DanceDivisionDescriptionsINDIVIDUALSOLOAllcontestantsmustperformasolodanceroutineupto2minutes(maximum)inlength:entranceupto15secondsandexitupto15seconds.Anydancestyleorcombinationofstylesmaybeused.

ALL-MALEDANCEThisteammustconsistofallmales.Routinemaybeofanydancestyleorcombinationofstyles.

CO-EDDANCEThisteammustconsistofatleast3malesand3females.Routinemaybeofanydancestyleorcombinationofstyles.Routineemphasismustbeonpartneringinteractionsforatleast50%oftheroutine.

DANCEOveralleffectmustbedanceinnature.Anydancestyleorcombinationofstylesareacceptable.Danceattireorschooluniformsmaybeused.

DANCE/POMRoutineemphasismustbeontheuseofpom.Teamsmustusetwopoms foratleastthree-fourthsoftheroutine.Standardschooluniforms,danceormilitaryclothingmaybeworn.

JAZZRoutineisrootedwithinthebroadspectrumofjazzdance,utilizingvocabularyfromanystyleofjazzdancetechnique,including:theatrical,vernacular,technical,stylized,classical/concert,pop,etc.Choreographyshouldincludetheaestheticfoundationofjazzdance,emphasizingbolddramaticbodymovements,isolations,contractions,rhythm,musicality,energy/expressionanddynamics.

HIPHOPAroutinewherealldancersperformgroundedstreet-stylemovement.Difficultyshouldnotbeemphasizedthroughtechnicaljazztechnique,butratherthroughspecifichiphopstyles.Forexample,stylesshould include(butarenotlimitedto):bodycontrol,isolations,rhythm,pop/locking,tutting,whacking,krumping,breaking,etc.Anygenreofmusicmaybeusedaslongastheroutineasawholefocusesonhiphop style.

LYRICALAroutinewherealldancersinterpretthelyrics,moodorintentofasong(withorwithoutwords),usingballetand/orjazzand/ormoderntechnique.Thisformhasaqualityofmovementthatusesthemusicand/orlyricsastheguide.Incorporatingbalance/sustainedmovement,aswellasfacialandbodyemotion,isexpected.

2019DanceCompetitions

MILITARYRoutinemustbemilitaryinnaturewithanemphasisonprecisionandsharpnessthroughthedancer’sentirebody.Routinemustinclude:militarymaneuvers,patternformations,visualeffects,variousarm/handsequencesandavarietyofmarchingstyles(i.e.glide,highknee,prance,pony,chug,etc.).Schooluniformsormilitaryattire/costumemustbeworn.Inkeepingwiththemilitarytradition,allmaneuvering/marching/travelingmustbeginontheleftfoot.Alldifficultyandtechnicalelementsmustbeinkeepingwithmilitarystyle/quality.

KICKRoutineemphasismustbeonkicks.Kicksmustbethefocalpointoftheroutineandmustbeusedformorethan3/4ofthetotalroutinelength.Anystyleofmovementmaybeused,aslongasthekicksarethefocalpointoftheroutine.Routinemustincludeavarietyofkicksequences,aswellasavarietyofdifferentkicktypesoverall.

PROPRoutineemphasismustbeonthecreativeandvisualuseofaproporprops.Anystyleofdancemaybeused.However,the manipulationofthepropmustbethefocalpointofthepresentation,ratherthanthefocusbeingonthemovementofthedancer.Thepropmustbeusedinatleast3/4oftheroutine.Routineand/oruniformmaybethematicinnature,butmustnotbethefocalpointoftheroutine.Standardschooluniformsorcostumesmaybeworn.

NOVELTYRoutineemphasismustbeoncharacterizationorbeofauniquethematicnature.Theentireroutinemustfullyexpressastoryline,andmaynotrelyonanypriorknowledge(onpartoftheaudience/judges)ofthetheme’sorigin.Routinemayincludetechnicaldancemovements,permittingthesemovementsmakesensewithinthetheme,characterandstoryline.Propsarepermittedbutshouldnotbethefocalpointoftheroutine.Propsshouldonlyservetoenhancethestory/theme.Themedcostumesshouldbeworn.Setsandbackdropsarepermitted,butnotrequired.

CHARACTERDANCERoutineemphasismustbeonusingaspecifictheme,character,musicaltheater,orculturalgenreofdance.Allmovementsshouldmakesenseforthedancerstoexecute‘incharacter.’Multipledancestylesmaybeused,butonlyifeachstyleenhancesthetheme/characterdevelopment.Theroutinemustcreatethecharacterizationthroughtheuseofmusic,costuming,choreography,andmaynotrelyonanypriorknowledge(oftheaudience/judges)ofthetheme’sorigin.

*Aschoolwillbepermittedtocompeteineither Noveltyor CharacterDance,notboth.*

2019DanceCompetitions

QUALIFYINGDIVISIONSFORUSADANCENATIONALSIfyourteamcompetesinanyofthedivisionslistedbelowandyouwouldliketocompeteatUSADanceNationals,youmustfirstqualifyataUSADanceRegional.IfyoudonothaveaUSADanceRegionalinyourarea,youcanqualifybyvideo.ContactMelanieKrieger(mkrieger@varsity.com) forvideoqualificationinstructions.

Thequalifyingdivisionsinclude:• Dance[X-Small(2-5),Small(6-9),Medium(10-13),Intermediate(14-20),Large(21+)]• Jazz[Small(6-10),Medium(11-17),Large(18+)]• HipHop[Small(6-10),Medium(11-17),Large(18+)]• Lyrical[Small(6-10),Medium(11-17),Large(18+)]• Military[Small(6-10),Medium(11-17),Large(18+)]• Prop(6+)• Kick(6+)• All-Male(6+)• Novelty(6+)**• CharacterDance(6+)****AtanyUSAcompetitionaschoolmayenterintoeither theNoveltyor theCharacterDancedivision,butmaynotenterintoboth.

Forqualifyingdivisions,teamswhoreceiveanaveragescoreof85pointsorgreater(excludingpenalties)foragivenroutineataUSARegionalwillqualifyforthe“Championship”divisionatDanceNationals.Teamswhoscorean84.9orbelowforagivenroutineataUSARegionalwillqualifyforthe“Open”divisionatDanceNationals.

NON-QUALIFYINGDIVISIONSThefollowingdivisionsdonot requirepriorqualificationataUSARegionalorviavideoentryinordertocompeteatUSADanceNationals.Thenon-qualifyingdivisionsinclude:• Co-Ed(6+)• SmallDance/Drill(6-14)• LargeDance/Drill(15+)• Dance/Pom(6+)• JVDance(6+)• JVHipHop(6+)• JVDance/Pom(6+)• Solo

**JVteamscanchoosetocompeteinanydivision.Anindividualmaynotcompeteinthesamedivisionatdifferentlevelsi.e.JVDance/PomandDance/Pom.

2019DanceCompetitions

QualificationforNationals