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Rules & Regulations

*Overall awards presented in 4 overall age divisions (Children, Junior, Teen, Senior)

*College scholarships awarded at Nationals

*Opportunities for dance agency representation

*Selection of Team Showdance & Hip Hop Teams

*DVD critiques of all performances at Regionals from all judges

SCORING

Headliners scoring is modeled after the letter grading system used by public and private schools. Many competitions policies are to begin awards at gold or have set-up their awards so that lower scores (80's and 70's) still receive a gold awards. At Headliners, dancers will compete against an adjudicated scoring system and receive awards that realistically correspond to the scores received. 

Three judges are allocated 200 points (100 for technique, 100 for presentation). The average score is determined by dividing the total number of points received and dividing by 6. (Example: an elite gold award is a minimum of 558 points. Divide the score by 6 to determine the average which is a minimum score of 93.)

ELITE GOLD - 558-600 points (average of 93 or higher - A+)
GOLD  - 540-557 points (average score of 90-92 - A)
HIGH SILVER - 516-539 points (average score of 86-89 - B+)
SILVER - 480-515 points (average score of 80-85 - B)
HIGH BRONZE - 456-479 points (average score of 76-79 - C+)
 
All routines will receive a trophy based on the overall score received.

CRITIQUES

At regional events, judge's critique each routine on technique, presentation and offer comments on a variety of subjects that may not pertain to the overall score (costuming, grooming, etc). With the exception of the Preliminary competition prior to Nationals, routines will not be critiqued at the National Championships in July. THE DECISION OF THE JUDGES IS FINAL.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Technique: Judges are required to be familiar with the basic techniques of the major dance disciplines - ballet, jazz, modern, acrobatic and tap. The age of the dancer and their ability to properly execute each movement is considered as well as balance, control, stretch, fluidity and musical timing. In addition, when it comes to the dancer(s) ability to perform choreography the following may also be considered: use of music and musical phrasing, use of space, dimensions or levels, appropriateness of the technical level for the age, emotional content, movement and style, creativity and originality.

Presentation: The presentation score takes into consideration the dancer's ability to capture the audience, their personality, emotional execution, charisma, enthusiasm and energy. It can also take into consideration appropriateness of costume, makeup, grooming, etc.

AGE DIVISIONS

Placement of dancers is based on their age as of January 1st. Overall Awards presented in four overall age divisions!!
Children: 9 and under, Junior: 10-12, Teen: 13-15, Senior: 16 and over

Dancers will compete by individual ages (6 & under, 7, 8, etc) within their overall age division. Overall awards will be presented on the divisions listed above. Placement of duo/trios, groups, lines and classes is determined by adding all ages and dividing by by the number of dancers in the routine. Decimal points should be dropped.

OVERALL AND SPECIAL AWARDS

In order to recognize as many dancers as possible, overalls are presented in four divisions: Child (9 & under), Junior (10-12), Teen (13-15), Senior (16 & over). A gold or elite gold score is required to be considered. Overall awards are presented to the top 10 soloists in each division. The top 5 is announced in duo/trio, group (4-9 dancers), line (10-16 dancers) and class (17 or more dancers). A minimum of 10 entries in each of the categories listed is required for cash awards to be presented. In certain instances, categories are combined (ie: line/class) in order to present cash awards. 

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPETITORS

1. Recreational – Students who take 3 hours or less of dance per week. Dancers in this classification will be judged on a more lenient scale and receive trophies based on placement. Recreational dancers are not eligible for overall cash awards or regional titles. (NOTE: Routines that contain both recreational and competitive dancers must perform in the Competitive division). If dancers enter Recreational in regional they must remain recreational at Nationals.

2. Competitive - Dancers who take 4 hours or more of dance per week or for routines that contain both recreational and competitive dancers.

3. Pro-Am - A combination of amateur and professional dancers performing together. The Pro-Am division is not eligible for overall awards.
 
4. Professional - Teachers, full-time assistants, salaried assistants, professional dancers over the age of 18. Full time students or students who teach or assist in exchange for lessons are not considered professionals.  Professionals are not eligible for overall awards.

CATEGORIES AND DESCRIPTIONS

  • Acro: A combination of tumbling movements and passes incorporated with dance movements.
  • Ballet: Classical ballet style using ballet shoes
  • Pointe: Classical ballet technique wearing pointe shoes
  • Character: Portraying an easily recognized character such as clown, scarecrow, Betty Boop, etc.
  • Clogging: Routine should show clogging (or buck) technique using full foot
  • Contemporary: inventive movements incorporating different styles with classical foundation
  • Ethnic: A routine using ethnic style dance (ie: flamenco, Irish jig, Hawaiian, etc.)
  • Hip Hop: Street, funk dance, break and electric boogie
  • Jazz: Classical jazz movements and technique
  • Lyrical: Dancers’ movements should interpret the words and feelings of the song
  • Modern: Theatrical dance not as restrictive as classical ballet; stylized, abstract movements
  • Musical Theater: Use of Broadway or movie musical song portraying the feeling of the lyrics through dance or character
  • Open: Combines two or more forms of dance or a second routine with 50% of the same dancers
  • Pom Pon: The use of Pom poms where dancers show patterns and uniform movements
  • Showdance: a concept, story or theme. Can be any dance form or combination of dance forms (no tap)
  • Tap: No pre-recorded tap sounds allowed on the tape
  • Twirling: Dancers incorporate batons into routine

 NEW! Student Choreographer: Students must be age 21 or younger to participate. The highest scoring duo through production routines in 12 & under and 13 & over will be selected at each regional competition and will eligible to compete at Nationals for the title of Student Choreographer of the year at Nationals. A cash scholarship will be awarded. (NOTE: Routines entered in the Student Choreography category will not be eligible for the Teacher/Choreographer of the Year award)

Rule regarding acro tricks in routines: ballet, pointe and lyrical may not have any acrobatic tricks. Jazz and tap routines may have a maximum of 2 acro tricks. All other categories may have unlimited acto tricks. (A pass into an acro trick - ie: round off back handspring - qualifies as one movement.)

TIME LIMITS

Routines are randomly timed at all events. If a routine is overtime, the teacher will be notified. At Nationals, a total of five points will automatically be deducted for every 10 seconds overtime.

Solos, Duos, Trios, Groups, Lines, Classes....................................up to 3 minutes

Extended (groups, lines and classes)...............................................up to 4 minutes

Mini-Production (lines and classes)...................................................up to 6 minutes

Production (lines and classes)............................................................up to 8 minutes

GROUPS (4-9 dancers), LINES (10-16 dancers), CLASSES (17 or more dancers)

PLEASE NOTE THAT EXTENDED, MINI-PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTION REFER TO TIME LIMITS NOT SIZE OF ROUTINE

TITLE COMPETITION

 

All title entries must be of competitive status.

 

Petite Miss/Master Headliner.....ages 7-9
Junior Miss/Junior Mister Headliner………ages 10-12
Teen Miss/Teen Mister Headliner.....ages 13-15
Miss/Mister Headliner………ages 16-21

*All soloists are eligible. Up to two regional title winners per age division will be selected at each event and will be judge's choice. Judge's will confer during the awards ceremony to make their choices . (The title selection has nothing to do with high score. Title winners may also be high score soloist however being high score soloist does not guarantee selection as title winner).
*Soloists that wish to be considered for regional titles should select Yes from the drop down box next to Title Competition. (NOTE: Asking to be considered for title does not guarantee selection)
*A gold level score must be achieved to be considered. Dancers may hold only one title per season.
*National Title winners from previous seasons may not compete for the same title they held, but may compete for older titles once they meet the age requirement.

 

 

ENTRY FEES
Please contact the Headliners office or refer to your tour brochure.