Dance Rules 2025
Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Tap, Acro

Age Divisions
Tots: 3 & Under
PeeWee: 4-6
Mini: 7-8
Elementary: 9-10
Junior: 12-14
Senior: 15-19
 Young Adult: 20-29
 Adult: 30+

*Team Average Age determined as of Jan 1st

*Solos & Duets: Ages as of competition
*Drop decimal when determining age (16.3 =16)

*Age divisions may be combined or divided due to registration

Production Teams will have just ONE Age Division.

 Dance Levels
Level's Determination factors
 For decisions on which level you should enter in, we suggest the following skills suggestions for each level listed below.
These are not limits or required, but suggested to keep each level as close as possible.
 
Novice Beginning Intermediate Advanced
Competed less than 12 months and danced less than 2 years Competed less than2 years and won 1st in Novice Competed more than 2 years and won 1st in Beginning Won 1st in
Intermediate twice Competed 3+ years*
Step Suggestions and Restrictions:
Novice Skills: Limited Tumbling, Cartwheels, Backbends, etc.

Steps/Skills NOT allowed: Double pirouettes, A la Seconde turns, Fouettes, Side leaps, Back Tucks, Switch Leaps or Switch Tilts.

Novice is for dancers who are just beginning to compete. It’s their first year on stage and just getting used to being on stage. Once a dancer has won 1st in novice, they should move to Beginning the next year. A dancer does NOT need to start in novice if their skills already place them in a higher level. Dancers may compete Novice a 2nd year if they are struggling with learning and performing novice level skills.
 

 Step Suggestions and Restrictions:
Beginning Skills: Walkovers, round-offs
etc.

Steps/Skills NOT allowed: Double Pirouettes, Switch Leaps or Switch Tilts, no more than 2 rotations on Fouettes or A la Seconde turns.
.
Beginning is for dancers who have competed already one year and are advancing into more difficult skills than intro level skills. Normally, after one year, dancers are ready to enter beginning. Once a dancer has won 1st in novice, they should move to Beginning the next year. A dancer may dance in Beginning more than one year if their skills dictate dancing in the beginning level another year.
 

 Step Suggestions and Restrictions:
Intermediate Skills:
Backhand springs,
round-off single
backhand spring,
Aerials, etc.

Step/Skills NOT allowed: Quad pirouettes , Direction Fouettes, execusion of skills must be at intermediate level

Step Suggestions and Restrictions:
Advanced level skills


 
Dance Individual Categories
Standard Solo
Queen Solo
King Solo
WHAT ABOUT GYMNASTICS AND TUMBLING?
In America On Stage dance competitions, judges are instructed to score each individual, duo, trio and team entry based upon the dance skills presented. Gymnastics and Tumbling are not scored or assist points in entries.

COMPETING IN MULTIPLE LEVELS
You may compete in two levels only. A dancer who competes in one level for solo/duo/trio may compete in a different level for team as long as the levels are one level up or down. Ex:. Dancers may NOT compete in Intermediate and Novice, or Advanced and Beginning.
Dance Duet Categories
Standard Duo
Standard Trio
Queen Duo
King Duo
King/Queen Duo
Dance Team Categories
The following categories are offered in all levels
Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Production, Cheer/Pom, Tap, Open, Acro

TEAM: 3-12 dancers
LARGE TEAM: 13 or more dancers
Competitions may combine size categories according to registration
 
Standard Solo/Duos/Trios: Lower Fees, Smaller Trophy, Awards Posted

Queen Solos/Duos/Trios: Higher Fees, Larger Trophy, Awards announced on stage, 1st place winners receive additional tiara & sash
 

 

Dance Individuals and Duets Categories Rules

  Jazz Hip Hop Lyrical Contemporary Acro Pointe/Ballet Tap
General Description Any type of Solo or Duet/Trio routine consisting of jazz style and technique. Any type of Solo or Duet/Trio routine consisting of pop locking, funk or street style Hip Hop and technique Any type of Solo or Duet/Trio routine consisting of  lyrical style and technique. Any type of Solo or Duet/Trio routine of contemporary, modern style and technique. Any type of Solo or Duet/Trio routine consisting of Acro and tumbling style and technique. Any type of Solo or Duet/Trio routine consisting of classical ballet or pointe style and technique.  Any type of Solo or Duet/Trio routine consisting of any style of dance where dancers wear taps. No recorded taps.
Category Specifics & Time Limit Any type of music, costume, gymnastics, props and steps allowed.
`Time Limit: 1-3 min. (2 min recommended, but not required). Duets will compete together.
Awards Nov, Beg - All receive 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Int. - All receive 1st High Gold, 1st, 2nd or 3rd
Adv - one 1st, one 2nd, one 3rd, and New Double Awards! All dancers will receive trophy each entry!

 

Dance Team Categories Rules

  Jazz Hip Hop Lyrical Contemporary Pointe/Ballet
General Description Routine consisting of Jazz style and technique. Routine consisting of pop locking, break dancing, funk or street and Hip Hop technique. Routine consisting of lyrical style and technique. Routine consisting of contemporary, modern style and technique. Routine consisting of ballet or pointe style and technique.
Time Limits 1-3 Minutes in length
Rules Any types of music, steps and costumes appropriate to style of dance. A routine may be competed in only one category. Hand Held or small stage props allowed (no stage set up)
  Cheer/Pom Tap Open Production Recreational
General Description Routine consisting of Cheer style and technique. Vocals allowed, but not required Routine consisting of any style of dance where dancers wear taps (no recorded taps).  Tap not offered at every event. Routine consisting of any style including show, acro, military,  ballroom, folk, high  kick, etc. Any  category listed here may be danced in Open. Routine consisting of 1 or more styles of dance. Emphasis on entertainment value. Themes may be used. LARGE TEAMS ONLY. Teams, Solos, Duos dance on stage in a studio block of time. One Judge with  comments only. All members receive medal. No  scores nor places. Dance on stage!
Time Limits 1-3 Minutes in length. Production Team Unlimited time
Rules Any types of music, steps and costumes appropriate to style of dance. A routine may
be competed in only one category. Hand Held or small stage props allowed (no stage set up)
Large Stage sets allowed and encouraged in Production.

New Triple Crown

Teams dance off 1 solo, 1 duo/trio,  and 1 team. All 3 scores tallied.
Awarded: One 1st, one 2nd, one 3rd Overall Trophies 
Soloist and duo must be different  dancers.
All must dance on team dance.
Any dance, any solo, any duo/trio.
Be strategic in what you dance off! 
Solo, Duo, and Team will dance off at the end of team categories!