Competition

Rules and Regulations

Competition Fees

* Early rates apply to registrations received and paid in full before February 15th

* Late Fees apply to registrations that have not paid 14 days or less from the start of their competition.
* Prices are per routine.
* Standard rates apply to any registration received after the early rate cut-off date.

ELIGIBILITY

• Each studio/school may enter a maximum of 65 competition routines.
• If a teacher owns more than one studio, they may compete a maximum of 65 entries for each studio.
• A dancer may compete with only one of the studios.
• Exception: A dancer may compete with more than one studio only if those studios are owned by different teachers and that dancer is registered at each of the studios as a regular attending student. Unless authorized prior to the event by MoveMasters DCA

Time Limits

Music Guidelines

• Competition Music must be uploaded 7 days PRIOR to your Convention weekend. You can upload your music from your studio’s registration page. All uploaded music must be attached using the audio assignment tool. Once attached you will see a check mark in the assigned column of the audio assignment tool.
• Teachers please double-check your music after you have uploaded it. You will be able to play it directly from your account. This is the exact version that will be played onsite, please ensure you have attached all uploaded music to the correct routine. Any changes after the 7 day cut off will not be reflected onsite.
• To upload or change music after the 7 day cut off please contact our office.
• If turning the music in at the event all Flash Drives must be submitted to the registration desk prior to the start of your designated competition session.
• Music Files must be in an MP3, M4A, and MP4 files.
• At the event, MoveMasters cannot control the pitch level or speed of the music. Please be sure to upload the accurate version that you would like your dancer to perform to.
• Studios are required to bring a backup of ALL music, this can be by iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Flash Drive. Any music turned in at the event must be picked up on the last day of the event. Music that is not claimed at the end of the event will be discarded unless previous arrangements were made with the MoveMasters.
• If a music change request is sent in after a competition has been closed, then a $50 fee to change the music will be charged.

Age Divisions

• Preps: 7-8 years old
• Junior: 9-10 years old
• Teen: 13-15 years old
• Senior: 16-18 years old

Props

No props that can cause damage to the dance floor. Please take precautions to avoid damage. All props and backdrops should be taped to avoid damage to wooden floors and should be constructed to fit through a gymnasium 7’ double door with a center crossbar removed. ALL PROPS MUST BE APPROVED BY THE HOST SCHOOLS PRIOR TO PERFORMANCE. Prop questions should be directed to the host school contact for each event. If damage occurs, the team/studio will be charged for repairs/placement.

Miscellaneous Information

All ages will be calculated as of January 1, 2025, for the current season.

No singing allowed. Lip syncing and talking are permitted.

Deposit is required in order for any routine to be accepted and scheduled into the competition lineup.

A five-point deduction will be taken if routine exceeds the time limit.

General props are permitted. No dangerous props, no live animals, no glass.

All props will have 2 minutes to be brought on and off stage. If your prop load time is over 2 minutes each judge will deduct 5 points.

All competitors must dress in the dressing rooms assigned by MoveMasters or risk the possibility of disqualification.

No coaching from the sideline.

All routines must be age appropriate and suitable for family viewing.

Courteous behavior must be exhibited at all times at the event.

We reserve the right to run ahead and/or behind schedule during competition.

Competitions will be limited to time available. If the quota is reached before competition cut-off date, your entry may not be accepted.

All decisions made by the judges are final.

Medal Placement Breakdown

• Elite Platinum 300-295.0
• Platinum: 294.9-285.0
• High Gold: 284.9-267.0
• Gold: <266.9
  

Categories

For description on each Category, please visit our categories page.

*Ballet Variations/ Pas De Deux entries must compete dances from the approved list of classical ballet dances. Please click the button below for more information on competing ballet.

Pas de Deux (Classical) –Required to select from repertoire list. Adagio and Coda only, Coda is NOT required. Variations are not permitted. Prep and Junior Level Competitors may only perform a Pas de Deux without lifts, À terre, and with soft ballet shoes.

Additional Rules

• Competing dancers may enter routines in multiple categories, but they may not compete against themselves in the same division, category and age group.
• Routines entered in the same division, category and age group must have a minimum 50% change in participants.
• In a routine, 50% of the contestants (in age divisions Prep, Junior, Teen, Senior) must be of that age in order to compete in that division. If more than 50% are of a higher age division, then that routine must compete in the higher age division, even though the calculated average age may be of the lower age division.
• You must be able to provide proof of age for each contestant.
• Teachers and professionals may not compete; that is one who owns or operates a dance studio, receives payment for instruction or choreography and does not attend primary education. Exception: Pas de Deux partners may compete with a male teacher or professional
• All contestants must be registered, along with a teacher, for the entire competition.
• In order to compete, a teacher must be REGISTERED AND PRESENT for the entire convention.
• All performers are expected to perform in their scheduled order & designated session. Performers unable to perform in their designated sessions must contact the office prior to the event. If the office is not contacted, any routines that did not make their designated session may not be able to perform.
  

REGISTERING

All registration should be completed at least 14 days prior to the event through the Registration Portal available on the MoveMasters website. Once an event sells out, online registration will be closed.

Confirmation and contest information will be emailed within the two weeks prior to the event. A tentative schedule will be sent to directors. A final schedule will be posted online after a 24 hour waiting period for Directors request changes. A final schedule will be posted 5 days before the beginning of the competition.

All Fees are due two weeks prior to competition dates.

Entry fees can be paid online via credit card, P.O., or Check

Checks may not be post-dated and must clear the bank in order to finalize registration.

Payments can be mailed to:

MoveMasters DCA

P.O. Box # 15021

New Orleans, LA 70175

All competition fees paid in full by December 15, 2023 will automatically receive an early bird discount. Any routines that you list on your registration and pay for in full by this date will qualify for this bonus. Routines added or changed after this time will be charged the regular registration fee.

Multi Routine Discount: Teams/Schools/Studios who compete 6 routines will receive a coupon code $100 off your total.

Refunds for cancellations must be requested in writing and received in our office at least 14 days prior to the competition date. Phone calls will not be accepted as formal requests for cancellation. Cancellations made less than 14 days prior to a competition date will not receive refunds. No refunds are given due to weather unless the contest is cancelled. 

All accounts must be paid in full to participate in the competition. In the unlikely circumstances that a studio’s account is unpaid or found with insufficient funds following the event attended, a 20% fee will be incurred.