2025 Regional
Rules & Regulations

Adjudication

 

Technique - 40 points

Execution - 20 points

Choreography - 15 points

Costume - 5 points

Overall Impression - 20 points

 

Level 1 (Performance) <3 hrs of training per week

Pinnacle: 300-280 

Platinum: 279-270 

High Gold: 269-260

Gold: 259-250 

Silver: 249-240

 

Level 2 (Competitive) 3-5 hrs of training per week

Pinnacle: 300-285 

Platinum: 284-275 

High Gold: 274-265

Gold: 264-255

Silver: 254-240

 

Level 3 (Elite) 5+ hrs of training per week

Pinnacle: 300-291 

Platinum: 290-281 

High Gold: 280-271

Gold: 270-261 

Silver: 260-240

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Competition Divisions

Solo - 1 dancer - 3:00 minutes

Duo/Trio - 2-3 dancers - 3:00 minutes

Small Group - 4-9 dancers - 3:00 minutes

Large Group - 10-15 dancers - 3:00 minutes

Super Group - 16-24 dancers - 4:00 minutes

Production - 15+ dancers - 8:00 minutes

Additional time can be purchased at $5 per minute per dancer except soloists.

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Age Divisions

Mini 5 years & under

Petite 6-8 years

Junior 9-11 years

Teen 12-14 years

Senior 15-19 years

Adult 20 years & up

 

​- Ages are determined as of January 1st, 2025.

-For duo/trios and groups, the ages of all dancers as of 01/01/2025 must be averaged together. If there is a decimal, round down and drop the decimal.

- Duo/Trio and Group entries cannot compete in an age division more than one age division younger than the oldest dancer’s age as of 01/01/2025, regardless of the average age.

- All competitors must be able to provide proof of their age at a Pinnacle Dance Competition if a protest regarding age occurs. Such protest must be presented in writing to the Director of Pinnacle Dance within one-half hour of the performance of the entry in question. Only a Studio Director can initiate a protest.

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Additional Rules & Regulations

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Competitive Levels

- Studio Directors should use their own discretion to determine the level of each dancer.

- In a routine that has performers from mixed performance levels, more than 70% of the dancers must be from the performance level they are competing in.

- Routines that are obviously under-placed may be placed in a higher level by the judges.

 

Category Point Deductions

- The ballet and pointe dance categories can contain no gymnastic/acrobatic tricks. A one-half (0.5) point deduction per judge will be made for any gymnastic/acrobatic tricks in these categories. Tricks not allowed are movements that pass through or stop at a fully inverted (upside down) position with both feet off the floor (the torso passing or stopping directly over the top of one’s head/shoulders). The only exceptions to this are forward, backward, and shoulder rolls, and acrobatic tricks in lifts (a lift being defined as being supported by another dancer with any body part).

- The following categories can contain no more than three gymnastic/acrobatic tricks. Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, and Clogging. A one-half (0.5) point deduction per judge will be made for any gymnastic/acrobatic tricks in these categories over three. A gymnastic pass will be counted as the number of tricks in the pass.

- A panel of competent judges will judge contestants. All entrants agree that the time, manner, and method of judging the contest shall be solely within the discretion of the directors and producers of Pinnacle and that all decisions of the judges are final.

- A 5-point deduction will be made for routines that are not completed unless due to a costume malfunction that would result in an immodest performance.

- All ties will be broken; first by technique score, second by execution, and third by a judge’s poll.

- If dance movements, music lyrics, or costuming are deemed to be too suggestive or otherwise

inappropriate for our family audience, or if the music contains vulgar or inappropriate lyrics, the

routine will be scored lower by the judges or disqualified from the competition.

- Please note that there may be a variance in the time a recording device saves music and the time the music is played on a different device. For performance time, an allowance of 15% of the allowed time per dance will be given for machine calibration error. A deduction of one tenth of a point (0.1) per judge will be made for every 15 seconds (or any portion thereof) in excess of the allotted time limit and 15% grace period.

 

Entry Limitations

- Entries will be accepted on a first come, first served basis and will be limited to the amount of performance time available. 

- Regional entries and payments must be received no later than 30 days prior to the event. No payments will be accepted at a Pinnacle event.

- A $5 charge will be issued for any changes made 5 days prior to the event.

- There is no limit to the number of entries a studio may have.

 

Music Requirements

- Each entry must upload music through the registration portal.

- It is recommended that you bring a copy on a labeled flash drive for each entry as a backup in the event of malfunction. Music left at the event will not be saved.

 

Props

- Fire, swords, and knives on stage are prohibited. Simulated weapons with dull, safe edges are acceptable with approval of Pinnacle.

- No liquid, paint, gel, aerosol, glitter, fog, smoke, powder, point powder, ashes, or similar substances that would affect the dancing surface is not allowed unless specifically approved by Pinnacle. If this occurs without approval, the routine may be scored lower by the judges.

- Props are allowed, however, they must be freestanding. Scenery or backdrops requiring the use of theater fly bars may not be used. Props, if used, must be prepared and set-up, and removed in a 60 second time frame. 2 minutes are allowed for productions only. 

- Helium balloons are not permitted unless special permission is given by the venue.

- Safety is always a priority. If the stage is littered during a routine, please be prepared to clean it up immediately after the routine is finished.

- Hover boards are prohibited.

 

Dance Categories

Hip Hop - Routine consisting of primarily hip hop technique. The judges will score music containing inappropriate lyrics lower or the routine disqualified from the competition. Any number of acrobatic tricks are allowed in this category.

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

Jazz - Routine must consist of primarily jazz technique. Three gymnastic/acrobatic tricks are allowed.

Tap - Routine must contain tap technique and primarily tap work. It is preferred that tap sounds not be prerecorded in music. Three gymnastic/acrobatic tricks are allowed.

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

Pointe - Routine must consist of pointe/toe technique. No gymnastic/acrobatic tricks are allowed.

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

Lyrical - Routine should demonstrate balance, extension, isolations and control utilizing the lyrics or mood of the music. Three gymnastic/acrobatic tricks are allowed.

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

dance moves, steps, and choreography.

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

Character - A routine portraying a recognizable character throughout. May be from a play, movie, television, 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. Any number of acrobatic tricks are allowed in this category.

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

Open- Any of our listed categories or combinations of listed category styles. Any number of Acrobatic tricks are allowed in this category.

Production - A routine utilizing a group of at least 15 dancers incorporating any style/styles of dance or acrobatic. Production category has a time limit of 8:00 minutes.

Improv - A routine that challenges dancers to create and perform movement on the spot, relying entirely on their creativity and instinct in the moment.A master music playlist will be made available one week prior to the event. Dancers will be given the opportunity to choose between their preferred “style” - Jazz, Contemporary/Lyrical, or Hip Hop. Length will be between 30 - 60 seconds. 

 

Entry Confirmations and Scheduling

- As a general rule, dancers are allowed at least 4 routines between numbers to change costumes. The competition cannot be delayed due to performers taking longer than the allotted 4 acts to change which would result in a deduction.

- A confirmation of your studio’s entries will be emailed to the studio owner once these entries are received. Please take time to review your entries and make sure they are in proper categories, performance levels, and age divisions. Changes should be emailed back to the office immediately after receiving your confirmation. Once the final schedule is done, the ability to make changes and/or corrections is limited, if not impossible. 

- A final schedule will be emailed to the studios 7 days (or before if available) prior to the first day of competition. An order of events will be posted to the website as soon as they become available.

- Please note that each show is scheduled independently based on the number of acts and how those acts break down among solos, duo/trios, and groups. Individual accommodations will generally be difficult and approved in rare situations.

- Routines are expected to perform in the order they are scheduled.

- Routines must be performed during the awards session in which they are scheduled. If the routine cannot perform during the awards session in which they are scheduled for any reason, it can be performed for judges’ comments only. The routine would not be eligible for overall awards. It will be announced on stage at the end of the regular awards, the appropriate medal or trophy given, and the routine will be qualified for National Finals.

 

Payments

- All entries submitted require payment in full, using credit card (a 3% processing charge will be applied), bank check (cashier’s check) or money order for all entries from one studio. Studio checks or individual checks from parents will not be accepted.

- There are no refunds for competition fees.

 

Miscellaneous Information

- All contestants grant permission to Pinnacle Dance Competition to use their names, photographs or to appear on local and/or national television, brochures, and/or the Pinnacle website to promote its competitions.

- Smoking, eating, and drinking are prohibited in the competition area and dressing rooms.

- Pinnacle reserves the right to cancel any competition due to weather, number of entries, or any other circumstances deemed necessary. Pinnacle reserves the right to move the competition location or date due to unforeseen circumstances.

- Sportsmanlike behavior is expected at all times.

- Studios may not reserve seats or dressing rooms.

- Pinnacle Dance Competition and the hosting facility are not responsible for personal injury to contestants or spectators or property loss. By entering this event, it is agreed that participants or spectators will not hold Pinnacle Dance Competition, Inc. or its owners, directors, staff, or volunteers responsible for injuries sustained or illnesses contracted by them while in attendance of one of their competitions.

- Videotaping and movie cameras are prohibited.

- Still photography is limited to taking photographs of your own child. No professional photography set-ups/tripods/monopods allowed.

- Air horns or similar devices are prohibited.