Rules of the Helsinki International Ballet Competition
2026
Vision
The Helsinki International Ballet Competition, hereinafter referred to as HIBC (Helsinki International Ballet Competition), is an international forum for young dancers of ballet to be seen, network and gain international performance experience. Through its activities, HIBC wants to promote a pluralistic understanding of dance as an art and profession that includes good self-esteem, a healthy lifestyle, artistic creativity and a desire to develop.
I General
The 10th Helsinki International Ballet Competition shall be organised by the Helsinki International Ballet Competition Association on 27.5.-5.6.2026 in cooperation with the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.
II Competition categories
Juniors, aged 15‒18 years when the Competition begins on 27.5.2026
Young professionals, aged 19-21 years when the Competition begins on 27.5.2026
Seniors, aged 22‒25 years when the Competition begins on 27.5.2026
Competitors are judged individually in all age groups.
When registering for the competition, the dancer undertakes to comply with the competition rules, performance regulations and the jury’s decisions. Registration for the competition also means an assurance that the dancer has no other professional obligations during the competition.
III Registration and pre-selection
Competitors shall apply for the competition using the registration form on the website (www.ibchelsinki.fi) 1.11.2025- 31.1.2026. Registrations that are late or incomplete shall not be considered.
The registration form, its appendices and the notifications mentioned below in the rules must be received by the stated deadlines. Those who have applied for the competition will receive an email confirming receipt of their registration. The regulations concerning video and music recordings can be found in the registration form.
A Selection Committee appointed by the organiser shall adjudicate the pre-selection based on the registration documents and video recordings submitted. Competitors shall be notified of whether they have been accepted for the Competition by 15.2.2026.
The application fee for the competition is 200 euros, which is non-refundable.
Changes to the program notified by the competitor may be accepted in cases of force majeure.
IV Accommodation and travel of competitors
Competitors and their partners shall be provided with free hotel accommodation in shared twin rooms for the duration of the competition 26.5‒6.6.2026. Competitors shall be liable for the arranging and cost of their travel to and from Helsinki. Competitors who require a visa in order to enter Finland shall themselves be responsible for obtaining such a visa.
V Competition order
The competition order will be drawn in advance among those accepted in the pre-selection. The contestant will find out the order at the opening ceremony of the competition on 27.5.2026, where the competitor attends in person. The competition order shall remain the same throughout the competition. For couples, the smaller number drawn shall determine their performing slot.
VI Competition timetable
The competition has three rounds and a gala, which are all public events.
First round 28.5.‒30.5.2026, Almi Hall
Approximately 60-80 participants will be accepted for the First round.
Second round 1.‒2.6.2026, Almi Hall
Approximately 40 participants will be accepted for the Second round
Final Round 3.‒4.6.2026, Main Stage
About 20 participants will be accepted to the Final round.
Prize Ceremony and Gala 5.6.2026, Main Stage
VII Competition repertoire
The competition repertoire shall consist of the classical ballet repertoire listed below and of contemporary dance works. The choreography of contemporary dance works must include elements that are clearly different from classical ballet technique.
Competitors may not perform the same selection from a classical ballet work or contemporary dance work again in a later round.
Classical ballet repertoire:
The Awakening of Flora
La Bayadère
The Cavalry Halt
Coppélia
Le Corsaire
Don Quixote
Esmeralda
La Fille mal gardée
The Flower Festival in Genzano
Giselle
Napoli
Grand Pas Classique
Harlequinade
The Nutcracker
Paquita
Raymonda
Satanella
The Sleeping Beauty
Swan Lake
La Sylphide
Talisman
The Flames of Paris
First round
Competitors shall perform two (2) variations chosen from the classical ballet repertoire given.
Second round
Competitors can perform either alone or as a couple. The contestant will perform a solo and couples a duet from a contemporary dance work choreographed after 2020. The length of the performance must be 2.5–4 minutes. if competitors are competing as a couple, they can be from the same or different age group, and the partner does not have to be a competitor. There is no age limit for a non-competing partner.
Final round
Competitors shall perform selections from the classical ballet repertoire from the 19th or 20th century: two (2) variations if competing as a soloist and one pas de deux if competing as a couple. The length of this performance shall be no more than 13 minutes. Competitors shall also perform, on the same evening, a contemporary dance work created after 2020: a solo if competing as a soloist and a duet if competing as a couple. The length of this performance shall be 2.5 to 4 minutes.
Contestants performing as a couple can be from the same or different age group, and the partner does not have to be a competitor. There is no age limit for a non-competing partner.
VIII Rules concerning musical recordings of competition performances
Music recordings of all competition numbers presented in the competition must be delivered as music files to the organiser by 31.3.2026 at the latest.
The music recording must meet the quality criteria specified in the registration form. A contestant may be denied entry on the basis of a low-quality music recording.
IX International Jury
The Competition Organiser shall appoint the International Jury for the Competition. The International Jury shall be chaired by the Artistic Director of the Finnish National Ballet and shall include Finnish and foreign members.
An international jury shall adjudicate each competitor on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is the highest score. The competition evaluates the dancer’s technical and expressive skills as well as musicality.
No adjudicator may award points to any competitor who is their family member or with whom they otherwise have a close relationship or whom they have coached for this Competition or who is a student or an employee at a dance institution managed by the adjudicator.
X Prizes
Prizes shall be awarded in the Competition as follows:
Main Prize
Jane Erkko Grand Prix 20,000€
Other prizes
The first prize in each category is named after the founder of the competition, Finnish ballet dancer prima ballerina Doris Laine
Juniors
1st prize Doris Laine Prize 5.000 €
2nd prize 4.000 €
3rd prize 3.000 €
Young Professionals
1st prize Doris Laine Prize 9.000 €
2nd prize 7.000 €
3rd prize 5.000 €
Seniors
1st prize Doris Laine Prize 10.000 €
2nd prize 8.000 €
3rd prize 6.000 €
Choreography Prize
1st prize 7.000 €
2nd prize 4.000 €
3rd prize 2.000 €
If the choreographer of a contemporary dance work performed by a competitor wishes to participate in the choreography competition, this must be entered on the registration form. The choreography competition will take place in the second round and only the contemporary dance works performed in the semi-finals will be evaluated for the choreography prize.
The jury may decide to divide prizes among several winners and is not obliged to award all prizes. The jury may also award other prizes or scholarships approved by the organiser
XI Prize Ceremony and Gala
The prizes shall be announced at the Gala performance. All finalists and couples commit to perform without compensation at the gala. The organiser and jury select the performances to be presented at the Gala from the competitors’ repertoire.
XII Consents and rights
Competitors and their partners shall declare on the registration form that they consent to disclosing their relevant personal details to the Competition Organiser (GDPR).
Any and all still images, photographs and visual or audiovisual or any other recordings in whichever technical format that are made of Competition events and performances shall be the property of the Competition Organiser and may not be distributed or copied without the written consent of the Competition Organiser.
Competitors and their partners shall give their consent on the registration form for the Competition Organiser to have the unlimited right to make still images, photographs, video recordings and TV broadcasts of Competition events and performances and to stream and record same, to prepare visual or audiovisual recordings of the Competition performances, and to post and share images of and extracts from Competition performances on a website, in social media and in other information networks for an unlimited period of time without paying compensation for such posting, sharing or broadcasting to the competitors and their partners or to the choreographers of said performances.
The Competition Organiser shall have the exclusive right to agree on TV broadcasts of Competition events and performances.
Competitors shall affirm on the registration form that they have the right to perform the choreographies and to use the music that they have selected for their Competition performances and that the Competition
Organiser shall have the unlimited right to make still images, video recordings and TV broadcasts of Competition performances, to prepare recordings of Competition performances, and to post and share images of and extracts from Competition performances on the website of the Competition Organiser or a partner thereof, in social media and in other information networks for an unlimited period of time without paying compensation to choreographers or to the composers or performers of the music, and shall further affirm that they shall waive any subsequent demands for such compensation.
Competitors shall not be given a recording of their performance after the Competition.
XIII Other rules concerning competitors
If a competitor who is also the partner of another competitor is eliminated in the course of the Competition, the eliminated competitor shall commit to continue to perform as a partner in further Rounds, and at the Prize Ceremony and Gala if so required.
Competitors and their partners shall themselves be responsible for their costumes and makeup for their performances.
Competitors and their partners shall themselves be responsible for their insurance coverage for the duration of the Competition.
The Helsinki International Ballet Competition strongly condemns Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The competition organisation expects all registered competitors to share this view with us.
XIV Safe space principles
It is vital that the Helsinki International Ballet Competition be an open and transparent event where everyone can be themselves and respect others.
We talk to others with respect and honesty. We create a positive and encouraging atmosphere together. We actively avoid making any assumptions about anyone else’s life situation, identity, background, abilities or gender in our words or actions. Everyone’s experiences and identity are for themselves to define.
We shall not tolerate any kind of discrimination or harassment.
XV Interpretation of the Rules
The original language of these Rules is Finnish. Any disputes arising from these Rules shall be resolved on the basis of the Finnish-language version. Force majeure eventualities shall be resolved by the Competition Organiser.
These Rules were approved by the Board of the Helsinki International Ballet Competition Association on 13.12.2024.
Changes possible.