Information

CONVENTION INFORMATION

REGISTRATIONS are non-refundable.  No exceptions.  ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST SIGN A RELEASE FORM.  Please register online at www.hcdance.com

EMAIL CONFIRMATION A confirmation, receipt and welcome letter will be emailed, once payment is received.  Please bring the email confirmation and picture ID with you to the convention to pick up your wristbands.   Any questions about your registration, please contact our office at 1-877 DANCE HC or email bill@hcdance.com.

MULTIPLE CITY DISCOUNTS All teachers and studio owners attend second city for FREE.  Call our office for details on student discounts for multiple cities!!!

ASSISTANT TEACHERS are dancers 16 yrs and up and would like to dance and observe in all ballrooms and attend teacher only classes.  If a dancer and 16 yrs and up and does NOT wish to attend teacher classes, they should register as a PRODUCER.  Assistant Teachers are allowed to compete and may audition for awards and scholarships in Producers Ballroom.

INDEPENDENT DANCERS An independent dancer is one that is NOT affiliated with a dance team or studio.  (For example, a dancer that attends Performing Arts High School, or studies at professional studio like Millennium, Edge, Broadway Dance Center NYC, etc).  Dancers affiliated with a studio or dance team, but the team is not attending should register under the studio, not as an independent, and must have permission from their studio owner they are attending under the studio name.  Dancers will NOT be allowed to attend as an independent if their studio is attending the convention/competition.  The dancer must register with their studio if the studio is attending the event. 

STUDIO ROUTINES WILL BE ACCOMODATED FIRST!!!  However, if the maximum amount of entries is not reached and time permits, independent competition entries will be accepted.  Please register your competition routines and we will notify you if we cannot accommodate your entries.  Your competition fees will be returned to you.

BROADWAY BABIES For dancers 5-6 years of age, this is a great workshop to introduce dancers to the convention experience.  Workshop will be held for approximately three hours on Saturday afternoon. Styles of dance which may include jazz, tap, hip hop, ballet or lyrical all with a musical theater theme! Check your regional city schedule for exact class times. Dancers will perform their routines on stage prior to the competition.  Each dancer receives a certificate of completion, a Broadway Babies t-shirt, and one free observer pass with their paid registration.  BROADWAY BABIES are limited enrollment and in select cities only.  First come first serve.  Call our office if you are interested.

OBSERVERS Are allowed with paid students only.  No teachers, studio owners or managers may register as an observer.  Observers are exempt from viewing Director classes and auditions.

CHAPERONES are required for all participants who are attending the event.  Chaperones are responsible for dancers at all times.  Hollywood Connection is not responsible for the supervision of dancers.

HOTEL Please respect the privacy of hotel guests and hotel property.  Do not decorate hotel room doors.  For your safety, wear shoes at all times during the event.  Dancers should wear cover ups when leaving the ballrooms.  Hollywood Connection is not responsible for injuries sustained if participants are dancing barefoot.

DIRECTOR ONLY CLASSES Hollywood Connection prides itself on bringing teacher classes and seminars to keep your business moving forward.  Classes in marketing, advertising, budgets, organizing recitals, curriculum and technique are just some of the topics discussed!  Business classes are for all registered Directors.  For more information on our guest speakers, visit our website www.hcdance.com.

SPECIAL CLASSES Family Hip Hop and Parent Yoga/Fitness classes will be offered in select cities. Have fun with other parents and discover the joy of dancing again! STRUT is a jazz based dance class to introduce dancers 14 and older to the art of dancing in heels. Boys may take the class or opt for hip hop in another ballroom. AUDITIONING 101 class with Bill Bohl for Producers only.  This class will take place during the Producer scholarship audition.  Bill will explain what a panel looks for during an audition, and offer advice and industry tips so dancers can improve their audition technique and get better results.

AUDITIONS The audition process is unique at Hollywood Connection.  Dancers will be called by name.  We do not use numbers. Hollywood Connection will have a pre-printed list of dancer’s names for the audition. No sign in is required. All dancers will be considered for awards based on their age, regardless of which room they are dancing in.  For instance, if you have a dancer that is dancing in a room higher than their actual age level, that dancer will audition in the higher level ballroom but be considered for the awards in their actual age category. A DANCER SHOULD NOT CHANGE ROOMS FOR THE AUDITION. 

• Directors are allowed in the audition room. NO OBSERVERS.
• Students must be registered for the convention to audition for scholarships and awards.
• Dance combination for the audition will be taught during classes on Saturday. The audition will take place on Sunday.
• There are no eliminations. Dancers will stay in the room the entire time to learn from experience.
• Award winners will be announced at the wrap party.

* NEW * The recipient of the HC Dancer Award must remain at their studio the following year.  The HC Dancer Award is designed to support the in-studio training and dancers are expected to keep up their weekly classes, technique and team commitments.  If a dancer receives this award and leaves their studio, the award is VOID and may not be used the following year.

COMPETITION INFORMATION

SOLOS The regional solo challenge is a non-qualifying event. All dancers may enter solos at the national competition without pre-qualifying.  A dancer does not need to perform a solo in a regional city to be eligible for awards and scholarships, including the ICON Title Award. Regional solos will receive a pin based on score and a trophy based on placement, but are NOT eligible for high point or cash awards. STUDIO ROUTINES WILL BE ACCOMODATED BEFORE INDEPENDENT SOLOS.

DOUBLE TAKE NATIONAL FINALS QUALIFICATION Each studio will be allowed to double their qualified routines at Nationals. For instance, if you bring 15 routines to a regional event (this included duo/trios & groups), you may bring 30 routines to Nationals. (of equal or lesser value).  All routines must pay the national entry fees. Any routines above and beyond the Double Take will be required to prequalify and pay prequalification fees. 

STUDIO CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD HC will honor choreography created by teachers or assistant teachers currently on staff at your studio. Each studio will be allowed to submit ONE routine to be considered for this special honor. We suggest selecting a routine choreographed by a teacher or assistant teacher that will attend the event. No additional fees apply. Commissioned choreography by professional choreographers or convention teachers brought in from outside the studio will not be considered. We want to honor YOU, the teachers for a job well done. All studio entries submitted will be considered, and one routine will be selected to receive a special award plaque.

MUSIC UPLOADS Please upload all of your music prior to the competition, and check your files for accuracy. ALL MUSIC MUST BE UPLOADED.

* NEW * Back up music should be brought on a digital device such as ipod, computer or flash drive.  CD’s will not be accepted.

RULES AND REGULATIONS Please review the rules and regulations carefully.

• There are no refunds.

Directors:

• Must provide copies of birth certificates upon request. DO NOT MAIL BIRTH CERTIFICATES.
• May not perform with students. Assistant teachers may perform with students.
• Will have reserved seating during the competition.

Competition:

• Participants must be registered for the convention to compete.
• Entries must be postmarked 30 days before the convention.
• Misrepresentation of ages on entry forms will result in disqualification.
• Competition schedule will be listed by age, category and division. We may go out of the scheduled order.
• Talking, lip sync, and singing are acceptable but mics will not be provided.
• Three (3) tumbling passes are acceptable in an entry. If a routine has more than three (3) tumbling passes, it must be entered in the Open category. Tumbling occurring continuously is considered 1 pass. No tumbling passes in tap category. Flips/twists greater than one rotation are prohibited.
• General lifts are acceptable.
• All music, choreography and costumes must be appropriate for family viewing. Inappropriate routines and music/lyrics may be penalized, disqualified or stopped at the sole discretion of the competition director and/or panel of judges of Hollywood Connection.

Judging/Awards:

• Judges may stop a number in progress and ask for it to be repeated.
• Judges scores and critiques are confidential and will be uploaded into the online account created at registration.
• Technical score will break a tie. In the event of a technical tie, placement will be determined by judges’ choice.
• Routines that win 1st place, including solos, may not place at another Hollywood Connection regional competition for the season. However, routines can perform for critique and medal only, but not place, if performing in a second regional city. If a routine placed 2nd, 3rd or did not place at all, that routine may compete again.
• High scores, overalls and cash awards will be announced at the Wrap Party.

Dressing Room:

• Studio may have designated dressers for competition.
• Performers must be in the dressing room 30 minutes prior to the start of each competition for general announcements.
• No Videotaping in dressing rooms.
• We will announce numbers on deck. If your number is “on deck” please report to the holding area.
• NO REHEARSING IN DRESSING ROOMS OR HALLWAYS!
• Deductions or disqualification may occur for misconduct backstage or in dressing rooms. It is important to respect fellow artists, dressers, parents, helpers and assistants. Our assistants will inform us of any misconduct.

STAGE 30’ Depth x 40′ Width. Size of stage may vary in each regional city. Maximum 70 dancers permitted on stage at one time.  Please instruct your dancers NOT to jump off the stage.  There will be a set of stairs on each side upstage.  There will also be a backstage crossover (behind the backdrop).  Dancers may enter from either side.

PROPS Use of props is permitted but must be moved on and off the stage by performers or designated stage hands/studio helpers. If there is a safety concern with props, please see a member of the HC Staff. No scenery please.  Please move props on and off stage in timely manner.  PROPS MAY NOT BE STORED IN HALLWAYS OR PUBLIC AREAS OF THE HOTEL OR CONVENTION CENTER.  THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD.  Upon completion of your routine, please remove your props from the stage area and return them to your room or vehicle.   In some cities, props may be placed backstage or in a holding room, but is not guaranteed.  Please plan to pack your props after completing your routines.  HC cannot be held responsible for the loss or damage to props.  Props are the sole responsibility of the studio.

***SCORING SYSTEM*** Titanium=98-100 Platinum=95-97.99 Gold 90-94.99 Silver 80-89.99 Bronze 79.99 or less All dancers receive a medal/pin based on

their average score. The top three scores in each age division and category will receive 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies. If there are less than two entries in a category, entry will compete against the point system to determine placement.  Point system placement: Titanium/Platinum/Gold = 1^st , Silver = 2^nd, Bronze = 3^rd