REGULATIONS

Eligibility

All participants must be at least 17 years old by the date of the competition. No exceptions will be made.

  1. Participants may be asked to provide valid identification (e.g., government-issued ID) upon registration to verify age.

  2. Each dancer or group must be affiliated with a dance group, studio, or team, and written proof of affiliation may be required upon request.

Registration and Payment

  1. Payment can be made via e-transfer, credit card, or bank transfer. Cheques will not be accepted.

  2. All registration fees must be paid in full prior to the registration deadline. Any incomplete payments will result in disqualification.

  3. No refunds will be granted under any circumstances, including medical emergencies or conflicts.

  4. Late entries are subject to a late fee of 15% of the total entry fee, provided there is still availability.

  5. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited, and a non-refundable deposit must be made within 14 days of registration to secure a spot.

  6. TrueWest reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any event. In the event of cancellation, refunds will be offered only at the discretion of the organizers.

All NSF (non-sufficient funds) payments will incur a $50 fee.

Music and Content

  1. All music submitted for performances must be clean and appropriate for all audiences. Explicit lyrics or inappropriate content will result in immediate disqualification.

  2. Music must be submitted at least 7 days prior to the event in the required format (MP3 or WAV), and any changes thereafter will incur a $10 fee per change.

  3. Dancers may not perform to the same piece of music or choreography more than once during the competition.

Competition Environment and Conduct

  1. TrueWest enforces a zero-tolerance policy for any form of harassment, discrimination, or bullying. Any participant contributing to an unsafe or negative environment will be disqualified immediately.

  2. Any changes to the schedule after it has been finalized will incur a $15 change fee per adjustment.

  3. Soloists may not compete against themselves in the same category.

  4. All dancers must arrive and be ready to perform at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled performance time.

  5. Dancers must report backstage at least three routines before their scheduled performance.

Photography and videotaping during performances are strictly prohibited unless authorized by TrueWest.

Responsibility and Liability

  1. True West Dance Competition is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged personal property, including costumes or dance apparel.

  2. Participants and their affiliated studios will be held financially responsible for any damages caused to the venue.

  3. By registering, participants acknowledge that they fully understand and accept the risks of participating in the event. True West Dance Competition is released from any liability arising from injuries, damages, or loss of property.

  4. All media (video and photography) captured during the competition are the property of True West Dance Competition and may be used for promotional purposes at their discretion.

Final Notes

  1. All participants, studios, and guests must comply with the venue’s rules and regulations.

  2. Any concerns or complaints must be directed to a TrueWest official in a respectful manner.

  3. TrueWest reserves the right to update or modify these rules at any time. Any changes will be communicated to registered participants prior to the event.

Awards and Judging

  1. Cash awards will be given in the form of cheques made payable to the winning dance studio or group leader. 

  2. All judges' decisions are final and non-negotiable. There will be no appeals or reconsiderations.

  3. Special awards may be given at the judges' discretion, and these awards will be subject to the same rules regarding finality.

Performance Guidelines

  1. Dancers must perform in the order in which they are scheduled unless prior approval has been granted by the event organizers.

  2. Routines will not be rescheduled for any personal conflicts. Exceptions may be made for unavoidable conflicts (such as school exams) by allowing dancers to perform in a different age group.

  3. Participants cannot compete against themselves in the same category.

  4. TrueWest reserves the right to add additional days or extend event hours as necessary.

RULES & AWARDS 

  • As an adult-only dance competition, age calculations do not apply within each division. We organized our divisions based on experience, only.

    • Novice: Dancer or group has never competed or performed on-stage before.

    • Varsity: Dancer or group affiliated with a post-secondary institution (i.e. college, university, etc.

    • Pro-Am/Adult: Dancer or group affiliated with an adult non-professional dance organization.

  • All genres are permitted a maximum of three (3) acrobatic tricks, with the exception of Acrobatics, Open, and Freestyle categories, which have no limits on acrobatic elements.

    1. Jazz: Must showcase traditional jazz movement and technique.

    2. Tap: Emphasizes technical footwork with rhythmic precision. Pre-recorded sounds are prohibited.

    3. Lyrical: Dancers should express the lyrics, mood, and content of the music.

    4. Contemporary: A fusion of lyrical and jazz movements incorporating modern elements.

    5. Modern: Primarily focuses on traditional modern dance techniques.

    6. Hip Hop: Should include street or contemporary jazz-funk movement styles.

    7. Musical Theatre: Dancers interpret a song from a film or stage production.

    8. Ballet: Requires classical or contemporary ballet technique. Ballet slippers are required.

    9. Pointe: Must feature classical or contemporary pointe work. Pointe shoes are required.

    10. Acrobatics: A mix of gymnastics and dance choreography, with at least 50% dance required.

    11. Open: For routines that do not fit into the other categories.

  • Dance Entry Types & Time Limits

    1. Solo (1 dancer): 3 minutes

    2. Duet/Trio (2-3 dancers): 3 minutes

    3. Small Group (4-9 dancers): 3 minutes

    4. Large Group (10-15 dancers): 3 minutes

    5. Line (16-24 dancers): 4 minutes

    6. Production (25+ dancers): 5 minutes

    • The above time limits include both entrances and exits. 

    • A 0.5-point deduction will be applied for every 30 seconds over the listed time limit.

    • If additional time is required, dancers may purchase extra minutes by contacting True West organizers.

    • Silver: 85.0 – 89.9

    • Gold: 90.0 – 92.9

    • High Gold: 93.0 – 94.9

    • Platinum: 95 – 96.9

    • Outstanding: 97.0 – 100.0

    1. A team representative must be present at the awards ceremony for each studio.

    2. All Overall Awards will be presented on stage during their scheduled time. If dancers are not present, a team representative must collect the award on their behalf.

    Overall awards will not be re-announced or rescheduled. Awards will not be shipped for any reason.

    1. Categories will be announced in ascending order by score.

    2. Special Awards will be given at each adjudication, at the judges' discretion, and are not based on judges' marks.

    Choreography of the Session will be awarded during each adjudication.

  • TRUE Champion will be presented to the top soloists of the competition

  • TOP-TIER Awards will be presented to the highest-scoring group and soloists in each genre

  • Triple 5 (555) Award will be presented to the Adjudicator’s Choice dance selected for their single performance in the Showcase/Dance-Off.

  • Judges' Choice Awards

    1. Choreography Award (cash prize)

    2. Adjudicators Award (cash prize)

    3. 555 Award (cash prize or scholarship)

  • Important Notes on Awards and Scholarships

    • All awards and scholarships are subject to the number of entries. True West reserves the right to adjust the number of awards or modify categories based on entries at any time.