2013 Rules, Regulations and Entry Forms

Also, check out our Frequently Asked Questions

The following rules apply to all I LOVE DANCE Competitions...

You may enter using our convenient online registration - www.ilovedance.com - after reading BOTH the Rules and Entry Form information before entering online to assure your routines (Age, Ability Level and Dance Category) will be correct in our program.

OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM
When filling out your entry form, (TWO-SIDED) please have one entry form per routine. You may photocopy more forms (front and back on one piece of paper). Please print these forms and make sure your information is correct. List the name(s) of Participants on the back with the signature of the Parent or Guardian next to the Dancer's name for all Dancers under age 18. Those 18 and up must sign their own. We ask that you mail all entries together in one large envelope so that we know we have all entries coming from your Studio. (Cashier's Check or Money Order only please - we cannot accept business, personal or certified checks for entry fees.) Fees must be sent in U.S. Funds, and sent overnight mail to assure you that we have received them. Entries must reach our office 30 days prior to event date to avoid late fee. Priority post as early as possible as a few cities fill-up quickly. Once entries have reached our office by Mail, Courier, FAX, electronically or by Phone, all fees are due and payable (whether or not you participate). Your entry fees cover the costs of entering and processing your entry(ies) ONLY. Therefore, once your entry has been received by our office, no refunds will be made due to cancellation by Participants, Teachers, Parents, or Studio Staff.

DANCE CATEGORIES
The following rules apply to step ingredients in Categories. If you have any questions, please ask us! Routines that are entered in the wrong Category are subject to a substantial 25 point deduction in that number’s final score. Again, PLEASE KNOW THESE RULES. It is the Teacher's responsibility to enter correctly. With the exception of Teacher Features, we do not allow any Dance Teacher on the dance floor during any performance. Teachers may assist the little ones (3-5 age division only) backstage, but may not "prompt" any of their Dancers during performances.

GENERAL CATEGORIES

BALLET
This Category includes the use of Props, Character Work, Classical, Flat Slippers or Pointe. Lifts are permitted, but not Acrobatic Tricks. No Lip Sync or Vocalization of any kind.

(Remember that “Song & Dance” is the only General Category allowing vocalization.) Routines that are not straight Ballet, Jazz, Tap or Lyrical should enter “Variety” or “Song & Dance.”

JAZZ
Straight Jazz. This means NO Props, Lip Sync or Vocalization of any kind. NO Acrobatic Moves or Tricks, Cartwheels, or Somersaults. This Category includes: Jazz floor work, (Shoulder Rolls OK, but no “tumbling”) Kicks, Splits, Lifts. Remember, this is a "Straight" Jazz Category. All Jazz styles ("Show Jazz”, “Funk”, “HipHop”) included.

TAP
Any routine in which Tap Shoes are worn. This Category includes: Props, Kicks, Splits, Coffee Grinders, and Touching of Partners. However, no Acrobatic Tricks, nor Vocalization nor Lip Sync. Note: Clogging performances without Vocalization must enter the Variety Arts/Acro Category, Clogging with Vocalization enter the Song & Dance Category.

LYRICAL / MODERN
Routines that are interpretive and are not standard Ballet or Straight Jazz. No Acrobatics nor Props and No Vocalization of any kind allowed.
Note: Vocalization is any Singing, Shouting, Counting, Talking and/or Lip Sync.

VARIETY ARTS / ACRO
Routines that are not straight Ballet, Jazz, Tap or Lyrical/Modern. This is the Category for Acrobatic Moves. Ethnic Dances should be entered here. Props are OK, however, no Lip Sync or Vocalizations of any kind.

SONG & DANCE
Routines that are not straight Ballet, Jazz, Tap or Lyrical/Modern. This is the Category which may include Vocalizing, Mime, Singing, Shouting, Mouthing of Words and Lip Sync. Props, and Acrobatic moves are OK.  Musical Theatre routines, Novelty acts, HipHop numbers with ANY vocalization enter here.

SPECIALTY CATEGORIES

STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHY
Age divisions: "9-11", "12-14", "15-17" and "18 & Up" are the only divisions eligible. This must be "Student Choreography" with no Teacher assistance allowed. We must trust the honesty of all entries in this Category. There can be no repetition of musical selections from other routines entered from your studio and no repetition of major dance combinations. Any dance style is permitted. You may perform a Solo, Duo/Trio, or Group number. Enter by the oldest performer in the number.

COSTUME
All Ages, Categories, Ability Levels and Sections are eligible to enter. The Judges will critique the costume while you are posing. They will be looking at the construction, uniqueness, stage appeal and appropriateness of the costume(s). You may also perform the number (repeated for this Category). This is an economical chance to perform, and the only category in which costumes are judged.

TEACHER FEATURES
A chance for the Teacher to perform! As in other Special Categories, anything goes and Teachers may perform as a Solo, or as part of a Duo/Trio or Group, with Students of any age, or with other Teachers.
This is the only performance category in which Teachers may dance.

FORTY PLUS
This is an Open Category for Student Dancers (NOT TEACHERS) where at least one Dancer in the routine is over 39 years of age. This Category includes all ability levels and dance styles. Performances include Solos, Duo/Trios and Groups.

PRODUCTION NUMBERS - Routines may be up to 7 minutes in length. Minimum of 12 participants. (This does not mean that all Dancers must be on the dance floor at all times, but it does need to be a "group effort".) This is a completely Open Category. There are no age divisions or ability levels, so that Dancers of all ages and abilities may participate together (NO Teachers). Production Numbers may be Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical/Modern, Variety Arts/Acro and Song & Dance (or better yet, a combination). May include Props, Costume Changes, Singing, ANYTHING GOES! Teachers may want to consider using their Dance Studio recital finale number or staging a number that will get all students from the studio involved. This is also an excellent Category to show off any performing group. With the extended time limit of up-to 7 minutes, this Category offers a chance to develop a dance routine into a full scale Production Number. Strive to make your entry a "Spectacular".

PROPS - Props are not allowed in the Jazz and Lyrical/Modern Categories. A Prop is anything not worn on the body as part of the costume such as a hand-held hat, a cane, a chair, or any piece of costume that is removed during the routine. Props must come on with the performance, and not require extensive setup. No equipment or Props that require electricity, or that we consider hazardous (fire, smoke or fog devices, knives, throwing of confetti or glitter, etc.) nor Live Props of any kind is allowed. The dance floor area must be in the same condition after your performances as before.

LIFTS / ACRO - Lifts are permitted in EVERY category. Lifts were once an integral part of only Ballet and Adagio work. Now we see them in every form - even ending poses - therefore, we allow Lifts in all Categories. (Please do not come in or out of a Lift as an Acro or Tumbling move unless entered in Variety Arts/ Acro or Song & Dance which allows any Acrobatic tricks. We define “Acro” as moves that are “head over heels” such as Aerials, Cartwheels, Somersaults.

VOCALIZATION - Must be entered in Song & Dance only. Vocalization is any Singing, Shouting, Counting, Talking, and/or Lip Sync. Enforced immediately following your numbers’ introduction, and until your Dancers are completely off-stage. (Omit all entrance and/or exit verbal commands).

AGES - The age of the Participant is based on the event date. Each Duo/Trio and Group entry is entered by the age of the oldest Participant in that number. DO NOT AVERAGE.

ABILITY LEVELS - The ability level is based on the event date. A Dancer's level in Solos must be entered with consistent abilities in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical/Modern, Variety Arts/Acro and Song & Dance (whichever is HIGHEST). Each Duo/Trio and Group's ability level is that of the Participant with the highest ability level in that number. DO NOT AVERAGE.

MUSIC - All music needs to be on a CD. Please be sure to have a good-quality CD. Only one song per CD. Your CD will need to have your performance number on the CD or CD case or sleeve. Please do not have any other labels or numbers written on your CD or cases. Please affix your music label to the CD case or sleeve rather than on the CD itself. Please make sure your music is cued-up at the beginning of Track 1 to start immediately. Teachers and Dancers should always have a backup CD available. Please have your backup music with you or your Studio representative in case it’s suddenly needed. Teachers must time their music in advance to make certain that it does not exceed our limits.
(Maximum 3 minutes for all Categories except Production Numbers which may be up-to 7 minutes.)
You and your studio may not use the same piece of music more than once EXCEPT when entering Costume.

TIMING - Any performance that exceeds the time limit will receive a substantial 25 point deduction. Again, Production Numbers must be under 7 minutes. All other routines must be under 3 minutes. All entrances to, and exits from the Dance Floor must not exceed 10 seconds.

AWARDS - We have Performers’ Ribbons for every Dancer! For Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical/Modern, Variety Arts/Acro and Song & Dance entries, we award First Place Trophies and 2nd and 3rd Place Rosettes for each age, under each ability level entered in each section. There are Grand Sweepstakes Trophies (1st, 2nd & 3rd Overall Highest Score) for each age group. In Student Choreography, Teacher Features, Costume, Forty Plus and Production Numbers Categories, we award 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Trophies. We now offer FOUR special Overall Group Trophies for Beginning, Elementary, Junior and Senior Groups with $100 cash prize for each ability level! Judges will base their decisions in all Categories (except Costume) on: Stage Presence, Originality of Material, Technique, Style and Execution. They are looking at the total entertainment value and dance skills exhibited in each routine. Please remember that routines entered in the wrong category will receive a substantial 25 point deduction (we do NOT disqualify routines), and the Judges' decisions are final.

At the end of the Competition, we also give a “Teacher's Award” for outstanding participation, and an “Excellence Award” for outstanding performance. A Dancer will be named Junior OR Senior Sweetheart and receive Title and Trophy. We are not producing a “Sweetheart Of The Year Pageant” nor Dance Training Intensive this Season. In addition, one special routine will receive the “Best Of Show” title and $100 cash prize chosen by the Show Director for exemplifying exceptional creativity along with the LOVE of DANCE. One Teacher will be awarded “Best Musicality” title and $100 cash prize for choreography and adaptation of a routine to an inspiring and outstanding musical selection. After final awards are given, Teachers may then pick up the Judges' score and comments sheets.

LATE ENTRIES, CHANGES, OMISSIONS AND/OR ADDITIONS - It is necessary to charge a $20.00 fee for each late entry as well as for omissions and changes made at your request. This includes changes made before, and/or during the show. Please read all the Rules and Regulations herein and also the entry form in order to avoid any additional fees. Only Cash will be accepted at the show (no business, personal or certified checks.
Please mail your entries return receipt to reach our office at least 30 days prior to the competition date.

MISCELLANEOUS - WE HAVE NO RESTRICTIONS ON A DANCER'S NUMBER OF ENTRIES. Dancers may enter several routines in the same Category (and compete against themselves). Dancers may also enter multiple Cities (with the same routines and/or with new ones). Routines from previous years are eligible for re-entry also. No substitution of Dancers is allowed. We suggest that copies of your entries be made before mailing. Use overnight mail when sending entries. After all entries have been processed, a Confirmation Packet is sent to all Participating Studios (and to Independents). It includes the order of performances, entry numbers, CD label details, time schedule and additional information to pass on to Parents and Students.

HOTEL - Hotel information for each Competition City is listed on the Season Schedule. We require that you and your participants stay at our Host Hotel. We have guaranteed "X" number of guest rooms to enable us to receive a special guest room rate and to enable us to rent the Ballroom and dressing room facilities. (We don't want to end up in high schools). Every Studio will find their guest rooms to be a haven, a private meeting area for last minute pointers (as no rehearsing is allowed in the public areas of the Hotel), as well as the best place for storage of personal items, and for costume and/or make-up adjustments. Make reservations on the same day (or before) you mail your entries. “I LOVE DANCE” participants receive our special guest room rate. Guest rooms at our Special “ILD” rate are limited, and Hotels have cut-off dates. Anyone requiring overnight accommodations must stay at the Host Hotels.

Check the performance time schedule for opening and starting times. Teachers must register within 15 minutes of door opening and turn in all CD’s for the day backstage at that time. We cannot accept music or program changes after the show has begun. When Teachers (NOT a substitute) check in, they are given a name badge and a complimentary program book. Please be confident, that if a Director or Teacher is not available to attend, we will do everything necessary to assure the comfort of their Students and Parents in their absence. A list of Dancers for each day is at the registration table. Dancers must register at least one hour prior to the start of their performances and are admitted free of charge on the day(s) they perform as seating allows. Each day, general admission tickets (which INCLUDES a program book as supplies last) may be purchased at the door ($5.00 each - regardless of age, and we suggest that Children under the age of Three not attend -- PLEASE DO NOT BRING INFANTS -- this is a Dance Performance with usually long hours). Throughout the day, concessions are open and souvenirs, dance supplies, trophies and rosettes are available.

You'll find "I LOVE DANCE" to be a well-organized, professional Dance Festival. We offer a fun and exciting learning experience, as well as a most enjoyable show.