Dance Studios

Age Divisions

Competitive categories may be combined where there are a small number of entries in the category, but the participants will still be judged and grouped within their correct Junior, Intermediate or Senior division for overall awards.

All routines will complete in the following age divisions:

6 & Under;  7-8;  9-10;  11-12;  13-14;  15-16;  17-18; 19 & Over;  Adult

In large Competitive Lyrical, Jazz and Tap Solo categories age divisions will be:

6 & Under;  7;  8;  9;  10;  11;  12;  13;  14;  15;  16;  17-18;  19+

Ability Divisions

Please ensure all routines are entered in the proper age and ability divisions. If you have any questions,
please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Novice	First time in competition. Soloists who have competed in groups, but never competed in a solo are considered a novice soloist. A participant who has done a solo before and who is doing a different kind of solo for the first time is NOT considered a Novice Soloist.
Recreational	Designed for students not in a competitive program (ie. perfect for your teen jazz groups).
Competitive	Students in a full-time competitive program.
Professional	A participant who has received public recognition and/or payment for competitive choreography OR is an active teacher in the discipline they have entered the competition in.
Adult	Adult recreational participants who are not active teachers in the discipline they have entered into the competition.

Entry in these divisions is at the teacher’s discretion. If you have any additional questions regarding these definitions, please contact us so we can ensure everyone is entered fairly.

Ability Mix for Entries

If any one individual entered in a group falls into the professional definition listed above, that group must be entered into the professional category.

Novice & Recreational Entries

Duets – 100% Novice or 100% Recreational
Trios – 66% Novice or 66% Recreational
Groups – 75% Novice or 75% Recreational

Average Age

Competitive age is as of December 31. Duet/Trios, Groups and Lines should drop the decimal point.

Time Limits (expressed in minutes)

Solo	2.45
Duet/Trio	2.45
Small Group	3.30
Large Group	4.00
Extended Line	4-7
Production	10

Number of Dancers

Small Group	4-9
Large Group	10-22
Extended Line	15+	With extended time limit
Production	15+	With extended time limit

Dance Forms

Jazz – Consists primarily jazz technique. Maximum of 3 tricks allowed. No tumbling passes.

Tap – Consists primarily of tap technique. No tricks allowed.

Ballet – Classical ballet steps and movement.

Demi-Character – Ballet steps & movement portraying a character (on demi-point only).

Pointe – Ballet pointe technique performed in pointe shoes.

Modern – Demonstration of balance, extension, isolation & control using modern styles.

Lyrical – A combination of jazz and ballet using music which interprets the lyrics or musicality of a song. Shows classic body lines and traditional technique.

Contemporary – Ballet fundamentals with modern technique utilizing contraction, suspension, tension and relaxation while emphasizing artistic expression and unique choreography.

Musical Theatre – Consists of any dance form lip synching while portarying a character. Use of props is allowed.

Song & Dance – 50% singing and 50% dance with no background vocals during the song section. Microphone required must be specified in advance of the venue so that arrangements can be made prior to.

Acro – A combination of acro tricks and dance. No tumbling passes.

Open – Combination of any dance category.

Street Style / Hip Hop – A routine choreographed to urban music using free-style, hip-hop, funk dance moves. Up to 5 tricks allowed (ie. headstand, handstand) and 2 tumbling passes.

Ethnic – A routine of national origin.

Gymnastics – Dance choreography where gymnastic style tumbling passes are used as part of the routine.

Protests

All protests must be submitted in writing by the Teacher or Studio Owner/Director and received by a Strive director within 30 minutes of the performance in question. Any routine that is protested due to an age discrepancy will be asked to provide a birth certificate or other identification indicating the child’s age.
Failure to provide proof of age could result in disqualification or a move in age division for the routine in question. In order to submit a protest, you must have a routine that competed against the routine being challenged.

Re-Performance

In the unfortunate case that a participant leaves the stage before their performance is complete, the routine will be considered incomplete and scored as appropriate. The performer can re-do their performance for adjudication only.

If the routine was stopped due to any type of technical difficulty, the routine will be allowed to perform again and will be adjudicated based on the second performance.

Awards and Adjudication

Each routine will be judged on Choreography & Composition, Technique, Execution, Showmanship, Style, Age Appropriateness & Overall Performance with each judge giving a possible score of 100 points.

Strive Dance Challenge will present each routine with an achievement award based on their average
total score.

AWARD	AVERAGE SCORE
Ultimate Diamond	95 to 100
Diamond	93 to 94.99
Platinum Award	90 to 92.99
High Gold Award	86 to 89.99
Gold Award	80 to 85.99
High Silver Award	70 to 79.99
Silver Award	60 to 69.99

We will also award a first, second and third in each category. If there is only one entry in the category, that routine must achieve an average score of 80 in order to receive a first place award.

Type of Awards Presented to EACH contestant

Solos

All solos will receive an achievement ribbon to recognize their average score. We will also award a 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category. Each participant who achieves 1st, 2nd or 3rd will receive a custom made medal or pin.

Duets/Trios

All members of every duet/trio in a category will receive an achievement ribbon to recognize their average score.  Duet/Trios who place 1st, 2nd, 3rd in their category will each receive a medal or pin.

Groups

All members of every group in a category will receive an achievement ribbon to recognize their average score.  All group participants who place 1st, 2nd or 3rd will each receive a medal or pin. 1st place routines will receive a trophy, banner or plaque for the studio.

Special Awards Judge

All judges on the panel can award special awards during any session. Soloists will receive personalized awards. All members of a duet/trio who receive a special award will each receive one for themselves. Groups will receive one special award to display at the studio. Soloists will receive one for themselves.

High Score and Judges Choice recognition will be awarded at each awards session.

Judges Critique

Teachers will receive critique from each judge for each routine. Adjudication will be available for pick-up at the end of each day. Critique will be in written and/or recorded form. Recorded adjudications are available the day after the venue is complete in their dance comp genie account on their dashboard.

Overall Cash Awards

Strive Dance Challenge will award cash awards at each regional competition. Awards may be substituted for scholarships (no expiry date) if the entries do not meet the minimum. Where we have a full venue, overall awards and the number we present will be increased based on the number of entries within each division and category.  

Our goal is to ensure that all of our participants leave our competition feeling rewarded. Strive Dance Challenge ensures we give back to our participants for their support so we carefully plan the overalls based on the scope of the entries we receive for each venue to ensure fair distribution of awards. We will award approximately $10,000 in cash, scholarships and awards at each of our venues.

Overall Discipline Awards

All solo, duet, trio, small groups, large groups, extended lines and productions are eligible for overall high scoring discipline. $100 scholarship towards the next years entry fee will be awarded to the studio with the highest scoring routine in its respective discipline.

Lyrical/Contemporary/Modern
Jazz
Tap
Acro/Open/Gymnastics
Musical Theatre
Song & Dance/Vocal
Ballet/Demi-Character/Pointe
Hip/Hop Street Style
Ethnic

In age divisions:
12 and Under
13 and Over

Overall Cash Award Age Groupings

Junior	Age 10 and Under
Intermediate	Age 11 to 14
Senior	Age 15 & Over

A minimum number of entries must be received for cash awards and/or overall award to be given.
A minimum of 20 soloists (in each age division, Jr, Int. & Sr), 10 Duet/Trios, 6 Groups, 2 Productions, 2 Extended Lines and 2 Adult Groups.  Where the amount of entries is not met, scholarships will be awarded for the dollar value and will have no expiry date.