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General Rules & Information

GENERAL RULES & INFORMATION

// ALL ENTRIES AND FEES MUST BE RECEIVED IN FULL PAYMENT BY JANUARY 15, 2024.

  • Payment can be made by cheque, money order or e-transfer.

  • All cheques must be made out to TERPSICHORE DANCE CELEBRATION INC.

  • No refunds will be granted for ANY reason including medical.

  • NSF FEE of $45.00 will be charged for all NSF cheques.

  • Late entries are subject to a late fee of 10% of total fee.

  • Space is limited and studios are accepted on a first come first serve basis. Event bookings and HOLDS will only be confirmed when a deposit has been received. Deposits are due within 7 days of your request. Deposits are non-refundable.

  • TERPSICHORE DANCE CELEBRATION INC. reserves the right to cancel any event.​

  • TERPSICHORE DANCE CELEBRATION INC. reserves the right to add additional days to events if deemed necessary.

  • Upon registration it is agreed and acknowledged that the risks of participation and attending are fully understood and that Terpsichore Dance Celebration Inc., which includes Terpsichore Dance Celebration, Flying Solo, UDC University Dance Challenge, Dance Starz Challenge and any of their workshop/convention classes, are hereby released from any liability whatsoever arising from claims for damages, injuries or loss of property while attending the aforementioned events. Further, it is agreed and acknowledged that all video and photography taken during the aforementioned events shall be the sole property of Terpsichore Dance Celebration Inc. for its use only, at its sole discretion.

COMPETITION RULES

  • Terpsichore Dance Celebration Inc. and all its affiliates have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for bullying of any kind. Terpsichore prides itself on providing a safe space for all participants. Terpsichore reserves the right to disqualify any dancer that is contributing to an unsafe environment.

  • Independent entries are not accepted, all entries must be entered by a studio.

  • Any changes made after the FINALIZED SCHEDULE has been sent out is subject to a $10.00 fee per change.

  • Soloists cannot compete against themselves in the same category.

  • Terpsichore Dance Celebration Inc. is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.

  • Photography and videotaping is strictly prohibited.

  • Dancers must be ready to perform thirty minutes prior to their scheduled time.

  • All dancers must report backstage to the Terpsichore Stage Manager at least three numbers before their scheduled time.

  • All entries will perform in the order they are scheduled unless approved by a Terpsichore Director.

  • Please be advised that studios will be held responsible for any damages to theatre change rooms. Any personal belongings, costumes or dance apparel left behind will not be the responsibility of Terpsichore Dance Celebration Inc.

  • CASH AWARDS will be awarded by cheque made out to the winning studio.  CASH AWARDS must be accepted by the studio by May 31st in the year that the studio competes.  After May 31st, CASH AWARDS can no longer be claimed.

  • PROPS: all must be declared with your entries (to allow time for setup and strike)

  • ALL JUDGES DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND NON-NEGOTIABLE.

  • Upon registration it is agreed and acknowledged that all video and photography taken during the events of Terpsichore Dance Celebration Inc., which includes Terpsichore Dance Celebration, Flying Solo, UDC University Dance Challenge and Dance Starz Challenge, shall be the sole property of Terpsichore Dance Celebration Inc. for its use only, at its sole discretion.

DANCE CATEGORY RULES

CLASSIFICATION

// NOVICE | Separate Overalls

  • Solo: Dancer competing in a solo for the first time this competition season. Dancer may have competed in a duet, trio or group in previous years

  • Duet/Trio: This is the first competition season that all dancers are competing in a Duet or Trio. All dancers have not competed in a Solo, Duet or Trio in previous years, however they may have competed in groups

  • Group/Line/Production: 75% of competitors in the routine have never competed in a solo, duet, trio or group in previous years

 

// PART TIME | Separate Overalls

  • All Competitors – All dancers in this division train for 6 hours or less per week. 

// COMPETITIVE | Separate Overalls

  • All dancers in this division train for 6 hours or more per week.

// DANCE ENTRY TYPE | TIME LIMIT

  • All Novice/Part-Time Entries 3 minutes

  • Solo (1 dancer) 3 minutes

  • Duet/Trio (2–3 dancers) 3 minutes

  • Small Group (4–9 dancers) 3 minutes

  • Extended Small Group (4–9 dancers) 5 minutes 

  • Large Group (10–16 dancers) 3 minutes

  • Extended Large Group (10–16 dancers) 5 minutes 

  • Line (17+ dancers) 4 minutes

  • Extended Line (17+ dancers) 5 minutes

  • Production | 8 minutes

 

// AGE DIVISIONS

  • Age divisions are calculated by adding all ages, dividing by the number of performers and dropping all decimals. Ages are determined as of December 31, 2023.

  • Mini (age 9 & under)

  • Junior (age 10–12)

  • Teen (age 13–15)

  • Senior (age 16–21)

  • Adult (age 19+, not eligible for overalls)

 

// GENRES

  • All genres can contain up to three (3) acrobatics tricks, excluding Acrobatics, Open, Production.  Acrobatics, Open, Production have no limits on acrobatics tricks.

  • JAZZ: Contains traditional jazz movement and technique.

  • TAP: Technical footwork with a rhythmic quality. Prerecorded sounds are not permitted.

  • LYRICAL: Dancers interpret the lyrics, mood and content of the music.

  • CONTEMPORARY: Incorporating lyrical, jazz movement fused with modern elements.

  • MODERN: Containing primarily modern technique.

  • HIP HOP: Street or contemporary jazz-funk.

  • MUSICAL THEATRE: Interpreting a song from a film or production.

  • BALLET: Classical or contemporary ballet technique. Ballet slippers required.

  • POINTE: Must include classical or contemporary pointe technique. Pointe shoes required.

  • CHARACTER BALLET: must contain classical ballet movement and technique, and must portray a recognizable character and/or tell a story. 

  • ACROBATICS: Combines gymnastics and dance choreography. Must contain at least 50% dance choreography.

  • OPEN: Any routine that does not fit into any of the above performance categories.

  • ETHNIC: Any routine which can be identified as originating from an ethnic culture.

  • PRODUCTION: May contain any style or combination of styles. Please contact if setup is required.  All Productions will compete against one other.

The above time limits include entrances and exits. A mark of 0.5 will be deducted for every 30 seconds over the time limit listed above. If you require more time you can purchase minutes by contacting Terpsichore.  

 

// PROPS

Any routine using a prop must be noted in your entries. To assist in scheduling please include the length of time needed for set up and striking of all props.

// MICROPHONES

Vocal microphones are not provided by Terpsichore or their venues.  Where available, floor or overhead microphones will be used during Tap routines and upon request.  If a studio chooses to use vocal microphones, it is their responsibility to provide hardware and to contact Terpsichore to ensure ample time for setup.

// LIGHTING REQUESTS

To ensure fairness to all competitors, lighting requests will NOT be accepted.

SCORING SYSTEM & AWARDS

SCORING SYSTEM

HONOURS: 84.9 & under

EXCELLENCE: 85.0 – 89.9

SUPERIOR: 90.0 – 92.9

HIGH SUPERIOR: 93.0 – 94.9

OUTSTANDING: 95.0+

AWARDS

A studio representative must be present at each Awards Presentation their studio is involved in.  All Overalls must be collected onstage when they are announced, if the dancers are not present, a studio representative is welcome to collect the award on their behalf.  All Overalls are listed in the program and will take place at their scheduled times and not be re-announced or rescheduled. Awards will not be shipped for any reason.

// ADJUDICATION AWARDS

Solo, Duet & Trio dancers receive custom designed medallions.

Group & Line dancers receive custom designed pins and ribbons.

Categories will be read in ascending order by score.

Special Awards will be given at each adjudication. These are not based on the judges' marks and are at the judges’ discretion.

// OVERALL AWARDS (a minimum number of entries is required)

  • NOVICE

    • TOP 5 SOLO

    • TOP 5 DUET/TRIO

    • TOP 5 GROUP/LINE/PRODUCTION

  • NOVICE OVERALL WINNER

  • PART-TIME

    • TOP 5 SOLO: 12 & under

    • TOP 5 DUET/TRIO: 12 & under

    • TOP 5 GROUP/LINE/PRODUCTION: 12 & under

    • TOP 5 SOLO: 13 & over

    • TOP 5 DUET/TRIO: 13 & over

    • TOP 5 GROUP/LINE/PRODUCTION: 13 & over

  • PART-TIME OVERALL WINNER

    • 12 & under

    • 13 & over

  • COMPETITIVE: (Mini, Junior, Teen, Senior)

    • SOLOS: top 10 announced in each division

    • TOP 5 DUET/TRIO: top 5 announced in each division

    • TOP 5 SMALL GROUPS: top 5 announced in each division

    • TOP 5 LARGE GROUPS: top 5 announced in each division

    • TOP 5 LINE/EXT LINE: top 5 announced in each division

    • TOP PRODUCTION 

// TERPSICHORE TOP DANCERS

Terpsichore Top Dancers will be announced in each solo division.

// CONVENTION WINNERS

Dancers will be selected to receive scholarships to Terpsichore Dance Convention.

 

// REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

Given out at each event to the highest scoring 12 & under and 13 & over group or line.

One Runner-Up in each division will also be announced. Studios can only place once in each age division.

// TERPSICHORE TOP STUDIO

Terpsichore Top Studio is determined by the average score of the studios' 10 highest scoring competitive routines, excluding solos, duet/trios and productions.

// TERPSICHORE TOP PART-TIME STUDIO

Terpsichore Top Part-Time Studio is determined by the average score of the studios' 5 highest scoring part-time routines, excluding solos, duet/trios and productions.

 

// THE GRAND AWARDS

Given out at each event to the highest scoring competitive group/line in each genre.  

At Flying Solo events, The Grand Awards are awarded to the highest scoring competitive routines.

  • Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics, Musical Theatre/Open/Ethnic, Lyrical, Modern/Contemporary, Hip Hop

// JUDGES' CHOICE AWARDS

  • CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD: 12 & under and 13 & over

  • ENTERTAINMENT AWARD: 12 & under and 13 & over

  • ADJUDICATORS AWARD: 12 & under and 13 & over

// PART-TIME JUDGES' CHOICE AWARDS

  • CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD

  • ENTERTAINMENT AWARD

  • ADJUDICATORS AWARD

*All awards and scholarships are dependent on entries and Terpsichore reserves the right to increase or decrease what is presented at an event at any time.*

HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

TERMS & CONDITIONS

RELEASE, WAIVER, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEMNITY

Competition Rules
Dance Category Rules
Scoring System & Awards
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