Competition Divisions

Solos, Duets-Trios, Small Groups 4-9 dancers, Large Groups 10-19, Lines 20 or more, Production 5 or more dancers, Pro-Am Division: for dancers with a full time teacher or instructor performing.

All male dancers compete separately in the solo category, For Duet-Trios, Groups and Lines, add all the ages then divide by the number of contestants.  Dancers only move up an age division when the number is whole.  Dancers who are point five (.5) do not move to the next age level!!  All ages are as of the first day of competition.  Contestants will compete in the same age category at the Dance USA Finals.  Regional ages lock you in for finals! 

Dance Category Guidelines

All dance categories may contain no more than two acro-gymnastic tricks.  One point deduction per judge will be made for routines that do not follow this rule.

Acrobatic:  A routine using controlled movements and flexibility, I.E.: walkovers, limbers, chest stands, can contain tumbling skills.
Acro Dance:  A routine containing 50% Acro and 50% Dance.
Ballet:  Must contain ballet technique, proper footwear required.
Baton:  Routine using batons or hoops.  No fire or knives permitted.
Character Acro-Gym:  Routine portraying a character, i.e.:  farmer, nurse, cat, incorporating 75% acro-gymnastics.
Character Dance:  A routine portraying a character, i.e.: scarecrow, sailor, or gypsy, incorporating 75% dance.
Cheerleading:  includes jumps, precision, tumbling and vocal cheering.
Clogging:  Must incorporate clogging technique and style.
Ethnic:  A routine portraying cultural style with an ethnic costume.
Formal Modeling:  Party dress, evening gown, must provide own music.
Gymnastics:  A routine using aerials, back handsprings and some, must contain some dance connection. Recommended for stronger tumblers.
Hip Hop:  A routine using hip hop or street style dance.
Jazz:  Routine containing jazz technique, splits and floor rolls allowed.
Lyrical:  Routine demonstrating control, balance and extension.  Routine should tell the story throughout the choreography.  Must contain lyrics.
Modern:  Modern and contemporary dance styles.
Musical Theater:  Routine portraying a Broadway or theatrical theme.
Novelty:  A routine that does not fit in any other category, no acro tricks.
Open:  A routine that does not fit in any other category, acro trick allowed.
Pantomime:  Impersonations through facial and body movement.
Pointe:  Routine containing ballet technique, must where pointe shoes.
Pom Pom:  Must use poms for 75% of dance routine, acro allowed.
Productions:  Any group of 5 or more, must include a theme throughout.
Song and Dance:  Must contain singing and any other form of dance.
Sportswear Modeling:  Can contain pivot turns and dance in choreography.  Models must provide their own music.
Star Performer:  This is an open category may contain dance or gym.
Student Improv:  Dancers choice of jazz, tap, lyrical or open.
Tap:  A routine using tap technique and style.
Variety Arts:  An open division with props as a background.
Vocal:  Vocal presentation, No words on tape selection.

Time Limits

All contestants must furnish their own music on a cassette tape or compact disk.  All tapes should be cued and ready to start.  The time limits are 3:00 minutes for all solos and duet-trios, and 5:00 minutes for all groups and lines.  Production time limit is 10:00 minutes.  A five second grace period will be added to all performers, and then a one point per judge deduction will apply for overtime entries.

 Adjudication

Adjudicated placement for all entries, 100 points per judge.  300 possible points.  All dancers are against a point system.

282.3-300  Platinum Award

276-282.2  High Gold Award

270-275.9  Gold Award

260-269.9  Silver Award

Multiple placement within each category will be announced. IE: there may be several platinum, golds etc. awarded in the 13-14 lyrical category.

 Performing Arts Awards

Large trophy awards to all platinum and gold dance entries, plaque awards to all silver and bronze dance entries.  Ribbons will be awarded to all duet-trio and group members with a trophy awarded to the duet-trio, or group.  Five large overall awards and a scholarship of $100.00 will be awarded to the highest scoring entry in the Mini, Petite, Junior, Teen, Senior divisions.  Awards will also be given to the highest scoring solo, duet-trio, small group, large group and line in each division.

A $100 gift certificate to the national finals will be awarded to each “Star Studio”. Top Title Winner receives a Special Award.

A minimum of 10 acts per division are needed to distribute scholarships.

The Overall Best of Show Highest Score receives a $100.00 Gift certificate.

 Title Categories and Awards

All title contestants will represent their home state.  All state winners will receive a large trophy and crown for the girls.  Winners will have the opportunity to represent their state at one of our national finals.  Dancers must compete a seperate solo for the title division. of our national finals.

  Mini Miss & Mr. Dance  4-6

Petite Miss & Mr. Dance  7-9

Junior Miss & Mr. Dance 10-12

Teen Miss & Mr. Dance  13-15

Miss & Mr. Dance 16-21