Dance Industry Feature
World of Dance: How a Single Event Became the Global Stage for Urban Dance Culture
Founded in 2008 by five visionaries in Southern California, World of Dance grew from a local competition into the world's largest dance entertainment enterprise — spanning 25+ countries, an NBC television series, and a digital network with over a billion views.
By Dance Mogul Magazine | Dance Industry Feature | Updated May 2026
What Is World of Dance?
In the landscape of dance entertainment, few brands have accomplished what World of Dance has built. What began as a single event in 2008 has evolved into the world's largest dance entertainment enterprise — a multi-platform powerhouse that connects performers, audiences, and culture across continents. World of Dance is not just a competition. It is a movement that has redefined how urban dance is seen, celebrated, and shared on a global scale.
World of Dance (commonly known as WOD) is a Southern California-based dance, fashion, music, and entertainment brand that produces live competitions in more than 25 countries, operates one of the largest YouTube dance networks with over 300 channels and 4 million subscribers, ran a four-season NBC television series executive produced by Jennifer Lopez, and continues to serve as the bridge between the street dance community and mainstream global audiences.
At Dance Mogul Magazine, we have covered WOD since its early years — attending events, interviewing co-founder Dave Gonzalez, and featuring some of the competition's most remarkable performers, including the legendary Mos Wanted Crew and the phenomenal Chachi Gonzalez. We have watched this brand grow from concept to cultural force, and this comprehensive profile tells the full story.
The Founding: Five Visionaries and a Dream (2008)
World of Dance was founded in 2008 by Matthew Everitt, David Gonzalez, Myron Marten, Michael McGinn, and Herman Flores. These five individuals shared a common belief: that urban and street dance deserved a professional, elevated platform — one that honored the raw artistry of the culture while connecting dancers with opportunities, audiences, and each other.
The first World of Dance competition was held in Southern California. From the beginning, the format was distinct. Unlike traditional dance competitions that separated styles into rigid categories, WOD embraced the full spectrum of urban dance — hip-hop, popping, locking, krumping, breaking, contemporary fusion, and more. The philosophy was clear: let dancers be dancers, and let the audience decide what moves them.
Dave Gonzalez, who has served as the brand's president and a driving force behind its expansion, has described WOD as born from a dream to connect dancers with their audience in every way possible. That dream became reality faster than anyone anticipated.
"World of Dance began a decade ago as a dream to connect dancers with their audience in a myriad of ways. What started as a single event is now a continent-spanning, tour de force of human spirit and sick dance moves."
— Dave Gonzalez, WOD Co-Founder
The Competition: How World of Dance Works
The World of Dance competition circuit operates on a global qualifier-to-finals model. Each year, approximately 40 international and 15 U.S. qualifier events are held across the world. Dancers compete in two primary age divisions: Upper Division (18 years and older) and Youth Division (17 years and younger). Winners from each division at qualifier events earn invitations to the World of Dance Finals, where they compete for the world title.
What sets WOD apart from other competitions is its judging approach. Each event features a five-person panel — typically composed of dance celebrities, industry professionals, and cultural influencers. Using an Olympic-style scoring system, competitors are evaluated across five criteria: Performance, Technique, Choreography, Creativity, and Presentation. This framework gives equal weight to artistic expression and technical skill, rewarding dancers who bring both precision and personality to the stage.
The competition circuit has produced some of the most celebrated names in the modern dance world. WOD alumni include all seven America's Best Dance Crew (ABDC) champions, including JabbaWockeeZ, Super Cr3w, Quest Crew, We Are Heroes, Poreotics, I.aM.mE, and Electrolytes. The stage has also featured Les Twins, Fik-Shun (So You Think You Can Dance Season 10 winner), Dytto, Ian Eastwood, Kaba Modern, India's Desi Hoppers, and many more artists who have gone on to shape the global dance industry.
The NBC Television Series (2017–2020)
In 2017, World of Dance expanded from the live competition circuit to national television when NBC premiered the World of Dance series on May 30, 2017. The show was produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio in association with Nuyorican Productions and World of Dance. The premiere drew 9.8 million viewers, instantly establishing it as a cultural event.
Jennifer Lopez served as both executive producer and lead judge — a role that was deeply personal for her. Lopez had achieved early fame as a member of In Living Color's legendary dance crew, The Fly Girls, and described the show as a return to her roots. She was joined on the judging panel by choreographer and dancer Derek Hough and singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. Jenna Dewan hosted the first two seasons, with Scott Evans taking over for seasons three and four.
The competition format divided participants into Junior (ages 17 and under, 1-4 dancers), Upper (ages 18 and over, 1-4 dancers), and Team (5 or more dancers, 18 and over) categories, with a Junior Team division introduced in season two. All acts competed for a grand prize of one million dollars. Performances advanced through structured rounds — Qualifiers, Duels, The Cut, Divisional Finals, and the World Final — with scoring based on execution, technique, creativity, choreography, and presentation.
Over four seasons, the show introduced millions of viewers worldwide to the artistry of street and urban dance. The series was canceled in March 2021, though Universal Television Alternative Studio retained the format, which has been adapted internationally in countries including Thailand, the Philippines, and Poland.
NBC World of Dance Season Champions
Each season of the NBC series crowned a champion who earned the one million dollar grand prize and the title of World of Dance Champion. These winners represent the extraordinary diversity and depth of talent that WOD attracts from across the globe.
Season 1 (2017): Les Twins (Laurent and Larry Bourgeois) — The French hip-hop duo from Sarcelles, France, whose explosive freestyle and unmatched chemistry made them instant legends on the WOD stage.
Season 2 (2018): The Lab — A youth hip-hop crew from Los Angeles that stunned audiences with their precision, storytelling, and energy, proving that age is no barrier to artistry.
Season 3 (2019): The Kings (Kings United) — An Indian dance crew from Mumbai whose Bollywood-meets-hip-hop fusion captivated a global audience and demonstrated the worldwide reach of urban dance culture.
Season 4 (2020): MDC 3 — A contemporary crew whose emotionally driven performances showcased the power of movement as storytelling.
Global Impact: More Than a Competition
World of Dance's significance extends far beyond trophies and scores. The brand has fundamentally reshaped how urban dance is perceived, valued, and distributed worldwide. Through its YouTube network — which has driven more than one billion views across 300+ channels — WOD democratized access to dance content, allowing young dancers in Indonesia, Brazil, India, and dozens of other countries to learn, be inspired, and compete on the same stage as their American counterparts.
The brand's events have consistently championed a philosophy of creative freedom: fewer rules for competitors, more space for artistic expression. This approach has attracted dancers from every conceivable style — from b-boys and poppers to contemporary fusion artists and K-pop influenced crews — creating a melting pot of movement that reflects the true diversity of global dance culture.
WOD also launched its own record label in partnership with Empire in 2020, expanding its reach into music and further cementing its position as a lifestyle brand rather than simply a competition circuit.
World of Dance in 2026: Still Moving Forward
While the NBC television series ended in 2021, World of Dance continues to operate as a global competition brand. In 2025 and 2026, WOD qualifiers and competitions have been held across the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. Recent events include WOD Houston, WOD Dallas, WOD Rhode Island, WOD Belgrade, WOD Santiago, and WOD Ambon (Indonesia), with the WOD Italy championship featuring three days of workshops, battles, and competitions near Rome, culminating in finals held in California.
Current global leaderboards reflect the international reach of the brand: top-scoring teams in 2025-2026 include SoReal (Houston, USA — 99.75), Team Athena (Dallas, USA — 98.10), ConnAct (Belgrade, Serbia — 97.35), How It Ends (Santiago, Chile — 96.75), and People Halong Dance Crew (Ambon, Indonesia — 96.35). The Junior Division features standout crews like Black Bears from Serbia, The Officials from the United States, and Hakuho Girls High School from Japan.
The brand continues to pride itself on giving teams fewer rules and more creative freedom — a founding principle that remains central to its identity nearly two decades later.
"We pride ourselves in giving a team less rules and more creative freedom."
— World of Dance
World of Dance Timeline: Key Milestones
2008 — World of Dance founded in Southern California by Matthew Everitt, David Gonzalez, Myron Marten, Michael McGinn, and Herman Flores. First competition held.
2010–2012 — Rapid expansion to multiple U.S. markets. WOD events begin attracting hundreds of performers and thousands of spectators. Dance Mogul Magazine begins covering WOD events and interviews co-founder Dave Gonzalez.
2013–2015 — International expansion reaches 25+ countries across four continents. WOD Finals established at the Los Angeles Convention Center. YouTube network surpasses major viewership milestones.
2017 — NBC premieres World of Dance TV series on May 30. Executive produced by Jennifer Lopez with judges Derek Hough and Ne-Yo. Premiere draws 9.8 million viewers. Les Twins win Season 1.
2018 — Season 2 expanded to 16 episodes with Junior Team division added. The Lab wins the championship.
2019 — Season 3 moves to midseason slot. The Kings (Kings United) from India win, showcasing the global reach of the brand.
2020 — Season 4 airs during the pandemic. MDC 3 wins. WOD launches a record label with Empire. YouTube network surpasses 1 billion total views.
2021 — NBC cancels the television series after four seasons. WOD continues as a global competition brand.
2025–2026 — Global qualifier events continue across the U.S., Europe, South America, and Asia. WOD Italy holds three-day championship near Rome with finals in California. Brand maintains its position as the world's largest dance entertainment enterprise.
Notable World of Dance Alumni
The WOD stage has launched and elevated careers across the dance industry. Notable alumni and featured performers include Les Twins, JabbaWockeeZ, Quest Crew, Poreotics, I.aM.mE, Super Cr3w, We Are Heroes, Electrolytes, Chachi Gonzalez, Mos Wanted Crew, Kaba Modern, SoReal Cru, 8 Flavahz, Dytto, Ian Eastwood, Fik-Shun, Kaelynn Gobert-Harris, Miles Brown, India's Desi Hoppers led by Shantanu Maheshwari, and Kings United. Many of these artists have gone on to work with major recording artists, star in films and television, and build influential careers as choreographers and educators.
Dance Mogul Magazine and World of Dance
Dance Mogul Magazine has been part of the World of Dance story since the early years of the brand's growth. Our team has attended WOD events, covered the competition's expansion, and sat down with co-founder Dave Gonzalez to discuss his ambitious vision for the future of urban dance — a vision that has manifested in ways that exceeded even the most optimistic expectations. As seen in the image at the top of the article.
Many incredible WOD performers have graced the pages of Dance Mogul Magazine, including the legendary Mos Wanted Crew and the phenomenal Chachi Gonzalez. Our coverage of World of Dance reflects a shared belief: that dance culture deserves platforms that honor its artistry, elevate its practitioners, and inspire the next generation of movers.
Explore more dance industry coverage and artist profiles across our Dance Styles hub, or dive deeper into the urban dance world through our Hip-Hop category and Street Dance archives.
How to Get Involved with World of Dance
For dancers, crews, and studios looking to compete, World of Dance operates an open registration system for its global qualifier events. Teams of any size and dancers of all ages are welcome to register through the official website at worldofdance.com. Regional qualifiers are held throughout the year across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, with winners advancing to the World of Dance Finals.
For fans and supporters, WOD events offer an electrifying live experience, and the brand's YouTube network provides an endless library of world-class performances. Following WOD on social media connects you to a global community of dance lovers, creators, and culture builders.
Watch: World of Dance Highlights
About This Feature
Dance Mogul Magazine is a digital dance culture media platform inspiring self-empowerment through exclusive interviews, industry news, and coverage across hip-hop, street dance, ballet, and urban dance styles. Our mission is to document, celebrate, and elevate the artists, institutions, and movements that shape dance culture worldwide. This comprehensive profile is part of our commitment to building the definitive resource for dance history, education, and community empowerment.
Learn more about our mission at dancemogul.com/about