I. Dance Disciplines at NRG
Nrg Dance Project competitions showcase a wide array of dance styles, allowing dancers to express their versatility and passion. Understanding the categories is crucial for studios and performers to ensure they enter routines appropriately. Here’s a breakdown of the disciplines you can expect at an NRG event:
Ballet: Rooted in classical technique, ballet routines at NRG must emphasize traditional ballet or pointe work. Precision, grace, and strong technical execution are key elements in this category.
Jazz: Energetic and dynamic, jazz routines should demonstrate strong jazz technique. Expect up-tempo music and choreography that highlights rhythm, isolations, and stylistic flair.
Contemporary: Contemporary dance blends jazz styles with a significant influence from modern and ballet techniques. This category allows for expressive movement and often incorporates fluidity and innovative choreography.
Lyrical: Lyrical dance fuses jazz and ballet techniques, set to ballads or emotionally driven music. Storytelling and emotional expression are paramount, with choreography designed to evoke feeling and connect with the audience.
Tap: Rhythmic and percussive, tap routines focus solely on tap technique. Clarity of sound, intricate footwork, and musicality are essential in this discipline.
Open: For routines that defy categorization or blend multiple styles, the Open category is the perfect fit. This category welcomes any dance style or combination, encouraging creativity and innovation.
Hip Hop: High-energy and urban-inspired, hip hop routines should showcase hip hop or street dance styles. Grooves, isolations, and contemporary hip hop trends are expected.
Musical Theatre: Bringing Broadway to the stage, musical theatre routines utilize dance styles found in theatrical productions. Character portrayal, storytelling through movement, and performance quality are important aspects of this category.
II. Time Limits for Performances
NRG Dance Project maintains specific time limits for each performance category to ensure the smooth running of the competition and provide a fair platform for all participants. Adhering to these limits is mandatory unless prior arrangements have been made.
| CATEGORY | MAXIMUM LENGTH |
|---|---|
| Solo | 2 minutes 45 seconds (2:45) |
| Duo/Trio | 2 minutes 45 seconds (2:45) |
| Group | 3 minutes (3:00) |
| Line | 4 minutes (4:00) |
| Production | 5 minutes (5:00) |
For routines requiring extended time, especially for Productions, it is essential to email NRG in advance to request an exception.
III. Competition Rules and Regulations
NRG Dance Project is committed to providing a fair and professional competition environment. Understanding and adhering to the rules and regulations is crucial for all participating studios and dancers.
Competition Eligibility
- Workshop Registration: All dancers competing must be registered for the NRG workshop in the city where they are competing. This ensures all participants are engaged in the full NRG experience.
- Studio Affiliation for Overall Awards: To be eligible for Overall CASH Awards, dancers MUST be registered with a studio. NRG defines a studio as having 10 or more registered students at the event.
- Small Studio Registrations: Studios registering fewer than 10 dancers will receive adjudication (Platinum, Gold, etc.) and Category Placement (1st place, Contemporary solo, etc.). However, Overall placements and CASH Awards are exclusive to studio registrations with 10 or more dancers.
- Multiple Entries: Dancers are welcome to compete in multiple categories, allowing them to showcase their diverse talents.
- Soloist Limitations for Top Awards: Soloists performing multiple routines are eligible for only one placement in the Top Solo Cash awards, ensuring broader recognition.
- Teacher Participation: Teachers are not permitted to perform with their students in competition routines.
- Professional Dancer Status: Professional dancers are allowed to compete but are ineligible for cash awards, regardless of age. The determination of “professional dancer” is at the discretion of NRG Directors.
- Multi-City Participation: Dancers can compete in more than one NRG city. However, the studio registration rule for Overall CASH Awards remains consistent across all locations.
- National Prodigy Rule: National Prodigies are restricted to competing their solos only in their home city, where their primary studio is attending.
Prop Guidelines
- General Prop Allowance: General props are permitted to enhance performances. However, size limitations apply due to varying ceiling heights at venues. It is advisable to check with NRG if there are concerns about prop dimensions. Backstage storage for props is very limited.
- Prohibited Props: Dangerous props, including swords, fire, sand, and live animals, are strictly prohibited to ensure safety and venue integrity.
- Setup Time Limits: Routines exceeding a 2-minute prop setup time may face disqualification to maintain the competition schedule.
General Competition Guidelines
- Acrobatic Content: Routines featuring more than three (3) gymnastic/acro passes must be entered in the OPEN category to ensure appropriate categorization.
- Category Adjustments: NRG judges reserve the right to move routines deemed to be in the “wrong category” to the most suitable category.
- Appropriate Content: All routines must be suitable for family viewing. Content deemed inappropriate by judges may result in point deductions or disqualification.
- Schedule Adherence: Once the competition schedule is finalized, changes to the performance order are not permitted. NRG cannot accommodate stops for costume changes. Studios should plan accordingly to avoid back-to-back performances requiring costume adjustments.
- Friday Competition Starts: In cities with high entry volumes, competitions may commence early on Friday, and studios agree to this possibility upon registration.
- Late Entry Changes: Changes to competition entries within two weeks of the convention date will incur late fees.
- Music Upload Deadline: Failure to upload music by the deadline (two weeks prior to the competition) will result in removal from the competition.
- Free Admission: Admission to NRG’s “The Show” competition is free for registered attendees, family, and friends, encouraging a supportive audience.
- VIP Seating for Teachers: VIP seating arrangements are made available for teachers at the competition venues.
- Convention Registration Requirement: All competing dancers must be registered for the full weekend convention and must wear their convention wristbands while competing.
- Usage Rights for Media: Choreographers and attendees grant NRG permission to use photos and videos from the event for advertising and promotional purposes.
- Stage Dimensions: The standard stage dimensions are 40ft (width) x 32ft (depth) x 2ft (height). Stage setups include two sets of stairs and wings on each side when venue specifications allow.
- Entry Finality and Refunds: All competition entries are final and non-refundable. No exceptions are made to this policy.
IV. Mandatory Music Submission Requirements
NRG Dance Project enforces strict music submission protocols to ensure a seamless and professional audio experience during competitions.
- Mandatory Online Music Upload: Uploading competition music to the NRG server is MANDATORY for ALL entries. On-site music submissions are not accepted under any circumstances. For assistance with the upload process, contact [email protected]. Late fees apply to on-site music changes.
- Critical Deadline: Dances without uploaded music 2 weeks prior to the event will be removed from the competition and replaced by entries on the waiting list. This rule is strictly enforced – NO Exceptions, NO Refunds.
- Backup Music Recommendations: While not mandatory, bringing backup music on an iPod, computer, or hard drive is advisable. Participants are responsible for their backups, and failure to provide a backup if needed could lead to disqualification without refund.
- Acceptable Backup Formats: Acceptable backup formats include iPod, computer, or hard drive. CDs, tapes, records, or 8-tracks are not accepted. iPads/phones are for emergency backup use only. Any backup music required due to technical issues should be submitted to the sound booth.
- Music Upload Per Event: Music files are not saved between cities. Music must be uploaded to the system for EACH event, even if a studio is participating in multiple NRG events.
V. Sold-Out Competition Advisory
NRG Dance Project competitions and conventions are highly popular and frequently sell out well in advance of the event cutoff dates. Early registration is strongly recommended to secure participation. NRG reserves the right to close competition registration at any time, even before the advertised cutoff date, should capacity be reached.
VI. Thursday & Friday Competition Scheduling
Competition schedules may include Thursday and Friday start times, which can vary. Competitions may begin as early as 7:00 AM, starting with solo performances. Groups scheduled on Thursday or Friday will not perform before 3:00 PM without prior notification. Studios should be prepared for the possibility of early competition scheduling when registering. NRG is willing to accommodate schedule adjustments if routines scheduled on Thursday or Friday face conflicts due to school or other unavoidable issues, where feasible.
Tentative and final competition schedules are distributed exclusively to studio directors. Studios can request routine adjustments before the final schedule is issued. Once the final schedule is released, no further changes are permitted.
This comprehensive guide ensures that all participants are well-informed and prepared for the NRG Dance Project competition experience. By understanding these guidelines, studios and dancers can focus on showcasing their talent and enjoying the event to its fullest.
