COMPETITION INFORMATION

 

Overview

 

Dupree competitions are only open to studio registrations. Independent registrants are not eligible to compete and are permitted to take convention classes only. All studio dancers must be convention registered in order to compete. The only exception to this rule applies to adult dancers who perform in a Parent Number that is directly associated with a registered studio, or for any dancers registered in our Specialty Needs division that are directly associated with a registered studio. You may read more about Parent Numbers and Specialty Needs entries under Dance Categories.   

 

Participation in competitions is limited, so register early! Online competition registration may be blocked at any time once the maximum amount of competition routines is reached. Entry fees are non-refundable. 

 

Observer bands are not required for our competition.  

 

Regional Event Competition Schedule

 

Dupree Dance regional competitions are always held on Friday and Saturday and the competition start time varies depending on the number of entries scheduled to compete at each event. . It is possible at some regional events pending both the registration data as well as availability of our host hotel/convention center that a portion of our competition may be scheduled to compete on Thursday.  In this case, Dupree Dance would inform registrants of exact information within one week post registration deadline. You can expect a majority to all of the solo, duo and trio entries to fall during the school day on Friday at most regional events. We do our best to schedule a majority to all group competition after school hours at each regional event. Group competition is scheduled on Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday afternoon/evening. 

Anyone registering for a solo, duo, or trio must be available to perform during the school day on Friday. Dupree Dance will always email registrants a general competition line-up 3 weeks prior to each event, which will allow participants a great window of time to plan ahead for their personal competition schedule. Open seating will generally begin 15 minutes prior to the start of competition on each day.

 

Refer to our Nationals Competition Information for information on our National Finals Time Schedule. 

 

Competition Fees

 

Visit our Rates & Fees page for both regional and national competition rates.  All competition rates are per person, per entry. Registrations received after the deadline will be charged an additional $10 per routine, space permitting.

 

Regional Entry Limit Policy

 

We allow unlimited group routine registration and have an initial limit of up to five solo, duo and trio routines at our regional events. Only 1 solo per dancer is permitted at our regional events. A minimum of 5 registered convention dancers in our Launch-Senior ballrooms is required in order to register for a regional competition.  Visit our Regional Competition Entry Rules page for information on our regional competition entry limit and online registration policy and to learn about our regional Additional Entry Requests submission policy for solo, duo and trio routines.  

 

We accept unlimited entries and do not have a required convention registered dancer minimum in order to compete at our National Finals event.

 

Competition Age Divisions

 

All age divisions at Regional and National Finals will be determined by the ages of the performers as of January 1.  The average age will be automatically configured by our online registration system for Duet/Trios, Groups, Lines, Productions and Super Productions.  To determine the age division, our system will average the performers ages and drop the decimal point.  Example:  12.0-12.9 will compete in the 12-year-old (Junior) age division.  All competing dancers must be prepared to present proof of age should a question arise.  

 

Age Divisions for both the Performance and Competitive Levels at all events are as follows:  

 

Launch (6 & under)    

Mini (7-9)    

Junior (10-12)    

Teen (13-15)  

Senior (16-19)  

Adult (20 & up)

 

Competition Levels

 

Dupree Dance has two competition levels, a performance level and a competitive level, at both our regional competitions and National Finals.  These two levels will exist for all age groups; Launch, Mini, Junior, Teen, Senior and Adult.  Individual and Overall Awards will be given to both competition levels in each age division at our National Finals.  The two levels are designed to give dancers a more level playing field at competition, not to allow your best dancers to win more awards.  Dupree Dance has no way of ‘proving’ or ‘disproving’ the performance level of each registered dancer.  Teachers, we trust that you will use fair judgment and honesty when assigning a ‘performance’ or ‘competitive’ level to each of your dancers.  Winning is great, but educating young dancers and raising them to perform with integrity is most important.  

 

 

 

Our Performance Level is for a dancer who trains an average of 1-4 hours of dance per week.  

 

Our Competitive Level is for a dancer who trains an average of 5 or more hours of dance per week.  

 

 

During the online registration process, you will assign each registrant as being either a ‘performance level’ or ‘competitive level’ dancer as they are entered in your attendee roster.  Our system will automatically place each registered competition entry in the Performance or Competitive division based on the combined level of dancers in each routine.  A registrant may not opt to ‘bump up’ or ‘bump down’ the assigned level of a competition entry.  

 

The following rules will apply:   

 

 

Duo and trio routine competition level rule:

Any duo or trio containing one or more competitive level dancers will be placed in the competitive division.

 

 

Group routine competition level rule:

Any group routine containing two or more competitive level dancers will be placed in the competitive division.

 

 

Lines and Production routine competition level rule:

Any line or production routine containing four or more competitive level dancers will be placed in the competitive division. 

 

 

Super production routine competition level rule:

Any super production routine containing six or more competitive level dancers will be placed in the competitive division.   

 

Changes will NOT be made to a dancer level once your registration is submitted.  If you have any questions regarding our performance and competition division levels, please email us at dupree@dupreedance.com prior to submitting your registration and we are happy to assist you. 

 

Routine Divisions

 

The following routine divisions are available for your studio during our Regional and National Finals events.  Time limits are provided for each division.  

 

Routine Division Time Limit

Solo (max of 2 solos per dancer at Nationals) - 3 minutes

Duo/Trio - 3 minutes

Small Group (4-9 dancers) - 3 minutes                                              

Lines (10-14 dancers)- 4 minutes                                                    

Productions (15-29 dancers) - 6 minutes                                            

Super Productions (30+ dancers) - 6.5 minutes                                    

 

• Extended Time fees are applicable for routines that exceed a 15 second ‘grace period’ and are outlined on our Rates page.

 

Dance Categories

 

* Review the Acrobatic Tricks Rule that outlines the number of acrobatic tricks permitted per dance category.  This information can  be found under Scoring/Awards/Rules section of our website. 

 

The various types of routines include: 
 

JAZZ  -  Routine uses primarily jazz technique, utilizing up-tempo music.
 

TAP - Routine consisting primarily of tap technique. Routines demonstrating clogging technique and style may not compete in the tap category.
 

BALLET -  Primarily ballet technique, including classical steps and movements. 

 

POINTE -  Routine uses primarily classical pointe technique.  Pointe shoes only. 

 

LYRICAL -  Routine consisting of dynamic emotion and expressive movements demonstrated with fluidity, balance, extension and control.  

 

CONTEMPORARY -   A fusion of many styles (primarily jazz and lyrical) with a strong emphasis on modern technique.

 

HIP HOP – Routine that focuses on the groove (rock or bounce) with influences of foundational urban, street, funk, or club styles.  Examples of such styles include (but are not limited to): bboy, locking, popping, krump, jooking, lite feet, and whacking.  

 

JAZZ FUNK– A commercial dance style that fuses a multitude of genres from ballet, modern, hip hop, jazz and lyrical.  A Jazz Funk routine contains highly syncopated musicality, involves intricate movement and typically exudes lots of femininity.  This style is commonly referred to as Street Jazz.

MUSICAL THEATRE - Any routine using Broadway or theater styles.  Song selection is from a Broadway, Movie, Musical or Television Show. 

 

NOVELTY – Routine featuring any style of dance that is novelty or theme based.  It must portray a recognizable character throughout.  

OPEN - Routine demonstrating any dance style or combination of dance styles that is hard to ‘fit’ into any other category offered.  Consists of all other categories including, but not limited to ethnic, folkloric, pom-pom, baton, cheerleading, etc.  Routines containing 4 or more gymnastic tricks may also opt to enter in the open category.

 

MODERN - Routine uses traditional modern techniques with various music options. Freeform and improvisational skills can also be included in this genre.

 

ACROBATIC DANCE – A routine that combines classical dance technique with at least 4 or more acrobatic elements.  Acrobatic dancer routines are defined by their athletic character and use of acrobatics within a dance context.  Controlled movements and flexibility are used and elements like walkovers, aerials, backhand springs, etc. are incorporated.  

 

PARENT NUMBER (regionals only)- Routines that include adult/parent dancers who would like the opportunity to compete.  Parent Numbers are not eligible for Overall Awards.  

• Once “Parent Number” is selected as the dance category, our system will only require that the name of each performer be entered in that routine.  . The option of bypassing convention registration will be extended for any adult performer participating in a Parent Number.  Only competition fees will apply.

• Routines that perform under our “Parent Number” category option during our regional event must fall under our Adult Routine age division at Nationals Finals.  First and last names along with DOB of each dancer will be entered during the Nationals registration process for these routines.  

 

SPECIAL NEEDS - Routines that includes dancers with special needs or disabilities who would like the opportunity to compete in a positive and celebratory environment.  Special Needs numbers are not eligible for Overall Awards.  

• Once “Special Needs” is selected as the dance category, our system will only require only name and DOB of each dancer be entered in that routine. The option of bypassing convention registration will be extended for any performer participating in a Special Needs number. Only competition fees will apply. Please reach out to us at Dupree@DupreeDance.com if you have additional questions.  We are happy to work with you and love the opportunity to showcase Special Needs performers.  

 

Regional Competition Vouchers

 

If there is a total of 5 or more regional competition entries in a specific age/division, the 1st place overall high score winner(s) in that category will be awarded a competition voucher. Competition vouchers may be applied to the competition registration for any Dupree Dance Regional or National Finals event within 12 months of the date awarded.

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Regional Competition Vouchers are automatically assigned to the studio profile and may only be applied towards the competition registration. The total value of a competition voucher(s) may be split between events if a client chooses to do so during the online registration process. However, the total value must be used within the 12-month period from the date it was awarded and will expire in our system after that time.

 

Music Submission

 

Dupree Dance will require that all entrants submit their competition music digitally before the event.   Digital submission also allows us to prepare a master competition playlist ahead of our event.  A detailed music submission email will be sent to entrants at the time that we issue our minute-to-minute schedule. The email will provide easy, step-by-step directions as well as a deadline on how/when to submit your music digitally. 

 

All music must be submitted at the proper speed with a complete ‘start to finish’ edit for each entry.  Dupree Dance will not ‘speed up’ or ‘slow down’ music during our competition, nor will we fade out music that is too long.   

 

Back up music must be kept on you and is preferred to be on a thumb drive.  However, it can also be in the form of a smart phone, tablet, laptop computer, or iPad. 

 

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 (five minutes is permitted for production or super production routines). No liquid, gel, aerosol, glitter, or similar substance that would affect the dancing surface is allowed unless specifically approved by Dupree Dance. Special fog or smoke is not permitted unless specifically approved by Dupree Dance. It is the sole responsibility of each studio to ensure that its props are taken on and off stage. Dupree Dance staff cannot help with props. It is also the studio’s responsibility to ensure that the stage is completely clean and clear after the routine is finished. Storing props in the wings or back stage is not allowed. If a Dupree Dance staff member approves, smaller props may be housed against the wall within 5 numbers of the routine in which they will be used. For safety measures, all props are restricted to a maximum height of 15 feet.  Dupree Dance is not responsible for props left overnight or unattended and will not supply power.  

 

Quick Changes

 

 If you feel that you do not have enough time between numbers to change costumes, we ask that you reach out to Dupree@DupreeDance.com immediately after the competition line-up is released. If there are at least 4 routines between your entries, we feel it is an adequate amount of time to change quickly and get back on stage.  Please do your best to stay on schedule and pre-plan for your ‘quick changes’ accordingly.  

 

Same Day Productions Competition Photo and Video Services

 

Photography and videotaping is strictly prohibited during competition. Same Day Productions will offer Professional Video and Photo Services of all your competition routines. Registrants will receive an email directly from Same Day Productions prior to the event with full details.    

 

National Finals Competition

 

Visit our National Finals page to access additional competition information and rules specific to that event. While registrants must be studio registered in order to compete, there is not a convention registered dancer minimum that needs to be met in order to proceed with competition registration at National Finals.  We can accept an unlimited number of routines at our National Finals event and we have favorable qualification rules that allow our regional supporters the ability to add additional dancers and competition entries to this event, despite whether or not they were included in the studio’s regional qualifying event registration.