Competitors and coaches must act with grace, good sportsmanship, and respect toward other competitors both in and outside the competition venue. Everyone must be given a fair chance to perform without distractions or disruptions from others while performing. Cheering for other competitors during their performance is allowed and encouraged.

Any physical or mental violence toward other competitors, the judges or the organisers is strictly prohibited both in and outside the venue. That includes demeaning and rebuking other competitors. Breaking etiquette leads straight to a competition ban from the current and next possible competition organised by K-pop Suomi ry.

1.1 Dancer

• Be on time and ready for your performance.

• Cheer for and respect your fellow competitors, but give them the opportunity to concentrate on their performance.

• Keep the dressing rooms clean.

• Let the judges work in peace by respecting their integrity and expertise, and by keeping distance to the judges’ table. Follow the organiser’s/staff’s directions

• on what is considered a good distance.

• Refrain from moving unnecessarily amongst the audience during the performances to avoid distracting the performers or disturbing other members of the audience.

• Be on time for the awards ceremony.

1.2  Coach/Guardian

• Set a good example for the dancers: cheer for and respect other competitors and their support groups. Let the competitors concentrate. Coaches are responsible for making sure that their dancers know the etiquette and follow the rules.

• Make sure that your dancers are at the venue on time and ready for their performance and the awards ceremony.

• Let the judges work in peace by respecting their integrity and expertise, and by keeping a distance from the judges’ table. Follow the organiser’s/staff’s directions on what is considered a good distance.

• Follow the instructions on filming and photography set by the venue and the organiser.

• Refrain from moving unnecessarily amongst the audience during the performances to avoid distracting the performers or disturbing other members of the audience

K-pop Rookie Battle is a beginner-level competition. The purpose of the competition is to create opportunities for beginner K-pop dancers to gain performance and competition experience, and to encourage them to continue the hobby in an exciting and progress-oriented way.

Participating in K-pop Rookie Battle is allowed for dancers who view themselves as beginners. Good indicators of your or your group’s level are, for example, the number of years of dance experience, as well as past success in other competitions. Ultimately, the competing group decides its own level based on experience and conscience.
However, the organiser reserves the right to disqualify a dancer or a group from the competition if they determine that they are clearly not at a beginner level (e.g. very accomplished in previous K-pop competitions).

The competition is divided into two categories: solo/duo and groups. In the solo/duo category, all competitors must consider themselves to be at a beginner level. In the group category, a group may include a maximum of one (1) member who does not consider themselves to be a beginner.

2.1 Member Count of Competitors

In the solo/duo category, participation is open to one (1) or two (2) people. In the group category, participation is possible for groups of three (3) or more. The number of competing members must be provided when registering for the competition, and members cannot be changed after the registration or between the preliminaries and the finals. An exception can be made if a member is suddenly unable to partake in the performance (due to a serious injury or illness). Competitors should then contact the organiser of the competition to request the replacement of the missing member. If the organiser allows it, the injured/ill member may be replaced with a dancer who was not part of the original group upon registration. In that instance, the organiser will ask the group to provide information about the new member.

2.2 Terms of the Cover Competition

The aim of the competition is to replicate the original choreography as closely as possible, and it is prohibited to make changes to the moves compared to the reference performance.

In the group category, it is mandatory for competitors to have the same number of members as in the original reference video (read more in section 4.2).

In the solo/duo category, this rule does not apply. This means that the competitors in the solo/duo category are allowed to adapt the original formations and formation changes to better suit their number of members. Therefore, if the chosen competition song features a group choreography, competitors in the solo/duo category are allowed to switch roles between different members of the original artist group. For this reason, judges will not evaluate formations or formation changes in the solo/duo category. In fact, changing roles during the performance is encouraged for songs where some artists remain still or stand at the sides during others’ solo parts, in order to increase engagement and stage presence.

2.3 Age of Competitors

The competition is open for all ages. Competitors under the age of 18 who advance to the finals will be asked to provide the contact details of their guardian, along with permission for the minor to participate in the competition and to be filmed. An underaged dancer cannot participate in the finals if the organiser does not receive the required information.

If a competitor or competing group advances to the finals and consists solely of members who are under the age of 13 on the day of the competition (28.9.), they are required to bring one (1) guardian, parent, or other responsible adult to the event venue to take responsibility for the competitor(s). The contact details of this person must be submitted to the organiser prior to the finals. On the day of the final competition, this person will have access to all the same areas as the dancers (e.g. dressing rooms, backstage). If at least one member is 13 years old or older, a guardian is not required.

Regardless of the age of the competitors, every finalist competing solo, duo, or group has the right to bring one (1) additional person to the event venue (e.g. a coach, guardian, or assistant), provided they inform the organiser in advance and clearly explain the additional person’s role.

The maximum length of a competition song is five (5) minutes. As this is a cover competition, the performance must be based on the original choreography as closely as possible. A link to the reference video must be provided when registering for the competition (read more in section 4.2). Choreography changes are prohibited. 

The following actions are considered changes to the original choreography: 

• Changing the way the moves are executed 

• Changing the way acrobatic moves are performed (for example, making them easier or leaving them out)

• Leaving out move sequences 

• Adding original move sequences (for example, a remix) 

K-pop includes a wide variety of songs and choreographies with their own special elements and highlights, to which the judges will be paying attention. Competitors are advised to consider the differences in choreographies, their dance styles, and their difficulty levels when choosing their competition song. A technically difficult choreography does not automatically make it a better choice than a technically easier one. 

If they so choose, the competitors may mimic singing by moving their lips along with the lyrics, also known as lip syncing. If competitors choose to lip sync, all members (excluding backup dancers) should lip sync when needed, not only some of them. In the group category, every dancer may only lip sync the singing parts of their designated artist member. In the solo/duo category, each dancer may lip sync the singing parts of multiple different artist members. Lip syncing is not mandatory and will not be evaluated separately - it is considered a part of expression. 

3.1 Backup Dancers (Group Category) 

Using backup dancers in group performances is allowed if the original reference video also includes them. In the solo/duo category, using backup dancers is not allowed; a composition of more than three people should register in the group category. 

The number of backup dancers in the performance does not have to match the number in the original reference video. If the number of backup dancers does not match the original choreography, modifying formations and formation changes to make them more reasonable for the number of backup dancers is allowed. Changing the moves of the original choreography, however, is still prohibited. 

• If a group is performing a song by a solo artist, only one member of the group will dance the part of the solo artist throughout the entire performance. 

• Dancers are not allowed to change roles between the backup dancers and the artists during the performance. 

• If the chosen choreography includes moves that require backup dancers for correct execution (e.g. backup dancers lift the artist or the artist has significant contact with a backup dancer), compositions without backup dancers may modify these moves without point reductions (e.g. the artist standing still instead of being lifted). This rule also applies to the solo/duo category. In these special cases, it is recommended to contact the organiser for more detailed instructions.

Registering for the competition will be completed via a digital form, which will be published online. When registering, the mandatory information about dancer(s) must be provided, and this information will be considered binding. 

The registration form or other instructions will be published on the organiser’s (K-pop Suomi ry) website (www.kpopsuomi.fi) and social media channels (e.g. Instagram: @kpopsuomiry). 

The registration form will open on Sunday, 18th of May 2025, at 6pm, and will close on Sunday, 22nd of June 2025, at 11:59pm. Registrations submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Registration will only be accepted once all the necessary information provided in the form is correct according to the given instructions, and after the organiser has confirmed the registration.

The registration form will require competitors to provide the following information: 

• The number of members in the composition 

○ Does the composition include backup dancers? → Number of backup dancers 

• The first and last names of the dancer(s) 

• The performing name of the dancer(s) (e.g. artist name of the solo dancer or name for the duo or group) 

• E-mail address of the contact person (competition instructions will be sent here)

• Are there members under the age of 18 in the composition? 

• Is there at least one dancer aged 13 or above in the composition? 

• The competition song and the original artist of the song (see section 4.1 for more information) 

• A link to the reference video of the competition song (see section 4.2 for more information) 

4.1 Choosing the Competition Song 

Competitors are allowed to perform any K-pop song as their competition song, provided they can send a reference video that meets the requirements outlined in the rules (see section 4.2). Any song by an artist / performer whose primary work is considered K-pop (originating from South Korea) is eligible. For example, artists such as Katseye and XG are not considered K-pop artists. In unclear cases, it is recommended to contact the organiser beforehand. Ultimately, the organiser has the right to determine which artists can be classified as K-pop artists. 

The competition song must be from the artist’s own production or a remake of another artist’s song (e.g. ATEEZ - Black Cat Nero, originally by Turbo). Dance covers of other artists’ songs made by K-pop artists (e.g. Studio Choom’s monthly solo performances) are not eligible.

If the song is by a K-pop artist, the language of the song does not matter. Therefore, the competition song can be in any language, such as English or Japanese. 

Competitors are also allowed to participate with songs they have previously performed or competed with in other K-pop events or competitions, in Finland or abroad.

4.1.1 Song Doubles 

It is not possible for two competitors to compete with the same song. The competitor who registers for the competition first gets the right to perform the song they have chosen. The list of already reserved songs is published when the registration starts and will be updated at least once every 24 hours. The time of the previous update will be shown on the list. A link to the list is available through the registration form and through the organiser’s Instagram account (@kpopsuomiry). Every competitor that registers into the competition is responsible for checking the list before submitting their registration form. The list does not disclose the name of the competitors who has reserved the song, only a list of the reserved songs in an alphabetical order.

If a competitor has registered with a song that has already been reserved by someone else, they will be informed of this within the next 24 hours. If we receive many registrations at the same time, the list can unfortunately not be kept completely up to date. 

Every competitor that registers for the competition must be prepared for the possibility that their first song choice is already taken. This can happen to anyone, and the organiser is not responsible for this. Two competitors cannot be allowed to perform the same song because using the same song places the competitors in an unfair position. We recommend that all competitors think of a backup choice while choosing the competition song. 

4.2 Reference Video of the Competition Song 

During registration, the competitors must provide a link to the reference video of their competition song. The judges will evaluate the performance in comparison to the provided reference video. The reference video should be any video of the original artist where the entire choreography and places of every dancer can be seen throughout the entire performance. Covers by other dancers or groups cannot be used as a reference video. Multiple videos cannot be submitted as a reference video either. Accepted sources are, for example, still-cam dance practice videos, fan-cams, and performances from music shows (without close-ups). 

The organiser will contact competitors immediately if there are shortcomings in the provided reference video, in relation to the judges’ ability to evaluate the competition performance based on the reference video. 

Registration is open for all beginner-level K-pop dancers in Finland. Registration forms are checked in a few workdays after registration, and competitors will receive a confirmation e-mail regarding either their acceptance into the competition or a request for modifications in their provided information. New registrations will not be accepted after the deadline has passed. 

Every competitor must participate in the preliminary round. Competitors who receive the highest points in the preliminary round will advance into the final round. 

5.1 Preliminary Round (18th of May – 29th of June)

The preliminary round of the competition will be a video dance competition. All competitors who have successfully registered by the time registration closes (22nd of June 2025, at 23:59pm) are allowed to participate in the competition. The preliminary video will be sent to the organiser’s e-mail by 29th of June 2025, at 23:59pm, at latest. More detailed instructions regarding the competition and video-sending will be sent to the e-mail address of the contact person, provided by the competitor in the registration form. 

Preliminary videos will not be shown publicly and will not be published afterwards by the organiser. Preliminary videos will be visible only to the organiser and the judges. 

The minimum length for the preliminary video is one (1) minute, and the maximum length is two (2) minutes. The preliminary video must be filmed with one take and a stationary camera, straight from the front. If the video is filmed via front camera, causing the picture to be mirrored, the video must be unmirrored before sending it to the competition (e.g. via an editing program). Every dancer must be shown on the video throughout the entire length. Using a stage performance as a preliminary video is not allowed. The length of the video can go a few seconds over the maximum time limit. 

All other kinds of editing are prohibited. However, competitors are allowed to add clear audio of the competition song to the video in post-production via an editing program. Adding the audio is not mandatory, but in most cases, it will make the judges’ jobs easier. If audio is not added to the video in post-production, the original audio of the video must be clearly audible and in sync with the picture. If the former terms are not fulfilled, the organiser holds the rights to demand the competitor to add the competition song audio to the video in post-production.  

The dance snippet chosen for the preliminary video must be from the chosen competition song, and it can be from any part of the song. This means that the preliminary video is a shortened version of the main song. 

It is recommended to have outfits that suit the entire group’s look in the preliminaries because it helps with the evaluation. However, the judges will not evaluate the outfits in the preliminary round. The outfits do not have to be the same ones in the finals. 

In the video preliminary round, 20 competitors will be chosen as finalists (10 from the solo/duo category and 10 from the group category). The selection will be made by judges according to the point system of section 7. The list of the chosen finalists will be published on the social media accounts of K-pop Suomi ry. 

Preliminary round results will be also sent via e-mail to the competitors by the end of July, at latest. Competitors who have been chosen as finalists must accept their place in the finals by answering to the e-mail within seven days from receiving it. If an answer is not provided on time, or the competitor declines their invitation to the finals, their spot will be offered to the competitor who has received the next most points in the preliminary round. 

5.2 Final Round (28th of September) 

The final round of the competition will be held on Sunday 28th of September 2025, in Tiivistämö in Helsinki. The finalists will perform complete versions of their competition songs at the venue. The maximum length of the competition song is five (5) minutes. The competition song cannot be changed between preliminary and final rounds. Finalists are required to be at the venue during the competitor info, competition performances and the award ceremony. There is also a mandatory stage rehearsal, during which the competitors get to practice their performance on stage. The performance order will be selected randomly by drawing lots, and the finalists will be informed of the order before the competition day. The competition performances will be filmed and published, if the competitors allow it. 

The finalists must deliver their competition music to the organiser as a ready-made MP3-file. Other file forms are not accepted. It is recommended that competitors keep the competition music with them during the finals, either on their phones (with an AUX interface) or on a USB flash drive, just in case. 

The organiser may also ask the competitors to provide additional information from the finalists, related to access control and safety. Additional information might be, for example, materials for social media introductions, contact information of the guardians of underage dancers and their permission for the child to compete and to be filmed. Providing the organiser with the audio and the additional information is mandatory to participate in the finals. 

Judges will announce the winners at the venue, at the end of the event. Competitors must be present on time for the award ceremony. In the finals, three best performances will be awarded in the solo/duo category and, also, three best performances will be awarded in the group category. The prizes of the winners are provided by the sponsors of the event. 

More details on the day of the finals, arrival instructions and other requirements will be informed to the finalists via e-mail after the preliminary round. In addition to other competitors, the competition performances can be seen by a live audience. 

5.2.1 Stage Rehearsals of the Finalists 

Stage rehearsals are a mandatory part of the finals, and they will be organised at the competition venue on the morning of the finals. Thus, competitors should ensure that they are able to arrive at the competition venue during the morning of. During the stage rehearsals, competitors are allowed to test their performance on the official stage. The music and other technical aspects are tested during the stage rehearsals, as well.  

Every solo/duo/group has five (5) minutes each reserved for the stage rehearsals. If a competitor does not show up for their stage rehearsals during their assigned turn, the turn will be offered to the next competitor. 

If a competitor cannot make it to stage rehearsals, the competitor must contact the organiser regarding this as soon as possible. 

5.2.2 Clothing of the Finalists 

The outfits of the competitors must fit the theme of their competition song, and this will be evaluated by the judges. The clothing does not have to be based on an original source, and we do not need reference material of the clothes. It must be considered that the event is open for all ages. The outfits must thereby be in good taste. The clothing will not be evaluated separately - it is seen as a part of expressions. 

5.2.3 Props of the Finalists 

The competition performance is allowed to include props if they are also included in the original choreography. The competitors must make sure themselves that the props are ready on stage when the performance begins and that they will be removed off the stage after the performance ends. It is prohibited to throw glitter, confetti, petals or other props that cause danger of slipping on stage. 

Performances will be evaluated in three or four categories. The maximum points from each individual judge are 15-20 points (45-60 points in total), depending on the competition category. Points from the categories as well as total score will be sent to the performers via e-mail after the competition. In addition, the judges will give written feedback on the performances, guiding and encouraging competitors to develop their skills. In the preliminary round, placements will not be provided to the competitors. In the final round, placements will be sent to the competitors along with the results after the competition via e-mail. The placements of the awarded finalists (TOP 3) will be published publicly, as well. The evaluation categories are as follows: 

6.1 Technique – 0-5 p. 

This category focuses on technique, the execution of the dance moves, and the performers’ skill level on: 

• The execution of the dance moves compared to the reference performance 

• The big picture of the performance 

• Balance 

• Body control, agility 

• The fluidity of the movement 

• Endurance, power, energy 

6.2 Expression – 0-5 p. 

This category focuses on the competitors’ ability to express themselves through dance, facial expressions, and gestures in the following areas: 

• Bringing forth the style and mood of the reference performance 

• Presence and charisma 

• The compatibility of the outfits, props, and other physical elements with each other and in relation to the theme, music, and choreography of the performance 

• The consistency of lip syncing 

6.3 Synchronization and Coherence – 0-5 p. 

This category focuses on the synchronization of the competitor / competing group and their coherence with each other and with the original performance in the following areas: 

• Synchronization between dancers 

• Similarity of moves between group members 

• Exactness with music 

• Synchronization in relation to the reference performance 

• The interaction and connection between dancers 

6.4 Formations and Formation Changes – 0-5 p. (ONLY GROUP CATEGORY) 

This category focuses on the formations and transitions between formations in the group category in the following areas: 

• Similarity to the formations and formation changes of the reference performance 

• Cleanness of formations and positioning on stage 

• Ease of transitions and presence during them 

• Usage of the whole stage area 

The organiser has the right to film and photograph the competition performances and use the materials for marketing purposes. The organiser may use the materials on their website as well as for other posts, publications, and materials related to the organiser’s activities. Competitors give the recording and sharing permission with a digital registration form. Videos and photos taken at the event will be available to the competitors after the competition. When using the materials, the original photographer and editor must be mentioned. If a competitor wishes to cancel the recording and sharing permission, they must provide the organiser with a written notice.