CONVENTION INFORMATION
Class Levels & Guidelines
For each event, there are 6 levels of classes that dancers may be registered in. Each level has a designated room that the dancers take classes in during the convention schedule portion of our event. This includes Launch Program, Minis, Juniors, Teen, Seniors and Teachers room. Age guidelines are provided for each level, but dancers final placement is at the teacher’s or independent registrant’s discretion and may be based on both the age and ability of each student. If you have any questions regarding what classroom level to place your dancer(s) in, please call or email Dupree Dance and we will gladly assist you in that process. Convention classroom changes will not be permitted after your registration is submitted or at any time during our live event.
The suggested age guideline for each Convention Classroom Level is as follows:
Class Level (Suggested Age Guideline)
Launch Program (Ages 4-6)
Mini (Age 7-9)
Junior (Age 10-12)
Teen (Age 13-15)
Senior (Age 16-19)
Teacher/Owner (Age 20 and Up)
Convention Fees
Visit our Rates & Fees page for both regional and national convention class rates. Registrations received after the deadline will be charged an additional $10 per registered convention dancer, space permitting.
Performance/Competitive Dancer Selection
During the convention registration process, a registrant will be required to select a general 'level' for each registered dancer. The 'performance' selection will apply to any dancer who trains an average of four hours or less a week. The 'competitive' level will apply to any dancer who trains an average of five or more hours a week. If a dancer falls immediately in-between these two criteria, we ask that the registrant use his/her best discretion when selecting a level for this dancer.
For convention classroom purposes, the performance or competitive level of each dancer is simply gathered, but it will not affect what ballroom you register that dancer in. If a registrant opts to proceed with competition registration, the level of each dancer is considered at this time and our system will automatically place each competition entry in the Performance or Competitive division based on the spread of the levels of registrants within each entry. If a registrant does not choose to enter competition entries, it is still required that they select a general level for each dancer during the convention registration process.
The level of a dancer can be edited from year to year, but cannot be altered by Dupree Dance after the registration deadline of an event. Registrants must triple check their convention and competition data prior to submission of their registration to ensure that each attendee is correctly registered as either a performance or competitive level dancer. Please refer to our Competition Information to learn how our system defines each routine as either being a Performance or Competitive entry based on the sum total of the assigned level of dancer(s) in that routine.
Convention Class Schedule
A custom convention class schedule will be posted on the event page no later than two weeks prior to each event.
Dancers registered in the Launch Program, Mini, Junior, Teen, or Senior Rooms are only permitted to take classes in their designated ballroom throughout the weekend. They may not ‘pick and choose’ classes to attend at different levels. Dancers must remain in their pre-registered ballroom (class level) at the event. At-event level changes are not permitted.
Convention registered Teachers will receive a select number of private, teachers-only classes and are also permitted to take and/or observe classes in any classroom level throughout the weekend. Only convention registered Teachers will be permitted to attend classes in the Teachers ballroom. The Teacher’s ballroom is closed to observers. Convention Registered Teachers and/or attending Studio Owners and Directors wearing the appropriate bracelet/lanyard are permitted to observe the formal Audition classes on schedule.
Teacher Registration & Attending Owner/Director(s)
We encourage that any attending Teacher take advantage of our Free Teacher Offer and up to two attending Owner/Director’s take advantage of our Complimentary Owner/Director Classroom Access and Luncheon. These offersinclude access to either take or observe classes in any level throughout our event. Details are outlined under the General Registration Info and Offers tab on our website.
If a Teacher from a registered studio does not qualify for our Free Teacher Offer and does not want to register to take any classes throughout the weekend, he/she may opt to observe classes in our Launch Program, Mini, Junior, Teen and Senior rooms but will need to secure a paid observer band. Observer bands do not gain access to our Teacher’s classroom. In order to gain access to our Teacher’s classroom, a registrant must be wearing the designated Teacher’s convention registration band secured during the online registration process.
Observer Bands
Observer bands are required in order to observe classes in our Launch, Mini, Junior, Teen and Senior rooms. Observers are not permitted in our private, Teacher’s classroom or in the formal audition classes on schedule. Observer bands MUST be secured during the initial online registration process and will not be sold at our event. Review our Observer Information section for complete Observer rules and information.
Audition Classes
Formal Scholarship Auditions are held in the Junior, Teen and Senior rooms and are closed to all parent/guardians including paid observers. They are open to the convention registered dancers in that room only.
We will allow Audition Class access to Studio Owners/Directors and registered teachers that are wearing either the Owner/Director lanyard and/or the designated registered teacher’s convention wristband. We ask that Owners/Directors/Teacher please refrain from coaching your dancers during the audition class.
Dupree Dance faculty/staff will clear the room of observers approximately 5 minutes prior to the start of a designated scholarship audition and appreciate observer cooperation. Dancers may only audition in the room in which they are convention registered. Registered Launch and Mini dancers are also eligible to receive scholarships, but will not have a formal audition class on schedule.