JUDGES 2026
We are proud to introduce the judges of IDC dance competitions.
On this page, you can meet the official judges who adjudicate dance competitions organized under the auspices of the IDC organization.
Each dance event features a designated judging panel, which may include the same or different judges, as well as a varying number of judges, depending on the type and scale of the competition.
IDC reserves the right to make changes to the judging panel in the event of unforeseen circumstances that may prevent a judge from participating in a competition. Any updates will be communicated in a timely manner via the official IDC website or the IDC Instagram page.
IDC OPEN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2026
BENJAMIN XHAFERI
His professional dance career began at the age of 18, at a time when he had already established a clear artistic vision. From the outset, he committed himself fully to the discipline, dedicating his time and energy exclusively to the development of his craft. This focus resulted in notable success in his home country of North Macedonia, where he competed at a high level, performed in numerous professional productions, and co-created choreographic works for large-scale concert events. As his profile continued to grow, his expertise gained international recognition. He was subsequently invited to lead workshops across neighboring countries, with his teaching activities expanding throughout Europe over the years, reaching destinations as far as Denmark. Currently based in Slovenia, he remains deeply committed to artistic excellence. Within a single year, he led his team to four gala victories, secured second place at two additional events, and achieved the distinguished title of Vice World Champions with his group. In parallel with his competitive success, he has performed in a variety of professional stage productions and contributed to projects for multiple recording artists.
MARIUSZ CROVID
Mariusz has been pursuing formal dance education since 2004, studying at renowned Polish, British, and French dance institutions, while also participating in workshops led by instructors from the United States, Cuba, Africa, Brazil, and across the European Union. In 2007, he completed his professional training as a dancer and certified dance teacher in Poland. Since that time, he has been actively teaching hip hop, dancehall, commercial dance, and street jazz. His international teaching career has taken him to Poland, Austria, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, and Slovakia. Mariusz gained wider public recognition through his participation in the fifth season of the Polish television program So You Think You Can Dance. In parallel, he has worked extensively as a choreographer and performer for high-profile events and internationally recognized brands, including Puma, Mercedes-Benz, Škoda, Rettl, Miss Polonia, and Harley-Davidson, among others. In addition to his commercial work, he has performed as a background dancer for renowned artists such as Boney M, Sister Sledge, Ameerah, and various Got Talent finalists, as well as groups including Groove Busterz and East Clubbers. He has also served as both choreographer and assistant choreographer on multiple music video productions in Poland and Austria.
LEA MOLDASCHL
Lea Moldaschl discovered her passion for dance at the age of five, beginning her artistic journey with hip hop and gaining her first stage experience at live events and the ASDU competition. She later expanded into rock ’n’ roll acrobatics, where she successfully competed in numerous national tournaments. Parallel to this, she completed competitive dance training and regularly performed at various events. Driven by a continuous pursuit of artistic growth, Lea discovered pole dancing at the age of thirteen, adding a new discipline alongside professional skiing, which she has practiced since early childhood. She further broadened her dance education through training in jazz and contemporary dance, including studies at the Villach Musical School. Her competitive achievements include two consecutive second-place finishes in the pole dancing category at the International Dance & Song Contest. As a stage performer, Lea was a member of the ensemble in The Forgotten Theater and Once Upon a Time in December, in which she also appeared as an actress. In 2019, she was selected as one of three dance soloists portraying the vampires in the musical Dracula’s Bride. In addition to pole dancing, Lea developed extensive skills in various forms of aerial acrobatics and completed her dance education in couple dancing up to gold level. She has consistently expanded her expertise through workshops across multiple disciplines with international artists. Following her high school graduation, Lea pursued studies in sports management while simultaneously completing professional trainer certifications in Aerial Hoop (Basic) and Pole Dance (Basic to Advanced). Since 2022, she has been working independently as a trainer and performing artist under the name Aerial Spirit by Lea. In 2023, she achieved both first and third place at international pole dancing competitions.
LUCIJA VELKAVRH
Lucija Velkavrh is an expert in the field of jazz and contemporary jazz dance technique. As a dancer, choreographer and dance pedagogue she has been artistically engaged in Slovenia and abroad for more than 20 years. During her competing years, Lucija won National, European and World championship titles in solo, duo, group and formation categories in jazz, show dance and modern. Later on she participated as a choreographer and a judge in many international dance festivals. In 2023, she received a special recognition award for the best choreography in the contemporary jazz category at the International Dance Festival in Budapest, as well as multiple invitations for the Gala event (selection of the best choreographies).
Through her past knowledge and experiences, Lucija was educated in different dance styles and techniques: jazz, contemporary, modern jazz, balet, horton, partnering and improvisation. She expanded her dance knowledge by attending classes, seminars and dance conventions in Los Angeles (EDGE Performing Arts Center, Millennium Dance Complex, Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio), New York (Brodway Dance Center, Steps on Brodway, Gibney 890 Brodway, Jump Dance Convention), Paris (Studio Harmonic, Le Centre des Arts Vivants, Centre de Danse du Marais, Centre International de Danse Jazz), London (Pineapple Dance Studios), Amsterdam (Amsterdam Dance Centre), Madrid (Danza180), Kiev (Atmosphere Dance Events Camp) Vienna (ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival), Stockholm (Balettakademien Stockholm) and Krakow (AST National Academy of Theater Arts in Krakow). Lucija created and choreographed many stage performances in Slovenia. She performed on local and national cultural events, including performing her solo piece on the National Day for the president of Slovenia and other politicians in Slovenian Parliament. For the past thirteen years, she has been co-creating dance performances in Bastarts Academy, where she works as a teacher, mentor and a choreographer. Lucija had several workshops abroad, teaching in Europe (Austria, Croatia, Italy) and Latin America (Brazil) in different dance studios and companies. As a guest teacher and choreographer, she was invited to work with professional dancers from Companhia de Ballet de Niterói (Rio de Janeiro), Raça Cia de Dança (São Paulo), SASHAS (Curitiba) and Prisma Cia de Dança (São Luís). In 2021, she established three-year undergraduate Jazz Dance study program on Alma Mater Europaea Dance Academy (first bologna (BA) degree), providing students skills and competences for a successful career in dance. Lucija is now the Head of jazz dance department, successfully leading the program and teaching dance and choreography.
Formal/Other Education Lucija finished her studies on Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana. She got a Master degree in Marketing Communication. She also finished elementary music school, where she attended music theory classes and piano lessons for 10 years.
TONI FLEGO
Toni moves to awaken thought and embrace sensation, flowing with the symphony of shades and emotions that paint the world. Through performance, Toni explores the many characters that live within—each a vibrant presence waiting to come alive on stage. Their artistic practice weaves physicality, emotional depth, and poetic imagery into immersive experiences that invite audiences to feel, reflect, and transform.
Work Experience / Performances
2015 – Weltschmerz – Company TRAFIK
2016 – IGOWEGOYOU !? – Thierry Smits
2016 – Summer Collection by M.F. – Orientheatre Company
2016 – Faun – Martina Granić & Toni Flego
2017 – Travelogue – Company TRAFIK
2018 – Trittico d’autore – Sharon Fridman, Valerio Longo, Paolo Mohovic
2018 – Hopera – E.sperimenti Dance Company
2018 – InTrans – Toni Flego & Ivona Medić
2018 – Quanto Basta – E.sperimenti Dance Company
2018 – Halab – Sol Picó
2018 – Woe From Wit – Sona Hovsepyan
2019 – Trinacria – E.sperimenti Dance Company
2019 – Oxymoron – Toni Flego
2020 – In Museum – Marie Chouinard
2020 – Le Sacre du printemps – Xavier Le Roy
2020 – The Mushroom at the End of the World – Marco D’Agostin
2021 – FAR – Wayne McGregor
2021 – Nemesis Vs Anubis Vs Everyone – Mounir Saeed
2021 – I Am Alive – Company TRAFIK
2022 – Dear Friend, Dream, Breathe and Move to Think – Toni Flego
2022 – Songs: Regaining Lost Time – Anna Kosiorowska
2023 – How Can I Protect Myself From All This – Toni Flego
2023 – Trauma Express – Nicola Campanelli & Sandra Sok
2023 – No More Birds On My Side – OrianTheatre Company
2024 – La Isla – Agrupación Señor Serrano
2024 – Do You Want To Produce Me? – Jessica D’Angelo & Toni Flego
2024 – Chez Michou, The Mystery of Blue – TRAFIK / Žak Valenta
2025 – The Nature Of – Cornelia Dance Company
2025 – No Win for Dance – Toni Flego
Projects / Awards
2016–2017 – Contemporary Dance Instructor, Rijeka Puppet Theatre
2017–2018 – Contemporary Dance Instructor, Axis Studio (Rijeka)
2018 – Off.beat.lab Project
2019 – 3rd Place, Premio Roma
2019 – Port of Diversity – Dalibor Matanić
2019 – Premio Roma Special Prize
2019 – Contemporary Dance Instructor, International School Manila (Philippines)
2020 – La Sfera Danza – Italian National Award for Contemporary Dance & Performance
2022 – Grand Prix for Performance (I Am Alive), International Dance Festival Tbilisi
2022 – 2nd Place, Premio Roma – Choreography
2022 – Winner, Choreopher Resid’AND – Accademia di Danza Nazionale (Rome)
2023–2024 – EU Project: Boarding Pass Plus
2023–2024 – Dancing Together, Again
Education
2011 – OŠ Škola za klasični balet i suvremeni ples Vežica – High School Diploma in Contemporary Dance
2016 – Zagreb Dance Center – Structured Practice for Professional Dancers (Thierry Smits)
2017 – State Boarding School Colleggio Uccellis – Diploma in Dance
2020 – CPP Corso di Perfezionamento Professionale – Padova Danza
2020 – Biennale College Dance – Marie Chouinard
2021 – Biennale College Dance – Wayne McGregor
2021 – Yin Yoga Teacher Training
2024 – Summer Dance Academy Krakow
STIV KUKOVEC
Stiv is a renowned choreographer and show artist known from major television formats such as Got To Dance (Pro7) and Supertalent (RTL). He has worked on high-profile productions including the Echo Awards, VIVA Comet, and The Dome, appearing across networks like Pro7, RTL, ZDF, MTV, VIVA, ARD, RTL2, and INTV. A multiple national and international champion, Stiv is also a respected judge at major dance championships and battles. His time in New York greatly shaped his artistic journey, where he had the opportunity to work with choreographers who collaborated with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra. Driven by a deep passion for dance, Stiv captivates audiences of all ages with his unique shows, creating unforgettable experiences through movement and music. He has choreographed for numerous theaters and schools, continuously sharing his love of dance and inspiring others along the way.
ALEN SESARTIĆ
Alen Sesartić is a highly influential choreographer and art director in the show business scenes of Croatia and Serbia, renowned for his work on major TV formats, Eurovision-related projects, arena concerts, theater productions, and dance education. Born in Split, Croatia, Alen took his first dance steps under the guidance of instructors Ines Mamić and Vagela Likiševski. With over 20 years of professional experience, he has established himself as one of the most sought-after choreographers in the Adriatic region and beyond.
Television & Live Show Highlights
Alen has choreographed and served as art director for some: X Factor Adria, Big Brother, Tvoje lice zvuči poznato (Your Face Sounds Familiar), Supertalents (Croatia’s Got Talent / Serbia’s Got Talent equivalents), Hrvatski Idol, Dora (Croatian Eurovision selection), Beovizija & Pesma za Evroviziju (Serbian Eurovision selections), Ples sa zvijezdama (Dancing with the Stars – Croatia/Serbia editions)
In 2024, he represented Serbia at the Eurovision Song Contest as choreographer and art director for Teya Dora’s performance of “Ramonda” (also known as “Lila Ramonda”), delivering a visually striking and critically acclaimed staging.
Alen has worked with many of the biggest names in Balkan pop and music, choreographing music videos, live performances, arena tours, and concerts for: Severina, Jelena Rozga, Nina Badrić, Maja Šuput, Grupa ET, Vanna, Doris Dragović, Oliver Dragojević, Gibonni, Harem Girls, Ivana Krsmanović (Ivana Krunić), Mirna Radulović, Teya Dora, Neda Ukraden, Grupa Magazin, Andrea Šušnjara, Danijela Martinović, Princ od Vranje and many others.
He has created full choreography and staging for major arena concerts and tours by artists such as Nina Badrić, Vanna, and Grupa ET.
In addition to commercial show business, Alen has choreographed and performed as a dancer in theater productions across Croatia and Serbia, including acclaimed shows such as:
Aida, Dundo Maroje, Romeo i Julija (Romeo and Juliet), Ljubavni napitak (The Elixir of Love), Ruža na asfaltu, Jugoslavenke
His international projects extend to Greece, Slovenia, Serbia, Nigeria, India, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Austria, France, and the United Kingdom.
Dance Education & Training
For more than two decades, Alen has been dedicated to training the next generation in urban dance techniques, earning numerous awards and recognitions at national competitions in Croatia and international events. He is a pioneer in teaching heels technique (dance in high heels) in both Croatia and Serbia – one of the few male instructors specializing in this style in the region. His classes focus on technique, confidence, stage presence, and artistic expression, helping dancers “own the stage.”
Today, Alen continues to work as an art director and choreographer on large-scale projects in Serbia and Croatia, shaping performances for television, live events, concerts, and emerging talents.
With his versatile expertise across commercial TV, Eurovision, theater, concerts, and dance education, Alen Sesartić remains a leading creative force in the Southeastern European entertainment industry.
IDC OPEN DANCE FESTIVAL -KOSTRENA 2026
