Vancouver dance crew tops International Dance League rankings

Brotherhood dancers bring their best moves to top-level international competition. Photo: Courtesy of Srks Stratages Photo by Photo: Courtesy of Srks Stratage /Photo: Courtesy of Srks Stratage

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Vancouver dance crew Brotherhood has notched back-to-back wins in the 2026 International Dance League competition season after taking first place in the sold-out Vancouver Series at Thunderbird Sports Centre last weekend. The group also won the New York Series earlier in May.

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Over 3,500 fans headed to the venue on the UBC Campus to watch the group take on teams from New Zealand, Norway, South East Asia, South Korea and the United States in head-to-head dance-offs. Brotherhood emerged in the top place with 14 points. The group now has a total of 28 points in league standings this season as teams prepare for their next competition in Sydney, Australia on June 20.

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Second place team Jam Republic — which currently holds the number two spot with 13 points — also presented an innovative and flashy program, proving that every one of the competitors are top of their game. That Brotherhood has emerged so far ahead of the rest is proof of Vancouver’s calibre as a hotbed for contemporary street and free form dance teams.

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Described as ‘F1 meets America’s Best Dance Group’ by Brotherhood founder Scott Forsyth, the International Dance League is a professional dance sports organization, showcasing the top-level athletes and performers in the discipline.

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Unlike other broadcast showcases or talent contests, the IDL features elite teams selected from across the world who prepare open-style choreographed routines and compete in a two-round format. Routines draw upon a variety of dance styles to present peak performance in a three minute round.

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In recent competitions, Brotherhood displayed a seamless mix of street styles and acrobatic flourishes combined with flawless blocking and constant energy. Amongst other criteria, dancers are judged on endurance, and these athletes — aged 20 to 36 — certainly gave their all in the winning rounds.

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Training out of Studio North in Mount Pleasant, Brotherhood rehearses in four- to six-hour sessions, five days a week, as well as additional solo practice. Since forming the crew in 2011, Forsyth has seen it blossom into one of the best dance groups in the world, earning back-to-back gold medals at the 2013 and 2014 World Hip Hop Internationals and appearing on Season 2 of NBC’s World of Dance in 2018.

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The 2026 IDL series finals will be held in Los Angeles on Sept. 20.

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