2019 - 2020

All participants must fill out the entry form, available on www.OnyxDanceCo.com. Deadlines for the application form are detailed on Page 1 under Deadlines and Fees.

Registration Guidelines:

Entries must include the correct names and ages of all contestants.
Age is determined by the age of the contestants on the day of the competition.
Entries are accepted on a first come, first served basis and are limited to performance time available, which is confirmed once fees are paid.
We reserve the right to decline your registration for any reason.

Submitting Changes:

Changes in the number of competitors must be submitted in writing via email to info@OnyxDanceCo.com.

All changes to original submitted entries must be updated no later than 10 days before the competition. Any changes after that will be considered a request. We will do our best to accept the request and if we can apply the change we will. Fees may apply.

TYPES OF ENTRIES

Solo - 1 dancer, 3 minute limit per solo

Each dancer is allowed a max of 3 solos of different styles. Competing against yourself is prohibited in the solo category. Novice level is only allowed 1 solo.

Duet/Trio - 2 or 3 dancers, 3 minute limit

Duets and Trios may not compete against themselves in the same performance category with the same performers. There must be a minimum 50% difference in performers.

Small Group - 4 to 9 dancers, 3 minute limit

Large Group - 10 to 15 dancers, 4 minute limit*

Productions - 16+ dancers, 5 minute limit*

*Extended times are allowed at an additional cost

Age Groups:

6 and under, 7 to 8, 9 to 10, 11 to 13, 14 to 16, 17 to 19, 20+ Adult, 40+ Veterans

We will use the average age of your group (rounded down) to determine your age group. For example, if the average age is 13.8, the group will be in the 11 to 13 age group.

The oldest performer is only allowed to compete in one age division lower than their own.

LEVELS

Novice – For beginners with 0 - 3 years of experience dancing and/or competing, who typically take 1 - 2 classes a week.

Intermediate – For dancers with 2 - 5 years of experience competing, who typically take 3 or more classes a week.

Pre-Professional – For dancers who take advanced classes that focus on professional level technique.

Professional – For adult dancers (18+) who take advanced classes, teach dance, and/or are in a professional level team.

Veterans – For adult dancers who are over the age of 40

Levels will be made at the discretion of the studio owner/registrant. If the judges determine that a routine has been placed in an incorrect level, the judges may move the routine to a different level, which could make it subject to only adjudication scoring. Please note that all judges decisions are final.

LEVEL PLACEMENT

Solo, Duet, Trio, and Small Group - levels will be determined by the highest level dancer.

Large and Production Group - levels will be determined by the highest level of 1/3 of the group's dancers. For example, if 1/3 of the group is Intermediate, and the remaining dancers are Novice, the group's level will be considered Intermediate.

Any dancer that is registered as Pre-Professional will not be allowed to compete in a novice routine.

Level Changes - Level changes may be submitted in writing via email to info@OnyxDanceCo.com up to 10 days before the competition. No level changes can be made within 10 days of the competition date.

PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES

Ballet – A routine comprised of ballet technique. Ballet shoes must be worn.

Character – A routine that depicts a popular or recognizable character.

Clogging – A routine that incorporates the techniques of clogging.

Folkloric – A routine consisting of folk or ethnic styles (ex: Filipino folk dance, Polynesian dance, polka etc.)

Hip Hop – A routine that focuses on urban or street dance styles.

Jazz – A routine comprised of jazz steps and technique.

Lyrical/Contemporary/Modern – A routine that incorporates free and expressive movements.

Musical Theater – A dance performed to the music of a musical.

Open – A routine that does not precisely fit into other categories, or is a combination of any other category. (No vocals allowed).

Pointe – A routine comprised of ballet pointe technique. Pointe shoes required.

Tap – A routine consisting of tap dance technique. Tap shoes must be worn.

DAY OF (AT EVENT INFORMATION)

CHECK-IN

Competition times and details will be announced via email to view online. Performers are expected to arrive at the designated time, which will be approximately one hour prior to competition schedule.

AT EVENT POLICIES

Proof of Age Required - We reserve the right to ask any competitor for proof of age. All performers are required to have a copy of their birth certificate, or an official form of identification on hand.

Youth Participants & Backstage Rules

Youth (18 and under) Dancers should be accompanied by their studio director or teacher
Only teachers and studio directors are allowed backstage. Parents/non-participants are not allowed backstage.

Special Time Slot Requests - Requests for specific time slots or schedules cannot be accommodated. Routines MUST compete at the scheduled date and time.

Costume Changes - If your routine does not have enough time to change costumes between numbers, please tell the backstage manager as soon as possible. If the backstage manager has not been notified and you are not ready to compete when you are called, the routine may be eligible for disqualification.

CHOREOGRAPHY

Must be original.

A one-point reduction for every 5 seconds over time from your final score.

Acro passes are limited to 25% of your routine except in the open category.

Choreography cannot include dancing off-stage, in audience seating, and no direct/physical interaction with judges/judge table

PROPS & SPECIAL EFFECTS

Props

Only props that are free standing props can be used.

Special Effects

Special effects can be used. Special effects require approval by Onyx no later than 10 days before the competition date. NOTE: Failure to get prior approval will result in removal of special effects from your routine. Onyx may allow the routine to continue with the special effects, however, one point may be removed from your final score for not following Onyx Competition rules.

Special effects that cannot be cleaned up within 30 seconds of end of routing are not permitted (feathers/glitter/etc). Special effects that would create unsafe conditions for dancers on stage are not permitted, including but not limited to water/oil/slippery props under the dancers.

Smoke, water, fire, live animals, dangerous props (knives, swords, etc) and anything requiring rigging or electrical connection are not permitted.

Alerting the Backstage Manager

At check in, make sure to alert the backstage manager of any props that will be used, prior to performance time.

Set Up and Removal

Routines that use props must set them up and remove them from the stage within 30 seconds of the start and end of the routine. 1 - 5 point deduction will be made if this rule is not followed.

MUSIC

Overly offensive language, racial slurs, anti-gender, anti-sexual orientation, and explicit sexual references must be removed from your music. At the minimum, a 5 point deduction will be made from your score and could also result in disqualification. If there are any questions in this regard, please email Onyx at info@OnyxDanceCo.com.

We ask you to upload your music prior to the event at least 7 days before the competition. Please name your file with your dance number, dance name, and studio. Example, “215 Reach Dance Arts”.

Please bring a USB (compatible with a mac) as a backup to your music in case of a malfunction of some kind (CD’s will not be accepted).

PERFORMANCE

Technical Failures - If there is a technical failure on our part, your team will be allowed a moment to regroup and start the routine from the beginning.

Performance Issues - If there is a performance failure, you must continue the performance to completion or forfeit your place in the competition.

If a SOLOIST forgets his or her routine the first time, the SOLO routine may be performed again but will not be eligible for High Score.

Video and Photography Prohibited - Video and photography are completely prohibited and could result in disqualification for your studio.

JUDGING PANEL

Judging Panel - The judging panel will consist of 3 people: Industry dancers, choreographers, and directors.

Ties - If for some reason there is a tie, the panel will deliberate and select the winning team.

All judges decisions are final.

AWARDS

Any cash prizes are awarded to the dance studio, not to the individual dancers.

Adjudication Awards

High Score Awards

High Score Awards will only be given out to intermediate, Pre-Professional, and Professional levels in the following age groups: 9 to 10, 11 to 13, 14 to 16, 17 to 19, Adults.
Overall Top 1 - 5 will be given away depending on number of participants in each age level, and group number.

Choreography Awards

One to three choreography awards will be determined per award ceremony. Each award is a $50 cash prize and a $50 gift certificate to go towards next year’s competition for their studio.

Judges Awards

Each Judge will give out 2 special awards to routines of their choice.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

SAFETY & CODE OF CONDUCT

Code of Conduct - Competitors, parents, teachers, and directors are expected to behave in a respectful and considerate manner towards one another and everyone associated with the competition. Failure to do so may result in point deduction and, in extreme cases, disqualification and ejection from the event.

Safety - All smoking, drugs, and/or alcohol consumption is prohibited and will result in disqualification of your studio.

Onyx and the hosting venue are not responsible for personal injury or property loss.

Rules & Regulations - any team that does not follow Onyx rules and regulations may be subject to point deduction or disqualification.

MEDIA

All contestants grant permission to Onyx and Montage Dance Productions to use their photographs and/or videos for any reason.

GENERAL RIGHTS

Onyx, at its discretion, maintains the right to add additional competition days or times, and may move the location if needed due to unforeseen circumstances.

Onyx reserves the right to change these rules at any time.

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