Elements Dance Competitions offers these routine categories:

• SOLO: 1 dancer

• DUET/TRIO: 2-3 dancers. Duets and trios compete against each other in this category.

• SMALL GROUP: 4-9 dancers

• LARGE GROUP: 10-19 dancers

• SUPER GROUP: 20 or more dancers

Teacher Routines

Elements Dance Competitions has separate categories for routines involving teachers or past professionals (20 years or older):

• TEACHER'S SOLO: 1 dancer

• TEACHER'S DUET/TRIO: 2-3 dancers. Duets and trios compete against each other in this category.

• TEACHER'S SMALL GROUP: 4-9 dancers

• TEACHER'S LARGE GROUP: 10-19 dancers

• TEACHER'S SUPER GROUP: 20 or more dancers

Age Determination:

• All dancer ages are based on their age as of January 1st of the competition year.

Duet/Trio & Group Age Divisions:

• The average age of all dancers in a Duet/Trio or Group routine determines the competition age division.

  • Round down any decimals.

• Groups cannot compete more than one age division lower than the oldest dancer's age division, regardless of the average.

Category Age Divisions:

• Contemporary, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical Jazz, Open, Musical Theater, Hip Hop & Production: Dancers compete in single-year age divisions from (4 & under) to (70 & over).

• All Other Categories: Dancers compete in multi-year age divisions: (4 & under), (5-6 years), (7-8 years), etc.

Overall Age Divisions (Recognition & Awards):

• Mini (8 years and under)

• Junior (9-11 years)

• Teen (12-14 years)

• Senior (15-19 years)

• Adult (20 years and over)

Dancers will compete in one of the following levels based on weekly practice time and experience. Teachers are responsible for registering routines in the appropriate level.

Competition Levels:

• Performance Level (Less Than 3 Hours/Week):

  • For dancers with limited competition experience and practicing less than 3 hours of dance/acrobatics per week.

  • Limited to one solo per competition event.

  • Duet/Trios or Groups with any dancer exceeding 3 hours must compete in a higher level.

• Advanced Level (3-5 Hours/Week):

  • For dancers with experience and practicing 3-5 hours of dance/acrobatics per week.

  • Limited to one solo per competition event. Dancers cannot compete in Performance Level solos.

  • Can compete in Competitive Level Duet/Trios and Groups.

  • Duet/Trios or Groups with any dancer exceeding 5 hours must compete in Competitive Level.

• Competitive Level (Over 5 Hours/Week):

  • The highest level for experienced dancers practicing over 5 hours of dance/acrobatics per week.

  • Required to compete for Cash Awards, Overall Honors, All-Star Honors, and the Crystal Award.

  • Open to Performance and Advanced Level dancers who exceed practice hour requirements or want to compete for these awards.

  • Limited to two solos per competition event.

  • Dancers competing a solo in Competitive Level must remain in Competitive Level for all other routines at the event.

• Shine Level (New! Special Needs):

  • For dancers with special needs or disabilities. At least one dancer per routine must register as Shine Level.

  • Can participate in other levels (Performance, Advanced, Competitive) without affecting those routines' levels.

  • Limited to one solo per competition event.

ACROBATIC DANCE

A routine using controlled acrobatic moves such as walkovers, limbers, handstands, chest rolls, etc (may contain gymnastic passes). Acrobatic Dance may contain flexibility moves or contortionist moves, however, it must contain dance moves, steps, and choreography. The majority of an acrobatic routine must be acrobatic moves, otherwise, the routine will be scored lower by the judges.
 
BALLET

Routine must consist of ballet technique. Must include classical steps and movements. No pointe shoes allowed. No gymnastic/acrobatic tricks are allowed.
 
BATON

A routine using baton(s) and baton technique. Baton routines will be judged on Baton technique, dance moves, steps, and choreography. Any number of Acrobatic tricks are allowed in this category.
 
CHARACTER ROUTINE

A routine portraying a recognizable character throughout. Character may be from a play, movie, television show, Broadway, or a stereotype such as a farmer, policeman, etc. The character portrayed must be listed on the entry form, and it will be published in the program book. May incorporate either dance or acrobatic techniques. Any number of Acrobatic tricks are allowed in this category.
 
CLOGGING

A routine utilizing either traditional or contemporary style clogging technique. Three gymnastic/acrobatic tricks are allowed.
 
CONTEMPORARY

Routine should utilize contemporary style to show extension and balance. Can combine lyrical, modern, and concert-style techniques. Any number of Acrobatic tricks are allowed in this category.
 
FOLKLORIC

A routine using ethnic style of dance, such as Spanish, Chinese, Hawaiian, polkas, etc. Any number of Acrobatic tricks are allowed in this category.
 
HIP HOP

Routine consisting primarily of Hip Hop Technique. Any number of Acrobatic tricks are allowed in this category.
 
JAZZ

Routine must consist of primarily jazz technique. A maximum of three gymnastic/acrobatic tricks are allowed.
 
LYRICAL JAZZ

Routine should demonstrate balance, extension, isolations, and control utilizing the lyrics or mood of the music.A maximum of three gymnastic/acrobatic tricks are allowed.
 
MUSICAL THEATER

Routine featuring any style of dance that interprets a song from a Broadway show or movie musical. Any number of Acro tricks are allowed in this category.
 
OPEN

A routine with any of our listed categories or combinations of listed category styles. Acrobatic tricks are allowed in this category.
 
POINTE

Routine must consist of pointe/toe technique. No gymnastic/acrobatic tricks are allowed.
 
POM PON

A routine incorporating the use of Pom Pons. Pom Pon routines must use precise and definite movement. Any number of Acrobatics are allowed. However, no stunts, tosses, or pyramids taller than one person is allowed or a one-point deduction per judge will be incurred. The routine will be judged on both Pom Pon techniques, dance steps, moves, and choreography.
 
PRODUCTION

A routine utilizing a group of at least 10 dancers incorporating any style/styles of dance or acrobatic. Production category has a time limit of 8:00 minutes. All production groups entered at all Finals will automatically be part of our "PRODUCTIONMANIA" SHOW the evening before our championship webcast.
 
SONG & DANCE

Must contain both singing and any listed category of dancing. Judging will be based on both singing and dancing. A 0.5 point per judge deduction will be incurred if other lead voices are present in the prerecorded music. Two handheld wireless microphones will be available for your use. A one-point deduction per judge will be incurred if any special microphones or sound equipment is hooked up by Showstopper for any reason.
 
TAP

Routine must contain tap technique and primarily tap work. It is preferred that tap sounds not be prerecorded in music. A maximum of three gymnastic/acrobatic tricks are allowed.