Standard, Latin and breaking will feature on the programme at The World Games Karlsruhe 2029, taking place in Germany from 19 to 29 July. The decision, approved by the International World Games Association -IWGA- and the Organising Committee, retains the three World DanceSport Federation -WDSF- disciplines contested at Chengdu 2025. For dance couples and breaking athletes, confirmation provides another opportunity to represent their countries at an international multi-sport event alongside competitors from numerous disciplines.
This continuity brings together two different histories. Standard and Latin debuted at Lahti 1997 and have appeared at every subsequent edition, making Karlsruhe their ninth consecutive appearance. Breaking joined the programme at Birmingham 2022 and will feature for the third time following its appearance in Chengdu. The programme therefore retains both disciplines with almost three decades of history at the Games and a more recent addition that has broadened DanceSport’s representation through individual battles and an urban dance style.
A shared target for 2029
WDSF President Shawn Tay highlighted the importance of retaining this event on the international calendar: “The World Games have long held a distinct place in our calendar. For our athletes, competing in Karlsruhe is an opportunity to represent DanceSport in front of the broader international sports world.” Confirmation allows athletes and federations to focus their preparations on a specific date as qualification and selection processes are developed. “Having Standard, Latin, and Breaking together in Germany gives our athletes a clear target for 2029,” he added. The WDSF will publish qualification criteria and competition schedules in due course.
The 13th edition of the Games is expected to welcome around 4,000 athletes across 36 sports and 62 disciplines. IWGA CEO Constance Terrier explained that the programme had been developed alongside international federations and organisers to reflect “the diversity, quality and global appeal” of the movement. Karlsruhe will host the event again 40 years after staging it in 1989, although this will be the first time the city welcomes this combination of Standard, Latin and breaking. Local plans prioritise existing facilities, short travel distances and accessibility, with the aim of integrating competitions into the city and making it easier for spectators to attend.
Three ways to compete through music
Standard and Latin competitions are contested by couples, with each discipline comprising five dances. Standard includes the waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot and quickstep, generally performed while maintaining a closed hold between partners. Latin comprises samba, cha-cha-cha, rumba, paso doble and jive, each with its own style and movements. Both disciplines combine musical interpretation with technical precision, coordination and physical endurance. The term Latin does not encompass every Latin dance: salsa and bachata belong to the WDSF’s Caribbean dance branch and have their own competitions.
Breaking offers a different format, based on individual battles between B-Boys or B-Girls. Athletes respond to the music through sequences combining steps, floorwork, spins and freezes, assessed by a panel of judges. Technique is accompanied by creativity and the ability to interpret the rhythm during each round. At Chengdu 2025, China’s B-Girl ‘Royal’ and B-Boy ‘Lithe-Ing’ won the women’s and men’s titles respectively, at an edition that already featured the same three disciplines confirmed for Karlsruhe.
Alicante expands its world title programme
On the WDSF’s more immediate calendar, Alicante will host the World Caribbean Dance Championships from 9 to 12 October 2026 as part of the third Alicante Dance Festival. The international federation has announced nine new categories, bringing the number of world titles on offer to 21. The programme will include salsa—with On 1 and On 2 categories for couples—and bachata, alongside solo and duo events across different age groups. The festival is organised by CBE Fever Dance Alicante, in collaboration with the Spanish DanceSport Federation -FEBD- and the WDSF.
The venue will be VB Spaces, a facility covering more than 7,000 square metres and equipped with professional lighting and sound. Alongside the Caribbean Dance World Championships, the festival will stage the World Cup Solo Adult Latin, the Spanish Choreographic Dance Championships for duos and groups, and WDSF Open events and national trophies awarding points towards the respective Standard and Latin rankings. Across four days, the programme will bring together world titles, national competitions and circuit events, allowing athletes and spectators to experience different DanceSport disciplines at a single venue.
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