Rules

Dancers that wish to compete for Best Dancer Titles must win an eligible scholarship, during the 2018-2019 season, at either: JUMP DANCE CONVENTION (VIP Winner or Runner-up), NUVO DANCE CONVENTION (Breakout Winner or Runner-up) or 24 SEVEN DANCE CONVENTION (Non-stop Dancer Winner or Runner-up). All competing Mini, Junior, Teen and Senior Best Dancer Finalists must prepare a solo, in any style of dance, under three minutes long. Along with competing a solo, Best Dancer Finalists will take part in an audition class where they will learn a short jazz & ballet combo and perform it for the judging panel. Each Best Dancer’s audition class scores will be combined with their solo score to determine the Top 10 Best Dancers (male and female) in each age division. The announcement of the Top 10 will take place later in the week and will be immediately followed by the Best Dancer Dance-Off.

During the Best Dancer Dance-Off, the Top 10 dancers (male and female) in each age division will be asked to improvise to random music selected by The Dance Awards. The format of the Best Dancer Dance-Off is subject to change at the Directors’ discretion. Each Best Dancer’s Dance-Off score will be combined with their solo score and audition class score. After the scores are combined, the Top 3 dancers will be announced and they will re-compete their solo right at the Dance-Off. After the Top 3 perform their solo, the judging panel score their solos based on the normal 100 point system. The NEW Dance-Off solo score will REPLACE the original solo score. The average of these rankings will determine the 2019 Best Dancer Winners and remaining Runners-Up. The announcement of the Winners and Runners-up will happen during The Dance Awards Show at the end of the week.

All Top 10 Best Dancers (male and female) from each age division will be presented with an award onstage during The Dance Awards Show. The Top 3 dancers from each age division will then be announced, followed immediately by the announcement of the 2019 Best Dancer Winners and remaining Runners-Up. The Senior Best Dancer Winners (male and female) will then be asked to re-perform their solo later in the show.

The one Female Best Dancer and the one Male Best Dancer also receive:

• The opportunity to perform their solo as part of the 2019 Dance Awards Show (Senior Best Dancers Only)!
• The opportunity to perform their solo at any closing show at JUMP, NUVO or 24 Seven regional cities during the 2019-2020 season. (This must be approved by the Studio Owner of the dance studio the Title was won with.)
• Invitation to perform as a special guest at the 2020 Best Dancer Dance-Off in Las Vegas and/or Orlando.
• The opportunity to be a Demonstrator at JUMP, NUVO and/or 24 Seven regional cities during the 2019-2020 season. (This must be approved by the Studio Owner of the dance studio the Title was won with.) Dancer would be responsible for all travel, hotel, etc.
• Lifetime Workshop Scholarships to JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven & The Dance Awards. (Scholarships for the following season, 2019-2020, will only be honored if approved by the Studio Owner of the dance studio the Title was won with.)
• Senior Male & Female Best Dancer will be invited to be a Demonstrator at a total of FOUR JUMP, NUVO and/or 24 Seven cities during the 2019-2020 season, with hotel and travel paid by The Dance Awards. The invited cities will be chosen by TDA.
• Mini, Junior, Teen & Senior Best Dancers will be invited to be a part of BEAT SQUAD at the 2019 & 2020 DancerPalooza!
• FREE tuition to any DancerPalooza Intensive. Expires September 1, 2020. (Excludes The Travis Wall Experience)

The remaining TOP 10 winners receive:

• Workshop Scholarships to any and all JUMP, NUVO and/or 24 Seven regional cities during the 2019-2020 season. (This must be approved by the Studio Owner of the dance studio the Scholarship was won with.)

Male Best Dancer Program

NEW THIS YEAR! We will now be offering a special program for all male Best Dancer Finalists at The Dance Awards. The program will include:

• One special workshop with LIVE rock band – hosted by DanceOne Male Faculty
• Special Male Best Dancer Finalist Number in the Closing Awards Show
• Q & A with the DanceOne Male Faculty

Teen & Senior Best Dancer Finalists

The Teen & Senior Best Dancer Finalists will be performing the opening and/or closing number in The Dance Awards Show at the end of the week. Throughout the week, the Teen & Senior Best Dancer Finalists will be working in private rehearsals with the choreographers - Mandy Moore & Nick Lazzarini. Costumes will be provided by The Dance Awards, however each dancer will be asked to bring a few basic items from home. More info on costumes, rehearsals, schedules, etc. will be provided two weeks before the event.

Best Dancer Fees

All Best Dancer Finalists have received free tuition to The Dance Awards Workshop. If a dancer chooses to compete for the National Best Dancer Title, there is an additional fee:

The Best Dancer fee includes a custom Best Dancer goody-bag, personalized Best Dancer Jacket, solo competition fee participation in the audition class, Best Dancer Dance-Off (if applicable), and rehearsals and costumes (for Teens & Seniors).

Best Dancer Guidelines

• Best Dancer Finalists do not need to have a registered teacher with them to compete in the Best Dancer Competition; however, they MUST get permission from the studio they qualified with at regionals. For example, a dancer is not able to qualify at regionals under "Miss Sue's School of Dance" and then register at The Dance Awards as "Independent." Also, all Best Dancer Finalists attending without a registered teacher must get the signature of their studio owner on the Best Dancer registration form in order to compete.
• Best Dancer Finalists do not need to be in a group routine to compete in the Best Dancer Competition.
• Best Dancers Finalists must use a DIFFERENT solo if also competing in the Finals Solo Competition. (Remember, to compete in the Finals Solo Competition you must also be registered to compete in a Group, Line, Extended Line or Production. No exceptions.)
• At the Best Dancer Dance-Off, the Top 3 soloists must re-compete the same solo they originally competed during the Best Dancer Solo Competition.
• If you have previously won a Best Dancer Title (not Runner-up or TOP 10), you are not allowed to compete to be a Best Dancer again until you are in the next age division up. Best Dancer Winners must also wait at least one year after winning before competing for a Best Dancer Title again.
• Dancers can only vie for the Best Dancer Title at one location - either Las Vegas OR Orlando. HOWEVER, a dancer may attend both workshops (Vegas & Orlando).
• If you are a Teen or Senior, but do not want to participate in the Best Dancer Competition, you MAY still take part in the rehearsals and perform in the show (for the same fee). You would also receive a personalized Best Dancer Jacket and goody-bag.
• We ask that all Best Dancer Finalists submit a 2" x 2" photo for the souvenir program. These photos can be uploaded during the online registration process on mybreakthefloor.com, emailed to info@thedanceawards.com or mailed to our North Hollywood office. Please submit all photos no later than May 15, 2019.
• Parents are not permitted to observe the audition classes - only registered Teachers and Studio Owners.
• Please remember, everyone will need a ticket to the show. Best Dancers performing in the show will also need to purchase tickets if they would like to watch the show from the audience any time before or after they are on stage.
• All Best Dancer Finalists must complete a copy of the Best Dancer registration form.
• If attending The Dance Awards with their studio, a Best Dancer Finalist does not need to submit a separate Best Dancer registration online. Studios can submit all of their best dancer information online at the same time that they complete their studio’s registration.
• By registering for the Best Dancer Competition, you are automatically registered for the Workshop.
• The Dance Awards will most likely sell out. Registration is on a first-come, first served basis.
• NEW RULE: If you win Best Dancer Title with your studio, you cannot switch studios or go "Independent" within a full year of winning title, or your Best Dancer scholarship and tour privileges will be rescinded. The Dance Awards firmly believes in a dancer's studio training and convention and/or National Titles should never replace or in any way interrupt training at your dance studio.