About IODC
The International Open Dance Championship (IODC) 2026 is a multi-genre dance competition, bringing together dancers across Jazz, Contemporary, Breaking, Hip Hop, Traditional, and Tap. Designed as a professional and inclusive platform, IODC aims to elevate performance standards and expand Malaysia’s dance ecosystem towards dancesport.
PAJSK Recognition (Students)
Eligible primary and secondary school participants can obtain official co-curricular merit (PAJSK points)—a rare offering among dance competitions in Malaysia.
IODC Dance Masterclass 2026
Step into an exclusive post-competition experience designed for dancers who pursue excellence beyond the stage.
The IODC Masterclass brings together two highly respected international judges — offering a refined, in-depth training session focused on artistry, movement intelligence, and performance mastery.
This is more than technique.
It is about understanding how great dancers think, move, and command the stage.
A rare opportunity to learn from educators and creators who have influenced dance across continents.
📍 Venue : TBA
📅 Date : TBA
💰 Entry Fee : TBA
⏰ Time: TBA
By invitation-level quality. Limited availability.
The Organizing Team
Organizer
Co-organizer
Co-organizer
KUALA LUMPUR DANCESPORT ASSOCIATION
The Kuala Lumpur Dancesport Association (KLDSA) is the official governing body for dancesport in Kuala Lumpur, dedicated to the development and promotion of dancesport at both national and international levels. KLDSA is responsible for organizing major competitions, including the Malaysia Open Dancesport Championship (MODC), and works closely with national and international federations to elevate the standard of dance in Malaysia.
PRODANCE PRODUCTION
Prodance Production is an innovative event management company dedicated to creating extraordinary experiences in the world of dance. We bring together passionate dancers, professionals, and enthusiasts to celebrate and grow the vibrant dance community.
MY DANCESPORT ACADEMY
MY Dancesport Academy (MDA) is one of Malaysia’s leading dancesport academies, known for producing national champions and internationally recognized athletes. With a strong focus on technical excellence, athlete development, and high-performance training, MDA plays a key role in nurturing the next generation of dancers and supporting the growth of the dancesport industry in Malaysia.
Brand Partners
Meet Our Judges
Judge
Mew Chang Tsing
Mew Chang Tsing is a key figure in the development of contemporary dance in Malaysia, working across the roles of dancer, choreographer, and educator. She received her early ballet training at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where she also studied Laban
Movement Analysis and dance notation. During this period, she trained extensively in Southeast Asian folk dances and Chinese classical dance under renowned masters including Madam Surianty Liu Chun Wai and Sheng Pei Qi. She later pursued a Master’s degree in Dance Studies at the University of Surrey, UK, specialising in choreography, dance anthropology, dance analysis & criticism.
Her signature work, RE: Lady White Snake, is a cross-cultural production that integrates Chinese water-sleeve techniques, Balinese weaving dance, Indian Bharatanatyam, Malay Silat, and Japanese Butoh. The work received the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards three times and toured internationally for over a decade.
Mew has taught at the University of Malaya and ASWARA, where she has nurtured generations of dance practitioners that are currently serving as key faculty members at several higher education institutions. During her tenure as President of MyDance Alliance, she
curated MDF 2005, presenting nearly one hundred local and international performances and related programmes—marking a milestone in the country’s dance history.
She is currently the Director of ArtKU, Artistic Director of Festival Tari HUA WuTai, Founder of Malaysian Chinese Dance Research Centre and ArtKU is also an appointed organiser for the Beijing Dance Academy LiRenYueWu Graded Examination.
Judge
CHIA KAI XIAN
Member of the Malaysian Chinese Dance Association
• President of the Kedah Chinese Dance Culture Association
• Graduated from Chinese Culture University (Taiwan), majoring in Dance
• Specialized in Chinese Dance, with a minor in Contemporary Dance and Ballet
• Obtained a Master’s degree in Dance from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, with excellent results.
• Over 15 years of dance teaching experience, specializing in children’s dance education, stage choreography, and commercial production
• 3-time Champion Award Winner at the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Dance Competition (Open Group)
• 7 Times National Champion Awards for Street Dance Competition (Junior & Senior Group)
• Recipient of over 90 awards from well-known domestic and international dance competitions.
• Invited to perform and choreograph and judging in multiple countries and regions including:
🇯🇵 Japan ｜ 🇨🇳 China ｜ 🇬🇷 Greece ｜ 🇷🇺 Russia ｜ 🇭🇰 Hong Kong ｜ 🇸🇬 Singapore ｜ Thailand 🇹🇭 and more
• TOP 5 choreographer at the Hong Kong International Youth Dance Festival in 2016 & 2018
• Regularly invited as a judge for major Malaysian Chinese Dance competitions and art festivals, covering preliminary, semi-final, final, and All-Star Seasons — totaling over 50 competitions judged to date
• Appointed as one of the chief directors for the Beijing International “Happy Spring Festival” Gala in 2025
• Has choreographed and directed more than 200 original dance works.
Dance Styles
Solo, Duo
Juvenile l : Age 8 - 9
Juvenile ll : Age 10 - 11
Junior l : Age 12 - 13
Junior ll : Age 14 - 15
Youth : Age 16- 18
Adult : Age 19 & above
Senior : Age 30 & above
Small Group (3 - 7pax)
Juvenile : Age 8 - 11
Junior : Age 12 - 15
Adult : Age 16 - 29
Senior : Age 30 & above
" SEIKO Master of Time - Improvisation Final "
Featuring Top Solo Adult & Senior Champions of IODC
As a highlight of the International Open Dance Championship (IODC), a special SEIKO Award will be presented to recognise exceptional versatility, musicality, and stage presence.
Eligibility
Open to Top 3 winners (Champion, 1st Runner-Up, 2nd Runner-Up) from:
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Solo Adult Division (Age 19 & above)
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Solo Senior Division (Age 30 & above)
A total of 6 finalists will be selected to advance to this special round.
Competition Format
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All 6 finalists will be invited back on stage for a live Improvisation Battle
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Dancers will perform simultaneously based on the format decided by the organizer
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Music will be randomly selected by the organizer
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No prior choreography is allowed — all performances must be fully improvised
Judging Criteria
Finalists will be evaluated based on:
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Musicality & Interpretation
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Creativity & Versatility
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Technique & Control
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Stage Presence & Performance Quality
SEIKO Top Ranking Awards
The Top 3 highest-scoring dancers from this round will receive:
SEIKO Top Ranking Champion – SEIKO Watch
SEIKO Top Ranking 1st Runner-Up – SEIKO Watch
SEIKO Top Ranking 2nd Runner-Up – SEIKO Watch
JAZZ
A technical and performance-driven dance style characterized by precision, control, and dynamic execution. Jazz incorporates strong foundational techniques such as turns, leaps, kicks, and isolations, combined with musicality and stylistic versatility. Choreography often emphasizes sharp lines, rhythmic complexity, and expressive projection.
CONTEMPORARY
A highly expressive genre that integrates elements of ballet, modern, and jazz techniques. Contemporary dance focuses on fluid transitions, control of weight, floorwork, and spatial awareness. It prioritizes emotional interpretation, articulation of movement, and the seamless connection between technique and storytelling.
Traditional
A culturally rooted dance form that reflects the heritage, values, and historical narratives of a specific community or region. It emphasizes authenticity in movement vocabulary, musical interpretation, costuming, and stylistic integrity, while preserving traditional techniques and performance practices.
TAP
A percussive dance form where rhythm and sound production are integral to performance. Tap technique emphasizes clarity of footwork, timing, syncopation, and dynamic range. Competitive routines assess precision, musicality, articulation, and the dancer’s ability to function as both mover and musician.
BREAKING
An athletic and technically demanding street dance style that originated from hip hop culture. Breaking includes foundational elements such as toprock, downrock, power moves, and freezes. Competitive performance focuses on strength, control, creativity, musicality, and execution of complex transitions.
HIP HOP
A street dance style grounded in groove, musicality, and individuality, encompassing foundational elements such as popping, locking, and freestyle movement. Hip Hop performance in competition highlights precision, coordination, musical interpretation, and stage presence, while maintaining authenticity to urban dance culture.
Audience Ticket
No of Sessions
TBA
Price per Session
RM 60/person/session
Session Schedule
TBA
Photo + Video Services
- RM 250 / dance
- Same Day Delivery
- Soft Copy
