Categories and Rules

ENTRY PROCESS

All entries are accepted and processed in the order received. Any contest that has excessive numbers of entries may be expanded into a third day (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). A tentative schedule will be provided to you with the date(s) and approximate times at least five days in advance of any competition.

CATEGORIES OF COMPETITION

Acro, Ballet, Clog, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Musical Show, Novelty/Character, Open, Pointe and Tap.

LEVELS OF COMPETITION

· Classic: Students who participate in five or fewer hours of technique class per week.

· Elite: Students who participate in 6 or more hours of technique class per week.

GROUP SIZE DEFINITIONS

· SMALL GROUP: 4-9 dancers

· LARGE GROUP: 10-15 dancers

· LINE: Sixteen or more students close in age and ability level

· PRODUCTION: Sixteen or more students with a wide variety of ages and ability levels

AGE CATEGORIES

4 and under; 5-6; 7-8; 9-10; 11-12; 13-14; 15-16; 17-18; 19-25; 26 and over. The average age determines placement for duets, trios, and groups. Adding all the ages of the contestants and dividing by the number of contestants determines the average age. If there is a remainder of .5 or over, the average age is moved into the next age category. Improper age category may result in disqualification. Any person may request, through the contest directors, proof of age of any student. Students should have proof of their age with them (birth certificate, driver’s license, etc.). Failure to have proof of age may result in disqualification. Age will be determined as the age on January 1st.

AWARDS

Adjudicated and Placement scoring will both be used. Our adjudicated system is based on a pre-set scale of points. Each performance will be awarded a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Diamond award based on the total number of points they receive. Olympic style scoring will give 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place to the three highest scoring routines in each category. Individual trophies and ribbons are given in solo, duet and trio categories. Groups will receive a trophy and ribbons for all members of the group.

GENERAL RULES

1. Students may do only one routine per category.

2. You may not do a group routine, then use it as a duet, trio, or solo.

3. Any routine which received a 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd at a Nationals competition may not be repeated in the next Regional season.

4. 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners in a Regional contest may not compete again (in the winning category) at another Regional contest in the same year. They may compete in any other category that they did not win a 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd place award.

5. In order for a group to compete twice in the same category, at least 50% of the group members must be different students.

6. No fire or live animals can be used in any routine.

7. No teachers or paid assistants may perform.

8. No still cameras or video cameras of any kind are allowed during the competition.

ACCOMPANIMENT, TIME ALLOTMENTS, DEDUCTIONS

· Music must be on a CD or an IPod. Label CD’s with studio name and song title. For IPod users please create a Symposium playlist.

· Solos, Duets, and Trios are allowed 3 minutes.

· Small and Large Groups are allowed 5 minutes.

· Production and Line Groups are allowed 9 minutes.

· .5 point per judge for exceeding time limits.

· .5 point per judge for too many tricks.

· .5 point per judge for wrong category selection.

· .5 point per judge for starting over (this will be allowed once if time schedule permits).

· The stopwatch will start when the music starts. Be sure that when your routine stops, the music stops. If you exit to music, this will be timed and included in your allotted time.

· Extended time for groups is available for a fee of $25 per group per minute.

SPECIAL TRICKS

Splits in any form, leaps, and jumps may be used in any routine. A special trick is an acrobatic or gymnastics trick such as an aerial, cartwheel, walkover, back handspring or running round-off back hand spring.

Category	Number of Tricks Allowed
Acro	Unlimited
Ballet	0
Clog	1
Contemporary	2
Hip Hop	2
Jazz	2
Lyrical	2
Modern	2
Musical Show	2
Novelty/Character	2
Open	Unlimited
Pointe	0
Tap	1

PLEASE READ THE RULES CAREFULLY AND BE SURE THAT YOU DON’T ALLOW A DEDUCTION POSSIBILITY IN YOUR ROUTINE.