Contact Monica Perez monibperez@sbcglobal.net

Competition Information

Find everything you should know before competing!

RULES & REGULATIONS

  1. Alcohol and drugs are strictly prohibited. Anyone found to be using or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be automatically disqualified. NO VAPING ALLOWED!
  2. No flash photography is allowed, including professional cameras and equipment.
  3. No videotaping allowed. This includes but is not limited to video cameras, digital cameras, cell phones, etc.
  4. Registration forms WILL NOT be accepted without payment in full.
  5. Any disrespect or physical altercation to any volunteer, organizer, stage manager, stage runner, emcee, or anyone else working at the Sun City Dance Classic will be AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED.
  6. ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS! This includes but is not limited to event cancellation, sickness, injury, death, inclement weather, catastrophic circumstances, and failure to register and pay in full for all participants.
  7. Sun City Dance Classic reserves the right to change any of the rules, regulations, registration requirements, performance times, competition schedule, etc. at any time without prior notification to registrants.
  8. Bracelets must be worn on the dancer’s wrist before entering the competition. ALL BRACELETS MUST BE KEPT ON AND BE VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE COMPETITION. GRAND CHAMPION FINALISTS WILL BE ISSUED NEW BRACELETS FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2025. THERE WILL BE NO REPLACEMENT BRACELETS ISSUED IF YOUR DANCER CUTS OFF OR REMOVES THE BRACELET FROM THEIR WRIST.
  9. Parents of children performing under 9 will be designated to a dressing room to help the dancers change. Parents must PURCHASE, have a bracelet on, and be on the parent list to enter the changing room. There will only be a designated number of parents allowed per studio once registration has been completed. Parent bracelets are only valid for that designated day in which that age division competes. Parents must purchase an event ticket when their child is not performing.
  10. NO LIQUID OF ANY KIND MAY BE USED AS A PROP OR PART OF COSTUME. THIS INCLUDES WATER, PAINT, LOOSE GLITTER, OIL OR POWDER. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE WILL BE CAUSE FOR DISQUALIFICATION.
  11. All props must be dropped off at the coliseum on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, from 5 pm- 9 pm. Props will NOT be allowed to be brought in after Wednesday night. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE WILL BE CAUSE FOR DISQUALIFICATION.
  12. ABSOLUTELY NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINKS!!! NO EXCEPTIONS! Dancers, coaches, and participant bags will be checked upon entry. ANY DANCERS OR PARTICIPANTS CAUGHT IN VIOLATION OF THIS RULE WILL BE CAUSE FOR DISQUALIFICATION.

TIME LIMITS

    • Maximum performance of 3 minutes for Soloists, Duets, and Trios.
    • Maximum performance of 3 minutes for Small Groups and Large Groups.
    • Maximum performance of 3 minutes for all Aerial performances.
    • Maximum performance of 5 minutes for Production Groups.
    • There is no minimum time requirement.

Time Limits will be enforced unless extra time has been purchased.  If performance exceeds the specified time, there will be a point deduction and MUSIC WILL BE CUT OFF. For each routine, an additional $20 will be added to the fee in 20 seconds intervals, as shown below:

    • 01- 0.20 sec – $20.00
    • 21- 0.40 sec – $40.00
    • 41- 0.60 sec – $60.00

If performance exceeds the time limit you will be cut off.

Performance times will be strictly adhered to in order to ensure a smooth-running show for all participants. Each performance will be announced by the EMCEE. If music runs over the specified time limit, then music will be cut off. All participants must be lined up and ready to perform no more than 3 performances before their set and no less than 1 performance. If participants name has been announced and the music starts and the participant is not ready to perform, the participant will be eliminated from the competition. There will not be any refunds. It is very important that all participants are prepared and ready to go when stage runner calls you in order to ensure a pleasurable experience for all.

MUSIC SUBMISSIONS

Music submissions are due by February 17, 2025. You will be able to upload your music using the link that will be sent to you after registration. All music will be reviewed by the music director prior to competition. All the information will be on the website. The link provided will close February 17, 2025, at midnight. Please note that the quality of music you submitted will be played as is. WE WILL NOT ALTER VOLUMES WITHIN THE MUSIC.

Along with the online submission, please bring backup music in the form of a flash drive. Label all flash drives with your event name, director’s name, school/studio, and division. Flash drives MUST be handed to the volunteer checking you in for your performance. If your school/studio has dancers competing in multiple events, one flash drive may be used. Music in the flash drive must match the song title on the registration form.

BEFORE SUBMITTING: Please remove any explicit lyrics, or there will be a 5 pt. deduction.

Submit music

JUDGING

Sun City Dance Classic will have 4-6 judges per category with at least one specialist in that particular category. Each registrant will be judged based on this criteria:

      • Creativity
      • Difficulty
      • Formations and transitions
      • Synchronization and timing
      • Spacing
      • Body placement and control
      • Strength in movements (motions)
      • Proper technique of dance movements
      • Eye contact and showmanship

More information will be given to directors/instructors prior to competition at the Directors Meeting.

VIDEO & PHOTOGRAPHY

More details will be announced as we get closer to the event.

TICKETS

    • ONE-DAY tickets to attend the 2025 Sun City Dance Classic will be sold at the Ticketmaster window. No prior ticket sales will not be sold.
    • GRAND CHAMPION tickets will be sold on Sunday, March 2, only.
    • Ticketmaster will be accepting cash, credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay for ticket purchases.

TICKET PRICES WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

    • 1-Day Pass: $20 per day, this includes the Grand Champion

NO ADVANCED TICKETS TO BE SOLD. CASH OR CREDIT CARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE BOX OFFICE.

PERFORMANCE DIVISIONS

Listed below are the different forms of dance categories for the 2024 Sun City Dance Classic. In addition, there is an explanation as to what judges will be looking for in each category. You may register for as many events as you would like. If a category or division has less than three entries, it will be combined with a similar category or division (as needed).   

    • JAZZ– Primarily jazz technique, utilizing up-tempo music.
    • FOLKLORICO – Routine must utilize folkloric/ethnic style of dance such as Hawaiian, Spanish, Polkas, Clogging, etc.
    • BALLET – Primarily ballet or pointe technique, including classical steps and movements.
    • HIP-HOP– Primarily hip-hop technique.
    • TAP– Primarily tap technique. Routines demonstrating clogging technique and style may not compete in the tap category.
    • CONTEMPORARY– A fusion of many jazz styles with a strong emphasis on modern technique.
    • LYRICAL- A combination of jazz and ballet techniques to slow music incorporating emotional and storytelling elements.
    • MUSICAL THEATRE- Any routine interpreting a song from a Broadway or Movie Musical.
    • BALLROOM- Routine that consists of core elements of ballroom repertoire showcasing Traditional or Latin techniques.
    • SPECIALTY- Consists of all other categories that don’t fit the definition of an existing category: ethnic, novelty, clogging, etc.
    • ACRO- Acrobatic dance is a fusion of dance and acrobatic tricks. These tricks originate from circuses all over the world. Balance, flexibility and power blended seamlessly with dance movement. If you have more than 3 acrobatic tricks it will be considered acro.
    • IMPROVISATION- Involves creating and executing movement spontaneously, without any premeditated movement. Dancers entered in this category will not know the song being played ahead of time. The DJ will simply select a song at random. Length will be 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
    • KICK- Routine should showcase clean, strong kicks, as well as team synchronization.
    • POM– Routine using pom-poms with incorporation of precise and definite movements.
    • AERIAL DANCE W/ SILKS AND HOOPS- Routine that incorporates an apparatus often attached to the ceiling, consisting of Silks and a Hoop.
    • SHOWCASE- Entries that wish to perform only for critiques only. These routines will not be scored and will not be eligible for Adjudicated or High Score awards. This category includes a discounted price at registration.

AGE DIVISIONS

There are 3 age divisions at Sun City Dance Classic divided into other sub-divisions for competition purposes. The Junior, Senior and Adult divisions consist of the following:

    • Tiny (5-7): This division is for competitors who are less than or 5-7 years old.
    • Mini (8-10: This division is for competitors who are ages 8-10 years old
    • Junior (11-12): This division includes competitors who are ages 11-12 years old.
    • Teen (13-15 This division includes competitors who are ages 13-15 years old.
    • Senior (16-19): This division includes competitors who are ages 16-19 years old.
    • Adult (20+): This division is for any competitors who are 20 years old or older.
    • Middle School Team: This division includes Middle School dance teams.
    • High School Team: This category includes High School dance teams.

When registering for the competition, please note that the average ages in a group, duo, or trio will determine the category your team will compete in with the following exceptions:

    • HOWEVER, THE OLDEST MEMBER OF THE TEAM MUST NOT EXCEED 3 YEARS OVER THE AVERAGE AGE.
    • ANY TEAM MEMBER WHO IS 20 YEARS OR OLDER MUST COMPETE IN THE ADULT DIVISION.
    • DIVISIONS WILL ALSO BE DETERMINED BY THEIR AGE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2025.
    • ONE 20-YEAR-OLD WILL MAKE THE GROUP A FULL ADULT GROUP IN THE SUN CITY DANCE CLASSIC.

DANCE DIVISIONS

All dance participants will be required to show proof of age. You can upload a photocopy of identification card or birth certificate.

There are 7 divisions at Sun City Dance Classic. These include:

    • Solos
    • Duets
    • Trios
    • Small group: This division is 4-9
    • Large groups: This division is 10-19 dancers.
    • Production groups: This division is 20 dancers or more.
    • Middle Schools: This division is for middle school dance teams only.
    • High Schools: This division is for high school dance teams only.
    • Aerial: This division is for silks and hoops.

AWARDS

Each act that performs will receive a score from a panel of 4-6 judges. Each division will have preliminaries to determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for each dance style. After receiving extensive feedback from our directors, it has been decided that our judges will adjudicate ALL entries for preliminaries. The three adjudicated awards will be:

    1. Diamond
    2. Sapphire
    3. Ruby

(We will evaluate and adjust scoring depending on the number of judges and the age divisions. Once we have all our information the scores for adjudication will be posted before the competition. We thank you in advance for your patience.)

After preliminaries, the top scores of each age division will advance to Grand Champions. Only two performances per age division per studio/high school/middle school will be allowed to compete at the Grand Champions regardless of the number of performances that qualify to advance. Banners will be presented to the Grand Champions.