Age Divisions
- Tots – 3-5 years old
- Mini – 6-7 years old
- Elementary – 8-9 years old
- Junior – 10-11 years old
- Teen – 12-13 years old
- Senior – 14 & up
***Classic Dance has the right to combine/delete divisions to provide a competitive atmosphere.***
Levels
Classic Dance Competitions Levels:
Use the following guidelines when determining basic levels for your teams and soloists. Classic Dance Competitions bases the entries on the honesty of the applicant. No changes to levels will be made once registration is submitted. Classic Dance Competition judges have to move an applicant into a different level, at the competition, upon their discretion.
Novice: Basic fundamental, novice dance skills and NEVER COMPETED BEFORE. These dancers are working on single pirouettes, tuck jumps, toe touches, pivot turns, and other basic footwork. Teams dance 1.5 hours per week or less.
Beginning: Basic fundamental, beginning dance skills including grand jete leaps, “C” jumps, tuck jumps, split jumps, tuck hops, all kicks and battements, chaine turns, pique turns, and all single turns- pirouettes, etc. Teams dance 2.5 hours per week or less.
Intermediate: This category is for dancers transitioning from beginning level, who are executing double pirouettes; however, they are not technically perfect. Intermediate dancers may be attempting intermediate skills, but simply need more time and experience. Teams dance up to six hours per week.
Intermediate Plus: Possible movements include side leaps, stag leaps, axle turns, attitude turns, coupe turns, back leaps, double-pique turns, spotting pique turns, a la seconde turns, single extension turns, and all double turns- pirouettes, etc. Teams dance up to six hours per week.
Advanced: Possible movements include all of the above listed skills, plus switch leaps, fuette turns, spotting a la seconde turns, double or more extension turns, and all triple or more pirouettes and turns. Teams dance more than six hours per week.
Music
Any selection of music may be used, but music should emailed two weeks prior to the event to classicdancemusic4@gmail.com. Please label with Dancer/Team name, genre, level, and which event you will be attending. You may also bring your music on CD or other auxiliary source and check in at the sound table of your performance area. Please always bring a back up source of your music.
Categories/Genres
- Jazz
- Lyrical
- Hip Hop
- Show (Long routine and/or carries a theme- usually a studio production)
- Cheer
- Contemporary
- Character
- Open
- Tap
Props
Props may be used as choreographed for each routine. Please be courteous and mindful of other teams and dancers when storing props backstage. If the routine is being performed on a gym floor, the prop must be checked by one of the competition directors so as not to damage the floor.
Judging
Classic Dance Competitions uses a panel of three highly experienced judges per routine, with a variety of judging and dance backgrounds. Some judges will be chosen from the UDJA judge panel, while other judges will come from an artistic or theatrical background.
All judges will comment and validate scores on each routine, and all judges will check for correct level placement, with a head judge and the tabulator following through on any piece in question. If at least two judges concur that the routine is out of level, the piece will be moved to the judges’ recommended division. This announcement will be made as awards are presented.
Score sheets will be passed during the award ceremony for immediate feedback- no waiting a week or so for digital judge comments that often don’t even work.
Awards
Awards at Classic Dance Competitions are simply the best!!!
Solos/Duos/ Trios:
- All dancers receive a trophy
- Tiara/crown and sash/scepter awarded to Queen/King or first place winners
- Top soloists in each level- all genres considered will win that event’s top award- hat, tank top, hoodie -style jacket or satin jacket.
Teams:
- All team members receive a participation award
- Each studio receives a gorgeous studio trophy
- Top five team placements announced in each category (jewel given to indicate placement)
- Top five teams announced in each level- all genres considered. Cash credit awards given.
- Top teams in each level- all genres considered will win that event’s top award- hat, tank top, hoodie -style jacket or satin jacket. Each member of the top-winning team receives the award!!!!
- Over-all Studio Sweepstakes banner present to the studios with the highest scoring average- two to three banners presented at each event.