Dance Competition

Photos by SleepyDef

Rules

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Performances will be timed.
1. One performer (max 2:15 mins)
2. Two performers (max 2:45
3. Three performers (max 2:45)
Musical tracks must be PG-13. No excessive swearing, racial slurs, or overly graphic sexual references. If the submitted track does not meet the requirement, the contestant will be notified by the dance coordinator to choose a different song. The acceptable file format is MP3, preferably 320kbps.

It is strongly recommended that contestants bring a USB flash drive with a copy of their music (MP3 or WAV) as a backup in the event the file provided on Dropbox/Google Drive is not accessible by AV or is corrupted.
DO NOT SHOW UP INTOXICATED. You will be disqualified.
Everyone is required to be at auditions. If you can not make it you will have to schedule a make up with a dance competition coordinator.
All competitors must arrive 30 minutes BEFORE the competition starts. If a competitor is late, they may be disqualified.

Judging

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Execution: how precise each dancer’s movements are within the chosen style of dance, how strong each move is, and how cleanly it is performed
Space and Levels: how well a routine uses the space presented. Staying within one small space, often referred to as a “comfort box”, will lower your score while finding ways to dance towards the edges of the floor will raise your score. Levels scores will be lowered if a routine is done at one level such as standing, sitting, kneeling, or jumping.
Choreography: how the dance matches to the music. Dancers with good choreography feel the different rhythms inside a song, and their movement will match the tempo/attitude of that track.
Technique: how well the routine represents that style of dance. For example: if a routine has waves, isolations, and tutting, judges will look for how the performance uses the different styles of dance to play off each other and create a stronger routine. Judges will also look for repeated moves or a depth of moves within each style. Repeating the same move too much will lower your technique score.
Group Synchronicity (groups only): how in-time one dancer is with another during the routine. This is the largest scoring opportunity for group routines. If a routine has instances with purposeful de-synchronization, make sure your routine makes this clear. Judges will also critique how often one dancer has to look at another to keep with the choreography. Scores will be raised if the dancers only have to look at each other when the choreography calls for it and are able to keep pace with their partner(s) and music.

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Tips

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While this is a competition, the point of having these competitions is for the entertainment of the crowd.

Dancers are welcome to perform using any style of dance.

Practice, practice, practice! Performing freestyle when entering a dance competition almost never has the same effect as a performance that is choreographed and well rehearsed.

Be confident. Even if it’s your first competition, no one will make fun of you for trying. Take a deep breath and have fun with it!

Edit your music! It is not up to the Audio-Visual crew to find your cue point. Editing your music to begin and end at the appropriate spots will ensure no mistakes are made during your performance.