RULES & POLICIES

Entry Fees

Entry fees are available to approved studio accounts in the online registration system.

Independents

VIP Dance does not accept independent entries. All routines must be registered through an approved studio account.

Levels

We offer three competitive levels for solos, duo/trios and groups throughout our extensive age divisions.

Photos & Videos

Professional Media is captured and offered in each city. Devices are welcome during your studio dances only.

SOLO | 1 dancer | 2:45 minutes

DUO/TRIO | 2-3 dancers | 2:45 minutes

SMALL GROUP | 4-9 dancers | 3 minutes

LARGE GROUP | 10 or more dancers | 4 minutes

COMPANY LINE | minimum of 15 dancers | 6 minutes

*Any groups with 15 or more dancers in a combination of age divisions have the option to compete as Company Lines. Lines may compete in Megastar or Rockstar levels and in 12 & Under or 18 & Under age divisions. This optional category gives studios the opportunity to separate full company routines from group routines competing by age-specific teams.

PRODUCTION
Any Company Line may choose "Production" as the Performance Division.

PARENT DANCE
Any group routine with 8 or more "parent dancers" only may enter the Parent Dance category with special discounted pricing. Routines in this category compete only within the category and are not associated with a competitive level or age division.

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Incomplete Routines
A 3-point deduction will be made for dancers that leave the stage without completing the performance. In the rare case that a dancer is allowed to re-perform, the routine will be adjudicated only and not eligible for any high score awards.

Over Time Limit Routines
5-point deduction will be made on routines that exceed the time limit.

Purchasing Extended Time
Available for Solos & Duo/Trios: add up to 4 additional minutes
Available For Groups & Lines: add up to 10 additional minutes

Jazz

any jazz technique utilizing uptempo music

Hip-Hop

hip-hop, funk, or commercial street styles

Fusion

consists of combined elements from two or more styles, or uses elements of a style with music not typically associated with that style

Specialty

Acro, Ballroom, Pom & Cheer, Clogging, Irish, Cultural, Novelty, Song & Dance, or other styles

HOTSHOT

~beginner~
Age Divisions: 6 & Under, 8 & Under, 10 & Under, 12 & Under
Categories: Solo, Duo/Trio, Small Group, Large Group
Choreography Guidelines: Beginner Level Skills and Elements ONLY

SCORING:
Platinum 276.1-300
Gold 261-276

MEGASTAR

~intermediate~
Age Divisions: 8 & Under, 10 & Under, 12 & Under, 14 & Under, 18 & Under
Categories: Solo, Duo/Trio, Small Group, Large Group, Company Lines / Productions
Choreography Guidelines: Intermediate Level Skills and Elements ONLY

SCORING:
Diamond 285.1-300
Platinum 276.1-285
Gold 261-276

ROCKSTAR

~advanced~
Age Divisions: 10 & Under, 12 & Under, 14 & Under, 18 & Under, Open (19+)
Categories: Solo, Duo/Trio, Small Group, Large Group, Company Lines / Productions
Choreography Guidelines: Advanced Level Skills and Elements

SCORING:
Up in the VIP 294.1-300
Ace 288.1-294
Diamond 279.1-288
Platinum 261-279

LEVEL & AGE RULES FOR 2024

DANCER SKILL LEVELS
- Dancers are assigned a skill level in the dancer list in your online registration account.  
- Skill levels should be determined by the training progress of each dancer.
 - In any given event, beginner level dancers may compete in up to 5 routines - only 1 may be a solo.
- In any given event, intermediate level dancers may compete in up to 10 routines.
- For a beginner or intermediate level dancer to be added to additional routines (beyond the limits of their assigned skill level), you must advance them to the next skill level in your dancer list. 

ROUTINE LEVELS
- For each routine, the registration system will determine the level options based on the dancers (and their skill levels) in that routine.
- Soloists must compete all solos in the Routine Level that corresponds with the assigned Dancer Skill Level.
 - Intermediate and Advanced Dancers are not allowed to compete in any Hotshot Level Routine. 
- Duo/Trios & Small Groups will compete in the highest level of any dancer in the routine. 
- Large Groups and Company Lines will be leveled based on the average levels of the dancers in that routine. With 25% or more Advanced Dancers in a routine, the routine will be placed in the Rockstar Level.

AGE DIVISIONS
- Ages are determined as of January 1st in the year of the event.
 - Duo/Trios compete in the age division of the oldest dancer in the routine.
 - Group Routines compete in age divisions based on average age. Drop all decimal points. Routines may only drop one division below the oldest dancer. If more than 1/3 of the dancers in the group are older than the averaged age division, the routine will be bumped up to the next age division.
- Company Lines, including the Production Division, may compete in the average age of 12 & Under or 18 & Under age divisions. If more than 1/3 of the dancers in the routine are age 13 or older, the routine will compete in 18 & Under division. This category gives studios the opportunity to separate full company routines from routines competing by age-specific teams.

***VIP DANCE reserves the right to move any routine WITHOUT NOTICE to the level deemed appropriate by the VIP DANCE staff and judges.***

AWARDS

VIP List

The top scoring group routines earn a spot on the coveted VIP LIST Top 10. VIP Lists are presented in Megastar and Rockstar Levels in 12 & Under and 18 & Under.

Best Studio

At each event, Best Megastar Studio and Best Rockstar Studio will be awarded to the studios with the five highest scoring group routines in the corresponding level. Winning studios are presented with a beautiful commemorative plate.

High Score

High Score Awards are presented in each category for all levels and age divisions. Winners are presented with aluminum plate awards that showcase beautifully in photos and on display.

Special

Special awards presented may include Costume, Choreography, Dance Division, Entertainment, Future Star, Stand-Out, and Judges Choice. Every routine is eligible for any of these special honors. Winners are presented with beautiful aluminum printed plate awards.

Adjudication

Each routine receives an adjudicated placement. The Hotshot Level may earn Gold or Platinum. The Megastar Level may earn Gold, Platinum, or Diamond. The Rockstar Level may earn Platinum, Diamond, Ace, or Up in the VIP (a near-perfect score).

Idol Soloist

At each regional event, Rockstar level soloists are eligible for the Idol Soloist Award. Winners are invited to join us at Nationals to attend the Workshop on scholarship, participate in the Opening Number Production, and compete for Idol of the Year.

THE VIP EXPERIENCE

01. Red Carpet Awards

Our unique awards, our exciting and dramatic custom awards music, and of course, our red carpet ensures fun for all. VIP Dance was the FIRST competition to roll out the red carpet for award ceremonies and provide each dancer with an all-access pass and lanyard. These have now become industry standards. We are flattered... and we continue to come up with ideas that will certainly be adopted by others in the future. But no one does it quite like us. After all, this is VIP!

02. Digital All Access

All of the event info you need is now at one digital access point. From the city event page you will upload music, view full schedules, watch the event live stream, print a program or use our digital interactive programs during the event. Your access to our interactive program now includes filters, search, live tracking of performed routines, and routine Compliments. We are bringing your competition experience to a whole new level!

03. The After Party

Stats (scores, feedback, & judge critiques) and Media are uploaded to the tour page following each event. Media is conveniently accessed for download by dancers, parents, and teachers. Studio owners will access all routine stats in the same location with the option to allow access to any teacher or dancer/parent (account) in the routine. Videos of winning routines are featured in our Highlights Gallery for all to enjoy. Easy access, easy sharing... VIP-style!

Photography

Audience members are welcome to shoot non-flash photography while (only) their dancers are performing or during award ceremonies.

Video

Audience members are welcome to video while (only) their dancers are performing or during award ceremonies. VIP Dance will be Live Streaming all events when possible.

Schedules

Event Schedules are posted 10-14 days prior to the event on the tour page. On a typical weekend, 12 & Under Groups are on Saturday and 13 & Over Groups are on Sunday. Solos and Duo/Trios may be on any day.

Results

Scores and critiques will be available to studio accounts following the event. Adjudications, Special Awards and High Score results will be posted in the week following the event.

MUSIC SUBMISSION

Music must be uploaded through logged in studio accounts 7 DAYS PRIOR to the event start date.

Through our system.... no need to label your music files before uploading. Just upload the music for each routine and our system will automatically attach the entry number and routine name to the file.

UPLOAD DEADLINE: 7 DAYS prior to event
ACCEPTED FILE TYPES: M4A, MP3
BACKUP: Bring to Event on USB
NOT ACCEPTED: iPods, Phones, CDs

PROPS

General props are permitted in any category.

The following items / substances and any similar substances are not permitted:
fire, water (on body, costume, or prop), powder, aerosol, gels, liquids, wet paint (on body, costume, or prop), fake blood, silly string, haze or fog machines, dry ice, smoke, strobe lights, bubbles, bubble machines, candy, chalk, crushed cork, flour, corn starch, loose glitter (on body, costume or prop), sand, dirt, sawdust, ashes, helium balloons, confetti.

Please contact our office prior to the event with any questions regarding the allowance of a particular item or substance.

All props must be Marley safe. Any damage to the Marley flooring will be billed to the responsible studio.

Props are not to exceed 10 feet in height.

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SET-UP TIME LIMITS
Solos, Duo/Trios, and Small Groups are expected to set-up props in 30 seconds and remove props in 30 seconds (1:00 minute cumulative).
Large Groups are expected to set-up props in 1:30 minutes and remove props in 1:30 minutes (3:00 minutes cumulative).
Lines are expected to set-up props in 2:30 minutes and remove props in 2:30 minutes (5:00 minutes cumulative).

If prop set-up/removal exceeds these time limits, performances may be subject to point deductions.
Groups may purchase an additional 2:00 minutes total for set-up/removal of props for a flat fee of $30.00.
Solos and Duo/Trios are not permitted extended prop set-up/removal time.

VIP Dance reserves the right to alter any policy or rule at any time for any reason deemed necessary by VIP Dance.
All fees are non-refundable. No exceptions.
VIP DANCE reserves the right to refuse any entry at any time for any reason.
All cities, dates, and venues are subject to change at any time should it be deemed necessary by VIP Dance.
Upon entering any VIP Dance event, customers must agree to comply with all rules, regulations, and policies.
Upon participating in or attending any VIP Dance event, all participants and attendees understand and agree that they are doing so at their own risk and knowingly and voluntarily accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers, and hazards, including but not limited to the possibility of bodily injury, exposure to viruses and other illnesses, property damage or other loss resulting therefrom.
Participants are granted permission for reproduction of any footage in which they are included for the purpose of self use and or self promotion publications which can include but is not limited to, photo prints, social media, and websites. Resale or use of the footage in a manner that would exploit or cause malicious representation is not permitted.
Studio customers are granted permission for reproduction of any footage in which their students are included for the purpose of commercial use and or commercial promotion publications which can include but is not limited to, photo prints, social media, and websites. Resale or use of the footage in a manner that would exploit or cause malicious representation is not permitted.
VIP Dance offers live streaming, digital routine videos, and digital routine photos services whenever possible. Certain events may not offer all three services depending on various circumstances.
Upon participation in any VIP Dance event, all participants, parents, studio owners, teachers, and guests agree that VIP Dance has the right to reproduce, use, exhibit, display, broadcast, distribute, and create derivative works of photographs or videos containing the image/likeness of participants or guests. These images and other personally identifiable information may be used for promotional, news, and educational purposes.

Any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, VIP Dance events, rules, or policies or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought in any federal or state court located in Jefferson Parish in the State of Louisiana.