The Heat Dance Convention is an exciting opportunity for dance studios to showcase their talent and compete at a high level. To ensure a smooth and successful experience for all participants, it’s crucial to understand and adhere to the competition rules and guidelines. This document outlines the key regulations for studios attending the Heat Dance Convention competition.
Studio Registration & Routine Requirements
For your studio to be considered for overall awards at the Heat Dance Convention, a minimum of five routines must be registered for representation in the overalls category. Studios that do not meet this minimum requirement will still have their routines adjudicated, meaning they will receive scores and critiques from the judges. However, these routines will not be eligible for overall awards. It’s important to note that this minimum routine requirement does not apply to HEAT Force dancers participating in their home city.
Solo Performance Rules
Dancers are generally permitted to compete with one solo performance. In situations where competing with more than one solo is allowed, it is essential to confirm this possibility directly with the HEAT office. If multiple solos are permitted for a single dancer, only the solo that receives the highest adjudication score will be eligible for overall awards.
Early Bird Registration & Payment
To take advantage of the Early Bird registration rate, studios must ensure that their applications are submitted and fully paid one month prior to the specific city event they plan to attend. Meeting this deadline is crucial for securing the reduced rate and streamlining the registration process.
Studio Drop Policy & Deposit
Studios should carefully plan their routine entries, as dropping more than 20% of the initially requested routine amount will result in the forfeiture of the $450 deposit and any registration incentives that may have been applied. This policy underscores the importance of accurate initial registration and commitment to the entered routines.
Studio Administrative Fees
Dance studios often apply their own additional administrative fees. These fees are intended to cover the various studio expenses associated with organizing, registering, and attending Heat Dance Conventions. Studios should transparently communicate these fees to their dancers and families.
Convention Registration for Competitors
A mandatory requirement for all dancers participating in the competition is full registration for the entire convention in the city where they are competing. This full convention registration ensures that all competing dancers are immersed in the complete Heat Dance Convention experience, including workshops and other events.
Performance Readiness & Schedule
Competing dancers are required to be prepared to perform between 45 minutes to 1 hour prior to their scheduled performance time. This readiness buffer is essential to maintain the competition schedule and ensure smooth transitions between performances. The competition order, once established, cannot be changed.
Teacher Participation
To maintain fairness and focus on student dancers, teachers are not permitted to perform or compete alongside their students in any competition categories at the Heat Dance Convention.
Registration Capacity & Payment Deadlines
Heat Dance Convention has a capacity limit for competition registrations. Once this capacity is reached, no further competition registrations will be accepted. Crucially, no competition entries will be officially confirmed unless full payment has been received by the stated deadline. Early registration and prompt payment are therefore highly recommended.
Admission & Teacher Seating
Admission to the dance competition is free for spectators. Reserved seating will be provided for all teachers who have students participating in competing numbers, ensuring comfortable viewing and support for their dancers.
Age Appropriateness
All aspects of competition performances, including music selections, costumes, and choreography, must be age-appropriate for the participating dancers. Judges will make necessary deductions for any routines deemed inappropriate. In more serious cases, disqualification may result, at the discretion of the judging panel.
Registration Deadlines
All competition entries must be registered by the official registration cut-off date. Studios are advised to adhere strictly to these deadlines to ensure their entries are processed and included in the competition schedule.
Entry Limits Based on Studio Size
To ensure balanced participation, the number of competition entries a studio can submit is related to the number of students they are entering in the convention. The guidelines are as follows:
- Studios entering 50-59 students: May enter up to 50 competition entries.
- Studios entering 60-69 students: May enter up to 55 competition entries.
- Studios entering 70-79 students: May enter up to 60 competition entries.
- Studios entering 80 or more students: Studios entering 80 or more students should contact HEAT directly to confirm city-specific limits, as these may vary depending on the venue and location.
Deposit Requirement
A non-refundable deposit of $450 is required when registering for the competition. This deposit must be paid before any competition routines can be entered into the online registration system. The deposit is a flat fee per studio, not per routine.
Competition Start Time
In the event of a high volume of competition entries, the competition schedule may commence on Thursday evening or Friday morning. Heat Dance Convention will endeavor to begin the competition with solo performances whenever feasible.
Payment Methods
Heat Dance Convention accepts various forms of payment for registration fees, including major credit cards, cash, and studio checks. Please note that personal checks are not accepted.
Stage & Venue Sizes
It’s important for studios to be aware that stage and venue sizes can vary from location to location. Studios should plan their choreography and staging with potential variations in stage dimensions in mind.
Entry Changes Deadline
No changes to competition entries will be permitted within the two-week period immediately preceding the convention. This deadline is necessary to finalize the competition schedule and ensure accurate program information.
Currency & Returned Checks
All fees associated with Heat Dance Convention are in United States dollars (USD). No other currency will be accepted. Any checks returned due to insufficient funds or other reasons will be subject to a $35 returned check fee.
By carefully reviewing and adhering to these rules and guidelines, dance studios can ensure a positive and rewarding competition experience at the Heat Dance Convention. Understanding these regulations is key to maximizing your studio’s success and enjoyment at this premier dance event.
