ELIGIBILITY & CATEGORIES

SIZES

SOLO: 1 DANCER


DUET/TRIO: 2 OR 3 DANCERS


SMALL GROUP: 4-9 DANCERS


LARGE GROUP: 10-15 DANCERS


LINE/EXT. LINE: 16+ DANCERS

AGE DIVISIONS

The following age divisions apply to all categories and group sizes: 5 & Under, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17+


MINI: 9YRS AND UNDER


JUNIOR: 10-12 YEARS


INTER: 13-14 YEARS


SENIOR: 15 YEARS +


SENIOR PLUS: 21 YEARS +


NOTE: All routines with a dancer(s) 21 years of age or older must compete in the Senior Plus category. See full definition below.


NOTE: All production entries will compete in the same age division.

AGE DETERMINATIONS

SOLOS: As of December 31st.


DUET/TRIOS, SMALL/LARGE GROUPS, LINES/EXT. LINES, PRODUCTION: Average age of competitors as of December 31st.


NOTE: After dividing all ages by the number of dancers, drop the decimal. 


NOTE: Studio Directors must have a copy of all birth certificates on hand the day of the competition.

ELIGIBILITY

COMPETITIVE: Dancers who train more than 5 hours per week.


PART-TIME COMPETITIVE: Dancers who train 6 hours or less per week in the regular dance season from September to the end of June. 100% of the Duet/Trio or Group must be Part Time Competitive. We ask that Studio Directors reference the Rules & Regulations when entering dancers into this division. As the Part-Time division continues to grow, we are counting on YOU to self govern when submitting entries.


NOVICE: Dancers who are in their first year of competitive dance.


NOVICE GROUP: 75% of the dancers in a group must be in their first year of competitive dance.


NOVICE SOLO/DUET/TRIO: 100% of the dancers must be in their first year of competitive solo performance; therefore, they could have done a Duet or Trio in previous seasons. A Duet or Trio performance requires 100% of the dancers to be in their first season of that Duet or Trio performance (they can not have had a solo in previous seasons).

TIME LIMITS

SOLO: 4 Minutes Maximum


DUET/TRIO: 4 Minutes Maximum


SMALL GROUP/LARGE GROUP/LINE: 4 Minutes Maximum


EXTENDED LINE: 7 Minutes Maximum


PRODUCTION: 15 Minutes Maximum (NOTE: This includes time for prop setup.)


NOTE: All routines will be time checked the day of the competition, and in rare cases deductions can be made. Consider the above time limits as a guideline. If a routine exceeds the time limits provided significantly, please advise the Competition Directors in advance. The extended line category should be used for longer group routines. Groups are combined by size category for overall acknowledgements.

DISCIPLINES

JAZZ: Combines jazz style and technique (may contain up to 3 acro tricks).


TAP: A routine composed of tap technique and tap rhythms (often performed in tap shoes).


PAS DE DEUX/TROIS: A pointe ballet duet or trio where male and female dancers partner one another.


DEMI-POINTE: A highly technical formalized dance, using graceful flowing precise movements.


DEMI-CHARACTER: Ballet dance that includes mime, acting and is set to music.


POINTE: A routine done in pointe shoes while performing steps from ballet.


CONTEMPORARY: A dynamic collaboration of both modern dance and classical ballet technique. It may also integrate jazz and/or lyrical dance, encouraging artistic exploration that may or may not be abstract. This form of expressive dance blends structured alignment and classical positioning of ballet with the free forming, unstructured nature found in modern dance.


MODERN: A genre of dance derived from pioneer Isadora Duncan. It is represented through the technique of Martha Graham, Lester Horton, Jose Limon and/or Merce Cunningham. Modern dance is an experimentation of free form movement and self interpretation. This genre demonstrates a clear use of gravity, bodyweight transferring, torso dynamics, breath and unstructured positioning to enhance abstract expression. A strong understanding in modern dance technique is displayed through grounding elements of breath, contraction and release, fall and recover, spiralling, non classical posturing and improvisation.


HIP HOP: Mainly street style, often done to hip hop music. I.e. Breaking, popping, locking, krumping, stepping, etc.


MUSICAL THEATRE: Can incorporate Tap, Jazz, theatrical (Broadway), ballroom (Standard and Latin) and hip-hop. It can be characterized as a Jazz dance, adapted to the needs of the theatre. A typical example of the style of broadway dance is for example the musicals “Chicago”, “A Chorus Line” and “All That Jazz” by Bob Fosse. Musical theatre routines can incorporate lip sync.


SONG & DANCE: Dance combined with live vocals. Note: Dancer(s) must provide their own microphone/microphone pack at event. Testing can be done in the morning before show time.


ACROBATICS: An acrobatic routine should incorporate elements of dance technique and stylized movement COMBINED with, acrobatic tricks (such as walkovers, balance, tumbling, etc) that display use of control, strength and flexibility. Note: A minimum of 6 Acro tricks is suggested to be considered for this category.


LYRICAL: Fusion of ballet and jazz techniques used in motion to interpret and express emotion, musical intention and lyrics.


OPEN: May incorporate a variety of dance styles (must NOT contain more than 5 Acro tricks, see above for Acrobatic category description).


SPECIALITY: Ethnic dance, Ballroom (Standard or Latin), Clogging and Circus. Note: Circus performers must provide special insurance upon registration.


PRODUCTION: Is a group routine that consists of one central theme or storyline throughout and incorporates any style(s) of dance. It may also include props, staging techniques, musical theatre or song and dance.


ALTERNATIVE ABILITIES: Individuals with a spectrum of abilities who possess limits and/or challenges. Individuals with differing abilities may possess undetectable disabilities, while some individuals may present with visible disabilities.


SENIOR PLUS: Intended for participants 21 years of age or older, competing to receive a placement in a category and overall awards. A Soloist, Duet/Trio or Group involving a dancer(s) who is 21 years of age or older MUST compete in the Senior Plus category. 


ADULT: Intended for participants 21 years of age or older, that may be dance teachers and/or parents competing to receive a placement in a category (not eligible for overall awards).


HELPFUL TIPS FOR ACROBATIC TRICKS IN A NON-ACROBATIC ROUTINE:

  • A tumbling pass is considered as one trick.
  • Use of athletic contemporary style floor work, partnering and postures are not considered Acrobatic tricks.


NOTE: Choreographers should exercise their artistic discretion when addressing these guidelines.

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