America On Stage Judge Training

 

Thank you for judging! We are excited to have you as our judge. Hopefully, this page will help you with tips on being a good judge here at America On Stage!

 

START HERE:
Click on the score sheets below and then follow along with the instructions below.
Print them off if necessary.

America On Stage DANCE Judges Sheets

Dance Teams, Solos, Duos, Trios

Dance Comment Sheet

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Examples of marked Score Sheets

Dance Good | Dance Bad

America On Stage CLOGGING/POWER TAP Judges Sheets

Clogging Teams & Long Duets

Clogging Freestyle, Short Duets, A Cappella

Clogging Pro Team and Clog Duets

 

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Examples of marked Score Sheets
Clogging Good | Clogging Bad
Clogging Pro Good |
Clogging Pro Bad

 

How to Judge at America On Stage

Mark your Initials and the Team number on each score sheet at the top right.

There are TWO sides to each score sheet - Technical Merit and Artistic Expression

 

Technical Merit

Here you score dancers on how their TECHNIQUE is.

Look at the definitions on the score sheet.

Terms are there for
-SPECIFIC Technique
-Difficulty of the Dancer's Technique
-Difficulty of the Routine's Technique
-Dancer's Execution of Technique
-Dancer's Interaction
-Specific thoughts on the Beginning, Middle or Ending

When dancers do something positive, put a + by the term
When dancers do something positive, put a CIRCLE by the term
        (or circle the term).
Leave comments to the right on what is marked

Artistic Expression
 

Here you score dancers on how their SHOWMANSHIP and PRESENTATION is.

Look at the definitions on the score sheet.

Terms are there for
-SPECIFIC Choreography. What did you think of the choreography.
-Dancer's Showmanship
-Dancer's Presentation
-Dancer's Appearance
-Dancer's Music
 

When dancers do something positive, put a + by the term
When dancers do something positive, put a CIRCLE by the term
        (or circle the term).
Leave comments to the right on what is marked

 

How many comments to leave?

We encourage you to have TWICE as many positive marks as negative.  A dancer always wants to know what to work on, but with positive feedback, dancers often are encourage to improve.

Add Plus and Circle marks by Terms and them comment on them quickly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to mark?
The Score Sheet is designed so you can mark and comment quickly and efficiently.

Dance Categories (Jazz, Contemporary, etc)
 

You need to give THREE scores on this score sheet.
  1. Circle a score based on what you think they deserve for Technique
       Perfect - 1st Place - 2nd Place - 3rd Place - 4th Place
  2. Circle a score based on what you think they deserve for Artistic Impression
       Perfect - 1st Place - 2nd Place - 3rd Place - 4th Place

 Use Perfect for those amazing teams.
Use 4th Place for really struggling teams
 
Most teams will score in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Place areas.

Justify your score with your
PLUSES, CIRCLES and COMMENTS.

Tell them what to work on and let them know what they also did well.
 

3. Give each entry a "Judges Bonus Score" (Overall Impression) at thebottom right between 5 - 9.
                    5, 6 = Bonus. 7,8,9 = HIGH GOLD Bonus.

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Scoring Breakdown
1st Place High Gold: Two 1st Places and 7+ Bonus
Perfect score/1st Place = High Gold

1st Place: Two 1st Places .5 or .6 Bonus
1st Place/2nd Place 7- 9 = 1st
1st Place/2nd Place 5- 6 = 2nd

2nd Place: Two 2nd Places
2nd Place/3rd Place 7- 9 = 2nd
2nd Place/3rd Place 5- 6 = 3rd

3rd Place: Two 3rd Places

4th Place: Two 4th Places
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4. For your THREE top teams, fill out a JUDGES CHOICE nomination form & turn it in with score sheet.

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Clogging and Power Tap Categories
 

Freestyle, Short Duets, A Cappella

• Novice-Champ - Score either 1, 2, or 3. (1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place)
• Adv - Champ Dance off. Dancers need 3 - "1"s to make the dance off.
• Pro - Score 1.0, 1.1,…1.9, 2, 3 (If you score 1, add a tenth to break ties)
Judge on its level – (Beginning as beginners do…)

 

 

All-Around Solos

CIRCLE SOLO CATEGORY ON TOP (Line. Show, etc). All levels score simply 1, 2, or 3
• 1st place – “ Solo done correctly without any major mistakes and/or high dance ability”
• 2nd place - “ Solo done correctly with limited major mistakes and/or medium dance ability”
• 3rd place - “ Solo done correctly with major mistakes and/or low dance ability”

 

 

NOV – CHAMP DUET/TEAM (White Score Sheet)

You need to give THREE scores on this score sheet.
   1. Circle a Technique score based on TODAY
       Perfect - 1st - 2nd - 3rd - 4th

   2. Circle a Artistic score based on TODAY
       Perfect - 1st - 2nd - 3rd - 4th
              Use Perfect for those amazing teams.
              Use 4th Place for really struggling teams
              Most teams will score in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Place areas

3. Give each entry a "Judges Bonus Score" (Overall Impression) at
       bottom right between 5 - 9.   (5, 6 = Bonus. 7,8,9 = HIGH GOLD Bonus. )

Any 5.0 score places dancers in HIGH GOLD consideration. Bonuses above 7 and Two 1st Places also has dancers in High Gold and Overall Team Consideration.

Justify your score with your PLUSES, CIRCLES and COMMENTS.
Tell them a couple things to work on and let them know what they also did well.

For your THREE top teams, fill out a JUDGES CHOICE nomination form & turn it in with score sheet
 

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Scoring Breakdown

1st Place High Gold: Two 1st Places and 7+ Bonus
Perfect score/1st Place = High Gold

1st Place: Two 1st Places .5 or .6 Bonus
1st Place/2nd Place 7- 9 = 1st
1st Place/2nd Place 5- 6 = 2nd

2nd Place: Two 2nd Places
2nd Place/3rd Place 7- 9 = 2nd
2nd Place/3rd Place 5- 6 = 3rd

3rd Place: Two 3rd Places

4th Place: Two 4th Places
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PRO DUET/TEAM (Yellow Score Sheet)

• You need to give SEVEN scores and at least one BONUS.
• Score most teams and duets with TWO SCORES ONLY – 1.3 EXCELLENT, or 1.4 SUPERIOR
• (A 1.2 can be given, but it's reserved for really struggling teams.)
• If Score 1.3 MUST have at least 1 circle (negative) in that section
• Score BONUSES where a team excels - Technique, Artistic, or Sound
• Give each entry a "Judges Bonus Score" (Overall Impression) at
bottom right between 5 - 9. (5, 6 = Bonus. 7,8,9 = HIGH GOLD Bonus. )
• Perfect score is all 1.4 and 3 Difficulty Bonuses
• PLEASE WATCH THE INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS for CATEGORY SPECIFICS.

For your THREE top teams, fill out a JUDGES CHOICE nomination form & turn it in with score sheet

 

 

 

 


How to score?
Once dance is complete, score them at the bottom.
Score Technique
Mark a TECHNIQUE SCORE and an ARTISTIC SCORE, and a JUDGES BONUS SCORE

If they are a 1st place level, circle the "4-1st Place"
If a 2nd place level, circle the "3-2nd Place"
If a 3rd place level, circle the "2-3rd place"
If a 4th place level, circle the "1-4th place"
If they are perfect, circle the "5-Perfect"

Most dances score the 1st, 2nd or 3rd place scores.
Amazing dances score Perfect (5-Perfect)
Dances that are really below the scoring level score the 4th place (1-4th Place).
We don't use the 5th place (0-5th Place) score on the score sheet.

Score Artistic
Score as above

Score JUDGES BONUS
Then add a Judges Bonus. This is at the lower right. Score the dance on your overall impression of how much of a bonus they should receive - 5 up to 9.

If you score a dance with TWO PERFECT SCORES, you don't need to give a judges bonus.

 

 



 


What not to do

1. Don't score a dance with All positive marks, no circles and then score them without a PERFECT score. If they don't have a perfect score, make sure to have something to work on.
2. Don't score many negatives and then give a perfect score.
3. Don't have a score sheet with just a few marks. Give as much feedback as possible.
4. Don't score novice and beginning teams lower because they are in a lower level. Score each team according to their level. It's ok to give a novice team a perfect score if they are perfect on a novice level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     
Judges Etiquette
Please don’t go talk with competitors!
It gives the appearance of judges favoring certain studios.
Please wait until the event is over to say hi to any familiar dancers.
 

 Smile when you judge.
Everyone likes to think the judge is happy with them.
And it builds confidence in them too.
 

       CONFIDENTIALITY
Please don’t visit with other judges and stay focused on dancers.
Talking with each other makes others think you are conferring what to give them. Dancers can be quite nervous and jump to quick conclusions!
 

Your Opinion
Score your own score, don’t worry if you are judging the same as another judge.
We want your opinion!
 

Adhere to the quick schedule
Each AOS even is assigned with times for each dance.
Be ready to score dancers during their dance and time allotted after the dance.
This allows us to stay on schedule

 

How to Score on the Score Sheet
New Score Sheets format!
See the score sheets above on the links.
Be familiar with the areas for each score sheet.

Mark with COMMENTS, PLUSES, and ZEROES
1. By each term, if it's POSITIVE, mark it with a "+"

2. By each term, if it NEEDS IMPROVEMENT, mark it with a "O"

3. To the side of each term, you can leave COMMENTS on
What is done well and needs improvement

While everyone wants to know what to improve on,
please have twice as many positive comments as negative.
Hearing only negative comments drives confidence away.

 

Technical vs Artistic
Mark specific areas for specific comments  
Score TECHNICAL and ARTISTIC separately.
Dancers who excel in one area, mar it as such.

 

Score according to the level
 It’s alright to score a perfect novice dance if
they are perfect in the novice level.
You don’t need to give all novice entries 4.8 because
they are not in a higher level.
Score according to the level.
A perfect Novice dance should score a 10


Multiple Awards Scoring

Score according to how they did against a score
In our lower levels, you judge a team against a score.

 

Pro Clog and
Advanced Dance Scoring

Highest Levels scores against the competitors in their age division
In our highest levels, you judge a team against each other.

 

Basic Guidelines
Give us your opinion of how they danced TODAY (not on reputation)
If they danced the best of all up there, but not as good as you have seen them, you still give them the best score because they were the best today. Or vice versa, if they were not the best today, but are the best overall up there, they are not given the best score.


Judge artistic expression and technical merit separately - not a generic score
If they know how to smile well, but can’t stay on beat, maybe score them a 1st in artistic expression, but 3rd on technique. Don’t loop the scores together and give two 2nds…


 Score while you watch. We go fast.
Be ready! We have a schedule down to the minute.
Adding 15 seconds to each dance will put a competition over by an hour by days end. Once one entry is done, the next  is on stage. Score while you watch. The schedule assumes a short time after the dance to finish your score sheet. Thanks!


 DO NOT HOLD ANY JUDGE SHEETS
Once done, pass them to the judge runner.

 DON’T ADD SCORES.
It will be done by computer.

 LUNCH - DINNER - SNACKS PROVIDED 
(don't fill up on POP!)
Sitting for a long time can make one quite uncomfortable when full on pop!
 

NUMBERS
We no longer have numbers on teams, dance solos, duos, trios, or clogging long duets. There is a digital sign that has the number on it for you to write it down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Clogging Score Sheets and instructions

·  

BLUE Freestyle, A Cappella, Short Duets, A Cappella Duets,  All-Around Solos SCORE SHEETS


Clogging Freestyle, Short Duets, A Cappella Score Sheet. Click here to see it.
 

Score the score sheets by writing the number of the dancer and then circle either a 1, 2, or 3

1st place (Circle 1), 2nd Place (Circle 2) or 3rd Place (Circle 3).
 In Pro, if you give a 1st , score with a decimal  1.1, 1.2, thru 1.9. (1.0 is the best score)

·   

 PRO TEAM and DUET SCORE SHEETS

Use the Gold/Yellow Score Sheets
Clogging Pro Team and Clog Duets. Score Sheet. Click Here to see it.
Examples of marked Score Sheets
Clogging Pro Good |
Clogging Pro Bad

 

           There is also a CATEGORY SPECIFIC AREA to mark based on the dance you are scoring at the top.

·         There are then THREE AREAS - Technical, Artistic and Sound. Each of these has 2 sub categories (6 total).

           You will give 7 Scores (One for the category specific and one for each sub category)

 

·         You MUST score all seven categories as a 1.4 or 1.3.
         Don't score lower than this unless the team is really lower than a pro team.

          Each of the three areas also has a BONUS. Score at least ONE BONUS for what a team excels in.
       You can give all three bonus if you want.

·         A perfect score is all 1.4’s and 3 difficulty bonuses.

 

GENERAL SPECIFICS

Each team is judges according to all general rules for all team dances below category specifics on the score sheet.

Technical – How in sync they are with arms, lines, mistakes, spacing, formations

Artistic – How well choreographed the dance is including creativity, movement, music, showmanship, energy, appearance

Sound – How well sound is used in the dance. Clarity, strength, a special place to mark how well double doubles are done, endurance and how unique the steps are.

 

Using all these three areas, judge the dance.

 

DIFFICULTY BONUSES

If a team excels, give them a difficulty bonus. A good pro team should have at least one difficulty bonus. Please use them as we use these bonuses to break ties.

 

 

CLOGGING PRO CATEGORY SPECIFICS

Each team/duet category has something specific to be judges. Use these boxes at the top to judge the specific items in each category.

 

Precision

·         Watch for Couple work. Turns, partners. This is not a line dance. Should have traditional costumes and music (words and pants are OK). 

·         Watch for Circle. Should involve both small and large circle figures.

Line

·         All done in lines. No touching, holding hands or circles.

·         Watch for straight lines, ripples (progessions), and movement.

Standing Line

A Cappella Production

·    2 judges will listen, three judges will score. (In Champ, one judge will listen and two will watch). For those that listen, you will use an A Cappella score sheet and mark your comments on how the sounds work in the dance. Score it out of 10. For those watching, score it with a normal score sheet and score it like a normal dance including chorepgraphy, sounds, style, etc and score it as a normal dance. There just isn’t any music.

A Cappella

·    5 judges will listen only. Top Score is 10 (not 1.0 like in the past)

Traditional Line

Show

Open, Small, All Guys

Duets

 

PENALTY (Head) Judges sheet – appoint by stage – only fill out if have an infraction 

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