Rules

1. All competition entries must be registered for the workshop and competition with a DTU member teacher before the published deadline. Armbands must be worn by every competitor throughout the competition and workshop. Lost or broken armband is a $5 replacement. Only active members of Dance Teachers United will be allowed to enter dancers in the competition portion of the event.

Please ensure your membership dues are current and in good standing. No Independent dancers will be allowed to register for the convention or the competition.

2. Minimum age for the talent competition is 5 years old. Dancers should be prepared to show their birth certificate.

3. No studio owners, salaried instructors, or dancers over the age of 22 may compete at DTU competitions. You may present a routine to be showcased and critiqued. You will receive a placement trophy and judges critiques; however they will not be eligible for overalls or monetary awards.

4. Paid studio assistants or assistant teachers under the age of 21, shall be in the Pro-Am division. If a studio assistant competes with a group, the group should be in the Pro-Am division regardless of the average age of the group. The Pro-Am division shall not be awarded overall placement titles, and cannot be considered for monetary awards.

5. Only one solo per dancer.

6. Dancers are allowed to compete in more than one number in the same category (except solos) if the member teacher can hold delay time to a minimum (there will be 25 points deducted from total score if delays hold up the competition). Ex. A dancer may enter 2 duets.

7. All entries will receive a placement trophy according to the number of points earned from the judges. In addition, competitors will be eligible for overalls within each division. The overalls awarded are based on the number of entries and are at the discretion of the competition director.

8. DTU competition organizers try to schedule groups with the utmost concern for the students performing. Younger dancers will perform at the beginning of the competition starting usually with solos and duets/trios. The order and lineup is based on Category and age Division. Once the line-up is published and has been made official by the Talent Coordinator, if a teacher requests to move to an act from their scheduled and published time (for any reason), then that number will not be eligible for overall awards.

9. All judges' decisions are final.

10. All entries must register through the DTU website on DanceBug. The DanceBug service is free to use for all studios.

11. "RECREATIONAL COMPETITION"- This is for dancers who are new to competing and only take less than two hours of class a week.

Recreational competitors will compete at the beginning of their divisions. There will be overall awards for the recreational competitors. The awards given will be based on the number of entries. Recreational entries will not be eligible for monetary awards.

12. All music must be uploaded to DanceBug at least one week prior to the competition. Seven days before the competition no alterations to any music will be allowed. Music and choreography must be suitable for a family audience.

13. Props must be free standing and must be set and removed quickly to keep the show moving. Failure to do this in a timely manner could result in a 25 point deduction. No props requiring electricity allowed. No use of fire, glass or live animals are allowed. No liquids, glitter, mist, etc. are allowed on stage. Petals, leaves or such must be able to be swept up by the studio within 30 seconds after the number has concluded.

14. Sportsmanlike behavior is expected at all times! A failure to do this will result in immediate disqualification.

15. Each entry must be entered in a discipline to suit that number. All disciplines will be allowed THREE tumbling passes or tricks except ballet, which should have none. Acrobatics category should consist of at least 51% acrobatics and 49% dance.

16. The age category shall be determined by the average age of the dancers in the act. You must round up if the average age is (.5) or higher. Enter each dancer's age at time of competition. *BUMP RULE*- Any duet, trio, group or production cannot compete in an age division more than one division younger than the oldest dancer in the act, regardless of the average age. Ex. An entry with an average age of 12 (junior), that includes a participant at the age of 16 (senior), must be entered in the teen division (One division younger than the oldest dancer).

17. All monetary awards will be made out to the member teacher sponsoring the act.

18. The doors will open for general seating one half hour prior to the published start time of the competition.

19. Dressing Rooms will be assigned by the Talent Coordinator.

20. There will be no rehearsal time on stage before competition.

21. No reserved seating is allowed. Special accommodations will be made for handicapped individuals.

*FOR ANY COMPETITION INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT ASHLEY FULLER AT dtuashley@gmail.com.

Disciplines

Ballet

Musical Theatre

Contemporary

Hip Hop

Jazz

Novelty

Lyrical

Open

Acrobatics

Dance Team

Kickline

COMPETITION INFORMATION

Divisions

Petite 5-8 years old

Juniors 9-12 years old

Teens 13-15 years old

Seniors 16 18 years old

College 19 years old and up

Pro-Am 21 years & under

Showcase 22 years & up

Categories (time limits)

Solos - 2 1/2 minutes (only one solo per dancer allowed)

Duet/Trio - 3 minutes

Small Group 4-9 dancers - 3 minutes

Large Group 10 or more dancers - 4 minutes

Productions 16 or more dancers - 6 minutes

TIME LIMIT ON ACTS: Any act running 5 seconds or more overtime will be deducted 3 points per judge. Extra time is available to purchase at the time of registering the act on DanceBug

EACH ENTERED ACT WILL RECEIVE A PLACEMENT TROPHY DETERMINED BY THE SCORE OF THAT INDIVIDUAL ACT.

EVERY COMPETITOR WILL RECEIVE AN OLYMPIC-STYLE MEDAL FOR COMPETING.

LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RATING SCALE

300-260 POINTS DIAMOND AWARD

259-230 POINTS PLATINUM AWARD

229-212 POINTS GOLD AWARD

211-185 POINTS EMERALD AWARD

184 POINTS OR BELOW SILVER AWARD

OVERALL TROPHIES TO BE AWARDED

TOP FIVE IN EACH DIVISION AWARDED TO 12 & UNDER AND 13 & OVER

Recreation and Open Competition Divisions

According to the number of entries per division at the discretion of the Competition Director

FALL AND WINTER HIGH SCORE GROUP AWARD (12 & UNDER AND 13 & OVER)

$150.00 presented to the teacher

FALL AND WINTER HIGH SCORE SOLO OR DUET TRIO (12 & UNDER AND 13 & OVER)

$75.00 presented to the teacher

SUMMER HIGH SCORE GROUP AWARD (12 & UNDER AND 13 & OVER)

$300.00 presented to the teacher

SUMMER HIGH SCORE SOLO OR DUET/TRIO (12 & UNDER AND 13 & OVER)

$150.00 presented to the teacher

Martha Geeslin Outstanding Stage Performers) of the Day

Susan Allen Best Costume of the Day

Mary Alpha Johnson-Donnelly Outstanding Choreography of the Day

Beverly Smith Invitational Award

ADDITIONAL SPECIAL AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN AT THE DISCRETION OF THE JUDGES!