Dance Spectacular

Rules

Child dancing in yellow outfit, trophies behind.

Dancer in a blue dress performs a high leap on a gymnasium floor.

Division Entry Rules

NEW FOR 2027

!!!!Advanced Skills: In order to keep the division levels competitive, the following WILL BE APPLIED. If a dancer performs an advanced skill that is not permitted in their entered division, the routine will receive a rating only and will not be eligible for the Queen or Overall Queen awards!!!

Read level descriptions closely

Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Acro/Open

Preschool and up.

Any division with 6 or more contestants may be divided at Dance Spectacular’s discretion.

Dance Spectacular reserves the right to add, combine, or adjust divisions as needed.

Routines containing more than 3 tumbling/acro skills must enter the Acro/Open Division.

Division Levels:

  • NOVICE DANCER:
    • A Novice dancer is new to dancing and competition. In this category, basic ballet and jazz movement is encouraged, as well as level changes and transitions in choreography. Only single turns are allowed ie; chaine’, pencil and sous-sus turns. Basic leaps/jumps ie; grande’ jete’ and toe touches are allowed. No Advanced turns or leaps are permitted. Only basic tumbling is allowed ie; cartwheels and somersaults. No handstands, front or back walkovers OR airborne acro is allowed in the Novice category.
  • AMATEUR DANCER:
    • In this category, basic ballet and jazz technique movement is encouraged as well as level changes and transitions in choreography. The Amateur dancer has more control than a Novice dancer. Only single turns are allowed ie; chaine’, pencil or sous-sus turns. No pique’, tour en l’air or pirouette’ turns are allowed. NO DOUBLE OR TRIPLE TURNS OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED. Basic leaps ie; grande’ jete’, stag leaps and side jete’ are allowed. No advanced turns are allowed ie; pique’, pirouette, fouette’ en tournant, a la seconde or pirouette’. No advanced leaps are permitted ie; firebird or chaine’ attitude, switch leaps, turning switch or turning straddle. Only basic tumbling is allowed ie; cartwheels, somersaults, handstands and back walkovers. NO airborne acro is allowed in the Amateur category.
    • A dancer who has previously won Queen in the Novice division must compete at the Amateur level or higher.
  • INTERMEDIATE DANCER:
    • In the Intermediate category, creativity in choreography, shapes, patterns and transitions/formations and showmanship is encouraged. Ballet and jazz movement with an emphasis on proper technique is encouraged. All types of leaps and turns are encouraged although no more than 2 rotations into a single or double turn is allowed. Side aerial and back/front walkovers are permitted. NO front aerials or handsprings are permitted. No more than 3 total acro moves are permitted in this category. If your routine has more than 3 acro moves, you will need to enroll in the Open/Acro Division.
    • A dancer who has previously won Queen in the Amateur division must compete at the Intermediate level or higher.
  • INTERMEDIATE/PRO:
    • In the Intermediate/Pro category, the dancer is in between Intermediate and Advanced. Artistry and creativity with a strong emphasis on showmanship is appreciated. All types of turns and leaps are allowed although no more than 3 rotations into a single or double turn is allowed. Front aerials and airborne acro IS permitted in this category. No more than 3 total acro moves are permitted. If your routine has more than 3 acro moves, you will need to enroll in the Open/Acro Division.
    • A dancer who has previously won Queen in the Intermediate division must compete at the Intermediate/Pro level or higher.
  • ADVANCED DANCER:
    • In the Advanced category, ALL dance movement is welcome. There is no limit on rotation or type of turn or leap. Artistry, creativity, technique, and showmanship are strongly encouraged in advanced routines vs. multiple tricks.

Age Division and Bracket Rules

  • Automatic Splitting: If a division exceeds 6 competitors, it will automatically be split into smaller, balanced groups.
  • Ages 3 and older are welcome to participate.
  • Small Group Sizes: Each division is capped at a maximum of 6 competitors.
  • Age-Based Brackets: Participants are grouped into divisions based on their relative ages.

**Please remember that acro is meant to enhance your routine, not distract from it. You are being judged on your technique, skill, execution, and showmanship—not on how many tumbling/acro moves you execute. Remember, acro doesn’t help you, but it can hurt you. Please enter your routine in the Open/Acro Division if you want to include multiple tricks.

General Guidelines

DIVISIONS:

Registration Fees

  • Registration application with full payment must be received by January 31, 2027
  • Early Bird Discount: Solo, Duo, and Trio registrations that are registered and paid in full by December 31, 2026 will receive a 5% discount. Use coupon code EARLYBIRD on the Solo/Duo/Trio registration form. Early Bird discount does not apply to Team registrations.
  • Registrations received after February 1, 2027, will incur a $5.00 late entry fee
  • ***Once Registration is processed, No refunds will be issued.
  • A $10.00 change fee will be charged for any changes to the original registration after registration is processed 

General Admission

  • Please note that we are switching to a no-admission venue, meaning dancers can bring as many spectators as they want. While this has increased registration fees, parents will not have to pay extra to enter.

Music

• All contestants/studios are required to provide their own age-appropriate music with clean lyrics. Music must be uploaded digitally with the registration application.
• If changes are made to your music after registration, please email the updated music file to Dance Spectacular. Include the contestant’s name, song title, grade, level, and studio name in the email.
• All contestants/studios must have a backup copy of their music available at the competition.
• A dancer or studio representative should be available near the sound table in case backup music is needed.

Time Limits

• Solo, Duo, and Trio routines: 1–3 minutes. Please contact us at dancespectacular@gmail.com if your routine exceeds 3 minutes.
• Team routines: 1–5 minutes. If your routine exceeds 5 minutes, please indicate this on your team registration Excel sheet.
• Show/Production routines: Maximum of 10 minutes. If your routine exceeds 10 minutes, please note this on your registration.
• To help keep the competition on schedule, contestants and teams must be in costume and ready in their designated staging area at least 30 minutes before their scheduled performance time.

Order of Performance

  • Performance order is determined by the date registrations are received. Earlier registrations will be scheduled later within their division, while later registrations will be scheduled earlier.

Shoes and Props

• ABSOLUTELY NO HELIUM BALLOONS ALLOWED

All shoes must have non-marking soles. No exceptions.
• Carry-on props are permitted but must be incorporated into the routine. For Jazz, Lyrical, or Contemporary routines, props should not be the focal point of the performance.
   ◦ If a prop is large, is used extensively in the choreography, or is a focal point of the routine, the routine must be entered in the OPEN category.
• Soloists and teams using props are required to sign a liability waiver before taking the floor.
• Dance Spectacular staff will inspect all props to ensure proper padding is in place to protect the facility floors. Props that do not meet these requirements will not be allowed on the floor until proper padding is installed.

Awards

• Dance Spectacular recognizes every contestant who participates in our competition. All Solo, Duo, and Trio participants will receive a trophy, and a tiara will be awarded in recognition of their performance.
• Solo Awards: Queen through 5th Attendant will be awarded in each division. Duo/Trio Awards: 1st through 5th Place.
   ◦ Queens will receive a trophy, banner, tiara, gift.
   ◦ Attendants will receive a trophy and a tiara.
   ◦ Each Queen in an age division will be eligible for the Overall Queen award, provided they competed against at least one other contestant in their age division.
   ◦ Overall Queens will be announced at the conclusion of Solo Night.
• All team members will receive a unique participation award.
• Studios will receive a large trophy and plaque displaying their routine placements, along with individual awards for team members.

Overall Awards

Overall Queen – The Queen with the highest placement points, as determined by the judging staff, will be crowned Miss Overall Queen in each level. The Overall Queen will receive a large three-column trophy, tiara, banner, gift, and a certificate for 50% off registration for the 2028 Dance Spectacular competition.

Overall Team – The team with the highest placement points, as determined by the judging staff, will be named Overall Team in each level. The winning team will receive a large trophy and a registration discount certificate for the following year’s competition.

Overall Specialty Team Awards – Specialty awards will be presented in the following categories: Best Costume, Best Showmanship, Best Props, Best Execution, Best Choreography, Best Lyrical, Best Contemporary, Best Jazz, Best Hip-Hop, Best Cheer, and Judges’ Choice.

Overall Studio – The highest-scoring studio with 10 or more team routines will receive the Overall Studio award. The studio’s top 10 scores will be used to determine the winner. The winning studio will receive a large trophy and a registration discount certificate for the following year’s competition.

Video Rules

For the privacy and respect of all competitors, spectators may record only their own dancer or team. Recording another studio’s dancers or teams is prohibited. A first violation will result in a verbal warning. Any additional violation may result in removal from the competition venue.

Disclaimer

Dance Spectacular reserves the right to refuse admission to or remove any individual whose behavior is disruptive, disrespectful, inappropriate, or unsportsmanlike toward staff, competitors, spectators, or event personnel.

Questions or concerns regarding the competition should be addressed after the event to avoid disrupting performances. Please email dancespectacular@gmail.com.

Participation in Dance Spectacular activities involves inherent risks. All participants and/or their parent or legal guardian must agree to the Dance Spectacular Waiver, Release, and Terms of Participation as part of the registration process.

Registration fees are non-refundable once registration has been processed.

Code of Conduct

Dance Spectacular is committed to providing a supportive, respectful, and professional environment for everyone. Competitors, studio owners and directors, coaches, parents, and spectators are expected to treat one another, Dance Spectacular staff, judges, and venue personnel with courtesy and respect. Disruptive, disrespectful, inappropriate, or unsportsmanlike behavior may result in disqualification and/or removal from the competition venue.