Event Info

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EXPECT FRIDAY EVENT (COMPETITION AND/OR CLASSES) TO OCCUR

**Co. Dance reserves the right to start ANY age division AS EARLY AS Friday morning. If unable to compete, entries will perform for adjudication only on Saturday. Convention classes may be scheduled for Friday evening.

COMPETITION AGE DIVISIONS:

• Take the average age of the participants to determine age division. If your average age ends in .5 or above, round up OR if it ends in .4 or below, round down.
• At least half of the performers in the following divisions must be at or below the stated ages (petite-9 years, junior-12 years, teen-15 years) regardless of the average age of all performers. If this is not the case, then the entry should be placed in the next higher age division.
• At least half of the performers in the following divisions must be at or below the stated ages (petite-9 years, junior-12 years, teen-15 years) regardless of the average age of all performers. If this is not the case, then the entry should be placed in the next higher age division.

CATEGORIES: JAZZ, HIP HOP, BALLET, CONTEMPORARY, TAP, OPEN

Performances should enter the category that most fits the style of the routine. All lyrical and modern routines should enter under the Contemporary category. If your routine does not fit into one of the first five categories, please enter it in the Open category (i.e. musical theatre, folkloric, acrobatic, character, etc.). Use of props as a main theme in a routine should be entered in the Open category. If a prop is used for a costuming or staging effect, it can be placed in any of the appropriate categories. If your routine has more than 3 tumbling passes, you must enter it in the Open category. Tumbling occurring simultaneously/continuously is considered (1) pass.

DIVISION/FEES:

Spotlight Challenge (1 performer): $100 per person
Duo/Trio (2-3 performers): $55 per person
Group (4-9 performers): $40 per person
Line (10-15 performers): $40 per person
Extended Line (16-24 performers): $37 per person
Production (25 or more performers*): $37 per person
Extended Production** (25 or more performers* w/extended time): $39 per person

*Maximum of 70 dancers on stage at one time.
**Each studio is limited to one Extended Production.

TIME LIMITS:

Spotlight Challenge: 2 minutes, 45 seconds
Duo/Trio: 2 minutes, 45 seconds
Group: 3 minutes
Line: 3 minutes
Extended Line: 4 minutes
Production: 5 minutes
Extended Production*: 8 minutes
*Each studio is limited to one Extended Production.

No minimum time limits. A one point deduction for every five (5) seconds over the time limit will be deducted from the composite score. Timing will begin at the start of the music with the first movement. A five second cushion will be given due to variations in sound equipment. Performers must enter and exit the stage in a timely manner and quickly clear the stage of any props or debris. Props cannot include items that are intentionally dispersed before or during a number (i.e. feathers, fake snow, etc.). These types of items are too difficult to clean up in a timely manner.

LIMITED ENTRIES:

There will be NO LIMIT on competition entries (excluding solos). Studios are still limited to 4 solos in the Spotlight Challenge. Competition cut-off may occur before deadline if maximum number of entries is reached.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Technical Ability/Execution: 40 points
Choreography: 30 points
Showmanship/Overall Effect: 30 points

AWARDS:

Each competitor will receive a ribbon of participation. Each entry will receive an award based on a point system. Top winners will be awarded at the conclusion of the competition and at the Co. Dance Showcase.

Each competitor will receive a ribbon of participation. Each entry will receive an award based on a point system. Top winners will be awarded at the conclusion of the competition and at the Co. Dance Showcase.

TOP AWARDS:

• Top placement awards will be awarded in each age division (Petite, Junior, Teen, and Senior) based on the final number of entries per division. There must be a minimum of 2 entries in each division and an entry must receive a gold, high gold, or platinum ranking to be eligible.
• Co. Dance Cash (to be used towards 14-15 Competition Fees) will be awarded to each 1st Place entry.
• High score trophies awarded to each category in the Petite, Junior, Teen, and Senior age groups (excluding solos). There must be a minimum of 2 entries in each category and you must receive a gold, high gold, or platinum ranking to be eligible
• Specialty awards for Best Music, Best Costume, Best Choreography, Best Concept, and Entertainer Award (excluding solos).
• Ties will be broken by (1) the overall execution score and (2) judges vote.
• Top awards will be presented at the conclusion of competition and at the Co. Dance Showcase.

FACULTY CHOICE AWARDS:

Top honors will be presented to the Best Overall Performance in each age division (excluding solos) selected by the Co. Dance Faculty. A minimum of 2 high score awards must be awarded in each age division for a FCA to be presented. Each winning entry will receive a commemorative award.

REGIONAL STUDIO CHAMPION:

A top studio award will be presented to the highest average scoring studio during competition. To be eligible, a studio must have a minimum of 7 entries (excluding solos) in competition. If eligible, all of a studio’s entries (excluding solos) will be averaged to obtain a final score. The studio with the highest average score will be named “Regional Studio Champion” and receive a commemorative banner.

NATIONAL VIDEO DANCE CHALLENGE:

A winning entry will be selected in each city to represent their region and then compete in a Nationally Sponsored On-Line Competition. Each Regional Winner will receive a commemorative plaque and sponsored gift award. The National Winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

MUSIC:

Each routine must be on a separate, high quality CD (Please only 1 song per CD). Please have a back-up CD for each entry on hand. Music must be pre-recorded at the appropriate pitch and volume level. Audio labels will be provided to each studio at registration.

All music must be turned into the registration table by 11:00 AM (SATURDAY COMPETITION) AND DURING FRIDAY REGISTRATION (FRIDAY COMPETITION).

STAGE:

30′ Depth x 40′ Width (average size) with a professionally laid marley floor. Size of stage may vary in each regional city.

VIDEO CAMERAS & PHOTOGRAPHY:

NO personal video-taping and/or photography allowed.

COMPETITION REGULATIONS (Solo Competition):

• Register early! Space is limited for the Spotlight Challenge and will be accepted on a first come first served basis.
• Studios are allowed 4 entries in the “Spotlight Challenge” Studios will be contacted 3 weeks prior to competition if maximum number of entries has not been reached. Studios will be allowed to bring additional entries on a first come, first served basis until maximum number of entries are reached.
• Limit of one solo per individual
• Age Divisions: Petite (6-9), Junior (10-12), Teen (13-15), Senior (16-21)
• Time Limit: 2 minutes, 45 seconds
• All dancers MUST be prepared to compete Friday night and/or at any point during the Regional Competition on Saturday night.
• All competition rules and regulations apply to the Spotlight Challenge.
• Entries must be postmarked 30 days before the competition. Competition cut-off may occur before deadline if quota is reached. Postmarked entries are not guaranteed.
• The Spotlight Challenge is a separate competition from the Regional Competition.

COMPETITION REGULATIONS:

• Competition entries must be postmarked 30 days before the convention. Competition cut-off may occur before deadline if maximum number of entries is reached. Postmarked entries are not guaranteed.
• If registering by mail, please use only the official registration forms found at www.codance.com. Registration by mail will only be accepted via these forms.
• No faxed registrations will be accepted.
• No changes in competition entries will be allowed 2 weeks prior to competition. Any special performance order request MUST be made 2 weeks prior in advance via email to info@codance.com. We cannot guarantee requests but will take them into consideration.
• Competition start time may vary from city to city. Expect Friday competition and/or classes to occur. Co. Dance reserves the right to start ANY age division as early as Friday morning. If unable to compete, then entries will perform for adjudication only on Saturday. Convention classes may be scheduled for Friday evening.
• There are no refunds.
• To be eligible to compete, all participants must be registered for the convention. (No observers can compete.)
• All competitors must wear their convention wristband during the competition.
• All competition entries must be registered under a dance studio or dance company.
• All fees in each division are per performer, per entry.
• In the spirit of competition, we prefer that performers do not compete against themselves in the same category and division.
• First place and Faculty Choice winners are not allowed to compete at other Co. Dance regional competitions.
• Incorrect information (ages, etc.) will result in disqualification.
• Teachers/Owners must have copies of birth certificates on hand for each participant in case of any age disputes.
• Individual judges score sheets and critiques are for the use of each studio and will be available to only the owner/teacher on Sunday at 2:00 pm.?Each judge has the responsibility and authority to review and submit his/her final scores prior to the final tally of the scores for all studios.
• All routines must be appropriate for family viewing. Failure to do so will reflect in total score or may be disqualified at the discretion of the competition director and panel of judges.
• All participants and observers agree to conduct themselves in a manner displaying good sportsmanship. Unsports-manlike conduct will result in disqualification.
• No photography or video-taping in dressing rooms.
• No males are allowed in the ladies dressing rooms.
• Courteous behavior must be exhibited in the dressing room area.
• Programs are available for purchase at The Q in Style.
• There will be reserved seating for all teachers during competition.
• No teacher may perform with students.
• No professional dancers may participate in competition. A professional dancer is someone who earns 50% or more of their total income from dance.
• Choreographers, teachers and performers automatically give their permission to Co. Dance to use their likeness in photographs and videos for advertising and publicity purposes.
• Competition is open to the public. However, seating is on a first come, first served basis and cannot be guaranteed.
• Talking, lip sync and singing are acceptable, however, dance will be the only criteria for judging.
• The use of a microphone is prohibited.
• No pyramids or basket tosses are allowed in any category.
• No tumbling passes in tap shoes.
• Flips/twists greater than one rotation are prohibited.
• The use of mini trampolines, springboards, or similar apparatus needs special clearance. Please contact (888) 473-5383
• General lifts are acceptable.
• Landings for all jumps, leaps or kicks must bear weight on at least one foot. Exception: jumps or leaps to the splits are allowed.
• Knee drops are prohibited. (Definition: A drop to the knees with both feet leaving the ground prior.)
• No videotaping and/or photography during the competi-tion.
• Any props exceeding 6 feet in height and/or an assembling time of 1 minute need special clearance. Please contact (888) 473-5383. Props cannot include items that are intentionally dispersed before or during a number (i.e. feathers, fake snow, etc.).
• Any rule infractions will be determined by the director of the convention and/or judges panel/penalty judges.
• Violation of any rules may result in disqualification.
• Competition policies and event structure are subject to change.
• Co. Dance reserves the right to cancel events based on enrollment.