Rules & Regulations

Time Limits

Solos / Duets / Trios

3:00 max

Small groups (4–8 dancers)

3:30 max

Large groups (9–15 dancers)

4:00 max

Lines (16+ dancers)

6:00 max

Productions (18+ dancers)

8:00 max

There is a $10 charge for extended music times.

Performance Information

• Choreography and costumes are to be appropriate for ALL ages.
• Dancers can perform up to 3 solos max, with the exception of entering into the improv category. Dancers may perform in the improv category and still have their 3 choreographed solos entered.
• Soloists cannot compete against themselves. If they have 2 solos in the same category/style, they can only register one of them.

Entry Fees

• Fees are due no later than 45 days before each event and are to be paid in full. Any entries submitted are non-refundable.
• Deposits are required for the early bird incentives.
• All deposits are non-refundable. You will get a credit for the $500 and it can be used towards a future DPC event.
• Fees can be paid by check, Zelle, or online on Dance Comp Genie. A 3.5% fee is added when you pay by PayPal. The address to send checks can be found on the Contact Us page.
• All registrations are non-refundable with the exception of an event being cancelled on our behalf. This does not include deposits.
• Great incentive options until January 1st.
• Late fees: $15 is added to each entry and must be paid 2 weeks prior to each event. Late fees may be paid with bank checks, money orders, or PayPal only.
• There is a $50.00 service charge for any returned checks.
• Late entries are still eligible for high score awards IF it is possible with the final schedule.
• Please email us or call the office for entry fees (see the Contact Us page).

Music

• You must upload your music no later than 30 days before the event.
• A charge of $10 per routine will be collected for any music that is not uploaded by the 30-day mark.
• Always have at least one backup music prepared for each routine. Backup music is to be on a flash drive or a laptop/iPad.
• When labeling backup music please list the performance number, song title, and studio name.
• Music is to be appropriate for ALL ages. If the judges feel a song is inappropriate, they have the right to deduct up to 5 points off the routine.

General Rules & Information

VERY IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

• Scheduled performance times will be available for studio owners approximately 10 days before the competition.
• ALL schedule requests must be sent to dpc.requests@gmail.com and are due 30 days prior to the event. Any requests submitted differently or after the deadline will not be taken.
• If you change anything (music, levels, categories, dancers, etc.) after the 30-day request deadline, you will be charged $5 per change. If these changes affect the overalls in any way, they will not be eligible for the overalls.
• There are absolutely no changes allowed the day of an event (with the exception of being down a dancer). This will result in being pulled from the overalls.
• If a routine is down a dancer and this changes the number of dancers from a large group to a small group (or any similar example), they will remain in the same category as they were registered. DPC believes this is fair because that is how the routine is practiced.
• DPC always does our best to give a minimum of 4–5 numbers to change in between dances. This is not considered a quick change, and if you hold your routines (for non-emergency reasons), we will deduct up to 5 points from the final score without question.
• Be prepared! All dancers must be ready at least 1 hour before scheduled performance times. If the competition is running ahead of schedule we will continue even if you are not there. Please check in with our backstage manager 5 numbers ahead of each routine.
• NO photography or video recording is allowed in the auditorium at any time. Our photography company will provide pictures and videos for each performance, available to purchase.
• We do not offer live streaming services, to prioritize the safety and privacy of the dancers and to ensure compliance with copyright regulations.
• Props are not DPC’s responsibility. If a performance has a prop, studios have no more than 2 minutes for set up and break down.
• Wet props (paint, liquid, etc.) are prohibited at any DPC event. If they are used, points will be deducted from the dancer’s score.
• DPC has the right to make last-minute changes (venues, entries, etc.) IF necessary.
• All studios registered for Dynamic Performance Challenge must submit a waiver signed by the studio owners and parents prior to attending the event. Studio owners have full responsibility for their dancers and have a complete understanding of our waiver upon signing. All waivers must be submitted before final show documents are sent out. Waivers are valid for the entire season.
• By signing up and attending any DPC event, studio owners and parents permit pictures and videos to be used for any professional DPC or VSP marketing purposes.
• You do not need to register for a DPC convention in order to compete.
• You must compete at one regional to attend nationals, AND a full day of convention classes is mandatory when registering for nationals.
• We cap our entries at 500 per weekend. There will never be competition during school hours, and we have only one stage, so there is no need to worry about multiple stages.

Age Divisions

Mini

4–6

Petite

7–9

Junior

10–12

Teen

13–15

Senior

16–18

Adult

19+

Age divisions are determined as of January 1st. Group dances are determined by the average of the dancers’ ages.

Performance Levels

LEVELS WILL BE MOVED UP WITHOUT NOTICE IF THE JUDGES FEEL THEY ARE TOO ADVANCED FOR THEIR CATEGORY.

The levels below are just a guide to help you understand where your dancers should fall. If you know they are above the suggested level, please place them in the higher level.

Averaging Levels

• Duets are determined by the higher leveled category. If one dancer in the duet is Dynamic 2 and one is Dynamic 3, they are placed in the Dynamic 3 category.
• Trios and groups are averaged out. If a routine has more Dynamic 3 leveled dancers, it is put in the Dynamic 3 category.
• If a group has the same number of dancers in each level (for example 3 Dynamic 2 dancers and 3 Dynamic 3 dancers), they must register in the higher level.
• If a routine is bumped at Regionals, it must compete at the higher level at future events.

Judging

Dancers are judged on these 5 categories:

Technique

30 points

Execution

25 points

Stage presence

20 points

Choreography

15 points

Presentation

10 points

Awards & Overalls

Improv Information, Scoring & Awards

We are pushing this category because we want dancers to show us their raw passion for dance. This category is all about what dancers bring to the stage!

• You can sign up the day of the event for $30. Sign-ups are held at our merchandise table.
• The category is broken into two age categories: 12 & under and 13 & over.
• Dancers will not know the style of dance until the song begins. Music is provided by our emcee the day of the event.
• There are 2 rounds with 2 different styles.
• All dancers perform on stage at the same time. If the group is too big, we will split it into 2 groups.
• Dancers are split up by age category and must improv until the emcee stops the music at or before 1:30. If a dancer performs a choreographed piece in this category, they will be disqualified.
• This category is not scored numerically; a first, second, and third place winner are awarded in both age divisions.
• First place receives $50.00 cash!
• There must be 5 or more dancers in each age division for a top 3 to be awarded; otherwise only first place is awarded.

Categories

Improv

A performance in any style that is not choreographed.

Tap

Must be performed wearing tap shoes and use tap technique.

Jazz

Should be performed using traditional jazz technique and movements.

Acro

Can be performed in any style but requires more than 3 acrobatic tricks and tumble passes.

Contemporary

A style that requires a variety of different emotions, isolations, and technique.

Hip Hop

Can be performed in any hip hop style (popping, animation, etc.).

Lyrical

A style that utilizes the lyrics of the music but also shows technique, strength, and flexibility/extensions.

Ballet

Requires strong classical ballet technique. Ballet shoes/slippers are to be worn.

Open

Falls in between any style, but must not have more than 3 tricks or tumble passes or it is entered into Acro.

Modern

An interpretive dance that requires balance and control.

Pointe

Must be performed wearing pointe shoes and requires strong ballet technique.

Musical Theater

A routine of any style that interprets a musical movie or a Broadway show.

Clogging

Must be performed in clogging shoes and use clogging technique.

Character

Must be performed as a character.

Voice / Vocal

Strictly singing. No back-up voices should be used in the music.

Professional

Any style performed with a professional dancer or dance instructor.

Liturgical

A routine that expresses public worship.

National Event Rules

• All general rules and regulations apply to both regional and national events. Please see the Competition Rules page for full details.
• You MUST compete at one regional event to attend a nationals event. If you are unable to attend a regional for an excused reason (distance, schedule conflicts, etc.), you may attend the nationals event as a whole if approved by DPC.
• If a routine was bumped a level at regionals, it must compete at the higher level at nationals.
• Convention classes are required for all dancers competing at DPC Nationals.
• Tickets are required for prospects to attend the Dynamic Duels on the last day of nationals. Please contact us for ticket pricing.

Title division

• Current national title holders are not eligible to compete for title in consecutive years. They are invited the following year to perform at the Dynamic Duels and crown the new title winners. Title holders are still eligible to compete in the regular competition.
• Dancers who register for title go through an interview process with the judges.
• Dancers in title are also scored on the convention class portion.
• Age divisions are the same as our regular ones.
• Titles are not broken up by levels. All levels compete within their age group.
• If a dancer wants to compete their solo for both title and overalls, they must register separately for each.

Title scoring breakdown

Convention

10%

Interview

10%

Performance

80%

Activities throughout nationals

• Game night / PJ party
• Theme days
• Parent improv competition
• Dancer improv competition