World of Dance is a Southern California-based dance, fashion, music, and entertainment brand founded by Matthew Everitt, David Gonzalez, Myron Marten, Michael McGinn, and Herman Flores in 2008. It is the world's largest dance entertainment enterprise, elevating artists and brands with events, entertainment and digital engagement. The brand encompasses more platforms than any other dance content provider or dance show case, including World of Dance competitions in more than 25 countries, the NBC World of Dance television show (executive produced by Jennifer Lopez), the World of Dance Live tour, a fashion line, and the largest YouTube dance network with more than 300 channels, including the World of Dance YouTube channel, with more than 4 million subscribers. Its events bring together performers from the street, urban, and hip hop dance world, connecting the dance community with a particular focus on millennial and post-millennial audiences.
In 2017, World of Dance launched World of Dance Digital Lab, a full-service, in-house production studio connecting brands to youth culture. Services include branded entertainment, influencer marketing, content strategy and production, targeted media distribution, and experiential activations.
World of Dance Competitions
The first World of Dance competition was held in 2008. Since then, the brand has expanded to competitions in more than 25 countries. Each year, World of Dance Qualifier events are held around the world (40 internationally, 15 in the U.S.), bringing together street and urban dance crews to compete for two titles: winner of the Upper Division (for 18 years and older) and winner of the Youth Division (17 years old or younger). The winners of each category are invited to compete at World of Dance Finals event, where they compete for the world title.
World of Dance competitions are notable for their scoring approach. Each competition is judged by a five-person panel, usually composed of dance celebrities, industry professionals, and influencers. Using an Olympic-style approach, competitors are judged according to five criteria: Performance, Technique, Choreography, Creativity, and Presentation. Each category is worth 20 points, for a total of 100 points. Once all judges have inputted their score, the highest and lowest scores are removed, and the final score is the average score of the remaining three. Those with a score above 85 move on to finals.
In addition to the competition, World of Dance events also include performances from industry talent (non-competing), dance crews, choreographers, and freestylers, as well as live battles, appearances by industry influences, music, live art, vendors, and more.
In 2017, the NBC premiered World of Dance, a 10-episode dance competition program produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio in association with Nuyorican Productions and World of Dance. Executive producing are Jennifer Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina, Kris Curry, Matilda Zoltowski, David Gonzalez and Matthew Everitt. The show features celebrity judges Jennifer Lopez, Derek Hough, Ne-Yo, and host/mentor Jenna Dewan-Tatum, along with 50 of the world's best dancers and dance teams competing for a $1 million prize—the largest prize of any dance competition show.
As Lopez told the New York Times, “My whole goal with this show was to create an opportunity and a venue for dancers to actually be the stars,” Ms. Lopez said, and to get to do something they rarely have a chance to do: “really make some money.”
World of Dance contestants were picked from qualifying events around the nation and online submissions. Contestants are divided into three divisions:
Junior: Any size act, 17 years old and under
Upper: Groups of 1–4, 18 and older
Team: Groups of 5+, 18 and older
In each episode, dancers compete before the judges and are scored according to World of Dance scoring criteria: Performance, Technique, Choreography, Creativity, and Presentation. Each category is worth 20 points, for a total of 100 points. The show consists of five rounds:
The Qualifiers: In each round of the Qualifiers, the dance acts perform a 2-minute routine in front of the judges and a live audience. They are judged according to criteria, and only those who receive a combined total score of 80 or higher move forward.
The Duels: Acts are paired against each other, and the highest scoring act moves on to the next round. In each round of The Duels, two acts in the same division compete for a spot in the next round. In each division, the acts with the top qualifying scores choose their opponents, then both acts perform back-to-back, receiving feedback from the judges. After each performance, the judges score them. Unlike the Qualifiers, only the final combined total score for each act is shown. The act with the highest score at the end of the duel moves on to the next round; the other faces immediate elimination.
The Cut: In The Cut, the 15 remaining acts compete for three[1] spots in each of their divisions.
Divisional Finals: Two acts in each division compete against each other, winners in each division move on to the next round.
World Finals: In the World Final, the final 3 acts, one from each division, compete to win the one million dollar prize.
The show premiered May 30, 2016 at 10/9 central on NBC, debuting to 9.8 million viewers. It was renewed for a second season in June 2017.
Season 1 Performers
Junior Division: 801 Squad, Alaman, Boys of Temecula, D'Angelo and Amanda, Diana Pombo, Eva Igo, ImmaBEAST, JJ & Joey, Kaeli and Brandon, KynTay, Mini ReQuest, The Lab, The Maya Boys, The Mihacevich Sisters, The POSSE.
Upper Division: Al Taw'am, DNA, Femme Fatale, Fik-Shun, Keone & Mari, Desi Hoppers, Kyle Van Newkirk, Les Twins, Luka & Jenalyn, Nick Daniels, Pasión, Quick Style, Slavek and Juliet, The Nitty Grittyz Trent Jeray, Vibration.
Team: Chapkis Dance Family, FUZE, Ian Eastwood and the Young Lions, Jabbawockeez. Kinjaz, Miami All Stars, NXT LVL, P.L.A.Y., ProdiJIG, Rhythmatic, Rouge, Royal Flux, Stroll Groove, Super Cr3w, Swing Latino, The Kingdom.
Judges
The judging lineup of Lopez, Hough, and Ne-Yo was announced in November 2016. The judges were selected both for their dance experience, as well as their passion for spotlighting dancers.
Meredith Ahr, President of Universal Television Alternative Studio, called them ““three of the most accomplished dancers of their generation.” Lopez told Entertainment Weekly, “We all love dance, we all are performers, and we all are competitive, which you have to be in this business. We come from different backgrounds, so we bring those sensibilities.”
Critical reception
Marketed as “the biggest dance competition in the world,” the show garnered national attention, particularly for its wide style of performances and popular performers. Les Twins (Beyoncé's former backup dancers) made headlines in USA Today, which wrote, "Although the audience was cheering along to Les Twins’ fierce moves the entire performance, their routine's intense ending made judge Jennifer Lopez jump out of her seat in shock."[20]
Similarly, young contemporary dancer Diana Pombo’s first performance made Lopez tear up, while others like Luka & Jenalyn, Fik-Shun, and Nick Daniels also wowed the crowd.
As USA Today wrote, “What the show also has going for it is the sense of inclusion that you don’t always find on reality TV. The show celebrates the people and cultures represented on its stage, from an Asian-American dance team that takes its inspiration from martial arts to a young Colombian-American girl from Miami who pauses to tell “Miss JLo” that she's her idol. She cried, Lopez cried, and you'll probably cry, too.”
Events
May 14, 2022, World of Dance New Jersey, iPLAY AMERICA
August 16, 2015, World of Dance Finals, Los Angeles Convention Center[2]
August 15, 2015, World of Dance Los Angeles, Los Angeles Convention Center[2]
July 13, 2015, World of Dance Vancouver, Croatian Cultural Centre[2]
May 30, 2015, World of Dance Orlando, Osceola Performing Arts Center and Expo[2]
May 23, 2015, World of Dance New Jersey, iPLAY AMERICA[2]
May 18, 2015, World of Dance Philippine Qualifier, UP Theater[2]
April 12, 2015, World of Dance Belgium Qualifier, Venue to be determined[2]
April 11, 2015, World of Dance Dallas, South Side Ballroom[2]
April 5, 2015 World of Dance France Qualifier, La Salle Du Summum de Grenoble[2]
March 21, 2015, World of Dance Anaheim, The Grove[2]
February 10, 2015, World of Dance Industry Awards, Avalon Hollywood[2]
January 25, 2015, World of Dance Montreal, Rialto Theatre Montreal[2]
December 20, 2014, World of Dance Las Vegas, Cashman Center[2]
December 14, 2014, World of Dance Hawaii, Blaisdell Concert Hall[2]
November 22, 2014, World of Dance Chicago, Copernicus Theater[2]
November 22, 2014: World of Dance Germany, Huxleys Neue Welt[2]
November 15, 2014: World of Dance Seattle, Highline Performing Arts Center[2]
November 2, 2014: World of Dance Boston, Back Bay Event Center[2]
October 19, 2014: World of Dance Netherlands, Dommelstraat 2[2]
October 18, 2014: World of Dance San Diego, California Center for the Arts[2]
October 4, 2014: World of Dance Toronto, Queen Elizabeth Theatre[2]
September 28, 2014: World of Dance London, Coronet London[2]
August 30, 2014: World of Dance Live, Universal Citywalk[2]
Decade of Dance Award – Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (Nappytabs) were recognized for their achievement and dedication to the hip-hop dance community.[13]
Best Junior Team Award – Chi-Town's Finest Breakers were honored as the Best Junior Team of the year.[14]
Teen Choreographer of the year – 16-year-old Chachi Gonzales was named Teen Choreographer of the Year.[15]
Team of the Year - Mos Wanted Crew was nominated for Team of the Year.[16]
