IDO TAP Dance Committee Holds 2026 Meeting and Confirms Key Plans for World Championships in Prague

The International Dance Organization (IDO) TAP Dance Committee held its official committee meeting on 5 February 2026, bringing together 22 delegates and guests from 13 countries, representing a strong and active global TAP dance community.

The meeting was chaired by Nancy Chippendale, Chairperson of the IDO TAP Dance Committee, with participation from committee members, international delegates, the Dancers’ Commission, and IDO representatives. The session focused on reviewing the past competitive season, discussing proposals related to rules and scheduling, and shaping the framework for the IDO World TAP Dance Championships 2026.

Review of 2025 Season

The Committee reflected on the IDO World TAP Dance Championships 2025 in Prague, highlighting the excellent organization, strong participation, and the successful Dancers’ Forum. Special appreciation was expressed to Tomas Slavicek and his organizing team for delivering another high-level world championship, as well as for welcoming New Zealand as a new participating country.

Key feedback from the dancers’ community included interest in masterclasses, schedule improvements, and the possibility of receiving feedback from judges in future events.

IDO World TAP Dance Championships 2026

The Committee officially confirmed that the IDO World TAP Dance Championships 2026 will take place in Prague, Czech Republic, from 21–25 October 2026, with an enrolment deadline of 15 September 2026.

The following officials were announced:

• Supervisor: Fiona Johnson

• Chairman of Judges: Velibor Srdić

• Scrutineer: Vesna Huber

A tentative five-day schedule (Wednesday–Sunday) was presented, with divisions spread across the week to allow balanced competition flow and improved logistics for dancers, coaches, and families. The Committee expressed strong support for maintaining production days on Friday and Saturday and for exploring the inclusion of masterclasses, depending on entries and final scheduling.

Rules & Proposals

Two proposals from Germany were discussed:

• A proposal regarding toe stands in the Children’s division was thoroughly debated. After discussion, the majority of delegates supported leaving the decision to the coach’s discretion, and the proposal to ban toe stands entirely was defeated.

• A scheduling suggestion to start solo competition days with the male solo category was noted as a recommendation to the organizer and will be considered during schedule planning.

Looking Ahead

The meeting concluded with open discussion on future development, including educational elements and dancer feedback initiatives. The next TAP Dance Committee Meeting is scheduled for Autumn 2026.

The IDO TAP Dance Committee thanked all delegates and guests for their active participation and constructive contributions, reaffirming IDO’s commitment to transparency, dialogue, and continuous development within the TAP dance discipline.

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