Why WCE Dance competitions?

As a company we promote an encouraging and inspiring environment so that our dancers build self confidence. Our hope is to build a larger unified dance community that supports each of its members. We provide an atmosphere where choreographers and dancers feel that they can create artistry without boundaries. We pride ourselves in a team of current, knowledgeable and experienced judges who provide professional feedback for all levels of dancers at our dance competitions!

Convenience
Studios can find everything they need in their Dance Comp Genie account! Here they can register routines, make changes, view critiques, access score sheets, upload music and complete waivers!

Media
All dancers will receive professional high quality pictures and videos of every routine they are registered for.

COMPETITION DIVISIONS, TIME LIMITS AND FEES

 

 

DIVISIONS	Dancers	Time Limits
Solo	1	2:45 mins
Duet/Trio	2-3	2:45 mins
Small Group	4-9	3:00 mins
Line	10-15	4:00 mins
Extended Line	16-24	5:00 mins
Production	25+	8:00 mins
Improv Experience	1	WCE Provides

Teams may purchase additional time. at $5/dancer for each additional minute needed.

PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES

Jazz	Any form of jazz dance is acceptable. Jazz favors hard hitting movements, strong lines and classical technique.
Ballet	A routine consisting of ballet or pointe techniques including classical steps and movement.
Hip Hop	Alternates fast paced sharp actions that involve body popping, and locking with slower movements and freezes.
Tap	A form of dance characterized by using the sound of one’s tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussicve instrument consisting of tap technique.
Contemporary	A routine that rejects the limitations of classical ballet and favors movement deriving from an abstract source. Contemporary routines are marked by self expression, storytelling and freedom of movement.
Lyrical	A fusion of ballet and jazz techniques. Lyrical routines express deep emotion or observations, derived from the lyrics or feeling of the song. Lyrical routines are marked by sustained transitions, breath of movement and elongated lines.
Musical Theater	Any routine interpreting a song from a Broadway or Movie Musical.
Ballroom	Routine that incorporates traditional ballroom dance throughout the majority of the routine. This can include Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Paso doble, Swing, Salsa, Samba, Rumba, Cha Cha and Jive.
Open	Any style of dance or combination of styles that do not fit into an alternate division.
Acro	Acrobatic dance is a blend of acrobatics, emphasizing flexibility and aerial tricks with dance movement.
Improv	The act of dancing without defining movement previously. The dancer will not know the song being played ahead of time nor what he or she will execute but rather move spontaneously and freely.

AGE RANGES

Petite	7 and under
Mini	8- 10
Junior	11- 12
Teen	13-15
Senior	16-19

• All WCE ages are determined as of January 1 of the competition year.
• To reach the average age for an entry, add all the ages together and divide by the number of dancers in the entry. Drop the decimal point from the total. Example: if the average comes out to 10.7 you will drop the .7 and the routine will compete in the 8-10 (Mini) division.
• The average age of each entry may not drop more than one age division below the age of the oldest dancer in the entry, regardless of the actual average age. Example: the age range for the entry is 8 to 17, the entry may not compete younger than 13-15 (Teen) age division.
• All competing dancers must be prepared to present a birth certificate should a question arise.

 

LEVELS

Bronze	Recreational/Beginner	– 3 hours or less of technical based training per week. Recommended for dancers with little to no competition experience.
Silver	Intermediate	– 3 to 5 hours of technical based training per week.
Gold	Advanced	– 5 or more hours of technical based training per week.

 

PHOTO & VIDEO PACKAGE

All dancers will receive a complete photo/video package for each routine that they are registered for. A $25 media/registration fee will be automatically applied for each dancer at each competition location.

REGISTRATION

• The deadline for competition changes is 10 days prior to the event. No changes will be made after this date.
• Competing dancers should be ready 30-45 minutes prior to their scheduled competition time. WCE competitions tend to run early so please prepare for that. Dancers must perform in their scheduled order unless permitted by the Competition Director.
• A $200 deposit is due with the Registration. Space will not be saved for teams that do not turn in a deposit for each event.
• Check, credit card and Venmo: (WCE-Dance) are all acceptable forms of payment. Full balances are due four weeks prior to competition.
• Refunds: Absolutely no refund or credit will be given within ten days of the registered competition. WCE will provide a credit to any entries dropped prior to ten days from the competition.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION

Admission is free and the general public is welcome at all events. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to the first scheduled performance.

MUSIC REQUIREMENTS

All music must be uploaded through a team’s registration. All music must be uploaded by Monday leading into competition week. Any music not uploaded by this date is subject to a penalty. WCE requires that studios bring a backup of music on a USB drive.

MEDICAL RELEASE & WAIVER

Each participant is required to turn in a completed WCE Dance, Inc. Medical Release and waiver or they will not be permitted to compete. Online medical release forms are due one week prior to the competition and can be accessed through the team’s registration dashboard.

 

JUDGES CRITERIA

Choreography	40
Execution	40
Performance	20

AWARDS

SCORING PLACEMENTS
Elite	291-300
Double Platinum	282-290.9
Platinum	270-281.9
Gold	255-269.5
Silver	240-254.9

 

BEST IN DIVISION

WCE will recognize the top 3 routines in each division and level for any division that has 5 or more entries.

BEST IN CATEGORY

WCE will recognize the top routines in each category and level for any category that has 5 or more entries.

TOP OVERALL STUDIO

• Judges will honor the Top Studio in the Gold, Silver and Bronze levels. Studios will need to compete a minimum of 4 group routines (in a single level not including duet/trios) to qualify. Top Studio will be determined by the average score of each studio’s 4 highest scoring routines in a single level.
• The Top Overall Studio will win a $1000 WCE scholarship to be used for a future WCE Dance competition.

TOP OVERALL ROUTINE

• WCE will recognize the Top Overall routines in each age division and level of competition. These winning routines will be posted on the WCE Wall of Champions page and social media accounts (Excludes Solo & Duet/Trios). WCE Scholarships will be awarded to be used for a future WCE Competition.
• Each winner of Top Overall routine will win a $1,000 scholarship to be used at a future WCE Dance competition.

DANCER OF THE YEAR

• WCE will recognize the Top Overall Soloist in each age division and level of competition. These winning routines will be posted on the WCE Wall of Champions page and social media accounts. WCE Scholarships will be awarded to be used for a future WCE Competition.
• Each Dancer of the Year will win a $100 scholarship to be used at a future WCE Dance competition.

SPECIALTY AWARDS

• Judges will select dances that stand out throughout the weekend. Awards include: Best Choreography, Best Storytelling, Best Technique, Best Showmanship, Best Costume and Most Entertaining. Judges will also handpick routines that are the best of the best to be posted on YouTube.
• Our judges will also handpick routines that are the best of the best to be posted on the WCE Wall of Champions page and social media accounts.

IMPROV EXPERIENCE

Dancers may register onsite at the competition for the Improv Experience. Dancers will Improv in groups. Judges will select finalists from each group to continue to the next round(s) until we have our Improv Champion! 2nd & 3rd place will also be awarded. The Improv champion will win a $100 scholarship to use for next season.

Fee: $20/dancer