The categories in Dance Grand Prix Sofia 2026 are as follows:
BABY – 6 AND UNDER
| CLASS CODE | Recreational/Vocational | CLASS TITLE | NUMBER OF DANCERS | MAX TIME |
| BabySB | R | Baby Solo Ballet - any style | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| BabySN | R | Baby Solo National / Folklore / Character Dance | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| BabySL | R | Baby Solo Lyrical and Contemporary | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| BabySW | R | Baby Solo Jazz and Show Dance | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| BabySSD | R | Baby Solo Song and Dance / Musical | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| BabyDB | R | Baby Duet/Trio Ballet – any style | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| BabyDN | R | Baby Duet/Trio National / Folklore / Character Dance | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| BabyDL | R | Baby Duet/Trio Lyrical and Contemporary | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| BabyDW | R | Baby Duet/Trio Jazz and Show Dance | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| BabyDSD | R | Baby Duet/Trio Song and Dance / Musical | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| BabyQB | R | Baby Quartet Ballet – any style | 4 | 2 min 40 sec |
| BabyGSB | R | Baby Small Group Ballet – any style | 5-10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| BabyGSN | R | Baby Small Group National / Folklore / Character Dance | 4 - 10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| BabyGSL | R | Baby Small Group Lyrical and Contemporary | 4 - 10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| BabyGSW | R | Baby Small Group Jazz and Show Dance | 4 - 10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| BabyGSD | R | Baby Group Song and Dance / Musical | 4+ | 2 min 40 sec |
| BabyFLB | R | Baby Large Formation Ballet – any style | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| BabyFLN | R | Baby Large Formation National / Folklore / Character Dance | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| BabyFLL | R | Baby Large Formation Lyrical and Contemporary | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| BabyFLW | R | Baby Large Formation Jazz and Show Dance | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
MINI – BETWEEN 6 AND 9 YEARS
| CLASS CODE | Recreational/Vocational | CLASS TITLE | NUMBER OF DANCERS | MAX TIME |
| MiniSB | R/V | Mini Solo Ballet - Not Repertoire | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniSBm | R/V | Mini Solo Ballet - Not Repertoire (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniSBR | R/V | Mini Solo Ballet Repertoire | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniSBRm | R/V | Mini Solo Ballet Repertoire (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniSN | R/V | Mini Solo National / Folklore / Character Dance | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniSL | R/V | Mini Solo Lyrical and Contemporary | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniSLm | R/V | Mini Solo Lyrical and Contemporary (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniSW | R/V | Mini Solo Jazz and Show Dance | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MinSWm | R/V | Mini Solo Jazz and Show Dance (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniSSD | R/V | Mini Solo Song and Dance / Musical | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniDB | R/V | Mini Duet/Trio Ballet any style | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniDN | R/V | Mini Duet/Trio National / Folklore / Character Dance | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniDL | R/V | Mini Duet/Trio Lyrical and Contemporary | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniDW | R/V | Mini Duet/Trio Jazz and Show Dance | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniDSD | R/V | Mini Duet/Trio Song and Dance / Musical | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| MiniQB | R/V | Mini Quartet Ballet any style | 4 | 2 min 40 sec |
| MiniGSB | R/V | Mini Small Group Ballet any style | 5-10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| MiniGSN | R/V | Mini Small Group National / Folklore / Character Dance | 4 - 10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| MiniGSL | R/V | Mini Small Group Lyrical and Contemporary | 4 - 10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| MiniGSW | R/V | Mini Small Group Jazz and Show Dance | 4 - 10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| MiniGSD | R/V | Mini Group Song and Dance / Musical | 4+ | 2 min 40 sec |
| MiniFLB | R/V | Mini Large Formation Ballet any style | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| MiniFLN | R/V | Mini Large Formation National / Folklore / Character Dance | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| MiniFLL | R/V | Mini Large Formation Lyrical and Contemporary | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| MiniFLW | R/V | Mini Large Formation Jazz and Show Dance | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
CHILDREN – 13 YEARS AND UNDER
| CLASS CODE | Recreational/Vocational | CLASS TITLE | NUMBER OF DANCERS | MAX TIME |
| KSB | R/V | Children Solo Ballet – Not Repertoire (age 10 – 12 years) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSBm | R/V | Children Solo Ballet (Boys) – Not Repertoire | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSBR | R/V | Children Solo Ballet Repertoire (age 10 – 12 years) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSBRm | R/V | Children Solo Ballet Repertoire (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSPB | R/V | Children Solo Ballet - Not Repertoire with pointe shoes optional ( age 12 – 13 years only) | 1 | 2 min 40 sec |
| KSPBR | R/V | Children Solo Ballet Repertoire with pointe shoes(age 12 – 13 only) | 1 | 2 min 40 sec |
| KSN | R/V | Children Solo National / Folklore / Character Dance | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSL | R/V | Children Solo Lyrical | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSLm | R/V | Children Solo Lyrical (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSW | R/V | Children Solo Show Dance | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSWm | R/V | Children Solo Show Dance (boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSSD | R/V | Children Solo Song and Dance / Musical | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSZ | R/V | Children Solo Jazz | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSZm | R/V | Children Solo Jazz (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSE | R/V | Children Solo Contemporary | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KSEm | R/V | Children Solo Contemporary (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KDB | R/V | Children Duet/Trio Ballet – any style | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KDN | R/V | Children Duet/Trio National / Folklore / Character Dance | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KDL | R/V | Children Duet/Trio Lyrical and Contemporary | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KDW | R/V | Children Duet/Trio Jazz and Show Dance | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KDSD | R/V | Children Duet/Trio Song and Dance / Musical | 2 or 3 | 2 min 10 sec |
| KQB | R/V | Children Quartet Ballet any style | 4 | 2 min 40 sec |
| KGSB | R/V | Children Small Group Ballet any style | 5 - 10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| KGSN | R/V | Children Small Group National / Folklore / Character Dance | 4-10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| KGSL | R/V | Children Small Group Lyrical | 4-10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| KGSE | R/V | Children Small Group Contemporary | 4 -10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| KGSW | R/V | Children Small Group Jazz and Show Dance | 4 -10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| KGSD | R/V | Children Group Song and Dance / Musical | 4-10 | 2 min 40 sec |
| KFLB | R/V | Children Large Formation Ballet any style | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| KFLN | R/V | Children Large Formation National / Folklore / Character Dance | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| KFLL | R/V | Children Large Formation Lyrical | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| KFLW | R/V | Children Large Formation Show Dance | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| KFLZ | R/V | Children Large Formation Jazz | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| KFLE | R/V | Children Large Formation Contemporary | 11+ | 3 min 10 sec |
JUNIOR – 18 YEARS AND UNDER
| CLASS CODE | Recreational/Vocational | CLASS TITLE | NUMBER OF DANCERS | MAX TIME |
| JSB | R/V | Junior Solo Ballet - Not Repertoire | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSBm | R/V | Junior Solo Ballet (Boys) - Not Repertoire | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSBR | R/V | Junior Solo Ballet Repertoire | 1 | 2 min 40 sec |
| JSBRm | R/V | Junior Solo Ballet Repertoire (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 40 sec |
| JSN | R/V | Junior Solo National / Folklore / Character Dance | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSL | R/V | Junior Solo Lyrical | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSLm | R/V | Junior Solo Lyrical (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSW | R/V | Junior Solo Show Dance | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSWm | R/V | Junior Solo Show Dance (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSZ | R/V | Junior Solo Jazz | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSZm | R/V | Junior Solo Jazz (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSSD | R/V | Junior Solo Song and Dance / Musical | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSE | R/V | Junior Solo Contemporary | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JSEm | R/V | Junior Solo Contemporary (Boys) | 1 | 2 min 10 sec |
| JDB | R/V | Junior Duet/Trio Ballet - any style | 2 or 3 | 2 min 40 sec |
| JDN | R/V | Junior Duet/Trio National / Folklore / Character Dance | 2 or 3 | 2 min 40 sec |
| JDL | R/V | Junior Duet/Trio Lyrical and Contemporary | 2 or 3 | 2 min 40 sec |
| JDW | R/V | Junior Duet/Trio Jazz and Show Dance | 2 or 3 | 2 min 40 sec |
| JDSD | R/V | Junior Duet/Trio Song and Dance / Musical | 2 or 3 | 2 min 40 sec |
| JQB | R/V | Junior Quartet Ballet any style | 4 | 3 min 10 sec |
| JGSB | R/V | Junior Small Group Ballet any style | 5 - 10 | 3 min 10 sec |
| JGSN | R/V | Junior Small Group National / Folklore / Character Dance | 4 - 10 | 3 min 10 sec |
| JGSL | R/V | Junior Small Group Lyrical | 4 -10 | 3 min 10 sec |
| JGSE | R/V | Junior Small Group Contemporary | 4 - 10 | 3 min 10 sec |
| JGSW | R/V | Junior Small Group Show Dance | 4 - 10 | 3 min 10 sec |
| JGSZ | R/V | Junior Small Group Jazz | 4 - 10 | 3 min 10 sec |
| JGSD | R/V | Junior Group Song and Dance / Musical | 4+ | 3 min 10 sec |
| JFLB | R/V | Junior Large Formation Ballet any style | 11+ | 3 min 40 sec |
| JFLN | R/V | Junior Large Formation National / Folklore / Character Dance | 11+ | 3 min 40 sec |
| JFLL | R/V | Junior Large Formation Lyrical | 11+ | 3 min 40 sec |
| JFLW | R/V | Junior Large Formation Show Dance | 11+ | 3 min 40 sec |
| JFLZ | R/V | Junior Large Formation Jazz | 11+ | 3 min 40 sec |
| JFLE | R/V | Junior Large Formation Contemporary | 11+ | 3 min 40 sec |
NOTE:
All age categories have Recreational and Vocational divisions, except for Baby.
Recreational Division (R):
For dancers who practice less than 4 hours per week AND who train in private schools or studios not certified by a local government or international body.
All entries in the Baby age group are considered Recreational.
Vocational Division (V):
For dancers who practice more than 4 hours per week, OR who study in a professional dance school recognized by a local government or international body.
DGPS Authority
DGPS reserves the right to change the division (Recreational or Vocational) of any dancer or group, including during the contest, if necessary.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Repertoire Ballet
Any piece coming from recognized Ballet Repertoire.
In the Mini repertoire solos, the teachers are allowed to slightly simplify the variations to fit the technical level of the children.
In the Mini category we strongly advise the teachers to choose age appropriate variations.
It is strictly prohibited to use any kind of protected original choreography, unless the dance teacher sends DGPS the written permission from the designated organisation. This includes all Balanchine, Lacotte and Mat’s Ek works, as well as any other choreographer which requires formal permission to be danced in a competition environment.
Ballet – any style (excluding repertoire)
Any method of ballet, which uses an academic ballet technique. A Neoclassical ballet style may be employed in this category. This uses traditional ballet technique, but in a less rigid way. For example:
- different or innovative use of port de bras;
- a strong use of off-balance movements or positions;
- or a mixture with more modern movements in the upper body, whilst still using a very strong classical use of the leg lines.
National / Folklore / Character Dance
The dance will show the typical style of dance from a certain country/countries.
The music used in the performance must be relevant to that country. The music must be national/folklore music that shows the typical sound of music in that country.
Due to the variety of countries represented in the national classes, no marks are awarded for authenticity of the dance.
Bollywood – should be entered into the Show Dance category.
Lyrical
Lyrical combines ballet technique with expressive, fluid movement. The choreography should emphasize emotion, musicality, and storytelling. Acrobatics must be minimal and used only when they enhance the choreography.
Show Dance
Show Dance emphasizes theatricality, storytelling, and character. Props may be used if safe and manageable. Acrobatics must be minimal.
(Bollywood Dance would fit into this category).
Jazz Dance
Jazz features dynamic movement, isolations, syncopation, and strong musical interpretation. Styles such as Broadway or commercial jazz are permitted. Acrobatics must be minimal.
Contemporary
Contemporary incorporates modern dance principles, grounded movement, and expressive freedom. Choreography may blend elements of ballet, jazz, or modern, but must remain stylistically coherent. Acrobatics must be minimal.
Please Note: Contemporary Dance is not to be confused with Lyrical Dance. The elements required for the Contemporary dance class, must be visible within the creative dance and the technique of the dancer performing.
Song and Dance / Musical
Musical theater dance is the type of dancing, usually ballet, jazz, hip-hop, or tap, used in choreographed sequences for musical theater. It is characterized by its representational nature, its integration of song, dance and dialogue to tell a story, and an energy unique to the form. The performer of Song and Dance should have a high level of understanding of the physicality and techniques of the dance and how they are used with artistic interpretation and good vocal techniques to present an emotional story. Performers should demonstrate good control of their body and voice while they are performing.