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



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***COMING IN 2024***

Solo (1 dancer): 2:45 minutes
Duo/Trio (2-3 dancers): 2:45 minutes
Small Group (4-9 dancers): 3 minutes
Large Group (10 or more dancers): 4 minutes
Company Line (minimum of 15 dancers): 6 minutes
*Any groups with 15 or more dancers from more than two age divisions may compete as Company Lines. Lines compete in one of two levels and are not associated with an age division. This category gives studios the opportunity to separate full company routines from routines competing by age-specific teams.  

**Production**
Any Company Line may choose "Production" as the Performance Division.

**Parent Dance**
Any group routine with 8 or more "parent dancers" only may enter the Parent Dance category with special discounted pricing. Routines in this category compete only within the category and are not associated with a competitive level or age division.

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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
5-point deduction will be made on routines that exceed the time limit.

Purchasing Extended Time
Available for Solos & Duo/Trios: add up to 4 additional minutes
Available For Groups & Lines: add up to 10 additional minutes

***UPDATED FOR 2024***

Ballet  classical ballet technique in ballet or pointe shoes

Contemporary  modern & ballet technique reaching beyond the standard jazz vocabulary

Lyrical  jazz & ballet technique with emphasis on strength, control, and interpretation

Tap  primarily tap technique in tap shoes only

Jazz  any jazz technique utilizing uptempo music

Musical Theatre  Broadway or theatre dance styles

Hip-Hop  hip-hop, funk, or commercial street styles

Specialty  Acro, Ballroom, Pom & Cheer, Clogging, Irish, Cultural, Novelty, Song & Dance, or other styles

Fusion  consists of combined elements from two or more styles, or uses elements of a style with music not typically associated with that style

Production  may include a variety of dance genres, typically focused on entertainment value following a theme, may utilize a large prop and/or stage setting (although not required)

*Parent Dance (see categories)


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- 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.
- 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.

AGE DIVISIONS FOR 2023:

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 1, 2023. 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.



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***COMING IN 2024***

For the 2024 Season, we have added an age division and now require routines to enter the age division of the oldest dancer. This gives dancers the opportunity to compete against other dancers in their true age bracket (rather than allowing older dancers in a younger bracket via average group age). Dancers may compete up in age brackets, but may not compete in a bracket younger than their current age as of January 1st in the year of the event. 

To take this a step further, we have created a new Company Line category. Any groups with 15 or more dancers from more than two age divisions may compete as Company Lines. Lines compete in one of two levels and are not associated with an age division. This category gives studios the opportunity to separate full company routines from routines competing by age-specific teams.

6 & Under
8 & Under
10 & Under
12 & Under
14 & Under
18 & Under
Open (19 & Over)
Parent

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- Ages are determined as of January 1st in the year of the competition. 
- Duo/Trios and Group routines will compete in the age division of the oldest dancer in the routine. Dancers are not allowed to compete in younger age divisions. Routines may compete up in age brackets when a higher level of competition is desired. 
- Soloists who are advanced within the levels of their age division may choose to compete up by one age division in order to seek out a higher level of competition. Soloists with multiple solos must compete all solo routines in the same age division.

 

LEVELS FOR 2023:

Hotshot - Beginner Skill Level, 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

RULES
- 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. Routine limits apply to the individual dancers. Studios may enter as many routines in each level as needed.
- Levels are not applied in the Little Bigwigs age division or the Production category. 
- 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.
- Any group routine with 25% or more Rockstar (advanced level) dancers must compete in the Rockstar Level.
- Any group with 25% or more Megastar (intermediate level) dancers is not able to compete in the Hotshot level.
- A routine containing any number of Rockstar level dancers is not eligible to compete in the Hotshot level.
- VIP DANCE reserves the right to move any routine WITHOUT NOTICE to the level deemed appropriate by the VIP DANCE staff and judges.




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***COMING IN 2024***

DANCER SKILL LEVELS
- Dancers are assigned a skill level in the dancer list in your online registration account.
- Skill levels should be determined by the training progress of each dancer.
- In any given event, beginner level dancers may compete in up to 5 routines - only 1 may be a solo, and intermediate level dancers may compete in up to 10 routines. For a dancer to be added to additional routines (beyond the limits of their assigned skill level), you must advance them to the next skill level in your dancer list.
- The registration system will then determine the level options for each routine as you submit entry info. 
- Soloists must compete all solos in the Routine Level that corresponds with the assigned Dancer Skill Level.


ROUTINE LEVELS
For each routine, the registration system will determine the level options based on the dancers (and their skill levels) in that routine.

CHOOSING A ROUTINE LEVEL…
The selected level option should be determined by the choreographic elements in each routine. If beginner dancers are performing intermediate level skills and elements in a routine, that routine should be placed in the Megastar (intermediate) Level. And if intermediate dancers are performing advanced level skills and elements in a routine, that routine should be placed in the Rockstar (advanced) Level. We recommend that dancers only perform the skills that are stage-ready and properly executed during training on a consistent basis, allowing them to compete in the appropriate competitive level.

***VIP DANCE reserves the right to move any routine WITHOUT NOTICE to the level deemed appropriate by the VIP DANCE staff and judges.***

HOTSHOT LEVEL ~beginner~
Age Divisions: 6 & Under, 8 & Under, 10 & Under, 12 & Under
Categories: Solo, Duo/Trio, Small Group, Large Group
Choreography Guidelines: Beginner Level Skills and Elements ONLY
Adjudications: Gold, Platinum
Limitations: Intermediate and Advanced Dancers are not allowed to compete in any Hotshot Level Routine.

MEGASTAR LEVEL ~intermediate~
Age Divisions: 8 & Under, 10 & Under, 12 & Under, 14 & Under, 18 & Under
Categories: Solo, Duo/Trio, Small Group, Large Group, Company Lines / Productions
Choreography Guidelines: Intermediate Level Skills and Elements ONLY
Adjudications: Gold, Platinum, Diamond
Limitations: Any routine with 25% or more Advanced Dancers must compete in the Rockstar Level.

ROCKSTAR LEVEL ~advanced~
Age Divisions: 10 & Under, 12 & Under, 14 & Under, 18 & Under, Open (19+)
Categories: Solo, Duo/Trio, Small Group, Large Group, Company Lines / Productions
Choreography Guidelines: Advanced Level Skills and Elements
Adjudications: Platinum, Diamond, Ace, Up in the VIP

- General props are permitted in any category.

- The following items / substances and any similar substances are not permitted:
fire, water (on body, costume, or prop), powder, aerosol, gels, liquids, wet paint (on body, costume, or prop), fake blood, silly string, haze or fog machines, dry ice, smoke, strobe lights, bubbles, bubble machines, candy, chalk, crushed cork, flour, corn starch, loose glitter (on body, costume or prop), sand, dirt, sawdust, ashes, helium balloons, confetti
Please contact our office prior to the event with any questions regarding the allowance of a particular item or substance.

- 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.

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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 are expected to set-up props in 1:30 minutes and remove props in 1:30 minutes (3:00 minutes cumulative).
Lines 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 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.