Intro

The Dance Awards FINALS Competition is the culmination of the regional events of JUMP, NUVO & 24 Seven Dance Conventions.

There will be a 15 second "grace period" allowed for each routine. After a routine is 15 seconds over the time limit, 1 point will be deducted for each second past the “grace period." Limitations will be strictly enforced.

NEED ADDITIONAL TIME? You may purchase up to 3 additional minutes of time for any Group, Line, Extended Line or Production for just $5 per dancer, per additional minutes.

To compete in The Dance Awards Finals Competition, all groups through productions must qualify at a 2024-25 JUMP, Nuvo or 24 Seven regional city or must submit a video by May 28th, 2025 for our pre-qualifying competition.

Age Divisions

ALL AGES ARE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2025.

To reach the average age of an entry, add all the ages together and divide by the number of dancers in the entry. When averaging ages always DROP THE DECIMAL POINT. For example, if a routine averages to an age of 12.7, you would drop the decimal, therefore the routine would compete in the 11-12 yr. old age category.

The average age of each entry must not drop more than one age division below the age of the oldest dancer in the entry, regardless of the actual average age. Example: an entry contains dancers ranging in age from 9-17, the entry may not compete younger than the 13-15 age category (one division younger than the oldest dancer-17).

Any routine with a dancer 21 years of age or older must compete in the Open age division (20+) regardless of the average age of the routine.

Routines are allowed to "age up" (compete in an age category higher than the average age).

Names and ages of all dancers must appear on the entry form or it will not be accepted. All competing dancers must be prepared to present proof of age should a question arise.

Performance Divisions

Pre-Qualifying Competition (Video Submission Only)

Our 2025 Pre-Qualifying Competition will be a video submission. All Pre-Qualifying Competition routines must be registered, paid and videos submitted by May 28th, 2025.

Video submissions can be from any other competition or filmed in your studio space. Video submissions should be one continuous shot, not multiple shots edited together.

All Judge's Pick!, Palladium, High Gold, Gold and High Silver Winners in the Pre-Qualifying Competition are eligible to compete in The Dance Awards Finals Competition.

All Pre-Qualifying entries must submit double entry fees – Pre-Qualifying fees AND Finals Competition fees.

Pre-Qualifying entries that do not qualify for the Finals Competition will receive fee reimbursements.

All entry fees and guidelines for the Finals Competition also apply to the Pre-Qualifying Competition.

Solos & Duo/Trios DO NOT need to pre-qualify!

Finals Competition

Entries for the Finals Competition must have qualified during the 2024-2025 season at a JUMP Regional Competition, a NUVO Regional Competition, a 24 Seven Regional Competition or through The Dance Awards Pre-Qualifying Competition.

Overall number of Finals Competition entries will be limited to the time available. Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

SOLOS: Each dancer may compete only ONE solo in the Finals Competition. Any dancer competing a finals solo must be registered to compete in a Group, Line, Extended Line or Production. No exceptions!! Solo entries are on a first-come, first-served basis. Time is limited!! Solos DO NOT need to pre-qualify.

All fees are due upon registration which must be received by May 1st, 2025.

* JUMP 2024-25 Regional “Best in Studio” and Highest Scoring Solos & Duo/Trio winners receive FREE Competition entry, for that number, at The Dance Awards 2025 Finals Competition!

* NUVO 2024-2025 Regional “Studio Pick” and Highest Scoring Solo & Duo/Trio winners receive FREE Competition entry, for that number, at The Dance Awards 2025 Finals Competition.

* 24 Seven 2024-2025 Regional “Studio Showcase” and Highest Scoring Solo & Duo/Trio winners receive FREE Competition entry, for that number, at The Dance Awards 2025 Finals Competition!

Solos and Duo/Trios DO NOT need to pre-qualify for the Finals Competition!

The Stage

The Dance Awards' main stage will be 47' wide by 30' deep. There will also be ample wing space in addition to the width.

Music

• Easily upload your music via your Dance360 account!
• Audio files are accepted in MP3, WAV, M4A or AIF format only, up to 50 MB each. We recommend MP3 format.
• All music for The Dance Awards Las Vegas must be uploaded by June 11th, 2025.
• All music for The Dance Awards Orlando must be uploaded by June 25th, 2025.
• All competition music must be uploaded by the deadlines above. We will no longer be accepting USB’s on-site. If by chance a backup file is needed, please be prepared to email the music file to us or you can play it off an ipod, phone or laptop.

Judges Criteria

CODA

BY DanceOne

The Dance Awards is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. CODA is DanceOne's innovative online system of style specific score sheets, video tutorials, data analytics and judge training. CODA aims to revolutionize the dance competition experience and is complimentary for every routine registered for The Dance Awards, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven. For more info, please visit: coda.breakthefloor.com

Is Your Routine Family-Friendly?

Dance and art cross a broad range of styles, taste and appropriateness. However, The Dance Awards is a family event and we are determined to set some sort of standard to make sure inappropriate routines are penalized or disqualified. At a minimum, these routines should not be rewarded with the highest scores of the competition. To handle this, The Dance Awards has set-up a new "Family Viewing" point system. It's simple. Each judge's score sheet has a check box on it, labeled “This routine might not be Family-Friendly." For each judge that checks this box, there will be a 5 point deduction from a routine's total score. So, if three judges check this box, a routine's score would drop 15 points. If all four judges check the box, the routine will be disqualified.

Adjudicated Awards

All entries will be adjudicated by FOUR qualified judges. The lowest score will be automatically dropped. In the event that an entry is choreographed by one of the judges, he/she will only critique the entry and then his/her "score" will be the score that gets dropped. All ties will be broken by adding the fourth judge's score. If a tie remains after the addition of the fourth judge's score, it will remain a tie.

Placement Awards

Finals High Score Awards (by age division)

Overall PeeWee, Mini, Junior, Teen, Senior & Open High Scores will receive a competitive 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th place award. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place cash awards are as follows:

Finals High Score Awards (by performance division)

Competition Vouchers (valid for The Dance Awards 2026) will be awarded to the high score entry in each Performance Division (Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Tap, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Ballroom & Specialty) in each of the PeeWee, Mini, Junior, Teen, Senior & Open Age Divisions. High Scores will receive a competitive 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th place award. Solos and Duo/Trios are not included. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place competition vouchers are as follows:

Best Performance Nominees

The top FIVE overall high scores out of all the Group, Line, Extended Line, and Production divisions from each of the Mini, Junior, Teen and Senior age divisions are eligible for the Best Performance Award.

NEW THIS SEASON: Studios must register & compete a minimum of 5 group routines at the event in order to be a Best Performance Nominee.

PLEASE NOTE: A Studio may be represented by only ONE number in each of the Mini, Junior, Teen and Senior divisions. If a particular studio were to have the top two or three scores in a division, we would then go down the list to find the next highest score with a different studio name.

The overall highest scoring PeeWee routine (out of all of the Group, Line, Extended Line and Production divisions) will be announced at the PeeWee group routine awards. That routine will be the PeeWee Best Performance Winner!

The overall highest scoring Open routine (out of all of the Group, Line, Extended Line and Production divisions) will be announced at the Open group routine awards. That routine will be the Open Best Performance Winner!

Score Sheets & Video Critiques

Within 1 week after each event, all score sheets & online critiques will be made available to the users of the Dance360.com account from which the registration was originally submitted. Individual registrants will have full access to their critiques if they submitted their own registration, regardless of whether they are associated with a studio. If a studio prefers to have sole access to these critiques, all registrations must be submitted through their Studio account and not from any Individual accounts.

Teacher Video Critiques

At The Dance Awards, we realize there are things our judges might want to say JUST to the teacher. Maybe it's about a particular dancer, a costume, or choreography suggestions. Therefore, one judge on our panel will be doing a TEACHERS ONLY critique, which will be included as a separate viewing option on the studio's critique video. This way Teachers will receive feedback for their ears only!

Live Webcast

The Dance Awards is happy to provide a free webcast of the Best Dancer Competition, Finals Competition, Best Dancer Dance-Off and Studio Of The Year Dance-Off.

You will find a link to the webcast, on our website www.TheDanceAwards.com. The webcast link will go LIVE about five minutes before each start time. Please understand that sometimes we are limited by the internet capabilities of the venue we are in. Occasionally we are unable to get a good enough connection from the venue to do the webcast, or the connection is intermittent. Please be assured we do everything possible to produce a seamless webcast. We apologize in advance if you experience any problems.

Video & Photography

Videotaping and flash photography is strictly prohibited during the entire event. All participating dancers authorize the use of their image in photos and video for The Dance Awards publicity and advertisement purposes.

DANCEONE MEDIA SEASON PASS

Required one-time fee per dancer, per season. Includes unlimited photos and videos at all DanceOne competitions, conventions, and special events.

More information coming soon.

Props

NO dangerous props may be used during the competition (swords, fire, etc.). General props are allowed but must be taken on and off the stage within two minutes total. It is the sole responsibility of each studio to ensure that its props are taken on and off stage. The Dance Awards staff cannot help with props. The Dance Awards cannot provide it's own equipment to be utilized as props. It is also the studio's responsibility to ensure that the stage is completely clean and clear after the routine is finished. Please do not build props backstage as this can be hazardous to the performers. For safety, dancers cannot stand above 6'6" on a prop. Props that stand above 10' are not guaranteed to fit on The Dance Awards stage. PLEASE NOTE: Any violation of the above rules may result in the routine being ineligible for any High Score awards and may be announced for Adjudication ONLY.

Paint Powder Chalk

The Dance Awards does not allow the use of paint, powder or chalk. If you are using another substance (glitter, water, etc) that you think MIGHT be an issue, please contact us and ask us before you register that routine.

Lighting

• Routines can request our lighting rig to have a complete blackout or dimmed lighting for a competition routine.
• Routines can request one power source backstage if they need to plug in and power a prop used for a routine.
• Any special lighting that a studio wants to bring on stage (to create their own lighting effects) must be administered and created by the dancers that are registered for the routine. A Studio’s special lighting cannot be controlled by a teacher or parent from the wings or backstage.

Admission

Admission to The Dance Awards competition is absolutely free. Audience will be permitted to enter and exit the ballroom between numbers only. Doors will be closed during performances. Teachers of competing dancers will be given reserved seating. Visual coaching is prohibited.

Tickets for The Dance Awards Show are available about one month prior to the event. Please remember, everyone will need a ticket to the show. This includes dancers performing in the show, if they want to come into the theater and watch the show before (or after) they perform. For any questions on this, please email info@thedanceawards.com

Best Dancer Finalists

If you were a JUMP VIP (Winner or Runner-Up), NUVO BreakOut Artist (Winner or Runner-Up) or 24 Seven Non-Stop Dancer (Winner or Runner-Up) during the 2024-2025 season, you are now a Best Dancer Finalist, please click here for more information on how to register. If you are attending The Dance Awards with your studio, you do NOT need to submit a separate Best Dancer registration online. Your studio will submit your Best Dancer registration for you.

Best Dancer Finalists must use a DIFFERENT solo if also competing in the Finals Solo Competition.

Competition Regulations

• All dancers entered in any competition must be registered for the workshop.
• All dancers entered in the and Finals Competition must have a teacher registered for the workshop, whether the teacher is actually present at the event or not. Also, all correspondence for dancers entered in the and Finals Competition MUST be through the studio (address, telephone numbers, mailings, etc.). This rule does not apply to the nominees entered in the Best Dancer Solo Competition.
• If you were a JUMP VIP (Winner or Runner-up), NUVO BreakOut Artist (Winner or Runner-Up) or 24 Seven Non-Stop Dancer (Winner or Runner-Up) and you are only competing your solo in the Best Dancer Solo Competition, you do not need a registered teacher and you do not need to go through the studio. Best Dancer finalists do, however, need the signature of their Studio Owner on their Best Dancer registration form.
• Solos & Duo/Trios do NOT need to pre-qualify!
• The deadline for competition changes for TDA Las Vegas is May 29th, 2025. The deadline for competition changes for TDA Orlando is June 12th, 2025. NO changes will be accepted after this date.
• SOLOS: Each dancer may compete only ONE solo in the Finals Competition. Any dancer competing a Finals solo must be registered to compete in at least one Group, Line, Extended Line or Production. No exceptions!! Solo entries are on a first-come, first-served basis. Time is limited!! Solos DO NOT need to pre-qualify.
• No Canadian checks accepted. Bank money orders in US Funds only.
• All competition fees are per person, per entry.
• Professional dancers are welcome for the workshop but will not be permitted to compete if over age 19. Professional dancers are considered those who receive more than 50% of their income from teaching, performing or choreographing.
• Competing dancers may compete for one studio only.
• Schools with multiple locations may compete as separate studios as long as there is NO mixing of dancers from each location.
• Excessive scenery, special lighting and use of live animals is prohibited.
• Judges may stop a number in progress and request that it be repeated. If The Dance Awards' equipment fails, the studio may choose to continue or to re-do the number. If the performers' equipment fails, excluding music tapes, the performance must continue or may be withdrawn.
• All numbers must appear according to their scheduled sequence unless a Dance Awards Stage Manager grants permission otherwise. Numbers failing to perform within ten routines of their scheduled time may be disqualified.
• Competing dancers should be ready 30 minutes prior to their scheduled competition time. If the competition is running ahead of schedule, you will be expected to perform.
• Timely postmarks do not guarantee acceptance of entries. Entries are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Competition is limited to time available.
• All attendees authorize the use of their images in photos and video for any and all advertising or promotional purposes for The Dance Awards.
• The Dance Awards believes a dancer is best served by attending consistent classes with a reputable dance studio. We do acknowledge that in certain circumstances a dancer is "independent." The Dance Awards defines independent dancers as dancers not associated with a physical dance studio and taking consistent classes as part of a structured program. We understand this rule is subjective, therefore any questions will be resolved at the The Dance Awards Director's discretion.
• Independent dancers are welcome to participate in The Dance Awards Workshop.
• Independent dancers are not eligible to compete in The Dance Awards Competition.
• Independent dancers are unable to compete in the Best Dancer Competition.
• Routines can request our lighting rig to have a complete blackout or dimmed lighting for a competition routine.
• Routines can request one power source backstage if they need to plug in and power a prop used for a routine.
• Any special lighting that a studio wants to bring on stage (to create their own lighting effects) must be administered and created by the dancers that are registered for the routine. A Studio’s special lighting cannot be controlled by a teacher or parent from the wings or backstage.
• For all Finals Competition there will now be 50% DanceOne judges and 50% “outside” judges (professionals with no full-time ties to DanceOne).
• If an event is cancelled (for COVID or any other reason), refunds will be made within 10 days of the event. No refunds if attendee cancels. If a dancer is unable to attend, a credit voucher will be issued towards a future Dance Awards event.
• At The Dance Awards, we value loyalty to studios. We do not allow teachers or studio owners to solicit dancers from other studios at any of our events. The first offense will result in a warning. If any additional offenses occur, the studio will not be permitted to attend any future DanceOne event until further notice.