Age Categories

Age as of 12/31/2025

• Mini … 6 years & younger

• Petite … 7 to 8 years

• Junior … 9 to 11 years

• Teen … 12 to 14 years

• Senior … 15 to 19 years

• Adult … 19 years & older

Notes on Specific Categories:

• Adult Category:

  • One skill level only — all adult dancers compete together.

  • Any routine with one or more adult dancers is automatically placed in this category.

  • Adult routines cannot win “Best of the Best” high score of the day.

  • If you have a 19-year-old wishing to compete as an adult, notify DX.

Specifics

— Click on button for bios

Verbal Critiques

All routines will receive three verbal critiques from professional dance experts, providing constructive feedback to support future performances. Directors access Verbal Critiques using their DanceBUG login info.

Size

• Solo … 1 person

  • Dancers may enter as many solos as they desire. They may only occupy one spot in Overalls.

• Duet … 2 people

• Trio … 3 people

• Small Group … 4 to 9 dancers

• Large Group … 10 to 19 dancers

• Line/Production … 20 + dancers

  • All line/production routine times must be submitted during registration to ensure DX can allocate sufficient time in the schedule.

Time Limit: 2:45 per routine

Exception: Production routines may require additional time. Please EMAIL your total time including prop set-up and tear-down for scheduling purposes.

Genres Offered

• Acro

• Ballet

• Character

• Clogging

• Contemporary

• Hip Hop

• Jazz

• Kick

• Lyrical

• Modern

• Musical Theatre

• Open

• Pointe

• Pom

• Tap

Free Genres

• FamJam: One adult + dancer(s)

• DanceABILITIES: Special needs dancer(s)

  • Contact DX after you’ve entered the routine. DX will then apply a credit for the routine.

Scoring

Score Reflects Performance

Please accept your dancer’s award as it is intended — as a reflection of our adjudicator’s opinion of their performance on that specific day. DX congratulates all dancers, regardless of their award, for their hard work and dedication.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the studios, teachers, directors, and parents whose continued support helps these dancers grow both on and off the stage.

Judging Criteria

🏆 TOTAL: 100 Points

1. Technique – 35 points

Focus: Skill mastery and control

• Proper placement of movements

• Knowledge of elements and required skills

• Body awareness and precision

• Balance, control, and posture

2. Choreography & Execution – 35 points

Focus: How the choreography is constructed and delivered

• Execution of both choreography and technique

• Musicality (movement in sync with music)

• Spatial awareness and use of stage

• Staging, formations, and transitions

• Level of difficulty

• Visual effects (shapes, movement design, accents)

• Originality and creativity in choreography

3. Showmanship – 20 points

Focus: Performance quality and engagement

• Energy and intensity projection

• Emotional connection and expression

• Suitability to theme/music/style

• Facial expressions and stage presence

4. Costume – 10 points

Focus: Presentation and appropriateness

• Age-appropriate costumes

• Secure attire and accessories

• Costumes that enhance the routine without malfunction

Level Descriptions & Adjudication Point Breakdown

DX offers three (3) levels of difficulty based on instruction hours and/or competition experience.
“Instruction” is defined as the total number of hours a dancer receives training from their studio. This may include, but is not limited to, scheduled practice, technique classes, ballet, and other forms of structured training.

A dancer may be moved to a higher level for future competitions at the discretion of the adjudicating panel if they demonstrate capability beyond their current placement.

NOVICE: 3 hours or less per week

• Platinum Elite 280 + pts.

• Platinum 272 to 279.9 pt.

• High Gold 262 to 271.9 pt.

• Gold 252 to 261.9 pt.

INTERMEDIATE: 3.5 hours to 5 hours per week

• Platinum Elite 282 + pts.

• Platinum 274 to 281.9 pt.

• High Gold 264 to 273.9 pt.

• Gold 254 to 263.9 pt.

ADVANCED: 5.5 hours or more per week

• Platinum Elite 284 + pts.

• Platinum 276 to 283.9 pt.

• High Gold 266 to 275.9 pt.

• Gold 256 to 265.9 pt.

🔑 Key Rules and Guidelines

1. Studio Responsibility

• Studios are responsible for placing routines into the correct level.

• Since competitions cannot track individual dancer experience (hours trained, years competed), studios must use their own judgment to enter routines appropriately.

2. Judges Have Final Say

• Judges evaluate routines based on age and skill level expectations.

• If a routine is deemed entered at too low a level, judges may move it to a higher skill level.

• All decisions by judges are final.

3. Duets

• Duets must compete at the higher dancer’s level.

  • Example: If one dancer is Advanced and the other is Intermediate, the duet competes at the Advanced level.

4. Group Routines

• If 20% or more of dancers in a group are at a higher level, the entire group is moved up.

  • Example: In a 10-member routine, if 2 or more dancers are Advanced, the whole routine competes at the Advanced level.

5. Age & Skill Level Expectations

• Judges base scores on what is appropriate for the dancer's age and competition level.

  • A 12-year-old Novice is held to different standards than a 12-year-old Advanced dancer.

  • This ensures fairness and acknowledges the progression of skills.