• All ages will be recorded as of January 1, 2026.
• Age categories for all entries will be determined by taking the average age of all participants in that entry and dropping the decimal point.
• Proof of age: A birth certificate may be required upon request. Ms. Toni should have received a copy of each dancer’s birth certificate at the beginning of the season.
• Adjudication Age Divisions:
  • Mini: 5 & Under
  • Petite: 6–8
  • Junior: 9–11
  • Teen: 12–14
  • Senior: 15–18

Guidlines:

• Dancers participating in more than 6 routines are not eligible for the Recreational Division.
• Dancers participating in more than 10 routines are required to compete in the Elite Division.
• Dancers competing with more than one solo are required to compete in the Competitive or Elite Division.
• No more than 40% of the dancers in a duet/trio or group routine can be dancers from a higher level.

Divisions:

• Recreational Division - Designed for dancers who participate in up to 3 hours of classes and/or rehearsals per week. This division is ideal for dancers who are new to competition or looking for a more relaxed competitive experience.
  • May compete in one solo, duet/trio, and/or group routines.
  • Recreational duet/trio and group routines may not include dancers classified in the Elite Division (productions excluded).
  • Dancers competing with more than one solo may be required to compete in the Competitive or Elite Division, depending on the competition's rules.
• Competitive Division - Designed for dancers who participate in 3–6 hours of classes and/or rehearsals per week and are looking for a more challenging competitive experience.
  • Appropriate for dancers with prior competition experience or those training at an intermediate level.
  • Dancers competing with more than one solo may be required to compete in the Competitive or Elite Division based on competition guidelines.
• Elite Division - Designed for dancers who participate in more than 6 hours of classes and/or rehearsals per week and train at an advanced, highly competitive level.
  • Elite dancers are expected to demonstrate advanced technical ability and performance quality.
  • Elite dancers may not compete in Recreational duet/trios or groups (excluding productions).

Level Bump Rule: If a dancer competes their solo in the recreational or competitive level and 2/3 of the judges panel feel they should be competing in a higher level, the routine will be bumped to the next highest level. This dancer will be announced at awards with the level they were bumped to. This dancer will be allowed to place in the overalls, but only in terms of a tie. Wherever the dancer’s score would place them in the overalls they will tie the dancer who is registered for that level.

Only the dance styles that our studio competes in are listed below, but you can visit the Turn It Up Dance Challenge website to view all available categories and divisions. Any routine that is placed in the incorrect category will be changed to the correct category.

• Acro – Blending dance technique with acrobatic movement, this style highlights tumbling skills, transitions, strength and flexibility.
• Character – A style reflecting pop culture or theatrical themes through dynamic and expressive movement, often incorporating stylized footwork and gestures.
• Contemporary – Blending many traditional styles of dance, contemporary emphasises fluid movement, innovative techniques and emotional expression.
• Hip Hop – A dance style that originated in street culture, this style includes a wide range of movements, from dynamic popping and locking to smooth, rhythm-based grooves.
• Jazz – A style incorporating sharp, rhythmic movements with smooth, fluid transitions, emphasizing both technical precision and emotional expression. Skills often include isolations, leaps, turns, kicks, etc.
• Lyrical – A style that combines ballet and jazz techniques, emphasizing expressive and fluid movements to convey emotion and storytelling through music.
• Musical Theater – A performance style that blends acting and dancing to tell a story through expressive choreography, often portraying specific characters and emotions from stage shows, theatre productions, or Film Musicals. Lip sync is allowed.
• Open – A versatile style that allows for a mix of styles and techniques. Routines in this style have the freedom to incorporate elements from various genres, showcasing creativity and individual expression.
• Tap – This style is performed in tap shoes, using the feet to produce rhythmic sounds with the floor. Tap focuses on timing, rhythm and coordination.

Acrobatic Tricks Rule: An acrobatic trick consists of a complete 360-degree rotation of the body with head inverted or a pass containing multiple gymnastic moves (excluding shoulder rolls.) Unlimited tricks are allowed only in Gymnastics, Character, Open, Pom Pom, Musical Theater, AcroJazz, Hip Hop, and Contemporary. All other categories are limited to 3 acrobatic tricks. Routines that contain more than 3 tricks will be automatically moved to the correct category. If multiple students perform the same trick at the same time, it only counts as ONE trick. All passes with multiple tricks are counted as ONE trick.

Extended time is permitted in all divisions at a rate of $5/person for every minute over the time limit. Routines that have not purchased extended time are subject to a 1 point deduction per judge for every minute over the time limit.

• Solo & Duet/Trio: 3:00
• Small Group (4–9 dancers): 4:00
• Large Group (10–19 dancers): 4:00
• Super Group (20+ dancers): 4:30
• Production (unlimited dancers): 9:00

• Each entry will be judged by a highly qualified panel of judges. All judges’ decisions will be final. Contacting or speaking to judges is strictly prohibited at all times.
• Ties for first place only will be broken by the highest technique score.
• A minimum point requirement of 240 points must be met to receive 1st place in the event that only one entry is registered for that category.

Every routine will receive one of the following adjudication awards based on its score:

• Gold
• High Gold
• Platinum
• Diamond
• Mic Drop (Encore's highest adjudication, awarded only to Elite routines.)

Additional award details are available on the Encore Competition website.

Dancers performing more than one solo will compete in the Super Solo category (Competitive and Elite divisions only).

• A dancer's two highest-scoring solos are averaged to determine their Super Solo score.
• Super Solo awards are presented separately from the regular Overall Solo awards.
• Dancers performing only one solo at a competition will compete for the Top Soloist award in their age division through the regular Overall Solo Awards.

• Soloists may choose to compete in the Title Competition for an additional entry fee.
• Only one solo per dancer may be entered for the Title competition.
• If a dancer has only one solo: That solo is eligible for both the Title Award and the regular Overall Solo Awards.
• If a dancer has multiple solos: One solo may be selected to compete for Title, while the dancer's two highest-scoring solos will still be eligible for the Overall Super Solo awards.
• Title awards are presented by age division and performance level (Recreational, Competitive, and Elite).
• All genders compete together for Title awards.
• Title entries are judged on Showmanship and Overall Appeal.

Dancers competing for Title are judged on their solo's Showmanship and Overall Appeal.

• Solo scores determine the Top 10 finalists.
• The Top 10 dancers will participate in an on-stage improvisation challenge. The Top 5 dancers will then answer an on-stage interview question.
• The dancer's solo Title score serves as the starting score.
• Dancers can earn up to 10 additional points for the improvisation round.
• Top 5 finalists can earn up to 10 additional points for the interview question.
• Final National Title placements are determined by the combined total of the solo, improvisation, and interview scores.