Dynamite National Talent Competition Rules and General Information
Please read; failure to comply can result in loss of points or disqualification.
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Age Divisions – Mini – 8yrs & under; Jr – 9-12; Teen -13-15; and Sr 16 & up. The age breakdowns are as follows 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15, 16-18 and 19 & up.
When averaging ages for duet/trios and groups, DROP THE DECIMAL and DO NOT ROUND UP.
Age divisions are determined at Regionals by the contestant’s age on the first day of competition. Contestants will remain in the same National age division as they qualified in at Regionals. Incorrect placement of age divisions can result in loss of points or disqualification.
Time Limit: All dance and vocal solo, duet/trio, small and large groups have a 3 minute time limit. The time limit for lines is 5 minutes and 8 minutes for productions. The time limit for monologues is 1 minute and 30 seconds. A one point per judge deduction will be taken for every 5 seconds over the time limit. Small and large groups that may need extended time, up to 8 minutes, may add $25.00 per routine and indicate that it is an extended time routine when registering.
Music: All music must be on a good quality single cassette or single CD with the correct name of the routine and the DYNAMITE number clearly printed on the front. All music should be properly cued and have no other recording on it. Teachers, please carry a second copy, in cassette form, in case of loss or malfunction. All music not properly cued, labeled, or on a single cassette or CD may result in a point deduction. All music must also be properly pitched prior to competition, as DYNAMITE staff cannot be responsible for proper pitch control. All music should be turned in at the start of each day to the announcer in the auditorium, properly labeled, titled and numbered, and absolutely no later than 8 numbers prior to your performance. Vocal soloist may have background vocals on tape, and all vocal tapes must be without lead vocals. All other performers should have no background noise, such as additional tap sounds.
Tricks: Tricks are allowed in each category, with a 3 trick maximum. The only exception is in Acro/Gymnastics, Tumbling or Contortion categories where tricks and passes should be dominate in the routine. Lifts are okay in all categories.
Category Descriptions – Lip-Sync is allowed in all categories with limited use. (Musical Theater may be full lip-syncing.)
Ballet- Classical or contemporary ballet technique without Pointe shoes.
Pointe- Classical or contemporary ballet technique with Pointe shoes.
Modern- Solid technique with Modern base (i.e. Graham, Horton, Ailey, Dunham, etc.).
Lyrical- Routine showing solid technique, posed balance and fluid movement in a story telling fashion.
Ethnic- Routine of ethnic origin (i.e. Irish Step Dance, African Dance, Flamingo, Salsa, etc.).
Jazz- Contemporary or extremely stylized movement showing technique with up tempo music.
Hip-Hop- Contemporary movement in music video, or pop locking street style.
Dance Team/Pom Pon- Routines using extensive use of pom-pons and sharp dance movement. Stunts and basket tosses are okay, but should be restricted to shoulder height.
Character- Routine with easily recognizable portrayal of any person, character or cartoon throughout the routine. Costume should match the theme of the routine.
Musical Theater- A routine portraying a scene from a Broadway musical or film. Full lip-sync is allowed.
Monologue – A spoken routine that consists of a part of a play, story or poem in which one character speaks alone; soliloquy.
Tap- Routine should show tap technique in tap shoes with no tap sounds on tape.
Clogging- Routine showing strong clogging technique with clogging shoes.
Acro/Gymnastics- A routine that shows gymnastic passes as well as great strength, agility and balance. Please supply your own mats if necessary for your routine.
Tumbling- A routine that consists of 50% gymnastics and 50% dance.
Contortion- A routine where an acrobat twists into unusual positions in combination with gymnastic passes.
Baton- A routine involving variety and difficulty of content, speed, control, smoothness and gracefulness with correct baton technique.
Open- All routines not fitting the above categories.
Song & Dance- 50% song without lead vocals, 50% dance.
Wild Card- Allows you to perform a third routine of the same category of which you have already entered. (i.e. 2 jazz routines with the same contestant(s)).
Vocal Division – Pop/R&B, Country, Musical Theatre, Classical, and Open. No lead vocals allowed on any music track. Wireless handheld and headset mics are available.
Costume Entry- Beautiful and/or clever and creative. Must fit the routine and be age appropriate for the performer.
Photogenic Entry- Please submit an 8x10 or 5x7 photo labeled with the name, address and studio of the contestant on the back. No snapshots or school photos will be accepted. A composite card is considered more than one entry and the amount of photos on the card and fees should match.
High Score Overall- An overall solo winner will not receive more than one placement in the overall portion of the competition although they are eligible to win overall and title if they have entered that portion of the competition. The contestant’s highest scoring routine will be considered for those entering more than one solo. Groups may place multiple times in the overall scores. All overall ties will be broken first by technique score, then choreography, etc. and last by judges’ decision. Ties are allowed in the category overall division.
*Performers must be ready to perform 1 hour before their scheduled time and should report backstage 3 numbers prior to their own.
*All routines and music must be appropriate for family listening and viewing. Failure to do so will result in point deduction or disqualification.
*Any routines that are not in the correct category will be moved to the appropriate category. If a studio is consistently in the wrong category it may result in point deduction.
*Soloists may compete in no more than three solos.
*Performers may compete for only one studio in the solo division, regardless of how many studios their teacher owns. All other divisions okay.
* Independent performers are allowed.
*Performers may only compete against themselves in the wild card category.
*Dancers or groups may not re-enter an overall National winning routine or showcase routine in the next year’s competition.
*Dancers may compete in more than one city but only with a different routine and if they have not already qualified for the National finals.
*No teacher may perform with a student, however student teachers are allowed.
*Performers in the teacher’s solo category must be at least 20 years old.
*No one should perform out of order unless in the event of costume changes or if deemed necessary by staff to facilitate the flow of competition. All order changes must be confirmed by the teacher and approved by the director and/or stage manager. 3 minute time limit on quick changes.
*No coaching from the wings or audience.
*No use of electricity, fire, liquids, aerosol, knives or food during the competition.
*Props are okay, but no individual lighting, scenery or curtains may be used. All props should be essential to the act and must be carried on by the performer(s) or your own staff (instructor, parent, coach, student, etc.) unless we are under union house rules. All prop placements must be done within 2 minutes. Timing of the routine will begin after setup; however, if setup exceeds the time limit, it will result in one point per 5 seconds per judge deduction.
*There is no limit to the number of entries a studio may enter, however, if a cutoff becomes necessary only the first entries received will make the cut.
*Contestants as well as the audience must conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen throughout the competition and in the entire venue, including the restrooms, dressing rooms, backstage area, hallways and outdoors. Unacceptable behavior, damage to others property, public disruption, profanity or the general failure to maintain decorum will result in immediate disqualification and removal from the venue.
*No video taping is allowed at any time including awards and master classes.
*Photography is allowed.
*Please only use hairspray in the dressing rooms and not backstage or in the auditorium.
*No bare feet allowed except on stage.
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