International Excellent Competition - Opes Danza

A dance competition in the heart of cinema

The International Excellent Competition is one of the most popular international dance contests held in the Lazio region. The event is organized by the Dance division of OPES Italia, led by Enrico Di Prisco, and takes place in a truly unique setting: the studios and theaters of Cinecittà World, the cinema and television-themed amusement park located in Castel Romano, within the municipality of Rome, on the outskirts of the capital.

For three consecutive days, the park's grand theaters are transformed into competitive stages, where thousands of students from Italian and international dance schools perform to grow, compete, and catch the eye of a jury of industry professionals.

Disciplines on stage

The competition covers a vast range of styles, from academic traditions to the most contemporary urban disciplines. The categories include:

• Classical ballet, modern, contemporary, and choreographic composition;
• Hip hop, urban dance, freestyle, and acrobatic dance;
• Aerial dance (silks, hoop, hammock) performed in specially equipped areas;
• Caribbean dances, social dance, show dance, and synchro dance;
• Traditional dances and sections dedicated to Paralympic dance.

Performances are divided by age categories - Baby, Kids, Teen, Juniores, Seniores, and Over - ensuring that every dancer competes against peers of the same level.

An international jury

The prestige of the awards stems from the expertise of the judging panel, composed of Italian and international choreographers and masters. Recent editions have featured professionals from various countries, including Cuba, Ukraine, and Spain, tasked with evaluating the technique, expressiveness, and emotion of every performance.

Scholarships and job contracts

What sets the International Excellent Competition apart from a standard contest is the tangible nature of the rewards: the most deserving dancers are awarded scholarships and real professional opportunities, including actual job contracts. For many young dancers, the event serves as a springboard into the professional world of entertainment.

In Rome, between dance and spectacle

The choice of Cinecittà World in Lazio is no coincidence: its proximity to the world of film and television gives the competition a special charm, in a location capable of comfortably hosting the thousands of participants, chaperones, and spectators who flock to the park's theaters every year. It has become a staple of the Roman spring, blending sport, art, and a passion for dance.