2024 - 2025 FCDA Dance Guidelines
Dance routines are up to 3 minutes. Dance is open to schools, recreational programs, studios or gyms and is offered in the following divisions:
Tiny, Mini, Youth, Junior, Senior and will be calculated accordingly by top age and under as well as averaged age.
Levels: Show, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced
Show: Exhibition only
Novice: This division is for dancers with limited to no competition experience. A well-executed Novice Level dancer has a simple and clean routine that they are executing with attention to musicality and performance quality. These performers are working on the basic understanding of the foundations of dance and with the execution of the technical elements in the routine. Difficulty in choreography is not necessarily something our judges are looking for at this level.
Intermediate: This division is for dancers with limited competition experience. A true Intermediate dancer will have more simplistic choreography with less difficulty than that of an Advanced dancer. A dancer at this level executes a significant portion of the routine with technical proficiency. Our judges are looking for dancers with strong technical capabilities, who command the stage, are invested in their performance and exude confidence. At this level, dancers should demonstrate above-average staging, musicality, and confidence, but their technical execution may not match that of an Advanced Level dancer.
Advanced: This division is for dancers with extensive competition experience.
Dancers at this level have a strong grasp of technique and self-expression. These dancers confidently execute challenging choreography with technical precision. At this level dancers are beginning to explore their artistry, style, and creativity, and it is evident that they have a strong work ethic.
Dance is offered in the following categories:
Contemporary/Lyrical
A contemporary or lyrical routine is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, and classical ballet. Emphasis is placed on balance, extension, isolation, control, expressive movement, dynamics, alignment, uniformity and communication.
Hip Hop
The routine consists primarily of hip hop techniques that may include street dance, freestyle, funk, pop-n-lock, break dancing and acrobatic tricks.
Routines demonstrate high energy movements with an emphasis on execution, style, creativity, body isolations & control, rhythm, uniformity, and musical interpretation. Routine may also put an additional focus on athletic incorporations such as jumps, jump variations, combo jumps and other kicks.
Jazz
Routines incorporate stylized dance movements and combinations. Emphasis is placed on proper movement, execution, extension, control, body placement and team uniformity.
Pom
Pom routines emphasize synchronization and visual effect, Emphasis is placed on clean and precise motions, strong pom technique and incorporation of dance technical elements. Visual effects include level changes, group work, formation changes, the use of different color poms, etc. All styles of dance may be used. Leaps, turns and jumps will be allowed. No other props allowed.
Kick
Kick routines emphasize control, height, uniformity, extension, top points, timing, and creativity of various kick series and patterns. Kicks should be performed throughout the routine.
Theme
A theme routine is based on a theme or idea expressed through movement and choreography.
Open
An Open routine may include styles not listed above, i.e. ethnic, novelty, acrobatic, character.
Variety
The Variety division emphasizes variety, creativity, and fun. Routines should incorporate a minimum combination of two (2) dance styles. Props may be used.
If category entries allow, teams may be split into small / large and/or levels. State on your routine if you feel like your participants are Novice, Intermediate or Advanced. Age groups or divisions may be combined to provide competition.
Props:
All props must be approved. Any damage caused by prop will be the responsibility of the registered program.
Prop restrictions include:
Fire, swords, knives, and guns are prohibited, to include "prop versions" of the same.
Smoke and/or fog machines are not permitted.
Helium balloons are not permitted.
Glitter, gel, aerosol, powder, or any form of liquid is not permitted.
Solos, duets, and trios are also offered at most FCDA competitions. Routines may be up to 1 1/2 minutes.
Dance routines are up to 3 minutes. Dance is open to schools, recreational programs, studios or gyms and is offered in the following divisions:
Tiny, Mini, Youth, Junior, Senior and will be calculated accordingly by top age and under as well as averaged age.
Levels: Show, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced
Show: Exhibition only
Novice: This division is for dancers with limited to no competition experience. A well-executed Novice Level dancer has a simple and clean routine that they are executing with attention to musicality and performance quality. These performers are working on the basic understanding of the foundations of dance and with the execution of the technical elements in the routine. Difficulty in choreography is not necessarily something our judges are looking for at this level.
Intermediate: This division is for dancers with limited competition experience. A true Intermediate dancer will have more simplistic choreography with less difficulty than that of an Advanced dancer. A dancer at this level executes a significant portion of the routine with technical proficiency. Our judges are looking for dancers with strong technical capabilities, who command the stage, are invested in their performance and exude confidence. At this level, dancers should demonstrate above-average staging, musicality, and confidence, but their technical execution may not match that of an Advanced Level dancer.
Advanced: This division is for dancers with extensive competition experience.
Dancers at this level have a strong grasp of technique and self-expression. These dancers confidently execute challenging choreography with technical precision. At this level dancers are beginning to explore their artistry, style, and creativity, and it is evident that they have a strong work ethic.
Dance is offered in the following categories:
Contemporary/Lyrical
A contemporary or lyrical routine is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, and classical ballet. Emphasis is placed on balance, extension, isolation, control, expressive movement, dynamics, alignment, uniformity and communication.
Hip Hop
The routine consists primarily of hip hop techniques that may include street dance, freestyle, funk, pop-n-lock, break dancing and acrobatic tricks.
Routines demonstrate high energy movements with an emphasis on execution, style, creativity, body isolations & control, rhythm, uniformity, and musical interpretation. Routine may also put an additional focus on athletic incorporations such as jumps, jump variations, combo jumps and other kicks.
Jazz
Routines incorporate stylized dance movements and combinations. Emphasis is placed on proper movement, execution, extension, control, body placement and team uniformity.
Pom
Pom routines emphasize synchronization and visual effect, Emphasis is placed on clean and precise motions, strong pom technique and incorporation of dance technical elements. Visual effects include level changes, group work, formation changes, the use of different color poms, etc. All styles of dance may be used. Leaps, turns and jumps will be allowed. No other props allowed.
Kick
Kick routines emphasize control, height, uniformity, extension, top points, timing, and creativity of various kick series and patterns. Kicks should be performed throughout the routine.
Theme
A theme routine is based on a theme or idea expressed through movement and choreography.
Open
An Open routine may include styles not listed above, i.e. ethnic, novelty, acrobatic, character.
Variety
The Variety division emphasizes variety, creativity, and fun. Routines should incorporate a minimum combination of two (2) dance styles. Props may be used.
If category entries allow, teams may be split into small / large and/or levels. State on your routine if you feel like your participants are Novice, Intermediate or Advanced. Age groups or divisions may be combined to provide competition.
Props:
All props must be approved. Any damage caused by prop will be the responsibility of the registered program.
Prop restrictions include:
Fire, swords, knives, and guns are prohibited, to include "prop versions" of the same.
Smoke and/or fog machines are not permitted.
Helium balloons are not permitted.
Glitter, gel, aerosol, powder, or any form of liquid is not permitted.
Solos, duets, and trios are also offered at most FCDA competitions. Routines may be up to 1 1/2 minutes.