Discover the growth that comes with honest feedback. At AOM, each routine will receive a comprehensive and authentic critique designed to inspire meaningful improvement. Our evaluation system includes definitive notes, intricate voice critiques, and real-world adjudicated scoring, all aligned with the typical elite competition series. Group routines who excel and receive top awards in their categories can lead to an invitation to perform at the Finale show on Sunday afternoon. Don’t miss out on the expert opinions of our acclaimed educators. Scoring, video and audio critiques will be available online the day after the event. Improve your game, elevate your performance, and showcase your team’s talents with the unmatched feedback of AOM.

• Scoring will be available online through our registration portal no later than the Monday following each event.
• Video/Audio critiques will be uploaded to our online portal the following day after the event.

Competitor Age Divisions
Newbies: 4-6
Minis: 7-9
Juniors:  10-12
Teens: 13-15
Seniors: 16-18
Teachers/Directors/ProAM: 19+

Age cutoff is as of January 1st of each TOUR SEASON!
(Dancers that compete prior to January 1st of the tour season, will be bumped to their age as of January 1st of that season).

• To calculate the average age for pieces with two or more competitors, add all of the ages and divide it by the number of dancers. If you end up with a decimal drop it. For example: If the average age is 16.8 it will be age 16.
• The average age cannot drop more than one age group below the age of the oldest competitor in the group. For example: If the oldest dancer is 17, the entry cannot be competed in the age group of 15 and under.
• If any dancer in the routine is 20 years or older, the group must compete in the ProAM age group (19+).
• All competitors must be prepared to present proof of age.
• Dances may be moved up an age division, if the studio would like them to be challenged.

Please contact [email protected] for early bird pricing.

Group Showcase Specialty Award Categories

Choreography Award
This dance routine will be chosen for exhibiting outstanding choreography. The entry selected for this award will execute a sophisticated number with a range of intricate dance composition incorporating profound elements of music emulation. The Choreography Award will go to the number that best integrates the use of complex staging, including a variation of dancer placement and utilization.

Judges’ Choice Award
This award goes to the entry that judges will select based upon their own specifications. It can include technique, genre, execution or any other outstanding aspect the judge feels surpasses expectations.

Technical Execution Award
AOM encourages dance routines to be at their technical best. This award will go to the entry showcasing exceptional technique. The judges will be analyzing every aspect of execution which includes form, position, correct mechanics and a high-level of skill. The number selected for this award will dance a clean routine with proper timing, advanced sequences and where applicable group members performing in precise unison.

Best in Style
These awards will be handed out to the best routine in each style for ages 12 and under, as well as 13 and up. There must be at least 3 acts within the style and age division for award to be handed out.

Triple Heart Award
The dances that were awarded Best In Style for 13 & Up, as well as 12 & Under, will be in the running to perform in our closing show on Sunday. The Top 3 Best In Styles from each age group, with no repeating studios, will be selected to perform. If there are not three different studios that have been awarded Best In Style, the next highest score from a different studio and a different style will be nominated to perform. In the closing show all of the AOM Faculty will watch the dances and via a tally will decide who the Triple Heart Recipient will be for each age category (13 & Up and 12 & Under). Please Note, the number of Triple Heart Nominees can range between two to four dances for each age category. This is dependent on the size of the competition and how many studios we have competing.

Art of Movement seeks to encourage the individual dancer through the Solo Scholarship Competition. Solo routines allow the judges the distinct opportunity to observe a dancer’s unique self-expression in a chosen genre of dance. AOM’s Solo Competition strives to embrace each dancer’s aspiration to perform individually while offering a platform for creativity combined with technical execution.In order to celebrate the individual dancer, Art of Movement’s Solo Scholarship Competition is a way for the soloist to be awarded scholarships to further their dance training through challenging educational avenues. The scholarships awarded will be for future AOM events.  

Performance Divisions

Ballet
Choreography containing ballet technique and variations.

Contemporary
Choreography containing a balance of modern and lyrical.

Jazz
Choreography containing Jazz technique.

Hip-Hop/Jazz Funk
Choreography containing the foundations of Hip Hop and Jazz Funk.

Lyrical
Choreography containing moment that emulates the lyrics through balance, control, and expression.

Musical Theater
Choreography containing any style of dance pertaining to Broadway, Television or Movies.

Open
Choreography containing any style of dance or a combination of styles.

Tap
Choreography consisting of tap technique.

**Judges reserve the right to change categories if an entry is incorrectly placed.

Entry Time Limits

Entry Limits per Studio
Each studio will be allowed to compete a maximum of 30 entries total.  The 30 entries may also include solos. We currently limit the amount of solos to 1 per dancer, unless competition  schedule permits 2.

• – Studios entering 40-49 students: May enter 40 competition entries.
• – Studios entering 50-59 students: May enter 45 competition entries.
• – Studios entering 60-69 students: May enter 50 competition entries.
• – Studios entering 75+ students: May enter 55 competition entries.

Friday Competition (only if needed in a city)
For sold out cities, competition will start at 8AM on Friday, we will not bring competition into Thursday. For most cities competition will begin around 3:30pm on Friday afternoon, and in addition to the competition there will be master classes offered on Friday night.

Music
Music must be turned in Friday morning.  It is recommended to upload your mp3 music file to our online portal.  This will allow for a smooth and easy weekend for all.  If you wish to provide a CD instead,  please make sure each dance is on its own individual CD with the studio name, dance title, and act number labeled on it. Also make sure to bring a back up copy of the music on another CD or iPod.

Judging Criteria

• Technique – how the dancer demonstrates correct technique with the selected genre.
• Performance – How the dancer emulates the music with their movement and how their energy matches the music.
• Execution – How the dancer executes spacing, timing, and precision of movement.
• Choreography- How the choreographer uses the stage, music, and the talent of the dancer. Needs to show creativity.
• Costume and Music – This score will result in deduction only. Costume and music needs to appropriately match the music and style in a tasteful way.

Score Scale

• TRUE ARTIST
• PLATINUM 
• HIGH GOLD 
• GOLD
• HIGH SILVER
• SILVER
• BRONZE

Adjudicated Awards
All dances will be judge by 3 judges. Ties will be broken by determining which piece scored higher on technique, if that’s tied then the other criteria such as Performance/Execution and so on will be used for the tie breaker. For different age divisions the scoring for awards will be slightly different. What is considered a True Artist for a Mini dancer will not be the same score as a True Artist for a Senior dancer.

Score Sheets & Critiques
All scores and critiques are uploaded into our online portal system.  You can log into the system that you used to register for our event.  Once the event is over, all scores and critiques will be in your account.  Please log in and click registered events.  From there you will see a BUTTON that says SCORES.  Please click.  This will show you a full digital breakdown from each judge for each routine you registered, along with a full video/audio critique of the dance.  You can download or stream directly from our site.

Photo & Video
Videotaping and flash photography during the Competition and Group Showcase is strictly prohibited to protect the dancers as well as the choreographers. If the videographer/photographer is part of the studio that is on stage, the dance will either be deducted points or be given an adjudication score only. Photos and Videos may only be taken during award presentations.  We offer professional video and photo sales of all dances.  In most cities they will be available for viewing and purchase by Sunday morning.

Admission
The competition is open to all family and friends to attend.

Props
Weapons/Dangerous items – Fire, real weapons, swords, liquids, gels, and knives on stage are not allowed. Simulated weapons with dull, safe edges are acceptable.

Scenery/ Props – Props must be freestanding. Scenery or backdrops requiring the use of theater fly bars, or special theater lighting may NOT be used.

Fog/Smoke – Special fog or smoke is not permitted unless specifically approved by competition.

Height – Prop height should be no taller than 10 feet or 7 ft if dancer is using as a platform.

Removal – Please be prepared to clean up immediately after the routine is finished.

It is the responsibility of the studio to ensure that props are taken on and off the stage within 60 seconds. Studios are responsible for ensuring that the stage is clean and undamaged by the prop after the routine.

Damage – Studios are liable for any damage done to stage.

Load in and Load out – Props must have load in/load out on the same competition day.

AOM is not responsible for props left overnight.

General Rules & Regulations

• • – To compete all dancers must be registered for that city’s entire workshop. NO EXCEPTIONS!!
  • – Payment must be US fund only. We accept checks, debit, credit, and cashier’s checks. Please make checks out to ART OF MOVEMENT and they can be sent to our company address 1900 East 27th Street #104 Signal Hill, CA 90755.
  • – If an event is completely canceled, refunds will be processed within two weeks of the cancellation for all affected parties. Any other refunds will be addressed on a case by case basis, please have the studio owner/director contact [email protected]. Refunds will be returned via method of payment within two weeks of the event.
  • – Dancers must be entered 30 days prior to the event. Registration must be done with an official AOM entry form or online through our website.
  • – Showcase or Competition entries will not be accepted after the two-week prior to event deadline has passed.
  • – AOM welcomes professional dancers to participate in the competition. Any adult over the age of 18 must register in the Open category as a ProAM division. No adult will be allowed to compete in a group dance that is not listed as ProAM.
  • – Dancers must compete for one studio only. (Considerations will be made on a case-by-case basis and only prior to the competition date.)
  • – Independent dancers are allowed to compete. If dancer wants to compete under a studio name, dancer must get studio owner/director approval.
  • – AOM reserves the rights to use photos and videos for any advertisement. Such as social media, magazines, videos, etc. All dancers must include the AOM photo/video release form with their registration.
  • – All dancers must be prepared an hour before the scheduled performance. Competition can run an hour early so dancers must be prepared to dance earlier than their scheduled time.
  • – Routines containing more than 3 Acro passes must be registered in OPEN category.
  • – If AOM equipment fails the judges can stop the dance to allow the piece another chance.
  • – Unless the directors have allowed a schedule change, all dances must be done in the order that AOM has created.

• – Due to our faculty’s popularity, it is possible that some competing routines will be choreographed by Art of Movement faculty. The judging panel will be assigned so that those faculty members will never be scoring their own pieces.