Dancers will be judged and scored by a panel of judges, hand-selected by American Dance Championships. Routines will be awarded based on the combined score of the judges as outlined in the Regional Program for the event. All regional events will have the same scoring structure/scale.
ADJUDICATION – Each routine that performs will receive an adjudicated placement. Please remember that scores are the opinion of that particular judging panel, on that competition day. Critiques are given to studios for the purpose of conveying the judge’s opinions and to help with the progress and growth of the dancer. Adjudication may be given as: Diamond, Elite Platinum, Platinum, Elite Gold, Gold, Elite Silver and Silver. Competitive level routines are eligible for Diamond awards.
TITLE is scored separately for each entrant on a scale of 70-100 taking Stage Presence, Overall Appeal, Uniqueness, Technique, etc. into consideration.
HIGH SCORE AWARD - ADC will also give an award to the highest scoring group (small, large and line) for ages eleven (11) and under and for ages twelve (12) and up, which can be from any level.
TOP STUDIO AWARD is eligible to be given at each event, in each level: Novice and Competitive. This award will go to the studio in each division with the highest combined score of their top five (5) groups (Productions excluded). At least three studios must be eligible to win Top Studio for the award to be given in any level.
CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD for each age division will be awarded at each event.
Each routine will compete in one of TWO levels. Since ADC cannot possibly know the schedule of each dancer, it is the duty of the Studio Owner to discern fairly and honestly that routines are in the correct division per the guidelines below.
NEW IN 2025: All routines should be placed in the AVERAGE level of all participating dancers. Please see level differentials in the following paragraph. Studio owners may "bump" their routines up a level, but not down. Please note, if our judging panel feels a routine is in the wrong level, they will have the ability to bump the routine up.
NOVICE – Novice level is for dancers with little competition experience and/or dancers who are in studio five (5) or fewer hours per week for class and rehearsals. Soloists in this level may only compete a maximum of one solo. If a dancer competes in more than six (6) routines, including solos and duet/trios, he/she should not be in Novice level.
COMPETITIVE – Competitive level is for dancers with more competition experience and/or dancers who are in studio more than five (5) hours per week for class and rehearsals. Any dancer who competes in six (6) or more routines, including solos and duet/trios, should go in Competitive level.
To calculate the age of a dancer use his/her age as of January 1st of the competition year.
Age division for all duet/trios and groups will be the average age of the dancers in the routine. For any routine that averages a decimal place, you drop the decimal. (Example, 12.3 would compete as age 12, 14.8 would compete as age 14.) A routine may not compete more than one age division below the oldest dancer in the routine. (i.e. if a 15 year old dancer is in a routine and it averages age 11, it must go in Teen division.)
MINI – ages 8 and under
JUNIOR – ages 9-11
TEEN – ages 12-14
SENIOR – ages 15-19
ADULT – 20 or older*
*Any routine that contains a dancer in adult division must compete in the adult age division, regardless of age average.
ADC reserves the right to request a birth certificate or other form of official identification as proof of age for any dancer where a protest or grievance is presented by another studio owner or competition director. Any such protests must be presented to the on site ADC staff the same day as the routine in question. Grievances must be brought to the ADC staff by a Studio Owner/Director.
SOLO – 1 performer. Novice level dancers may only compete a maximum of one (1) solo. Advanced and Competitive level dancers may compete a maximum of two (2) solos at any one event. Solos must be in two different categories (i.e. a soloist may not compete two solos in lyrical, etc.). A dancer with multiple solos must compete in the same level for all solos.
DUET/TRIO – 2-3 dancers
SMALL GROUP – 4-9 dancers
LARGE GROUP – 10-19 dancers
LINE – 20 or more dancers in a routine that does not contain a storyline
PRODUCTION – 16 or more dancers in a routine that utilizes more than one genre of dance to convey a storyline.
A duet, trio or group containing 50% or more of the same dancers may not compete against itself in the same age division and category. Classifications are based on the number of dancers performing that routine at the event, regardless of the dancers registered. In the event of injury or illness where a registered dancer cannot compete at the event, ADC reserves the right to request proof of injury or illness. Any substitutions necessary must be submitted to the ADC staff prior to the routine performing on stage. in four (4) or more routines, including solos and duet/trios, should go in Competitive level.
ACROBATIC DANCE – A routine using four or more acrobatic or gymnastic tricks such as walkover, handspring, back tuck, handstand, etc. The routine must be at least 50% dance moves.
BALLET/POINTE – A routine consisting of predominantly classical ballet and/or pointe technique.
CHARACTER – A dance routine which portrays at least one (1) well known character throughout the routine. Dancers may lip-sync the words to the music. Characters portrayed must be from a play, movie, television show, Broadway, celebrity, etc. No more than three (3) acro tricks.
CLOGGING – A dance routine utilizing clogging technique and footwork. Must not contain more than three (3) acrobatic tricks.
CONTEMPORARY/MODERN – A routine that utilizes lyrical, jazz, contemporary, and/or modern elements. No more than three (3) acro tricks.
HIP HOP – A dance routine utilizing hip hop or funk movement. Must not contain more than three (3) acrobatic tricks.
JAZZ – A routine using primarily jazz technique (i.e. leaps, turns). Must not contain more than three (3) acrobatic tricks.
LYRICAL – A routine that utilizes lyrical and jazz movement to convey emotion of a song. Must not contain more than three (3) acrobatic tricks.
MUSICAL THEATRE – A dance routine to music from a musical or Broadway show that incorporates acting and the use of character portrayal. Dancers may lip-sync the words to the music.
OPEN – A dance routine that does not clearly fit into the guidelines of any other category listed herein, or a combination of more than one category. The routine may not contain more than 50% acrobatic tricks.
PRODUCTION – A dance routine consisting of sixteen (16) or more dancers that conveys a theme or storyline. Productions typically utilize more than one genre of dance. The routine may not contain more than 50% acrobatic tricks.
TAP – A dance routine utilizing tap technique and footwork. The music for a tap routine may not contain tap sounds. No more than 3 acro tricks. *An acrobatic trick will be defined as one acrobatic stunt or continuous pass.
Entries are only accepted from established studios. No independent entries accepted.
All entries must be submitted via the ADC entry portal. Entries will not be accepted via mail, phone, email, fax or otherwise. Payment for entries will be accepted up to thirty (30) days prior to the competition date in the form of a studio check, cashier’s check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, or cash. No personal checks accepted of any kind.
Any entries not paid within thirty (30) days prior to the event will be subject to a late fee of 10%, and special discounts or promotions will not be applicable for any entries not paid in full at least thirty (30) days prior to the event. Payment less than thirty (30) days prior to the event must be certified funds only (cash, certified check, Visa or MasterCard).
Payment will not be accepted at any event.
Any changes to entries must be made fourteen (14) days prior to the event, or each change will be subject to a $5 administration fee per change. ADC and its staff will not make exceptions to our payment policies for any reason. And, entries not paid via the methods listed herein will be forfeited, and any non-refundable deposits will be forfeited. A return payment processing fee of $25 will be accessed on any returned checks or declined cresit card transactions, and the studio may be required to pay any future fees with certified funds. There will be no refunds for entry fees once paid for any reason.
Studio Owners please log into your ADC event account for pricing information.
Use of props must be noted at the time of registration, to allow for proper scheduling.
All props must be free standing and not require power, rigging, support, etc. from ADC or the venue. Prop set up and removal on stage may not exceed two (2) minutes total per routine. If set up or removal of a prop exceeds the combined time limit of two (2) minutes, the excess time will be taken off the routine’s allotted time limit listed above.
Productions will be allotted one (1) additional minute for set up and one (1) additional minute for tear down, for a total of four (4) minutes for both set up and tear down. If a routine exceeds the time limits allotted, points will be deducted from the routine’s score at a rate of one (1) point per judge.
A dancer is not allowed to stand on a prop that exceeds 5’10” in height.
The use of fire, pyrotechnics, aerosols, weapons or other harmful materials is strictly prohibited. Routines may not use liquids, baby powder, glitter, paint or any other substance that comes in contact with the dance surface that could damage the surface or make it slick.
All entered routines are required to upload their music via the registration portal at least ten (10) days prior to the event. (Please see the website for details on accepted formats). A $5 per routine fee will be charged for any music not uploaded by the studio on the registration portal, or for any changes made at the event.
American Dance Championships is not responsible for incorrect versions of music uploaded by the studio or sound levels within the music uploaded. We play all music exactly as it is uploaded on premium sound equipment and cannot adjust levels for studios at the event.
Please check all music after uploading to make sure it is the correct version and that all levels are correct.
By registering at any American Dance Championships event the Studio Owner and staff assume all responsibility and agree to release from liability and hold harmless American Dance Championships, its owners, directors, staff, agents, affiliates and the venue for loss, injury or theft in any form. Studio Owner and its staff assume liability for the release of all videos, photographs and media taken at the event to American Dance Championships and give permission on behalf of their staff and students for their use by ADC.
Studio Owners and staff also understand that all routines must report to the competition venue ready to perform no less than one hour and thirty minutes prior to the scheduled perform time, in the event the competition is running early. Further, Studio Owner and staff understand that the decisions of the judges and ADC are final.
Photography and video taping of routines on stage is not allowed. Anyone caught videotaping may be asked to leave the venue. Professional photo and video are available at all events.
Any person affiliated with an attending studio caught engaging in unsportsmanlike or unprofessional activity will be asked to leave, and the studio may have one or more routines disqualified as a result. Studio Owners and staff are responsible for the sportsmanlike behavior of their parents and students at the event. Failure to exemplify sportsmanlike/ respectful behavior may result in studio disqualification. Air horns, clappers and other noise makers are prohibited.
Routines are expected to perform in the order in which they are scheduled. Studios will not be allowed to hold or rearrange the order of their routines unless given prior written consent from ADC staff and for valid reason.
Any routine which is deemed inappropriate (movement, costume, music, etc.) may be disqualified or a point deduction may be made by ADC and/or the judges.
Routines that are deemed by the judges to have been obviously placed in the wrong level may be scored for adjudication purposes only or moved to the level judges think is appropriate.
Routines that are not performed within a reasonable time limit from their scheduled time, and before their category awards will be scored for adjudication only.
Studios will not be allowed to hold or rearrange the order of their routines without prior permission from the competition for good cause.
