Entry Guidelines & Rules
Rules, Regulations and Guidelines
EVENT FEES:
Studio Owners and/or Competition Team Directors, please contact us at danceworkscadf@gmail.com to request current pricing, or login to your Dance Comp Genie account to view.
AGE CATEGORIES:
Future Stars 3 – 4 years
Mini 5 – 6 years, 7 – 8 years, 9 – 10 years
Pre -Teen 11 – 12 years
Teen 13 – 14 years
Senior 15 – 16 years, 17 – 18 years
Adult 19 – 24 years, 25 years and up
AGE CALCULATION:
Solo Age Calculation: Soloists are entered based on their age as of March 1st, 2025
Duo/Trio Calculation: Duos and Trios are entered based on their median age as of March 1st 2025 with decimal point .5 rounded down
Example: As of March 1st 2025, Dancer A is 15 years old, Dancer B is 12 years old, their average age is 13.5 years. With a .5 decimal dropped down, they are entered into the 13 year category (these calculations are automatically done by the software upon registration).
Group Calculation: Groups are calculated by adding the ages of all dancers on March 1st, 2025 together, and then dividing by the number of dancers in the group. The .5 decimal point is always dropped.
Example: An average of 10.6 will dance as 11, and an average of 10.5 will dance as 10.
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LEVELS/DIVISIONS:
DIVISIONS: (NEW FOR 2025)
Tier 1 is geared towards dancers who participate in dance more recreationally and have limited or no prior competition experience. A dancer in this division may compete in no more than 3 routines and train up to 3 hours per week. The Top Highest Scoring Tier 1 Division entries will be recognized separately. A routine cannot compete in the Tier 1 division if it has Inter 2/Advanced dancers or Tier 3/Tier 4 dancers even if over 50% of the other dancers are Tier 1. In this scenario, routines must be bumped up.
Tier 2 is for dancers who train up to 6 hours per week.
Tier 3 is for dancers who train up to 9 hours per week
Tier 4 is for dancers who train over 9 hours per week
Dancers who achieve a higher-level division at some point in their training are not permitted to go back down into a lower division if they reduce their training hours in later years. Division calculations must take into account training hours in all disciplines.
LEVELS/YEARS OF TRAINING:
Novice 1-2yrs of Training
Junior 3-4yrs of Training
Intermediate 1 5-6yrs of Training
Intermediate 2 7-8yrs of Training
Advanced 9yrs & over of Training
Years of Training is calculated from the age the dancer started dancing from the age of 6 years.
Years of Training Levels remains the same for a dancer in all disciplines and is not calculated by years of training per discipline. Example: a 15-year-old dancer starts dancing at age 6 in Tap and Ballet adds Jazz at 7 years old and at age 12 adds Lyrical and Pointe. Dancer is classified as Advanced in all Category Levels.
A routine cannot compete in Novice & Junior Divisions if it has Intermediate/Advanced dancers-even if over 50% of the other dancers are Novice or Junior Division. In this scenario routines will compete in the Intermediate or Advanced Divisions.
Entries in the Production and Adult age category compete in their own section(s)
**NOTE**Because no competition can possibly know how many hours or years a student dances, studio directors/teachers are left to their own sound judgment when entering routines. The judges reserve the right to move routines that are obviously under-placed. All judging decisions are final.
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TIME LIMITS:
BEGINNER SOLO (dancers name for Routine Title) 2 min 30sec
SOLO (dancers name for Routine Title) 2 min 30sec
DUO (dancers 1st Names and Last Name Initial for Routine title) 3 minutes
TRIO (dancers 1st Names or Name of Routine) 3 minutes
SMALL GROUP (4-9 dancers) 3 minutes
LARGE GROUP (10-16 dancers) 4 minutes
LINE (17-24) 4 minutes
LARGE LINE (25 + dancers) 5 minutes
MINI PRODUCTION (20 dancers minimum) 6 minutes
PRODUCTION (20 dancers minimum) 10 minutes
Studios may pre-purchase additional time for any Solo, Duo/Trio, Small Group, Large Group, or Lines
If the time limit is exceeded, a 5-point deduction may be taken from the judges score and additional time charges applied and a possible Overtime Fee Penalty. Time limits will be strictly enforced.
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DANCE DISCIPLINES:
CLASSICAL BALLET Dancer(s) must wear ballet shoes. Pointe shoes are not permitted.
CHARACTER BALLET Dancer(s) must wear ballet shoes. Pointe shoes are not permitted.
POINTE Utilizes classical or contemporary pointe technique and movement. Dancer(s) must wear pointe shoes.
NATIONAL
LYRICAL demonstrates a mix of ballet and jazz techniques
CONTEMPORARY is choreographed using contemporary technique and movement
MODERN utilizes modern movement, derived from Modern masters
JAZZ is choreographed utilizing jazz technique and movement.
HIP HOP/STREET
TAP
SONG & DANCE incorporates live singing with dance, and is choreographed to music from Broadway or cinematic musicals. Pre-recorded vocals are not permitted for Solos, Duos & Trios
MUSICAL THEATRE
VARIETY/NOVELTY
ACRO/GYM consists of gymnastics and/or acrobatic work, in addition to dance choreography, that must account for 50% or more of the routine
OPEN contains any combination of genres or does not fall under any other genre recognized
SELF-CHOREOGRAPHY is when a student choreographs a dance for themselves, or sets choreography for a duo, trio or group of student dancers. This category is to encourage the next generation of choreographers and is not open to those who have received compensation for their choreography
ADULT
PROFESSIONAL is a dancer that is NO LONGER a student and earns income teaching fulltime or dancing professionally. Not eligible for Overall Awards
* A maximum of 3 acrobatic/gymnastic tricks/passes are permitted in entries competing outside of the Acro, Open, Novelty/Variety, Hip Hop and Student Choreography categories.
* Pointe shoes are only permitted in the Ballet-Pointe, Open, Song & Dance, Novelty/Variety Student Choreography, Large Lines & Production categories.
PROPS:
Dangerous props are not permitted. These include, but are not limited to: pyrotechnics, fire, water, and glass,
Any routine that includes any type of prop which has the capability of causing injury to anyone, or destruction of property, is strictly prohibited. In addition, the following props are also prohibited: glitter, hanging scenery/backdrops, special lighting requiring electrical power, fog machines, bubble machines, live animals, fluids, paint and non-weighted helium balloons.
All props must be freestanding and moved by the competitors or persons designated by the studio. For the dancers’ safety, the maximum height of all props, both freestanding and hand-held is 10.6 feet, and no dancer shall stand any higher than 6 feet from the stage floor. Please ensure that no debris is left on stage after your performance is done. Failure to comply may result in disqualification. If the stage or Marley (if applicable) is damaged as a result of misuse, the studio will be liable for damages. Large Props must be carried on or wheeled on stage. Please put felt protectors on the bottom of any plywood to protect the stage flooring. PROPS MAY NOT BE DRAGGED ON STAGE.
Except for rosin, the us of babypowder,paint, and any other substances that could leave marks or debris on the stage is prohibited for safety reasons. If any such substances are found on the stage , they will result in a deduction of marks or disqualification.
PROPS SET UP TIME:
SOLO: 00.30 seconds
DUET: 00.30 seconds
TRIO: 00.30 seconds
SMALL GROUP: 1.00 minute
LARGE GROUP: 2.00 minutes
LINE: 2:00min
MINI PRODUCTIONS 4:00 minutes
PRODUCTIONS 5 minutes set up and 5 minutes take down.
Please note these are guidelines only. Please contact Danceworks/CADF if your routine falls outside of the guidelines.
All entries with the use of props that require set up time must be declared to Danceworks/CADF prior to the schedule being finalized. Please include set-up time in your entries using props and description of prop. Hand Held props or props that do not need a set up/strike time do not need to be declared.
Props for entries may only be placed backstage during the adjudication prior to the upcoming scheduled dance session
Except for rosin, the use of baby powder, paint, and any other substances that could leave marks or debris on the stage is prohibited for safety reasons. If any such substances are found on the stage, they will result in a deduction of marks or disqualification
ENTRY RULES
In addition to the entry guidelines above, the following rules are applicable to all entries at Danceworks/CADF Competitions:
- Solos, Duos and Trios who compete a second time within the same category, their Top score is eligible for placement only.
- At least 50% of all dancers in each entry must meet the guidelines for the designated division, otherwise the entry must ‘move up’ into the next division unless otherwise stated.
- Judges reserve the right to change the competing dancers category and/or division if they feel the routine has been entered improperly. All judging decisions are final.
- Coaching by anyone in the wings or audience during the course of a performance for dancers over the age of 6, is strictly prohibited.
- Danceworks/CADF will not be held responsible or liable for any damage to props if left unattended. Any props left at the completion of the event will be disposed of.
- Any person on stage during a performance must be registered as a dancer in said entry.
- Entries with a teacher/instructor or professional dancer(s) earning more than $5000 annually from performing/teaching/choreography, must compete their entry in the Adult age category regardless of other performers ages.
- Student choreography (group) entries are not eligible for Studio Standout Awards or advancement to the Danceworks/CADF ShowDown Challenge In order to be eligible, the entry must compete in the regular category by discipline, rather than the Student Choreography category. The students can still be named as the choreographers. Student choreography Top Five or Top Ten will be awarded if enough entries.
- Reserves the right to combine Overall Awards categories.
- Reserves the right to combine or divide Tier Levels in the Showdown Group Challenge as entries permit.
- Adjudicators have the option to add additional group entries to the Showdown Group Challenge.
- Danceworks/CADF reserves the right to add or remove placings, depending on the number of entries.