Rules and Regulations
Introduction
First of all, we at FLY are excited to welcome you to our flight! We are committed to keeping dancers, teachers, and parents at the forefront of all we do, from running an on time competition to maintaining a safe, friendly environment.
Before we get started, please read the following carefully. Failure to comply may result in point deductions and/or disqualification from competition.
Payments, Schedules & Refunds
Entry fees must be made 30 days prior to an event to avoid delays getting a schedule and to keep any discounts from making a deposit.
All music must be uploaded in order to receive a schedule.
Schedules will only be sent once all payments have been made and all music has been uploaded.
All scheduling requests must be made in writing to FlyDanceCompetition@gmail.com 30 days or more before an event. Any requests made after that time may not be possible. If a routine performs out of the original scheduled session, it will be for adjudication only.
To ensure fairness, any routines added past a final schedule will not be considered for high score awards.
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'*Unfortunately, all payments made to FLY Dance Competition are non-refundable no matter how early a payment is made. The only exception for refunds is if an event is cancelled. If an event is cancelled a full refund will be issued.
Safety
Safety is our number one priority at FLY. However, competition dancers take on inherent risks when participating in any physical activity. Participation in FLY Dance Competition indicates acceptance of these risks; thus, it is agreed that all participants and spectators will not hold FLY Dance Competition, nor any of its staff, liable for any accidents, Illness, injuries, or theft of any kind.
To do your part, we ask that you supervise any children in your care. We ask that you be responsible for your belongings.
For the safety of our performers, no photography, no flash photography and no videography is permitted during any competition routines.
Improv and Awards are the only time video and photo is allowed.
If you see anything suspicious or unsuitable, please let a FLY staff member know immediately.
Studios are responsible for their dancers' actions during the competition. Dancers shall never change in public areas or areas not designated as a changing area.
Title
The title competition is an opportunity for your dancer to compete against the best of the best from that event within their level and age group. Title competition takes place at the same time as the dancer's solo performance.
Title winners receive the following to redeem for the same competition year:
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$100 off our 2023 FLY Convention!
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The studio the prize was earned with can register the title winner for our 2023 FLY convention and then contact us to redeem the prize!
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Runner Ups earn $50 off our 2023 FLY Convention!
There is no limit to how many solos can also enter into title competition. Title competition is offered to First Time Flyer, Business Class, and First Class levels and one will be given out to each age division (Mini, Petite, Junior, Teen, Senior) as well.
The title score will be an independent score from the solo score and will be out of a total of 50 points and a combined score out of 150. The highest-scoring title in each age division above and level will be awarded. The Title score will be added to the routine score for a combined score of up to 450 points.
Title is an additional cost to a solo.
Spectators
FLY Dance Competition is a public event. We never have any ticket fees for the audience. Please adhere to our no food and beverage policy inside the auditorium, unless otherwise noted at the venue. Most venues do allow food in the lobby and dressing rooms but please have your dancers clean up around them before leaving. For the safety of our performers, no flash photography or videography is permitted by any spectator.
Video Critiques
At FLY, we know how important video critiques are for dancers and staff alike. That’s why they’re included with every entry. Each routine will be judged by three separate judges, whose critiques will be recorded on individual tracks.
All video critiques will be uploaded to the studio’s account within 3 business days of the event. Video critiques may be downloaded for future review.
Photo and Video
FLY Dance Competition will have a professional photographer and videographer present at every event. You can preview and order media after the event at media.acutabovela.com
Special Studio Offer: Receive all photos and videos from all routines for a small fee per dancer. All dancers must participate in the offer to qualify at the special rate. This will be added to the registration page of the website or can be removed entirely by contacting us.
If you accept the offer, A Cut Above The Rest Productions will email your studio a shareable link with download access to all of your studio media in approx. 2.5-3.5 weeks from the event. The link is sent to the email that received Fly Schedules.
Entry Fees
Please log into your studio account to view current pricing.
Entry Types
Solos (Single Performer)
Duos/Trios (2-3 Performers)
Small Group (4-9 Performers)
Large Group (10-19 Performers)
Line (20+ Performers)
Production* (20+ Performers)
* = Production routines must have a storyline, plot or narrative throughout, like that of a film, book, play, etc. to them.
Age Divisions
Categories
FLY is pleased to offer the following categories:
Acro
Ballet
Character
Clogging
Contemporary
Hip Hop
Jazz
Lyrical
Modern
Musical Theatre
Open
Pom
Pointe
Special Flyers with Special Needs
Specialty (Traditional/Cultural Routines)
Tap
Vocal (One Wireless Microphone Provided)
Note:
Specialty category is reserved for Traditional/Cultural routines showing dance from a culture or tradition.
Any acts with more than 3 Acro tricks should be considered in the Acro or Open category*.
(*= Hip-Hop and Specialty are allowed any number of Gym/Acro tricks.)
At FLY Dance Competition, the age divisions are as follows:
Mini: 6 and under
Petite: 7-8
Junior: 9-11
Teen: 12-14
Senior: 15-18
Adult: 19+
The age division for acts with multiple dancers will be decided as such: add up the age of all the dancers, then divide by the number of dancers in the routine. Drop the decimal point, and do not round up.
Performance Time Limits
Solo - 3 minute limit
Duet/Trio - 4 minute limit
Small & Large Groups - 5 minute limit
Line: 8 minute limit
Production: 8 minute limit
Those routines exceeding their allotted time may be deducted 5 points overall. Extended performance time is available (up to 1:00 minute for a fee of $5.00 per performer) for Small Groups, Large Groups, Lines, and Productions.
Classes of Competition
Please double check your level requirements for 2023
FLY is pleased to offer three divisions. Please place your dancers in the appropriate level to have a fun and fair competition
First Time Flyer — students taking approximately 1-3 hours of classes per week. This is the more recreational division of FLY. If performing in more than 1 solo, dancer must be moved up to Business Class
Business Class — students taking approximately 4-6 hours of classes per week. This is the intermediate level and meant for dancers who are not beginners
First Class — students taking more than 7+ hours of classes per week. This is the more advance level meant for more experienced dancers.
To keep things fair here at FLY, If a dancer is in more than 2-3 routines we recommend that they not be in the first time flyer division. Hours practicing routines or privates also count towards total hours. We want to keep the First Time Flyer division for more recreational dancers that are not ready for the intermediate levels.
How routine levels are determined
Each level is assigned a point value in our registration system (1, 2 or 3).
A tie in the points system will make the routine the higher level of the two.
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The routine level will be determined by the highest dancer level combined points
Example:
A small group with 4 First Time Flyer Dancers (4 points) and 2 Business Class Dancers (4 Points) would be a tie in our points system and therefore be assigned the Business Class level.
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A small group with 3 First Time Flyer Dancers (3 Points) and 1 Business Class dancer (2 Points) would be assigned First Time Flyer level for that routine as that level has the most points (3).
and,
A small group with 2 First Time Flyer dancers (2 Points), 1 Business Class dancer (2 Points), and 1 First Class dancer (3 Points) would be assigned the First Class level as that level has the most points (3).
Props
Props are permitted at FLY Dance Competition. Please be courteous will all props. Do not leave them backstage when not in use, defined as more than one (1) hour prior to or after the routine. Props must be able to be fully set up onstage within one (1) minute or the routine may suffer a point reduction. Any props left after the event will be disposed of. For the safety of all dancers, no props may be taller than ten (10) feet, and no dancer may stand on platforms higher than six (6) feet. No dangerous props may be used. If a prop will take longer than 15 seconds to place please notify FLY so we can add time into the schedule for larger props
Prohibited Props
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Glitter is not allowed in routines.
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Routines using glitter will have points deducted by each judge.
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Animals (Any)
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Fire (in any way),
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Fireworks (of any kind),
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Down Feathers
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Liquid and gels of any kind on any surface.
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Weapons (non-sharp toy weapons allowed),
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Confetti (Any kind in any shape in any form).
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Powder-like items such as but not limited to...flower, glitter, dirt, sand...
Exceptions
Your studio must be able to safely clear the following items from the stage within 15 seconds.
Failure to do so could lead to point deductions,
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Leaves
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Rose Petals
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Shredded Paper
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Feathers (No Down Feathers) (definite point deduction for down feathers)
Music
All music must be uploaded during the registration process. No changes to the music are permitted less than two (2) weeks prior to the event. Please bring a backup of your music to the event on a phone, USB drive, or iPod in case of of technical difficulties. Title your music in the following format: ACTNUMBER_ROUTINENAME_STUDIO.
FLY Dance Competition is a family friendly competition. The use of profanity and vulgar language is strictly prohibited. Should any staff member or judge feel uncomfortable with a chosen song, there may be a point deduction and/or disqualification.
Judging
FLY has three judges at each competition. Each judge will score the routine out of a total of 100 points. The three scores will be added to get a cumulative score. The routines will be judged on the following:
Technique (50 points)
Performance/Execution (25 points)
Stage Presence (15 points)
Overall Impression (10 points)
FLY is a family friendly competition, and we take this very seriously. An inappropriate or vulgar routines will be deducted up to twenty (20) points or may be disqualified.
FLY has the following awards levels:
In the “First Time Flyer” division:
Million Miler: 275-300
Private Charter: 255-274
International Traveler: 240-254
Frequent Flyer: 0-239
In the “Business Class” division:
Million Miler: 280-300
Private Charter: 260-279
International Traveler: 240-259
Frequent Flyer: 0-239
In the “First Class” division:
Million Miler: 280-300
Private Charter: 260-279
International Traveler: 240-259
Frequent Flyer: 0-239
FLY Improv Competition
FLY is pleased to offer an improv competition at every event. Each age division will hold an improv competition at their final awards. Each dancer may enter one time per competition weekend.
Dancers will perform individually for 30 seconds to a song they have not previously heard. Once everyone has performed individually, everyone will dance together to a different song for another 30 seconds. The judges may have a third round if needed
The cost of the improv competition is $25 per dancer in advance or $30 on site. Depending on how many dancers sign up, there may be cash prizes awarded
If your dancer wins a cash prize please email us with your dancers information, your studio name and the paypal email address you would like to receive your dancers winnings to.
Cash Awards, Scholarships & Fly Miles
FLY Dance Competition offers cash prizes, FLY Miles and scholarships at every competition.
Redeeming Prizes
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Prizes earned by a dancer as part of a studio remain with the studio.
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Studios may transfer prizes earned by an individual dancer by emailing FLY Dance through the email address on file in their studio account.
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The following must be noted: name of the original studio, event city and year where the prize was earned, and name of the dancer.
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Scholarships must be redeemed at least 2 weeks prior to an event.
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Studios redeeming a scholarship for a routine must have one other paid routine alongside the scholarship routine.
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FLY Miles may not be transferred between studios nor to an independent dancer.
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FLY Miles can be used to pay up to 50% of your balance.
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Any remaining Fly Miles can be used at a future FLY event.
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Individual and group discounts are applied prior to any FLY Miles.
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Any deposits are applied prior to any FLY Miles.
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Promotional credit earned from FLY is defined as "FLY Miles".
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Studios may redeem up to one personal prize or scholarship per dancer per event.
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Example: Jane earned $100 toward Convention and a Free Solo for any FLY event. Only one of these may be redeemed at an event. The second can be redeemed at another FLY event that year.
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Group discounts, such as Adjustable Early Bird Discounts remain unaffected.
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Fly Miles cannot be combined with Dancer Prizes (Free Solo, Free Half Solo, Free Convention Entry...)
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Dancers in the Special Flyers and Adult age divisions can only redeem a Personal Prize/Scholarship once per age division.
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Example: Jane earned a free solo from 2022 High Score in the Teen age division. Jane can redeem that prize in 2023. Should Jane again earn another free solo in Teen high score, Jane must be a Senior in 2024 or can redeem that prize when Jane becomes a Senior.
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Performance Order
In order to run on time events, FLY performs routines in order. Please check in with the backstage manager thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled performance time. Dancers not present due to rehearsing or dancers that perform out of order without prior permission may receive a point deduction. Dancers shall have at least 3 dances in between numbers to change.
Routines that are moved from one scheduled session to another perform for adjudication only.
We accept schedule requests up to 30 days prior to a competition weekend.
Tentative and Revised schedules are subject to changes.
Closing Showcase for Convention
At each of our FLY conventions, we will be having a closing showcase. Throughout the weekend, the convention faculty will be selecting certain dancers or the entire class to perform the choreography from their class that they just learned. Anywhere between 5-15 classes will be selected to perform in front of their friends and family at the end of the convention. Also, the top 3 highest scoring solos from the competition from Saturday will also be asked to perform. At the end of the closing showcase, we will announce our co-pilot program where certain dancers who have impressed the faculty, may be selected to be an assistant for the following year. This showcase should run between 20-30 minutes and all are welcome to attend.
Additional Information
There are no refunds for entry fees, media fees, improv or title fees for any reason or at any time.
Venues are subject to change.
Doors to the theatre open thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the competition. Doors for dressing rooms open 45 minutes prior to the competition.
By attending a FLY Dance Competition event, all students, choreographers, and teachers agree to give permission to be photographed and videotaped and agree to allow FLY to use any photos or footage for publicity, branding, and advertising.
By registering a routine, the studio or independent dancer is stating that they have the right to perform that choreography and anything encompassing that routine's performance.
Rules are subject to change and be updated at any time.