Pacific International Ballet Competition
About Competition
Overview of the 12th PIBC Summer
Purpose
The aim of the competition is to contribute to the development of ballet culture in Japan and the development of future dancers by providing opportunities for students to hone and develop their ballet talent. Renowned judges are invited from overseas, workshops are held, and many opportunities are provided for students to study abroad.
Categories
| Junior I | 9-11 years old |
| Junior II | 12-13 years old |
| Junior III | 14-15 years old |
| Senior I | 16-18 years old |
| Senior II | 19-30 years old |
| Contemporary | 9 years and older |
*Ages are as of the time of participation (July 29, 2026)
Schedule
| July 28 (Tuesday) | Workshops for each category (not subject to judging) |
| July 29th (Wednesday) | Junior I・Junior II・Junior III・Contemporary Finals |
| July 30th (Thursday) | Junior I・Junior II・Junior III・Senior I・Contemporary Finals |
| July 31 (Friday) | Junior I・Junior II・Junior III・Senior I・Senior II Finals and Award Ceremony |
*Please note that the schedule may be subject to change.
Venue
Juries
| July 29th, 30th, and 31st | Marek Rosicki, François Petit, Yoshihiro Terada, Masanobu Negishi, Lin Zhou, Adam Bull |
*Please note that the judges may be subject to change.
Judging Method
*One classical piece of music no longer than 2 minutes 30 seconds, or one contemporary variation no longer than 3 minutes (including silence).
*Appearance, technical ability, expressiveness, proportions, artistry, and musicality will be evaluated comprehensively on a 10-point scale.
*Participant in the Junior I and II may choose to wear ballet shoes / point shoes.
*All participants will be given a worksheet with the judges' comments.
Awards and Scholarships
| Junior I | Trophies for 1st to 3rd place / Certificates for 1st to 8th place: Various scholarships, summer school participation rights, permission to study abroad at a ballet school |
| Junior II | Trophies for 1st to 3rd place / Certificates for 1st to 8th place: Various scholarships, summer school participation rights, permission to study abroad at a ballet school |
| Junior III | Trophies for 1st to 3rd place / Certificates for 1st to 8th place: Various scholarships, summer school participation rights, permission to study abroad at a ballet school |
| Senior I | Trophies for 1st to 3rd place / Certificates for 1st to 8th place: Various scholarships, summer school participation rights, permission to study abroad at a ballet school |
| Senior II | Trophies for 1st to 3rd place / Certificates for 1st to 3rd place: Various scholarships, summer school participation rights, ballet company traineeships |
| Contemporary | Trophies 1st to 3rd place / Certificates 1st to 8th place |
| Second Prize | Sylvia Award, Tiara Award, Donna Prima Award, Umiaruki Award, PIBC Special Award, Special Jury Award, etc. |
| Scholarships |
●English National Ballet School...right to participate in short-term tours ●Australian Ballet School...admission permission and short-term scholarship ●Berlin State Ballet School...admission permission and short-term scholarship ●John Cranko School...admission permission and short-term scholarship ●La Scala Ballet School...admission permission and right to participate in short-term tours ●Australian Queensland College of Dance...right to participate in short-term tours ●National Ballet School of Canada...short-term scholarship and right to participate in short-term tours ●Hungarian Dance University...admission permission and short-term scholarship ●Royal Ballet School of Antwerp...short-term scholarship ●Anarela Sanchez Conservatory...admission permission for scholarship students and right to participate in short-term tours ●Australian Queensland Ballet Academy...admission permission, short-term scholarship and right to participate in short-term tours ●Royal Conservatory of The Hague Ballet Department...short-term scholarship ●Portuguese National Ballet...trainees,etc. Negotiations underway |
*Summer school and scholarship award recipients will be selected from a wide range of sources, including those other than the top prize winners.
*Scholarship content may be added or changed.
*There may be no eligible candidates for scholarships.
*Scholarship recipients will be announced on the website at a later date.
Regulations
| Variation music | ● Classical ballet variation or contemporary variation. ● There will be one final round, so please prepare one dance piece. ● Changing music after registration is accepted until the end of May 2026. However, music change is allowed only once. ● For classical ballet music, the PIBC office will apply to JASRAC for copyright. For contemporary music, please inform us of the "title" and "name of composer" of the music to be used in the performance when you apply. The secretariat will confirm with JASRAC and, if copyright fees are incurred, will invoice the contestant or studio at a later date. ● If you use music whose copyright does not belong to JASRAC, please apply for permission to use it yourself. ● For choreography, please be sure to apply for permission to use it yourself. The secretariat assumes no responsibility whatsoever. |
| Time limit | ● The length of the variation must be within 2 minutes 30 seconds for ballet and 3 minutes for contemporary including silence. ● No reverence. ● If the time length is exceeded over the limit, the participant will be disqualified. |
| Cast | ● Ballet shoes are permitted for the Junior I and II divisions. ● The order of performance will be randomly assigned and determined by the organizers. |
| Music source | ● Please choose either a CD or digital submission for your audio source. ● Please ensure that the sound is recorded at the exact moment the performance starts (starting at 0:00). ● You can changes variation music after registration are accepted until the end of May 2026. However, this is limited only once. 【Submitting CD on the competitio day】 ● CD type: CD-R (recorded for music) Format: Audio CD, WAV, or MP3, with only one song recorded. ● Please place the CD in a square case and write the following information on the CD and the case: 1. Entry number, 2. Name, 3. Variation, 4. Music ON or OFF the Stage, and 4. Stage Left/Right. ● CD-Rs recorded on a CD recorder must be finalized. ●● Do not use stickers directly to the CD, as it may damage the audio equipment. ● Please prepare two CDs on the day of the competition. Submit the one for the performance at registration and keep the spare one for yourself. The CD will be returned along with the worksheet at the lobby reception approximately one hour after the performance. ● Use of the same CD by multiple attendants is not permitted. 【Submitting music file data】 Format: MP3 or WAV File name: First name_Last name_Variation name Example) Tokyo Mai → Mai_TOKYO_Aurora_The Sleeping Beauty ● Please upload and submit your data using the link in the email sent after your registration is completed. If you need to make any changes, please submit them by email. |
| Stage equipment | ● Wearing costumes and props is permitted, but no devices are permitted. ●Stage: Width 22m, Depth 14m, Height 11.4m ●Lighting: Ground lights ●The order of performance will be randomly assigned and determined by the organizers. |
| Participant pass/Affiliate pass | ●One participant ID will be issued to each participant, and one affiliate ID for every 1-2 participants will be issued to ballet school / academy. (For example, if there are 5-6 participants from one school, three affiliate pass will be issued.) ● You will not be able to enter the dressing room without affiliate ID. Please be sure to keep it with you all the time. ● Participant pass and affiliate pass are only valid for during the competition. ● Participant pass and affiliate pass will be mailed in early December to the address you specified at the time of registration. ● If you lose your ID, you will be charged extra fee (2,000 yen) to reissue it. ● If you would like to enter the dressing room to arrange costumes or props, please contact a PIBC staff. |
| Announcement of Results | ● The winners will be announced at the venue after all final rounds have been completed on Friday, July 31st. The winners will be posted on Instagram and the website after the award ceremony. |
| Penalties | ● If there is any violation of the competition regulations, scores will be deducted or the participant will be disqualified. ● If there is any problem with the audio files that each participant has prepared, the participant will be disqualified. |
| Miscellaneous | ● Photography and video recording is prohibited inside the audience. ● If you wish to withdraw, please make sure to contact the PIBC office. ● The results, including the names and affiliations of the winners, will be published. Images and videos of the performances may be used for public relations purposes such as on the website. |
Master Class
*Please note that the time and instructor may be subject to change.
*There are limited seats available for the workshop. Registration may close once capacity is reached, separate from the competition.
*There is a fee (5,000 yen) for parents and instructors to observe the workshop. Those wishing to observe must make a reservation in advance.
*Photographs will be taken during the workshop. The photos may be posted on our website later.
*After attending the workshop, please leave promptly to make way for the next class.
*Any changes will be posted on this page from time to time.
Registration fee
| Competition entry fee（1 category） Classical ballet or Contemporary |
35,000 JPY |
| Competition entry fee（2 categories） Classical ballet and Contemporary |
52,000 JPY |
| Workshop participation fee
（only for those who wish to participate） |
6,000 JPY （1 class） 11,000 JPY （2 classes） |
| Workshop observation fee（one day） | 5,000 JPY （reservation necessary as limited space） |
*A cancellation fee of 50% will be charged if cancelled within 7 days of the registration date, and 100% will be charged if cancelled after the 8th day.
*If you are unable to participate due to injury, you can transfer to the next competition by submitting a doctor's certificate.
*If you wish to watch as a audience, please purchase an entrance ticket at the reception on the day of the competition.
How to apply
●Please specify the necessary details about participants, program, and affiliation, and apply by either ①online form, ②mail, ③email (PDF file).
●Those who apply online will receive an automatic reply email with instructions.
●Registration fees can be paid by only credit card or bank transfer.
●Payments should be made in the name of the participant themselves, and only one transfer for one person per transaction.
●Registration will be completed after both the registration form and the payment are confirmed.
●If the registration exceed over the capacity before the closing date, registrations may be closed earlier for each section.
●Capacities for master class are limited. registrations for the workshops may be closed earlier.
【Closing date】 Registration must be received by Monday, June 22, 2026
Inquiry
PIBC Office
3F Parkside Building, 3-25-11 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-0021, Japan
TEL 03-5904-8810
Weekdays 10:00-17:00
*If you have any questions about participating in the competition or sponsorship, please contact us using the inquiry form below.
© 2017, Pacific International Ballet Competition
パシフィック・インターナショナル・バレエ・コンペティション事務局