STAGES
We have three stages to use for Nationals - The Canyon, Meadow and Honey
Locust. The Davis (enclosed) and Oak are used for Haunted Houses.
DAYS
CLOGGING-
We have three days in which we can run Nationals - October 15, 16, 17
(Thursday through Saturday.). This is also a break in Utah's school as
it is Fall Break. It looks like we will be dancing on Friday unless we
need more space and then will use Saturday and Thursday.
DANCE -
We have two days in which we can run Nationals - October 23-24 (Friday
and Saturday.). It looks like we will be dancing on Saturday, unless we
need more space and then will use Friday.
STUDIO BLOCKS
All competitions held in the west are having to adjust to how large
group gatherings are allowed to be held in this time of pandemic. Large
groups can't meet without the threat of Covid-19 spread. The Health Dept
has said groups of 50 people or fewer are allowed only. Convention
Centers and large gathering places like Lagoon have had to make
temporary changes so large groups don't get together and cause an
outbreak.
All competitions have temporarily moved to what's called "Studio
Blocks". A Studio has a set time to be at a stage, perform all their
numbers, and then vacate the stage and the next studio come and does all
their numbers. This is one of the only ways competitions can be held
under Corona Rules, because the original way of doing it is too large of
a gathering and isn't allowed.
LOWER LEVELS
Now this really isn't a problem with the lower levels as they are
competing against a score. Being on stage with just your studio isn't as
difficult as judges are scoring you against a score, and not against all
others. 3 judges will be at each stage to judge dancers. All Dancers
will be scored as we normally do at Nationals for lower levels.
PRO LEVEL (Clogging)
Advanced Level (Dance)
In Pro, this makes it much harder as judges are comparing dancers
against other dancers. There isn't really a great way to fix this, but I
have several ways we will doing it to make it as great as possible.
• 5 Pro judges will be assigned to judge all pro.
• When a pro entry is danced on a stage, the 5 pro judges will replace
the 3 judges
• All Pro entries are scored on a very tight scale (the lower the score,
the better)
o If a judges places that entry on an MVP Level, they are scored 1.0-1.2
o If a judges places that entry on an All-Star All-American Level, they
are scored 1.3-1.5
o If a judges places that entry on an All-American Level, they are
scored 1.6-1.7
o If a judges places that entry below an All-American Level, they are
scored 1.8-1.9
• All Long Duets and Teams will be scored as normal on a Pro Score Sheet
with restrictions to keep scores close and out of a large scale drop.
We have actually used this scoring system on the All-American Dance off
the last 8 years. It works just fine and the cream of the crop always
rise to the top. I have no worries about using it this time.
We will instruct the judges to keep their same scoring priorities all
day long so each pro entry is scored similarly. This is the only way we
can compete right now, and I want to reassure you, it will be just fine.
For our Advanced Dance Solos, we will have them
all on stage as there won't be any group conflicts. This will judge like
normal.
All-American Tryouts/Dance Off
For those who wish to go for Clogging All-Americans and MVP Dance Off, instead of
a $25 registration fee, it will be just $10 this year. All Americans
will be chosen from the Studio Block entries.
More information will come for this as we get closer.
All Dancers are allowed to try out for it this year, not just pro and
any who win 1st.
In dance, there is no charge for the
All-Americans like we normally do it.
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ORDER OF DANCING IN A STUDIO
BLOCK
When an studio is all registered, we will see how much time they need to
do all their dances including all individuals, duets, and team dances. I
will work with each director to set up an order that allows for best use
of time. We will build in time for costume changes, resting, and
adjustments. There will be some dead time. We'll simply do our best.
A Studio will most likely dance in a combined order, with all their
novice teams dancing, and then all those doing freestyle and duets will
dance. For Pro, we will dance Pro Freestyle and Pro Duets mixed amongst
other lower levels and dance pro teams after that. We know there will be
time needed to change. We'll simply do our best. All your entries will
dance all their dances, individuals and duets in one block of time.
PLAY TIME!
The best news of this is once your done, you can go and PLAY at
FRIGHTMARES! The competition won't take all day! You can go and enjoy
the park. I think most studio blocks will take around 1 - 2 hours at
most. That means if you dance at 10 am, you can play from noon until the
park closes!!!
MASKS
Lagoon, the CDC and the Davis Health Dept require that masks be worn at
ALL TIMES unless you are dancing on the stage. This means while
changing, practicing, lining up, getting awards, looking at the posting
wall, basically anytime you are not on stage, we must wear a mask. This
is simply a rule we must follow or we can't hold this competition. Once
you are walking on the stage, we'll take off our masks, dance, and then
upon exiting, we'll put them back on. I have no ability to change this.
It's simply the rule.
FRIDAY COMPETITION for cloggers.
Saturday for Dance
From those who responded, we believe we can do the entire Nationals on
three stages all on Friday! We'll do studio blocks, and have those who
are able to dance off for the MVPs dance off that night. We will
livestream the dance off. It will be saved online and you can see it
later as well. We will then tally all scores, and announce all
All-Americans, MVPs, Overall Teams and Studios, SUPERStars and Directors
of the year Saturday night in an awesome Online Awards Spectacular show!
You can watch the awards from your home and be safe in this one and
hopefully only year online.
For Dancers, we will do all our competing on
Saturday Oct 24, unless we need more space on the Friday.
MAY COMPETE as the Individuals
If a studio is not attending, but dancers want to compete as
individuals, we will have a set time for them to do their individuals.
ALL-AMERICANS!
From the studio blocks, we will select our All-Americans. The computer
will combine all scores and we'll have the All-Americans chosen. It will
also select our Clog MVP Dance Off and Dance MVPs.
Clog MVP Dance Off
As for how the clogging dance off will look, we believe we will notify those
dancing off to return Friday evening for a dance off. This won't be part
of a large show (as that's not allowed), but we will have it livestreamed for all to see! There won't be a large crowd (as that's not
allowed), but we will do all we can to make it as awesome and special as
can be.
AWARDS
The Health Dept and CDC won't allow for a large awards show. So, we're
going to go all awesome on it and do one amazing ONLINE awards show. It
probably will happen Saturday evening when we are all home and we can
watch the big show online. We'll livestream it and make it as awesome as
we possibly can.
For all those that make All-American, we will announce it Saturday
evening. New members of the All-Americans will be mailed an All-American
jacket in the mail to their studio! Those who need to get the 2020 year
added to their All-American jacket will simply wait and turn it in next
May and we'll add 2020 and 2021 at the same time.
MVPs will be announced at this online show as well. We'll also announce
who made the Hall of Fame.
NEXT NATIONALS in MAY we will honor all these 2020 MVP's and Hall of
Fame members for real on the big stage as well.
For Dance, we will award all soloists in a late
awards show, or they may get their awards when results are posted. Like
Normal! |
Precision, formations, and
touching
We are just fine in you dancing a precision and touching partners, doing
all your formations and dances with touching on stage. We will have hand
sanitizer at each stage and require its use before and after a dance
with touching. This will also happen with duets.
Ready? don't worry about it!
Everyone says the same thing...we are just not really ready. Don't worry
about it. NONE OF US ARE! We've all been down for several months and
have just begun to get back in the studio. Please don't think any of us
are judging each other based on how our teams look now. We're all in
this together! Bring whatever you have! Do your best, have a great time!
May Crowds watch?
The answer is yes, but Lagoon simply will have the tables spread apart
for social distancing. It is not encouraged for dancers to hang around
each stage to watch others, as we want to do all we can to minimize any
group gathering.
Awards, Medallions, etc
Dancers may get their Nationals Medallions and pins while at Lagoon once
awards are posted. We will find a way to get our Overall Awards to you
after we announce them all Saturday evening.
THURSDAY and SATURDAY competing
If we have more dancing than can make it fit on Friday, we will use
either Thursday or Saturday as needed, but we think we can fit it all on
Friday for Clogging. Saturday for Dance.
Registration Deadline is Sept 17th (Clogging) Sept 24th (Dance).
If any dancers have registered and no longer want to attend due to the
additional ticket cost, let us know and we'll make sure and get you
refunded, but you're going to miss out!
RISK - There is always risk in all we do.
First and foremost, we want everyone to be safe, however, with the
reality of this disease we must all be cautious. If you have any
reservations regarding coming to the event, we completely understand.
Any interaction with the public poses an inherent risk of exposure to
COVID-19. People who show no symptoms can spread COVID-19 if they are
infected. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to
severe illness and death. The CDC advises that older adults and people
of any age who have underlying medical conditions are especially
vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19.
By participating, as a dancer, director, spectator, volunteer or
accessing the general location, you voluntarily assume all risks related
to exposure to COVID-19 and agree to not hold America On Stage, Lagoon
Amusement Park., or any of their affiliates, directors, officers,
vendors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.
Masks: Requiring masks will be the standard for the event. We do not
expect dancers dancing on stage to wear masks as they dance, however, if
the dancer decides to wear a mask during their performance, the judges
will not penalize for wearing the mask.
Social Distancing: Everyone must remain in their seats as much as
possible. Gathering around the judges and stage Will Not be allowed. |
