RULES & POLICIES

Solo (1 dancer): 2:45 minutes
Duo/Trio (2-3 dancers): 2:45 minutes
Small Group (4-9 dancers): 3 minutes
Large Group (10-14 dancers): 4 minutes
Super Group (15 or more dancers): 4 minutes
*Production (minimum of 15 dancers): 8 minutes
**Parent Dance (minimum of 8 dancers): 4 minutes

EXTENDED TIME Available for Solos & Duo/Trios: add up to 4 additional minutes
EXTENDED TIME Available For Groups & Lines: add up to 10 additional minutes

*Production - any Super Group may be converted to a Production. Production routines are typically defined by any of the following attributes: follows a theme, includes dancers from different age groups and/or levels, includes a variety of dance styles, focuses on entertainment value, or utilizes a large prop and/or stage setting. Production routines compete only against other Productions for a spot in the Production VIP LIST and are not segmented by age and level. Productions are also eligible for Up in the VIP adjudication placement and are featured in the Highlights Gallery.

**Parent Dance - any group routine with 8 or more dancers consisting of parents only may enter the Parent Dance category with special discounted pricing. Routines in this category compete only within the category for Parent High Scores and are not associated with a competitive level or age division. 

Incomplete Routines - a 3 point deduction will be made for dancers that leave the stage without completing the performance. In the rare case that a dancer is allowed to re-perform, the routine will be adjudicated only and not eligible for any high score awards.

Over Time Limit Routines - a 5 point deduction will be made on routines that exceed the time limit.

Jazz
Ballet
Pointe
Lyrical
Contemporary
Modern
Tap
Clogging
Musical Theatre
Hip-Hop
Open
Acro Dance
Ballroom
Dance Team
Pom & Cheer
*Parent Dance (see categories)
*Production (see categories)

No "trick limit" in any category.

Dancers are able to compete in multiple routines in the same dance division and category. However, those dancers should be prepared for quick costume changes.

Inappropriate Routines - all routines, music, choreography, and costumes must be suitable for family viewing and listening. Failure to comply with this rule may result in point deductions or entry disqualification at the discretion of the event director and judges.

Little Bigwigs: 7 & under
Mini: 8 - 9
Junior: 10 - 12
Teen: 13 - 15
Senior: 16 - 24
Adult: 25 & over

Ages are determined as of January 1st in the year of the competition. Add all ages of participating dancers, and then divide by the total number of dancers. Drop all decimal points. Our online system will calculate this for you once all birthdays are recorded for each dancer. Groups will average age, but may only drop one bracket below the oldest dancer.

If any of the dancers in a routine change from Regionals to Nationals, you must recalculate the average age of that routine for Nationals.

​Any dancer or routine may "compete up" an age division. However, this must be consistent across all routines. For example, if a soloist is 12 but competes in a solo as 13, that dancer must be added in to all duo/trios or groups as age 13. In addition, any duo/trio or group that "competes up" must do so for all duo/trios and/or groups with 50% or more of the same dancers. Age divisions will not be changed to "compete up" after the schedule has been posted. This must be done at the time of registration.

Hotshot - Recreational Dancers, Beginner Level Choreography, Up to 5 Routines
Megastar - Intermediate Skill Level, Intermediate Level Choreography, Up to 10 Routines
Rockstar - Advanced Skill Level, Advanced Level Choreography, Unlimited Number of Routines

*Pro - Any dance teacher or professional dancer age 21 and over who makes at least 50% of their total income from teaching dance, choreographing, or dancing professionally. Any routine including at least one "professional" performer must be entered in the Professional Level. Routines competing in the Professional Level will be scored and critiqued, but are not eligible for high point and cash awards.

AWARD ELIGIBILITY
High Scores & Special Awards - All Levels (excluding Pro)
VIP List - Megastar & Rockstar
Idol Soloists - Rockstar
Dance-Off at Nationals - Megastar & Rockstar
Up in the VIP Adjudication Placement - Rockstar
Online Highlights Gallery - Rockstar

RULES
- All entries in each level will be adjudicated by the same scoring system and judging criteria. Critiques will be geared toward the appropriate level.
- Competitive Levels are available in the Mini, Junior, Teen, and Senior age division for solos, duo/trios, and groups.
- Levels are not applied in the Little Bigwigs age division. Little Bigwigs are eligible for Up in the VIP adjudication placement, high scores, and special awards. If you wish to place your 7 & under dancers in a recreational or intermediate competitive level instead, you may choose to move their routines up to the Mini Division and take advantage of those leveling options where all general leveling rules will then apply to those dancers and routines. 
- Levels are not applied in the Adult age division. Adult division is eligible for Up in the VIP adjudication placement, high scores, and special awards.
- Levels are not applied in the Production category. Productions are eligible for the Production VIP List, Up in the VIP adjudication placement, and are featured in the Highlights Gallery. 
- Levels are not applied in the Parent Dance category. 
- Teachers should level each dancer based on the competitive level guidelines in addition to the routine limit restrictions. Each dancer will be assigned a competitive level in the dancer list in your online registration account. The computer will then determine the appropriate level for each routine as it is submitted through the system. 
- Soloists, when competing more than one solo, must compete all solos in the same level and may only place once in the high score rankings.
- Routine limits apply to the individual dancers. Studios may enter as many routines in each level as needed.
- Any group routine with 25% or more Rockstar (advanced level) dancers must compete in the Rockstar Level. The online registration system will calculate this for you.
- Any group with 25% or more Megastar (intermediate level) dancers is not able to compete in the Hotshot level.
- Teachers may elect to have routines compete at a more advance level if desired. A routine containing any number of Rockstar level dancers is not eligible to compete in the Hotshot level.
- Level changes are not allowed once an event has begun. In an unavoidable situation, leveling up may be acceptable when advanced level dancers are incorrectly placed in a lower level. However, leveling down is not an option.
- VIP DANCE reserves the right to move any routine WITHOUT NOTICE to the level deemed appropriate by the VIP DANCE staff and judges.

General props are permitted in any category.
Fire, water, powder, and similar substances are not permitted. Please contact our office prior to the event with any questions regarding the allowance of a particular item or substance.
Helium balloons are not permitted.
All props must be Marley safe. Any damage to the Marley flooring will be billed to the responsible studio.
Props are not to exceed 10 feet in height.

SET-UP TIME LIMITS
Solos, Duo/Trios, and Small Groups are expected to set-up props in 30 seconds and remove props in 30 seconds (1:00 minute cumulative).
Large Groups and Super Groups are expected to set-up props in 1:30 minutes and remove props in 1:30 minutes (3:00 minutes cumulative).
Productions are expected to set-up props in 2:30 minutes and remove props in 2:30 minutes (5:00 minutes cumulative).
If prop set-up/removal exceeds these time limits, performances may be subject to point deductions.
Groups and Productions may purchase an additional 2:00 minutes total for set-up/removal of props for a flat fee of $30.00.
Solos and Duo/Trios are not permitted extended prop set-up/removal time.