CATEGORIES
Asian Connexion
The awesome cross-cultural category is included in every Dancer Pass, so why not give it a go! In Asian Connexion no one knows who their partner will be until approximately 2 weeks before the competition when partners are drawn in a live online partner draw*. In true Lucky Dip style, your partner may be a complete stranger, they may not! All you do know is that you will be dancing with a dancer from a different region. It’s a chance to connect and get to know each other. Forget when in Rome, this is when in Asia!
*Please note that this category is limited by the amount of leads or follows entering from a given region. We thank you in advance for your understanding, if there are not enough partners to match you up with. If that is the case, your name will be placed on a waiting list. Competitors are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.
Level: Open to All
Dance with a Stranger (DWAS)
With this category we aim to discover the best overall individual dancers in each level. You are judged individually here so push your boundaries and excel. In this category, nobody knows who their partner will be and partners are also changed during the heat! This is a true test of your skills as a dancer.
Levels: (1) NEWCOMER - (2) INTERMEDIATE - (3) ADVANCED - (4) CHAMPION
Not sure which level you qualify for? Click here to find out.
Freestyle
Ceroc Champs spirit at its finest. Whether you have been dancing a few months or a few years, join this category with your fixed partner to compete, gain experience and possibly even win! Be prepared to wow the judges and the audience with breath-taking moves, effortless style and expert timing.
Levels: (1) NEWCOMER - (2) INTERMEDIATE - (3) ADVANCED - (4) CHAMPION
Not sure which level you qualify for? Click here to find out.
RocVets
In this category, age and experience do matter, as we celebrate the dance 'veterans' as they Ceroc their stuff!
Level: Open to All
Music Mashup
Inspired by Fevah's Christchurch Champs in New Zealand, this category tests you and your dance partner’s skills to adapt to whatever our Champs' DJ throws at you. With 4 x 30 seconds of contrasting songs for you and your partner’s dancing delight, expect to be challenged! From slow to fast, silky to quirky, in-the-box to out-rageous, can you handle changing the flavour and style of your dance interpretations on the go?
Level: Open to All
PROPerly Done
NEW for 2026! Can you dance ‘properly’? Your challenge here is to Ceroc with a prop. Think hat, flower, hula hoop, cuddly toy, sunglasses, umbrella, ribbon or whatever tickles your fancy... This playful category is limited only by your imagination and sense of FUN! The emphasis is on showcasing your prop and your dance skills while entertaining the crowd.
Level: Open to All
Triple Trouble (aka 'Double Trouble' in Europe & Asia or 'Triples' in Oceania)
In this category, one lead dances with two follows and the trio must express their best freestyle moves to the music.
Level: Open to All
World Dance Off
Northern hemisphere vs Southern hemisphere...a world dance off, if you will! This is a team cabaret event. Both teams dance to the same piece of music, as agreed by the Team Leaders. On the night the audience votes for their favourite team.
Level: Open to All
Showcase
It’s showtime! Let your creativity shine with an original, choreographed routine to the music of your choice. To enter, you must submit a good quality video of your full showcase before 25th April 2026 to dance@cerocasia.com. No late entries will be accepted. Three finalists will be selected from the video submissions to compete on Saturday evening in a straight finals where 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded by CPAC judges on the night.
Level: Open to All
The awesome cross-cultural category is included in every Dancer Pass, so why not give it a go! In Asian Connexion no one knows who their partner will be until approximately 2 weeks before the competition when partners are drawn in a live online partner draw*. In true Lucky Dip style, your partner may be a complete stranger, they may not! All you do know is that you will be dancing with a dancer from a different region. It’s a chance to connect and get to know each other. Forget when in Rome, this is when in Asia!
*Please note that this category is limited by the amount of leads or follows entering from a given region. We thank you in advance for your understanding, if there are not enough partners to match you up with. If that is the case, your name will be placed on a waiting list. Competitors are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.
Level: Open to All
- Participants in this category are judged as a couple.
- Competition entries are comprised of one lead and one follow.
- Your dance partner will come from another region to you, either Asia, Europe or Oceania.
- Leads/follows can be of any gender, however, roles cannot be switched during the competition
- Leans, Dips & Drops are permitted.
- Baby Aerials are permitted, but not Aerials.
- All moves are performed at the competitors’ own risk.
Dance with a Stranger (DWAS)
With this category we aim to discover the best overall individual dancers in each level. You are judged individually here so push your boundaries and excel. In this category, nobody knows who their partner will be and partners are also changed during the heat! This is a true test of your skills as a dancer.
Levels: (1) NEWCOMER - (2) INTERMEDIATE - (3) ADVANCED - (4) CHAMPION
Not sure which level you qualify for? Click here to find out.
- Participants in this category are judged individually.
- Dancers will be paired up at the start of the category and partners will be changed during the competition.
- Leads/follows can be of any gender, however, roles cannot be switched during the competition.
- Leans, Dips & Drops are permitted.
- Baby Aerials are permitted except for Newcomer level.
- Aerials are not permitted for all levels.
- All moves are performed at the competitors’ own risk.
Freestyle
Ceroc Champs spirit at its finest. Whether you have been dancing a few months or a few years, join this category with your fixed partner to compete, gain experience and possibly even win! Be prepared to wow the judges and the audience with breath-taking moves, effortless style and expert timing.
Levels: (1) NEWCOMER - (2) INTERMEDIATE - (3) ADVANCED - (4) CHAMPION
Not sure which level you qualify for? Click here to find out.
- Participants in this category are judged as a couple.
- If you would like to dance with a partner of a higher level, you will both be entered into the higher level.
- Leads/follows can be of any gender, however, roles cannot be switched during the competition.
- Leans, Dips & Drops are permitted.
- Baby Aerials are permitted for all levels, but Aerials are permitted only at Champions level.
- All moves are performed at the competitors’ own risk.
- Excessive amounts of choreography in freestyle events will be penalised.
RocVets
In this category, age and experience do matter, as we celebrate the dance 'veterans' as they Ceroc their stuff!
Level: Open to All
- Both dancers must be aged 50 years old or over.
- Participants in this category are judged as a couple.
- Leads/follows can be of any gender, however roles cannot be switched during the competition.
- Baby Aerials are permitted, but not Aerials.
- Leans, Dips & Drops are permitted.
- All moves are performed at the competitors’ own risk.
Music Mashup
Inspired by Fevah's Christchurch Champs in New Zealand, this category tests you and your dance partner’s skills to adapt to whatever our Champs' DJ throws at you. With 4 x 30 seconds of contrasting songs for you and your partner’s dancing delight, expect to be challenged! From slow to fast, silky to quirky, in-the-box to out-rageous, can you handle changing the flavour and style of your dance interpretations on the go?
Level: Open to All
- Participants in this category are judged as a couple.
- Leads/follows can be of any gender, however, roles cannot be switched during the competition.
- Leans, Dips, Drops and Aerials are permitted.
- All moves are performed at the competitors’ own risk.
PROPerly Done
NEW for 2026! Can you dance ‘properly’? Your challenge here is to Ceroc with a prop. Think hat, flower, hula hoop, cuddly toy, sunglasses, umbrella, ribbon or whatever tickles your fancy... This playful category is limited only by your imagination and sense of FUN! The emphasis is on showcasing your prop and your dance skills while entertaining the crowd.
Level: Open to All
- Participants in this category are judged as a couple.
- Each couple is expected to bring their own PG-rated prop(s).
- Leads/follows can be of any gender, and roles can be switched during the competition.
- Leans, Dips & Drops are permitted.
- Baby Aerials are permitted, but not Aerials.
- All moves are performed at the competitors’ own risk.
Triple Trouble (aka 'Double Trouble' in Europe & Asia or 'Triples' in Oceania)
In this category, one lead dances with two follows and the trio must express their best freestyle moves to the music.
Level: Open to All
- Participants in this category are judged as a trio.
- Each trio must comprise of ONE lead and TWO follows.
- Leads/follows can be of any gender, and roles can be switched during the competition.
- Leans, Dips, Drops and Aerials are permitted.
- All moves are performed at the competitors’ own risk.
World Dance Off
Northern hemisphere vs Southern hemisphere...a world dance off, if you will! This is a team cabaret event. Both teams dance to the same piece of music, as agreed by the Team Leaders. On the night the audience votes for their favourite team.
Level: Open to All
- Team leaders finalise up to 20 dancers per hemisphere prior to CPAC. The deadline to sign up for the World Dance Off is 28th Feb 2026.
- If you live north of the equator you must compete in the Northern hemisphere team, if you live south of the equator you must compete in the Southern Hemisphere team.
- Northern/Southern team leaders will choose a piece of competition music together, otherwise CPAC organisers will choose.
- Team leaders will send out choreography by video to be learned in advance.
- Team rehearsals will take place during the day on the Thursday and Friday at CPAC. A tech run will be arranged in the Ballroom on Saturday evening before competing.
- The World Dance Off competition takes place on Saturday evening with the Northern versus Southern Hemisphere teams performing to the SAME song. Who will win? It's the audience you have to impress - as they are the ones voting!
- Leans, Dips, Drops and Aerials are permitted. All moves are performed at the competitors’ own risk.
Showcase
It’s showtime! Let your creativity shine with an original, choreographed routine to the music of your choice. To enter, you must submit a good quality video of your full showcase before 25th April 2026 to dance@cerocasia.com. No late entries will be accepted. Three finalists will be selected from the video submissions to compete on Saturday evening in a straight finals where 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded by CPAC judges on the night.
Level: Open to All
- You will be notified by 4th May 2026 if you have reached the live finals or not. No further feedback will be given on your video submission and the judges' decision is final.
- A minimum of three showcases is required for this category. If only two showcases are entered for this category the organisers may, at their discretion, permit the competition to take place but will revise the prize structure as they deem appropriate.
- Partnerships, Triple Trouble or Tag showcases are permitted. Partnerships must comprise of one lead and one follow. Triple Trouble (AKA Double Trouble/Triples) must comprise of one lead and two follows. Tag (AKA Swaps & Steals) must comprise of two leads and one follow.
- Leads/follows can be of any gender.
- Each showcase routine is to last a minimum of 2.5 minutes and a maximum of 4 minutes. Your time starts from the first movement or sound of your routine. Exceeding the maximum time allowed of 4 minutes may result in you losing marks. If your showcase requires any time to set your scene, you will be permitted a maximum of 1 minute prior to the start of your routine and 1 minute to clear away after its completion. This is the competitors' sole responsibility.
- A tech run will be arranged in the Ballroom on Saturday evening before competing.
- Leans, Dips, Drops and Aerials are permitted. All moves are performed at the competitors’ own risk.
