GENERAL GUIDELINES:

• Ages of all dancers will be as of December 31st of the previous year. 
• All dancers must be placed in the correct classification (novice, pre-comp, etc) and age division. 
• Names, ages and birth dates of all competitors must be included on the entry form. If requested, proof of age must be provided at the competition. 
• To qualify for the Ultimate Dream to Dance award, studios must have at least 10 entries, 5 of which must be groups. 
• In order to determine average ages of duets, trios etc. simply add up the ages of all the competitors in each category and divide by the number of dancers involved. 
• When adults are included in Production numbers, it is not necessary to include their ages to calculate average age but adults must be included when determining the number of dancers involved. 
• Should a dancer be required to dance out of group as well as outside of their scheduled adjudication period, they will not qualify for group placement (i.e. 1st place novice jazz duet junior age 11), but they will still qualify for overall awards. 
• In the unlikely case that we are unable to run an event, or portion of an event, due to to venue inoperability, we will do our best to adjust the remaining schedule to accommodate. However, no refunds will be issued for entries not run.

CLASSIFICATIONS:

• To determine classifications, “training” includes ALL in-studio lessons and rehearsals. If your training schedule varies at different times of the season, “training” hours must be averaged out over the studio’s entire training season.  
• Our competitive level objective is to ensure dancers have the opportunity to compete against other dancers with similar experience and training. 
• Your studio is responsible for entering routines in the correct category and division 
• Please make sure all entries are checked carefully before submitting entry forms to our office 
• All questions regarding placement will be answered promptly by sending e-mail or calling our office. We are here to help! 
• Solos are considered one solo only. Soloists are dancers who perform more than one solo in a competition. 

NOVICE: 

Please read carefully! All age categories are eligible for Novice. 

• Novice Solos: Have never competed in a Solo 
• Novice Duets/Trios: Must be 100% Novice, having never competed in a Solo, Duet or Trio 
• Novice Groups: Have never competed before (i.e. first year competing). A new dance form (e.g. Jazz) performed by experienced dancers is not considered Novice. All Novice Groups must be at least 75% Novice. 

PRE-COMPETITIVE: 

Pre-Competitive is defined as someone who has competed before but who trains 6 hours or less per week and have 8 or less routines. Note: Duets and Trios must be 50% Pre-Competitive and Groups must be 75%. 

Productions must be at this level or they must compete in Competitive Level. 

Competitive dancers who may have reduced their number of hours of training cannot compete in this category. They must remain in the Competitive level. 

COMPETITIVE: 

This category is defined as dancers who have previously competed and who currently train more than 6 hours per week. Students must be 19 years or under. 

PROFESSIONAL: 

A dancer who earns more than 50% of the annual income from performing or teaching dance. This category is not eligible for overalls. 

PERFORMANCE: 

Dancers are adjudicated, but do not compete against others. Performance dancers are not eligible for overall awards. 

AGE DIVISIONS:

Pee Wee	6 years and under
Mini	7 to 9 years
Junior	10 to 12 years
Intermediate	13 to 15 years
Senior	16 to 19 years
Pro	*See above*
Adult	20 years and older

Note: Adults are  not eligible for overall awards.

 

PERFORMANCE SIZES AND TIME LIMITS:

Category	Size	Maximum Time(minutes)
Solo	1 dancer/one solo	3:00
Soloist	1 dancer/more than one solo	3:00
Duet/Trio	2-3 dancers	3:00
Small Group	4-9 dancers	4:00
Large Group	10-15 dancers	4:00
Line	16-24 dancers	4:00
Large Line	25+ dancers	4:00
Production	16+ dancers	12:00

Notes:

• Time limits are set for scheduling purposes. If a dance exceeds the above times, notify Dream to Dance prior to the competition. 
• For performances not fitting the above guidelines, please contact Dream to Dance to determine applicable category.

 

OTHER ENTRY INFORMATION

MUSIC: 

• Music must be recorded at tempo and cut prior to the competition. Dream to Dance is not responsible for ending music on cue. 
• Remember to bring a back-up copy of your music as we are not responsible for submissions that do not work. 
• In the event that lyrics or choreography are deemed inappropriate, a penalty will be levied at the discretion of the judges and the competition director. This penalty will be in the form of a 1 to 2-point deduction, and/or a full disqualification, depending upon the severity of the
  infraction. 
• A 3.5mm backup audio connection is available. In the event of an issue, we ask that your backup device be unlocked and fully charged, and you have a studio representative available to cue the music. 
• Any material /device not picked up at the end of the competition will be left at the venue or discarded unless previous arrangements are made with our office. 

PROPS:

• Props may be used. They must be free standing. These props should be essential to the performance and must be carried on stage by the performer or studio representative. 
• No props that could pose a danger are allowed, such as fire, fog machines, swords, knives or helium balloons etc. No form of liquid gel, aerosol, or powder. There is a maximum set up time of 2 minutes. 
• Productions are an exception and specific time requirements must be arranged with the Dream to Dance Competition director prior to the schedule being sent out. 
• When using props, please be sure to let us know on your entry forms so that we can allow an extra minute for set up. There is no time allotted for props to be set-up for Solos, Duets or Trios. 
• Please indicate on your entry form the set-up time required for Production numbers.

OTHER GENERAL INFORMATION

SCHEDULING

• A preliminary schedule will be emailed 4 – 6 weeks in advance of the event.
• All entries must be received in our office before the noted deadlines. Late entries may be accepted at the discretion of Dream to Dance Competition.
• All entries will be accepted on a first come first serve basis and will be limited to the amount of performance time available.
• All requests for changes must be emailed to info@dreamtodance.ca 21 days in advance of the competition
• A final schedule will be emailed 2 weeks prior to competition. We reserve the right to make changes to the final schedule, however, we always will try to accommodate studio requests.
• Competition will be from 1-3 days in length. Competitor must compete on scheduled day and time.

MOBILE DEVICE USE:

Mobile Devices shall not be used to take photos or videos in any change room, restroom or other private area of the competition. 
Furthermore, we request, out of respect for the dancers – unless you are dealing with an emergency or ordering one of our staff a coffee from Starbucks – that no calls be placed or taken in the theatre, or backstage. In other areas of the event, please use good judgement when using a mobile device – don’t be “that person”. 

PHOTO AND VIDEO RECORDING

Dream to Dance provides professional photography and video – including online access for dancers and families through Dancebug. There is no need for anyone to be recording or taking pictures of a dancer on stage. Attendees caught taking pictures or recording video will be asked to delete said content and may be asked to leave the premises. 

Recording of video on the premises is not allowed without the permission of Dream to Dance staff or directors. Personal photography is allowed in public areas of the competition only. You must have consent to photograph any other attendee, spectator or team member. No photography or cameras of any kind are allowed to be used in any change room, rest room, or other private area of the competition. 

Dream to Dance allows designated staff to take images of attendees and spectators for social media and other promotional purposes, including on stage during performance and awards ceremonies, back stage, warm up room, lobby, or anything within the event vicinity. By your continued participation in our events, you irrevocably consent to and grant the exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free and otherwise unlimited right to use, copy, modify, distribute, publicly display and perform, publish, transmit, remove, retain, and re-purpose the images for any purpose in any media or form of communication, without additional consent and without compensation, including but not limited to Dream to Dance Competition’s commercial and promotional use on its corporate or employee social media sites.

NON-SOLICITATION

At Dream to Dance we aim to provide a safe environment for dancers to perform and for studio directors, choreographers and teachers to showcase their talents. It is unacceptable for any adjudicator, studio director, teacher, parent or representative to approach a dancer, choreographer or teacher from another studio, whether in person, or through social media, with the intent to recruit, solicit or otherwise convince them to leave their current studio. 

Should it come to the attention of Dream to Dance directors that such activities are occurring during the course of the event, it will be left to the discretion of the Competition Directors to address, up to and including removal from the premises or disqualification of the dancer or studio from the event, without argument, appeal or refund. 

RECOGNITION OF RISK AND FINE PRINT

When entering a Dream to Dance Competition you have agreed upon to the following:

• The Directors of Dream to Dance reserve the right to:
  • Refuse individual or Studio entries at their discretion, in which event fees will be refunded.
  • Determine the amount of all cash rewards based on registration, at its discretion.
  • Cancel, reduce, or increase the number of days of any scheduled competition/event as well as, move the event site, due to unforeseen circumstances.
  • Cancel any competition due to lack of entries, in which all fees will be refunded.
• Dancers compete at their own Risk!
  • Dream to Dance Competition and the host venue is not responsible or liable for any injuries and or damages that may occur during an event, no matter how the injury took place. This refers to all participants, including Studio directors, teachers, assistants, dancers, siblings of dancers and all spectators.
  • Give permission to use pictures and performances in advertising and/or promotional materials. If you do not want any media used please advise in writing before the competition begins.
  • Dream to Dance try to hire reputable vendors at our events. We are not responsible for any unfulfilled orders resulting in a financial loss for the customer that may be caused as a direct result from the business practice of any of it`s vendors.

FAQ

1. WHY CHOOSE DREAM TO DANCE?
   We offer to you new ideas, fresh faces and more than just a place to compete. Our goal is for you to have fun, build new friendships and make many new memories. All of our judges are experienced and our staff will ensure that your experience at Dream to Dance will be one to remember!
2. DO ALL COMPETITORS RECEIVE AN AWARD?
   Yes, every dancer will receive an individual award and all 1st, 2nd and 3rd place recipients for overalls will receive an individual trophy. We are offering special awards as well, please Click on our Awards tab to see more!
3. HOW DO YOU ANNOUNCE PLACEMENTS IN ALL CATEGORIES?
   Dancers will be called out in order of placement in each category. High scores will only be announced for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
4. WE ARE A NEW STUDIO AND SOME OF OUR DANCERS ONLY TRAIN 2-3 HOURS A WEEK. WILL THEY BE IN THEIR OWN CATEGORY OR WITH DANCERS THAT TRAIN MORE HOURS PER WEEK?
   Dream to Dance competitors will not only dance according to age but also on the number of hours they train per week. Please refer to our entry guidelines page.
5. ARE POINTS DEDUCTED IF A DANCE IS OVER THE SPECIFIED TIME?
   No, but we do prefer routines to stay within the time limit. Please let us know if any of your routines will exceed the allowed time limit.
6. IF A DANCER HAS COMPETED IN ONE CATEGORY SUCH AS BALLET, BUT WILL BE COMPETING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JAZZ, CAN THEY BE CONSIDERED NOVICE?
   A Novice dancer is someone who is competing for the first time regardless of category. Click on our Guidelines tab for more information.
7. HOW FAR IN ADVANCE WILL WE RECEIVE THE SCHEDULE?
   All schedules will be emailed to your studio director/s 4 weeks in advance of the competition.
8. WHEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE VENUE?
   The venue will be open approximately one hour prior to the first scheduled performance of each day. We do suggest dancers arrive with their hair and make-up already done.
9. HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE DATES AND LOCATIONS OF THE SCHEDULED COMPETITIONS?
   Click on the Dates and Locations menu tab and select the competition you are attending. Directions, hotels etc. will be listed there under each event.