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.
Convention Class Scholarships, Awards and Invites
Dupree Dance awards a large number of scholarships and specialty awards at each event.
All scholarships must be redeemed within 12 months from the date awarded. After this time, they will automatically expire in our system.
Our Half, Full, National Finals and Collective convention scholarships are tracked on a registrant’s behalf by Dupree Dance. They are connected to the dancer’s name and profile used to register for the event in which the scholarship was awarded. Registrants MUST use the same username (email address) on future registrations and add a scholarship winner’s name from their stored students roster in order for our system to recognize/redeem the convention scholarship won by a dancer at a past Dupree Dance event.
Dupree Scholarships & Awards
Our Crew Award as well as Half, Full, National Finals and Regional Collective convention scholarships are non-transferable and non-deferrable. They are assigned solely to the named dancer who receives the award.
In order to redeem a Half, Full, National Finals or Collective Scholarship award, a registrant must access the stored students in their online dropdown menu to add dancers to their convention registration roster. Once a stored student’s name is added to the convention registration, our system will recognize the winners name and prompt the registrant to apply their available scholarship award. Once applied, our system will adjust the convention fees accordingly.
If a dancer who won a scholarship under a studio would like to attend any regional Dupree Dance convention on his/her own, they are welcome to do so. In this event, the studio may choose to register them under their studio profile, or the dancer may contact us and we will move their scholarship from the studio profile to an independent profile that allows them to register themselves for convention classes only. If a dancer receives a scholarship at an event where they were independently registered, we will also be happy to move that scholarship under a studio profile per request of the scholarship winner. Keep in mind dancers must be studio registered in order to compete.
· HALF CONVENTION SCHOLARSHIPS: Half convention scholarships are awarded at both regional and national events, but may only be redeemed by the dancer who won the award at a Dupree Dance regional event. A half scholarship covers 50% of the convention tuition registration for the classroom level of choice. A half scholarship award may be used one time only and must be redeemed within 12 months from the awarded date. It cannot be deferred or redeemed at National Finals.
· FULL CONVENTION SCHOLARSHIPS: Full convention scholarships can be awarded at both regional and national events, but may only be redeemed by the dancer who won the award at a Dupree Dance regional event. A full scholarship will cover the full convention tuition for the classroom level of choice. A full scholarship may be used one time only and must be redeemed within 12 months from the awarded date. It cannot be deferred or redeemed at National Finals.
· NATIONAL FINALS SCHOLARSHIPS (& INVITE): National Finals scholarships are awarded at regional events , but may only be redeemed by the dancer who won the award at a Dupree Dance National Finals event. A Nationals Finals scholarship will cover the full convention tuition for the classroom level of choice at Nationals. A National Finals scholarship may be used one time and must be redeemed at the National Finals event that follows the regional tour in which the award was won. It cannot be deferred or redeemed at a regional event.
o A dancer who receives a National Finals Scholarship is also invited to participate in our incredible National Finals Opening Number. National Finals Scholarship winners must confirm their involvement in Opening Number by/before the May 1 Participation Deadline. Complete information on how to “Accept” the invitation to formally participate in our Opening Number is outlined under the National Finals Overview, Registration & Programs page on our website.
· REGIONAL COLLECTIVE SCHOLARSHIPS (& INVITE): Regional Collective scholarships are awarded at regional events, but may only be redeemed by the dancer who won the award at our National Finals event. A Regional Collective Scholarship covers the full convention tuition for the classroom level of choice at Nationals. It can be used one time and must be redeemed at the National Finals that follows the regional tour in which the award was won. It cannot be deferred or redeemed at a regional event.
o A dancer who receives a Collective Scholarship is also invited to participate in our prestigious Collective Routine. Collective Scholarship winners must confirm their involvement in the Collective Routine by/before the May 1 Participation Deadline. Complete information on how to “Accept” the invitation to formally participate in our Collective Number is outlined under the National Finals Overview, Registration & Programs page on our website.
o A dancer who receives a Collective Scholarship is also extended an opportunity to audition for our Collective Assistant Company during our National Finals event. The opportunity to add the option to audition for our Assistant Program (Collective National Finals Competition) may be added during the National Finals online registration process. Visit our Collective Assistant Company page on our website to obtain full information about our Assistant Program.
· DUPREE DANCE CREW AWARD (& INVITE): A Dupree Dance Crew Award is extended at our regional events to select winners and invites them to participate in a Hip Hop video and Crew performance during our National Finals event. A Dupree Dance Crew award covers the rehearsal and filming process and professional video experience with Erick Yanez. It can be used one time at National Finals that follows the regional tour in which the award was won. It cannot be deferred or redeemed at a regional event.
o A dancer who receives a Crew award must confirm their involvement in the Dupree Dance Crew experience by/before the May 1 Participation Deadline. Complete information on how to “Accept” the invitation to formally participate in our Dupree Dance Crew is outlined under the National Finals Overview, Registration & Programs page on our website.
Partnering Awards & Scholarships
We are proud to partner with a number of incredible organizations. In honor of our partnerships, we extend a wide variety of additional awards and scholarships to our both our regional and national convention class attendees. Any unique award(s) or scholarship(s) that are associated with our partnering companies/agencies are not tied to our Dupree Dance online registration system. Winners of these awards much reach out directly to the company/agency in regard to the redemption and/or details of their award. You can visit our Partners Page on our website to obtain additional information.