Dance Team

DanceABILITIES Teams Can Now Compete at The Dance Worlds

November 2, 2026

Big news for dancers of all abilities! The U.S. All Star Federation has announced that beginning in April 2027, The Dance Worlds and The Cheerleading Worlds competitions in Orlando, FL, will include Exceptional Athletes from DanceABILITIES and CheerABILITIES teams, respectively. These groups, which spotlight individuals with disabilities, previously competed in their own event: the Exceptional Athlete International Championship. But now, the EAIC will be dissolved, and all teams affiliated with USASF will have the chance to compete for a title at the annual Worlds competitions.

According to an email from USASF director of communications Melissa Smuzynski, this means that DanceABILITIES teams will receive the “same awards experience, medals, and globes as other competitors at The Dance Worlds.” They will be judged according to a new Exceptional Athlete score sheet, which will be posted along with the other Worlds score sheets on USASF’s website.

  • Onstage, members of a dance team perform in shiny silver and lime green track suits. One dancer in the center struts forward, flipping her hair, as her teammates stand in a formation behind her and point at her, smiling.
    Dance Mania’s DanceABILITIES competing at the 2026 EAIC. Photo by Action Moments, courtesy USASF.
  • Onstage, a dance team performs wearing white button downs, black pants, and funky hats. They form two lines running vertically and skip forward, arms raised.
    Stingray Allstars Ohio’s Velocity Rays competing at the 2026 EAIC. Photo by Action Moments, courtesy USASF.
  • A dance team performs onstage in '50's-style costumes. One dancer stands center stage in a poodle dress, pointing up with a hand on her hip. Behind her, dancers on the left wear greaser-style outfits, and on her right are more dancers in poodle dresses.
    Dance Savannah’s Honey Dippers competing at the 2026 EAIC. Photo by Action Moments, courtesy USASF.

A USASF press release states that the eligibility update is part of the organization’s ongoing efforts toward fostering inclusion and accessibility within its events. Vanessa Vail, chairwoman of the USASF Exceptional Athlete Committee, wrote: “We are proud to take this next step toward a global championship where every athlete has the opportunity to be seen and celebrated for what they bring to our sport.”

Interested teams can find eligibility and qualification requirements on The Dance Worlds website. (Exceptional Athlete bid applications include submitting a video from a sanctioned competition.)

Best of luck to you all!

competition dance team danceABILITIES disability the dance worlds us all star federation usasf