALUATE:

  • Outfits

  • Video quality regarding location, sound, etc., as long as it meets the guidelines.

  • Past performances and success

  • Excuses like lack of time or injuries to seek leniency in evaluation.

  • Connections to organizers or judges.

​

The jury will evaluate the submission videos, and finalists will be determined through a point-based system.

Please do not send inquiries about the status or final results of the evaluation.

SIGN UP FORM
Anmeldeformular
Please use the sign up form on the main page
bottom of page