Rules & Regulations

Competition Divisions 

Solos, Duets-Trios, Small Groups 4-9 dancers, Large Groups 10-19, Lines 20 or more, Production 5 or more dancers, Pro-Am Division: for dancers with a full time teacher or instructor performing.

Competition Levels 

  • Recreational
    (2 years or less of Competition experience)

  • Competitive

Age Categories

Mini: 4-6
Junior: 10-12
Senior: 16-19
Petite: 7-9
Teen: 13-15
Novice:20 & over

Dance Category Guidelines

All dance categories may contain no more than two Acro-Gymnastic tricks. One point deduction per judge will be made for routines that do not follow this rule.

Acrobatic: A routine using controlled movements and flexibility, I.E.: walkovers, limbers, chest stands, can contain tumbling skills.

Acro Dance: A routine containing 50% Acro and 50% Dance.

Aerial Lyra: Beautiful maneuvers and shapes while performing on a large metal hoop suspended in the air. Back balances, elbow hangs, knee hangs, splits and other acrobatic skills should be incorporated into the routine. A total of 80% of the routine needs to be performed on the Aerial Lyra. Vertical spinning is permitted. Swinging and orbital spins are NOT permitted. Maximum height Lyra can be off the floor is 10 feet. A mat is required under the Lyra.

Aerial Silks: The art form of performing aerial dance and acrobatics while hanging from fabrics. Climbs, poses, flexibility moves, rolls, wraps, drops, and slides are skills that can be performed on the silks to make an engaging performance. A total of 80% of the routine needs to be performed on the Aerial Silks. Vertical spinning is permitted. Swinging and orbital spins are NOT permitted. Maximum height for the silks point is 20 feet. A mat is required under the Silks.

Ballet: Must contain ballet technique, proper footwear required.

Baton: Routine using batons or hoops. No fire or knives permitted.

Character Acro-Gym: Routine portraying a character, i.e.: farmer, nurse, cat, incorporating 75% Acro-Gymnastics.

Character Dance: A routine portraying a character, i.e.: scarecrow, sailor, or gypsy, incorporating 75% dance.

Cheerleading: includes jumps, precision, tumbling and vocal cheering.

Clogging: Must incorporate clogging technique and style.

Contemporary: Routine utilizing contemporary style to show extension, balance, can combine lyrical, modern and concert style techniques.

 Ethnic: A routine portraying cultural style with an ethnic costume.

Formal Modeling: Party dress, evening gown, must provide own music.

Gymnastics: A routine using aerials, back handsprings, etc. and must contain some dance connection. Recommended for stronger tumblers.

Hip Hop: A routine using hip hop or street style dance.

Jazz: Routine containing jazz technique splits and floor rolls allowed.

Lyrical: Routine demonstrating control, balance and extension. Routine should tell the story throughout the choreography. Must contain lyrics.

Modern: Modern and contemporary dance styles.

Musical Theater: Routine portraying a Broadway or theatrical theme.

Novelty: A routine that does not fit in any other category, no Acro tricks.

Open: A routine that does not fit in any other category, Acro trick allowed.

Pantomime: Impersonations through facial and body movement.

Pointe: Routine containing ballet technique, must where Pointe shoes.

Pom Pom: Must use poms for 75% of dance routine, Acro allowed.

Productions: Any group of 5 or more, must include a theme throughout.

Song and Dance: Must contain singing and any other form of dance.

Sportswear Modeling: Can contain pivot turns and dance in choreography.
Models must provide their own music.

Star Performer: This is an open category may contain dance or gym.

Student Improv: Dancers choice of jazz, tap, lyrical or open.

Tap: A routine using tap technique and style.

Variety Arts: An open division with props as a background.

Vocal: Vocal presentation, No words on tape selection.

Be Safe

Any performer competing in dance competitions takes certain inherent risks.
These include, but are not limited to, sprains, bruises, pulled muscles, and
broken bones. Participation in this competition indicates the acceptance of
such risks by performers. Therefore by virtue of entering this event, it is agreed
that participants will not hold The Dance USA® Performing Arts Championships
/ Mark Marino Foundation / Artistic Director and Choreographers of the World
Dance Championships / directors officials / staff or employees responsible for
injuries sustained or illnesses contracted by them while in attendance and/or participating in any activity related to a The Dance USA® Performing Arts Championships Competition. Dance USA® and the hosting facilities are not responsible for personal injury to any contestants or spectators.  Dance USA®
is not responsible for lost or stolen property. Do not leave your property and valuables unattended in the event center, theater, or dressing rooms.

Adjudication 

Adjudicated placement for all entries, 100 points per Judge. 300 possible points.
All dancers are against a point system.

282.3-300 Platinum Award
276-282.2 High Gold Award
270-275.9 Gold Award
260-269.9 Silver Award

Performing Arts Awards

Trophies awarded to all entries, Ribbons will be awarded to all Duet-Trio and Group members with a trophy awarded to the Duet-Trio, or Group. Top 5 placements will be announced and a trophy awarded to the High Score. There must be 5 entries in the division in order to be awarded an overall trophy.

Time Limits

All contestants must furnish their own music on compact disk. All disks must contain 1 dance song only. The time limits are 3:00 minutes for all Solos and Duet-Trios, and 5:00 minutes for all Groups and Lines. Production time limit is 10:00 minutes. A five second grace period will be added to all performers, and then a one point per Judge deduction will apply for overtime entries.


Dance USA Studio Challenge

During the regional competitions each participating studios top 5 non-solo acts will be added together to make their Studio Challenge score! The top 5 studios will be awarded cash and certificates to use toward their National entry fees.

Title Categories and Awards 

All Title winners will receive a large trophy and crown for the girls or hat for the boys. Dancers must compete a separate solo for the title division. Dance Scholarships are awarded to Title Winners at Regionals and Nationals.

Mini Miss & Mr. Dance 4-6
Petite Miss & Mr. Dance 7-9
Junior Miss & Mr. Dance 10-12
Teen Miss & Mr. Dance 13-15
Miss & Mr. Dance 16-21

National Finals - Showdown of the Stars

Dance USA ® National Finals - “Showdown of the Stars”; the Top 5 highest scoring acts in each Competitive age division will re-compete in the Showdown of the Stars on the final day of the Nationals. The age division winners are called Grand Champions and will be awarded 7 foot trophies. Placements of 2nd through 5th will also be awarded for each age division. Each studio may only have 2 acts per age division.
NO solos will be allowed in the “Showdown of the Stars”

The Super Grand Champions at Nationals are the Dance USA® Studio Cup Challenge Winners! The Studio will be awarded the coveted Crystal Cup! Cash and credit towards the next Dance USA® competition season will also be awarded.

Overall Photogenic Winners

At Regionals the overall Photogenic winner will receive a special trophy and a head-shot session with World Renown Photographer Kevyn Major Howard.

At Nationals the overall Photogenic winner will receive a special trophy, crown and a head-shot session with World Renown Photographer Kevyn Major Howard.

*A minimum of 5 photogenic entries is required to award an
overall Photogenic winner.

Dance USA ® Dance Jamm and Awards

TAKE PART IN OUR DANCE USA® DANCE JAMM DANCE-OFF!

THE DANCE OFF IS OPEN TO ALL PARTICIPATING DANCE USA® DANCERS, AND COSTS JUST $10 TO ENTER! DANCERS WILL BE TAUGHT A SHORT 32 COUNT JAZZ COMBINATION AND WILL PERFORM IT FOR OUR JUDGES. JUDGES WILL THEN MAKE ELIMINATIONS UNTIL THEY HAVE CHOSEN A WINNER WHO WILL RECEIVE A TROPHY, A DANCE USA® WARM UP SUIT AND A Dance Scholarship! GET THE FEEL OF WHAT IT’S LIKE TO GO ON A PROFESSIONAL AUDITION AND SEE WHO WILL BE NAMED
DANCE USA® DANCE-OFF CHAMPION!

Dance USA® Policies

  • Entry Fees are non- refundable and non-creditable.
    All entry deadlines are 30 days prior to the event.

  • A $10 late fee per entry will be charged to the studio for entries received
    after the deadline.

  • A time schedule, preliminary schedule and competition location confirmation will be sent to the studio five days prior to the competition.

  • Dancers may not cross over levels. No Recreational dancers can compete
    in the Title competition.

  • Judges critiques and/or Score sheets will be available after the competition. Only teachers may pick up Score sheets.

  • Some Regional competitions will host workshops. If workshops are held,
    they will be on the evening before the competition or after a competition for
    a class rate of $20.00 per dancer per class. You will be notified if workshops
    are available with your confirmation packet!

Props

 • Fire, swords and knives are prohibited. Simulated weapons with dull, safe edges
are acceptable with prior approval.

 • No liquid, paint, gel, aerosol, glitter, fog, smoke, powder, paint powder, ashes, or similar substance that would affect the dancing surface is allowed, unless specifically approved by Dance USA.  If this occurs, the routine will be deducted 1 point per Judges.

 • Props are allowed, however they must be freestanding. Scenery or backdrops requiring the use of theater fly bars system may not be used. Props, if used, must
be prepared and set-up, and removed quickly. Judges may take excessive set-up
or removal time into consideration.

 • Helium balloons are not permitted unless special permission is given by the venue. Safety is always our major concern. If the stage is "littered" during a routine please be prepared to clean it up immediately after the routine is finished.

 Dance USA Performing Arts Championships® Family Friendly & Appropriate

• If dance movements, music lyrics, or costuming are deemed to be too suggestive
or otherwise inappropriate for our family audience, or if the music contains vulgar
or with inappropriate lyrics, the routine will be scored lower by the Judges and the dance is NOT eligible for Overall Awards.