Frequently Asked Questions

Like the Olympics, the IMPORTANT PRIZE is also the “GOLD”, symbolizing excellence! However, the invaluable experiences, training and networking opportunities are the real “prizes” which every contestant receives! Additionally a total of $130,000 in scholarships are awarded. As well as winners being presented with a “Gold Medal” in every event category, style and age group at both the Junior and Senior World Championships, there are specific Overall Champions (individuals and groups) in:
JUNIOR: (1) 5 – 10 years (2) 11 – 15 years
SENIOR: (1) 16 – 24 years (2) 25 years and over

The “Showcase finals” award Grand Champions in the various categories of competition with the ultimate coveted titles being “Junior” and “Senior” Grand Champion Performer of the World!

Dance:

(1) Ballet (2) Jazz (3) Tap (4) Clogging (5) Song & Dance (6) Acro/Gymnastic (7) Lyrical (8) Ethnic/Folkloric (9) Hip Hop/Funk (10) Open (11) Musical Theater/Character (12) Ballroom (13) Production Line

Vocal:

(1) Gospel (2) Country (3) Pop (4) Rock (5) Contemporary (6) R&B/Jazz
(7) Opera (8) Variety (9) Broadway/Musical (10) Original (11) Rap
(12) Latin (13) World Music (14) Open
* Vocal with self-accompaniment – all 14 styles

Modeling:

(1) Runway (Casual) (2) Swimwear (3) Formal (4) Spokesmodel
(5) Photo (Note: Petite and Plus Sizes, ages 16 and up – all styles)

Acting:

(1) Contemporary (2) Classical (3) Drama (4) Comical (5) Open (Solo ONLY)

Instrumentalists:

(1) Original (2) Classical (3) Contemporary (4) Open
(Solo or Group)

Variety:

(1) Act with assistance (2) Act without assistance (3) Three and under props
(4) Over four props (Jugglers, Magicians, Baton Twirlers, etc.)

here are six (6) categories of competition for Juniors (ages 5 to 15): dance, vocal, modeling, acting, instrumentalists, variety arts
JUNIOR: (1) 5 to 7 (2) 8 to 10 (3) 11 to 12 (4) 13 to 15

The six (6) categories for Senior competition (ages 16 and over) are also: dance, vocal, modeling, acting, instrumentalists, variety arts
SENIOR: (1) 16 to 17 (2) 18 to 24 (3) 25 to 29 (4) 30 Plus

Special emphasis is placed on “entertainment value and marketability” during judging. This in no way takes away from the technical aspect of the performances, however, judges are looking for that special charisma (“it”) that most top entertainers have. Performance times of sixty (60) seconds are strictly enforced. Contestants with the highest scores by panels of judges in respective events are the winners. Hundreds of persons from the entertainment industry (i.e. agents, managers, casting directors, record label reps) are invited to judge, conduct seminars and cast during the week-long event.

The age of the contestant on the first day of the month in which the world event occurs determines the age category of competition. For duets, trios, quartets, choirs, groups and production numbers, it is calculated by age averaging. Every member’s age as of the first day is added together then divided by the number of members in the group. If the average age of a group ends in 0.5 or higher, then it is rounded up to the next higher age.

An official contestant must be a citizen or resident in good standing of the country represented, may be an amateur or professional, must have been qualified and invited, and must comply with the rules and regulations established by the World Championships of Performing Arts. An “Official Contestant’s Handbook” is provided to each contestant describing details of and codes for the global competition.

The objective is the annual production of the finest national, regional and international competitions for exceptional, aspiring performing artists! This prestigious global meet is for dedicated performers and entertainers who want to train and learn, compare their talent to others and network. This “neutral event” does not solicit nor get directly involved in representation of any type and does not guarantee employment as that is up to the agents, managers and others. This is an innovative contest with persons from the entertainment industry invited to judge and conduct seminars.

Worldstars is the impartial organizing body which provides the direction for this essential worldwide contest, the only international event of its kind held annually in Hollywood.

Delegations of outstanding talent from over forty (40) countries will be represented at the World Championships of Performing Arts in “Hollywood”.

Like the Olympics, the finest aspiring competitors from countries are qualified and invited. Every contestant attending the World Championships of Performing Arts system has been screened, qualified and selected under specific guidelines established by WCOPA, and executed by Scouts and licensed National Directors from invited countries.

For centuries, there has been an exclusive “Olympics” for athletes excluding any non-sport activity or other prestigious type of achievement. This discriminatory practice is being corrected especially for the revered universe of performing artists by the successful creation of the “World Championships of Performing Arts” (WCOPA), often cited as the one and only “official World Talent Championships”. Celebrating its fifteenth successful year, it is the only premier international talent and modeling competition of its kind annually held in “Hollywood”! Similar to the Olympics, only invited and qualified competitors representing countries compete each year in a fierce competition “to be the best of the best”!

Over nineteen years ago on July 11, 1992, what is now known as WORLDSTARS was initiated to fashion programs dedicated to benefiting talent. Its hallmark project, the annual World Championships of Performing Arts, was launched in 1997. And now over a decade later, 75,000 from 40 countries contend for a coveted invitation to compete at the 15th annual global event for “the gold” and $30,000 in scholarships to the Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood, California, and $100,000 in scholarships from the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts School of Film and Television.