Competition Info
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
REGISTRATION
PROPS
MUSIC
All Music will be submitted by digital upload. Music uploads must be completed a week before your competition.**Studio owners / Teachers should bring a backup CD or USB.
Please make sure all music is levelled and edited exactly from beginning to end to avoid any confusion.
Any entry exceeding the maximum time listed above that have not been approved by Phoenix will be deducted one point for every five seconds over the time limit of a routine.
All music must be uploaded through your studio portal account at least three weeks before your event weekend. All music must be labeled in the following format: #ENTRY ID – ROUTINE TITLE – STUDIO NAME. There will be an administration fee applied to your account if the music is uploaded late.
SCHEDULE
A tentative schedule will be sent out 2-3 weeks prior to competition date. We will try our absolute best to get those out to you faster. The final schedule will be sent out a week prior to the competition.
IMPORTANT NOTICES
The director of Phoenix Dance Competition reserves the right to cancel, add or reduce the days of any scheduled competition. Phoenix reserves the right to move a competition date and venue due to unforeseen circumstances. Phoenix has the right to determine Cash value awards based on number of entries. Phoenix has the right to cancel any competition due to unforeseen weather circumstances such as flood etc. and refunds will not be given. No refunds will be given due to injury, weather, “Act of God”, force majeere, riots, accidents or other causes outside of the competitions control. Phoenix is not liable in any way for any interruptions, and must be released and discharged any claim, demand, cause of action against them in respect of any Interruptions.”Phoenix has the right to cancel any event due to low entries. Fees will be refunded in this case. Phoenix is not responsible for any lost, damaged or stolen items. No photography and video allowed during the performances. Pics are only allowed during awards. In the event that there are not enough entries for overalls, divisions could be combined. Phoenix reserves the right to all photos and videos for promotional purposes. All competitors should arrive at least one hour prior to a performance in case of being ahead of schedule. Please keep all designated areas and dressing rooms clean. Anyone seen intentionally abusing the areas will be disqualified.
In order to qualify for a complimentary one-night hotel accommodation, individuals must meet the following criteria: the studio of residence must be located within a 150-kilometer radius of the designated theatre venue, and this offer is applicable exclusively to “non-local participants.” entering Phoenix Dance Competition. The studio must also have a total of $3000 total registration entered. To be eligible for the $1500 tip credit, a dance studio must have achieved the title of ‘Top Studio (Large)’ at a regional event. The winner of this credit will be determined through a random draw, and the announcement will be made accordingly.
It is agreed that teachers, competitors, parents, and relatives will not hold Phoenix Dance Competition directors, employees, the host facility and all involved in the competition responsible for any damages, loss or personal injury which they may sustain while participating in any activity connected with this competition, no matter how caused, to either spectators or contestants. Dancers compete at their own risk.
CATEGORIES, DIVISIONS & DANCE STYLES
CATEGORIES
Category | # of dancers | Time |
---|---|---|
Solo | 1 | 3 min |
Duo/Trio | 2 to 3 | 3 min |
Small group | 4 to 9 | 4 min |
Large group | 10 to 15 | 4 min |
Lines | 16+ | 5 min |
Production | 20+ | 10 min |
(please let us know if you need more time) |
DIVISIONS
PETITE – 5 YEARS
MINI – 6 TO 8 YEARS
JUNIOR – 9 TO 11 YEARS
TEEN – 12 TO 14 YEARS
SENIOR – 15 TO 18 YEARS
ADULT – 19+ YEARS
Phoenix Dance age visions are determined by calculating the average age of performers as of December 31, 2024. Add all the ages and divide by the number of performers. Drop the decimal. If a routine consists of dancers ages 9-17, the routine cannot compete in a division one level lower than the oldest member in the routine. (productions excluded).
NOVICE – 1ST YEAR COMPETITIVE DANCE
- 1st-time soloists. (Might have competed before in a Duo/Trio and or group.
- All members of Duo/trio must qualify as Novice.
- All members of any group/line/production must qualify as a novice.
- The maximum age for Novice is 16 years.
PRE COMPETITIVE – 2ND YEAR COMPETITIVE DANCE WHO TRAIN LESS THAN 6 HOURS PER WEEK.
- All members of Duo/Trio must qualify as Pre-Competitive and train less than 6 hours per week.
- 100% of all Group/Line/Production members must be Pre –Competitive.
COMPETITIVE – 3 TO 4 YEARS COMPETITIVE DANCE WHO TRAIN LESS THAN 10 HOURS PER WEEK.
- 75% of Group/Line/Production members must qualify as competitive. For ex, you can move a dancer from pre-comp to comp, but not vice versa.
- Solo, Duo/Trio entries must be 100% competitive.
ELITE – 5+ YEARS OF COMPETITIVE DANCE WHO TRAIN 10+ HOURS PER WEEK.
- 75% of all Group/Line/production members must qualify as elite. For ex, you can move a competitive dancer to the elite in a group.
- Solo, Duo/Trio entries must be 100% elite.
STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHY – AN ENTRY THAT EITHER CHOREOGRAPHED THEIR OWN PERFORMANCE OR GETS PAID TO DANCE. NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OVERALLS
DANCE STYLES
JAZZ
This routine must contain jazz movement and techniques. Limit of 2 acro tricks allowed. Rolling is not considered a trick.
TAP
This routine must contain tap movement and technique with no pre-recorded tap sounds. Limit of 2 tricks allowed.
BALLET
This routine must contain ballet movement and technique. No tricks allowed.
CHARACTER BALLET
This routine must contain ballet technique and movement portraying a character or theme. No tricks allowed.
POINTE
This routine must be performed in Pointe Shoes with ballet movement. No tricks allowed.
SONG AND DANCE
This routine consists of live vocal performance incorporated with dance movement. The studio must provide its own headset. Limit of 2 tricks allowed.
MUSICAL THEATRE
This routine can be any style of dance while lip-syncing and using interpretative movement, acting, and/or props. Limit of 2 tricks allowed.
LYRICAL
This routine must contain ballet and jazz techniques and movement and portray emotion. Max of 2 tricks allowed. Rolling is not a trick. Handstand/cartwheels are tricks. Lifts are not tricks.
CONTEMPORARY
This routine must contain technique with free range of motion and style with emotion. Only 2 tricks are allowed. Lifts are allowed.
OPEN
This is a routine that is of any other style or a combined number of styles. 3-5 tricks allowed.
ACRO
This routine contains acrobatic tricks and an equal amount of dance
movements.
MODERN
This routine must showcase interpretive modern movement. Only 2 tricks are allowed.
HIP HOP
This routine contains hip-hop elements and choreography movement to mainstream music. Up to 3 tricks allowed. Break dancing will not be considered tricks but must have some dance choreography elements as well.
SCORING AND AWARDS
SCORING
Performances will be judged by a panel of 3 judges and will be calculated based on the following elements and averaged out to determine score.
Platinum Phoenix:
93+
Diamond Phoenix:
90-92.9
Elite Gold Phoenix:
85 – 89.9
Gold Phoenix:
80 – 84.99
Silver Phoenix:
75 – 79.9
DEDUCTION SYSTEM
We are excited to introduce our deduction system to the competition world that will keep the highest standard possible to a competition event.
These will be applied to the final scores. Deductions are as followed.
Costume – Such as but not limited to inappropriate costume or appearance.
-1 Point
Music – Such as but not limited to Clean versions with insinuations/age inappropriateness.
-1 Point
Choreography – Such as but not limited to: Inappropriate choreography/movement
-1 Point
Improper Placement of routine – For ex, Sarah has a Competitive Jazz solo and she is in a Pre-Competitive Duet.
-1 Point
Too many tricks were not permitted – please see dance genres.
-1 Point
*Multiple deductions could be given. All decisions will be final by the
judging panel
AWARDS
At Phoenix Dance Competition, we believe every dancer should want to strive to be better and do better and always continue to challenge themselves to be the best version of themselves possible.
SOLOS/DUOS/TRIOS
Dancers will receive a Phoenix ribbon and pin in their scoring placement.
1st – 3rd will be awarded and announced and will receive a Phoenix Medallion. (Must be 3 entries in category)
ALL GROUPS/LINES/PRODUCTIONS
All dancers will receive a placement ribbon in their scoring placement.
1st – 3rd will be awarded a Phoenix pin. (Must be 3 entries in category)
OVERALLS
*Novice Overalls will be determined based on the number of entries in each category (solos/duo/trios/groups)
PRE COMP
Solos
Mini 8 & Under (1st -10th)
Junior 9-11 (1st -10th)
Teen 12-14 (1st – 10th)
Senior 15-18 (1st – 10th)
Less than 4 entries in a category – 1st Overall will be awarded.
5-9 entries in a category – Top 3 Overalls will be awarded.
More than 20+ entries in a category- Top 10 Overalls will be awarded.
Duos/Trios
Mini, Junior, Teen, Senior (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Overall)
*Mini & Junior can be combined based on entries per event
Groups
Mini Small Group/Large Group/Line (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Overall)
Junior Small Group/Large Group/Line (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Overall)
Teen Small Group (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Overall)
Teen Large Group/Line (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Overall)
Senior Small Group (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Overall)
Senior Large Group/Line (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Overall)
*Mini & Junior can be combined based on entries per event.
Less than 4 entries in a category, 1st Overall will be awarded.
5-9 entries in a category – Top 3 will be awarded.
More than 10+ entries in a category – Top 5 overalls for will be awarded.
*Overalls can be combined to determine overall based on entries and director discretion.
OVERALLS CASH AWARDS
Competitive and Elite
1st Overall Solo, Duos/Trio, Groups *** Must be 10+ entries in each category for cash award.
*Productions can be combined if not enough entries to determine a 1st overall with cash prize.
*Must be a minimum of 10 entries per category for cash awards
*Overall groups/lines will be awarded either trophy(1st) or plaque(2nd-5th).
TOP PHOENIX AWARDS
Top Division
Top Pre Competitive – trophy & Phoenix Dollars
Top Competitive – trophy & Phoenix Dollars + Scholarship
Top Elite – trophy & Phoenix Dollars + Scholarship
*Phoenix has the right to change based on numbers
Top Genre (Trophy + Phoenix Dollars)
Top Jazz
Top Lyrical/Contemporary
Top Hip Hop
Top Tap
Top Acro/Open
Top Musical Theatre/Song & Dance
Top Ballet/Pointe
Phoenix will also award judges choice awards per session and a TOP CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD of the entire competition, as well as several scholarships.
TOP STUDIO AWARD
This award will be given to the studio with the highest average of the Top 10 highest scores.
Top Small Studio Award – Trophy & Cash Prize
Top Large Studio Award – Trophy & Cash Prize
*To qualify as a small studio, studio must have under 60 entries.
* If not enough entries, Small & Large Studio will be combined
*There must be a total of 10 studios to award BOTH a Top Small & Top Large Studio
* If there are not enough to total the top 10 scores, the studio with the highest mark of the competition will be awarded.
To qualify for Top Studio, a studio must register 20 routines for any one venue with at least 5 groups in competitions over 200 entries. Phoenix reserves the right to adjust based on enrolment of numbers.
THE PIT
THE PIT - GROUP
Each studios top scoring group will dance again for a winner takes all battle.
“The Pit” Phoenix Challenge – Mini/Junior & Teen/Senior
1st Place – Cash Award and Studio Banner
*Competitive and Elite entries only
*Pre Competitive may qualify if 75% entries are pre comp.
There is a special event for the Comp & Elite division called “The Pit: Group”. It consists of each studio’s highest-scoring group in Mini/Junior and Teen/Senior and has them perform again.
The selected entries will receive notes from the judges during the award ceremony before the final showdown. This gives you a chance to go back and regroup before performing.
The WINNER receives a special banner and a prize.
THE PIT - SOLO
There is a special event for the Comp & Elite division called “The Pit: Solo”. Eligible entries will have their highest score and lowest score averaged in each division. Based on these scores the top three soloists will be invited to perform ONE of their solos again (completely their choice which one).
The solo that you select will receive notes from the judges during the award ceremony before the final showdown. This gives you a chance to go back and regroup before performing.
The WINNER receives a special varsity jacket and a cash prize.
*Note: Teen and Senior division may be combined if the number of entries is low.
ELIGIBILITY
PIT GROUP
Each studios top scoring group will dance again for a winner takes all battle.
“The Pit” Phoenix Challenge – Mini/Junior & Teen/Senior
Eligibility
- Entry is in the comp or elite division
- Entry is in the Mini/Junior category or Teen/Senior category
- Your studio must have at least five groups in the respective category to be eligible
PIT SOLO
To qualify as a Phoenix Title Competitor, a soloist must have 3+ solos to enter. (additional fees apply to enter)
The highest solo and the lowest solo will be averaged to determine the top 3 soloists per division. (Next highest solo determines a tie.)
These soloists will listen to live critique from the judges with their solo of choice to compete again in “The Pit” for a winner takes all battle.
Phoenix Title Winner – Mini, Junior, Teen, Senior
Title Winner – Cash Award & Phoenix Solo Title Winner Jacket
*Mini/Junior and Teen/Senior can be combined if not enough entries
*Competitive & Elite division only
- Pre-registered and paid the extra fee
- Solo is in the comp or elite division
- Solo is in the Mini/Junior category or Teen or Senior category*
- The soloist must have at least three entries