GENERAL RULES AND INFORMATION

All entries will be accepted on a first come first served basis, and will be limited to the amount of performance time available.
Note: Competition may be full before entry deadline so make sure entries are received early.

• A preliminary schedule will be sent out 3 – 4 weeks prior to competition date and a final schedule will be issued one week before the competition.
• Flashdance Inc. reserves the right to refuse individual or Studio entries at their discretion, in which event fees will be refunded. Refunds will not be made for any other reasons except for injuries (Doctor’s note required).
• There will be a $30.00 charge for all returned or NSF cheques.
• There is no limit to the number of entries a studio may enter or that a student may perform with the following exceptions – - A routine may be entered only once from each studio. - A competitor may not compete twice in the same age category, in the same dance form. Soloists wishing to perform a second routine in the same dance form (e.i. 2 jazz solos) may do so if they move up to the next age level. Please note on the entry form if competitor(s) have entered a higher age level so that we know that this is your request and not an error.
• Props may be used. They must be free standing. These props should be essential to the performance and must be carried on stage by the performer or studio representative. No props that could pose a danger are allowed, such as fire, swords, knives or helium balloons etc. Maximum set –up & take down time for props is 2 minutes total, Productions are excepted but arrangements for elaborate set up times must be made with Flashdance prior to schedule being sent out. (this rule will be enforced to ensure competition remains on schedule and marks may be deducted for routines exceeding time limits)
• If the stage floor is littered during your performance, please be prepared to clean it up immediately after the routine is finished. The dance floor area must be in the same condition after your performance as it was before.
• Only teachers are allowed backstage, in the wings or in the music area. In no other circumstance will any other person be allowed backstage, in the wings or in the music area during the competition, except for Flashdance personnel. This rule will be strictly enforced. Parents are not allowed backstage at any time during performances.
• Absolutely no rehearsal is allowed in any part of the theatre
• There is no food or drink permitted in the theatre, except for those areas designated by the theatre
• Photography or video taping of any part of the competition is prohibited except by personnel contracted by Flashdance Inc. The competition will stop until the camera is put away, and the person may be asked to leave the theatre. Filming and photography is permitted during award sessions only. By signing the entry form the studio director hereby gives authority to video and photograph their routines by staff contracted through Flashdance Inc. exclusively.
• Routines must be appropriate for family viewing in theme, costuming, lyrics and choreography. If the judges feel that a routine is not appropriate for family viewing, marks may be deducted.
• In order to qualify for overall awards there must be a minimum of 5 groups entered by the studio.
• Flashdance Inc. will not be held liable or responsible for any misprints or errors of omissions in the official program.
• The directors of Flashdance Inc. reserves the right to cancel, reduce or increase the days of any scheduled competition/event as well as move the event site, due to unforeseen circumstances. It may be necessary to start a competition on a Thursday and in the event this happens, we will do our best to schedule routines no earlier than 3 pm that day. There will be no cancellation of days or scheduled times due to weather conditions. Competitors must perform on days and times scheduled. Entries that do not compete on the day and time assigned, will not be eligible for an Overall High Score Award. Dancers will not be allowed to dance ahead of their category or to enter any other categories once the final schedule has been sent out and the deadline for changes has passed.
• All performers must be ready to perform one hour prior to the scheduled performance time. This rule will be strictly enforced in the event that the competition runs early.
• All entrants agree that all decisions of the judges are final and that the time, manner and method of judging the competition will be solely within the discretion of the directors of Flashdance Inc.
• Sportsmanlike behaviour is expected at all times. Failure to display decorum could result in immediate disqualification.

INCOMPLETE ACTS

Re-dances will be permitted, but performer will only receive judge’s comments and will not be scored. Re-dances are not eligible for overall cash awards. There will be no penalty for re-dances due to technical difficulties.
 

MUSIC

All contestants’ music must be recorded on CD’s or IPods and turned in to the MC one hour prior to scheduled performance time. Recording music on an IPod would eliminate the need for pitch problems, damaged CD’s etc, etc. and our music system has the capability to accommodate this process.

COMPACT DISCS

Track must be cued to start immediately, on a scratch free disk. Clearly label the jewel case and CD itself with the name of the routine and studio name. A technician will be on hand to play your music. Teachers may choose to be in the sound area while their music is being played, or may turn in their music backstage one hour prior to the scheduled time of the routine. CD’s are played on a variable speed player. Teachers are responsible for pitch control and if using an IPOd, teachers must be available in the sound area to play the music.

Flashdance Inc. is not responsible for any CD’s that are lost, missing or not picked up.

DANCE CLASSIFICATIONS

***Novice: The maximum age for all novice entries is 14 years.

***Novice Solo: Must be a dancer who is performing a solo for the first time in any dance category. They may have competed in a duet/trio or group/line other years.

****Novice Duet/Trio: Performing a Duet/Trio for the first time. Duo/Trios from a previous season can compete as a novice Solo this season, as long as they did not perform a solo last season.

****Novice group or line: 75% of competitors must not have danced in solos, duet/trio or groups/lines.

Competitive: A competitive contestant is a person who has competed before and whose dance training exceeds 5 hours per week or more in any dance form. Please note that a competitive contestant may compete in a recreational group category but 85% of dancers must fall under the recreational category rules, i.e. dance training is 5 hours or less in any dance form or category. Competitors will compete in individual age categories by dance form and classification.

Professional: A Professional contestant is a person who receives payment for performing or teaching dance as a source of income in excess of $2500.00 per year. A Professional contestant may not compete in any category (Novice, Recreational or Competitive) they may however compete in an Adult 30+ category. Dancers in the Professional category are not eligible to win cash awards, overall awards or adjudicator’s choice awards.

DANCE FORMS

A routine that consists primarily of acrobatic technique while using controlled moves such as walkovers, limbers, handstands, handsprings, chest rolls etc. Routine may contain gymnastic passes, flexibility moves or contortionist moves, but may also contain dance moves, steps, and choreography. Routine must contain a minimum of 50% dance.

Routine must consist of ballet technique while incorporating classical movements and steps. Ballet slippers must be worn.

Routine must consist of pointe or toe technique while incorporating classical movement and steps. Routine can be incorporated to classic or contemporary music but must use pointe shoes.

A routine portraying a recognizable character or stereotype and must consist of ballet technique. Character can be from a TV show, play, movie or stage show.

A routine consisting primarily of jazz technique. Routine must not contain more than 3 acrobatic tricks or tumbling passes.

Routine should demonstrate balance, control and extensions using contemporary style of “Modern Dance” technique. Strong interpretative and expression of emotional intense movements of the lyrics and/or music should be displayed.

Routine should consist of a combination of jazz, modern, and ballet while using balance, control, extensions, isolations and flexibility to relate to the mood and feeling of the music. No acrobatic or gymnastic tricks are permitted. Front and back rolls are allowed during this routine. General lifts are permissible.

A routine portraying a character throughout. Any form of dance may be incorporated. Lip-syncing is allowed.

Any routine which does not fit into any of our dance categories or a routine which is a combination of two or more of our dance categories. Folk/Ethnic Routines should be entered in this Open Category, i.e. Irish Dance, etc. Please note: If your routine consists of 5 or more acrobatic tricks, you should enter the routine in the Acro category.

Routine must consist primarily of vocals and dance. Microphones are permitted. If you require wireless headsets, they must be supplied and set up by the studio. Please ensure that ample time for set up and testing is arranged before performance of routine.

Routines where dancers execute free form movement and styling characteristic of Contemporary dance styles. Funk, Hip-Hop, Break Dance, Street Dance and Free Style are permitted in this category.

Routine must consist primarily of tap technique. Tap sounds cannot be present on music CD.

Tricks are movements that pass through or stop at an upside down position with both feet off the floor. For example, a trick is a cartwheel, handspring etc. because the torso passes or stops directly over the top of ones head/shoulders

VOCAL
Routine must consist primarily of vocals.

Routine must have a minimum of 12 dancers. Routine can incorporate any style(s) of dance or acrobatics but must have a theme or story that is portrayed throughout the entire performance. This routine may be reclassified at the judges’ discretion. Only one production number may be entered by a studio. ****Production routines will all compete against each other in the production category. They are not listed as competitive, novice or recreational.

Routine where a majority of the dancers are students over the age of 30. Family routines can be entered in this category, for example mother and daughter.