RULES AND REGULATIONS
AGE DIVISIONS
DIVISION
AVERAGE AGE
* MINI
5 & UNDER
PETITE
6-8
JUNIOR
9-11
TEEN
12-14
SENIOR
15-19
ADULT
20 & UP
* All routines in the MINI age division will compete at the Division 1 level
The age division for all routines is determined by the average age of the performers as of January 1st, 2026. The average age determines the age range into which you may enter. For dances with two or more dancers, add the ages of all the contestants, and then divide by the number of contestants. Drop the decimal point when averaging the ages, i.e., an age average of 12.5 would compete in the 12 year old division.
Duet/Trios or Groups will compete no more than two age divisions younger than the oldest dancer, regardless of average age. For example: if a group includes a dancer age 17 (senior division) and the average age is 9 (petite division), the group will compete one level above petite, at the junior division.
Any child 2 years younger than the average age must perform a meaningful and significant amount of the choreography.
Any dancer taking the stage before/during/at the end of a routine must be a registered dancer to the routine, regardless of the amount of time the dancer is present on stage.
Adult Age Division: Any routine with a dancer age 20 or older will compete in our adult division. Adult routines are not eligible for overalls awards. If enough routines are entered into the adult division, overall awards may be presented at that event.
Note: Contestants may be required to present proof of age in the form of a birth certificate if an issue regarding age occurs. Such discrepancies must be presented to the director of High Voltage National Dance Competition Company within a half hour of the performance of the entry in question.
ENTRY DIVISIONS
CATEGORY
# OF DANCERS
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TIME LIMIT
SOLO
1
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2:45 MINUTES
DUET/TRIO
2-3
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3:00 MINUTES
SMALL GROUP
4-9
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3:00 MINUTES
LARGE GROUP
10-18
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4:00 MINUTES
LINE
19 OR MORE
-
5:00 MINUTES
PRODUCTION
19 OR MORE
-
8:00 MINUTES
LINE
ALL ROUTINES
+ $25 for every 30 seconds
2:00 ADDITIONAL MINUTES
* May incur a 3 point deduction for exceeding the time limit if not pre-arranged and paid for
ENTRY FEES
Entry fees can be located by logging in to your DanceBug account via our website. This information will be shared with studio owners/faculty only and is not publicly posted anywhere. All fees must be paid by studio checks, credit cards, or cashiers checks. Entry fees are due on the registration deadline posted on event page. All payments within one month of the event must be paid by credit card or cashiers check only. Any payments or entries added after registration deadline will be priced at the regular pricing tier. All fees are non-refundable. NO EXCEPTIONS. There is a $35.00 fee for returned checks. Entries are not secured until a deposit or payment in full has been made. In the event that one of our events are “Sold Out,” you will be required to make a deposit to hold your spot if you have not yet paid in full.
Independent Entries
High Voltage does not accept independent entries. Dancers are allowed to come compete without their full studio present but they must be registered for our event under their studio name by the studio director. All event communication will be sent directly to the studio director via their DanceBug account.
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Title Fees
To be entered into the Title Competition, you must be competing at Division 3. Title entries can be added during registration or at the event. Title entries at the event will be charged at $40.
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Early Bird/Special Discounts
Ask about the different discounts we offer! To be eligible for discounts you must have entries and fees in by the designated due date. If you do not have all entries and fees paid by date given, no discount will be given. For all “Special Discounts”, a minimum of $2,000 in entry fees before discount must be met. If entry fees do not reach $2,000 before “Special Discount”, you will not be eligible for said discount. Discount offers cannot be combined with other discounts or scholarships. Please email or call us to hear about what discounts we offer!
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Changes and Late Entry Fees
Mailed in payments must be postmarked by registration deadline to secure early pricing. Any changes made to existing entries within 14 days of event date will be subject to a $5 change fee per change. Changes made on competition day will be subject to a $10 change fee per change. Please check over your schedules very closely prior to the event and notify the office immediately of any changes. No additional entries will be accepted at the event.
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Refunds/Credits
Deposits and entry fees are non refundable. In the event of a cancelled competition due to a health pandemic or other unforeseen circumstance all entry fees will be refunded. We will not refund fees if the event is taking place.
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Injuries/Drops
We do not offer refunds in the case of an injury/dropped dancer. If a doctor’s note is provided for the injured dancer no later than one week following the event we will issue a studio credit (in the amount originally paid) to be used at a future High Voltage competition or convention.
PERFORMANCE DIVISIONS
Our competitive levels are designed to give dancers an opportunity to compete against other dancers that are at their same level. This allows dancers to build confidence and self-esteem. During the registration process studios will assign a competitive level to each individual dancer. The competitive level for all routines will be determined automatically by our registration system once individual dancer levels are determined.
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We understand that your studio may have dancers classified into three levels, but this does not automatically correspond to our Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 levels. It is possible that none of your dancers, even those with the least training, may meet our Division 1 criteria.
To ensure proper level placement, please review our levels and assign your dancers accordingly. This will help create a competitive environment that is fair and enjoyable for all participants.
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Division 1:
Division 1 is designed for dancers who take a maximum of 3 hours of dance class per week, including rehearsal time. These dancers are at the beginning of their competition journey and are just getting accustomed to the experience of performing on stage in front of judges and audiences. At this level, dancers may not yet have mastered performance qualities such as spacing and timing. This division provides a welcoming environment for those new to the world of dance competitions, though it is not mandatory for first-year competitors to start in this level. This level will be adjudicated as well as receive additional high score awards within the division. Division 1 dancers can be in a maximum of 6 routines, excluding line/productions.
Division 2:
Division 2 caters to dancers who train up to 5 hours per week, including rehearsal time. These dancers have moved beyond the novice level and are starting to develop a solid understanding of dance technique and performance. They exhibit above-average technical skills and are becoming more comfortable on stage. While they may not be solely focused on dance training, they have gained a good level of competence and confidence in their performances. In Division 2, the spectrum of skills, abilities and experience among dancers can be broad and varied. This level will be adjudicated as well as receive additional high score awards within the division. Division 2 dancers can be in a max of 9 routines, excluding line/productions.
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Division 3:
Division 3 is for dancers who dedicate more than 5 hours per week to their training, often spending several days a week focused on their dance education. These are advanced dancers with significant experience in competitions or performances. They demonstrate a high level of technical proficiency, artistry, and stage presence. This division is suited for those who are deeply committed to their dance journey and continuously strive for excellence. Division 3 is open to all performers and will be adjudicated, receive additional high score awards within their division, as well as being eligible to earn High Voltage Dollars.
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Dynamic Division:
This level is designed for dancers with special needs who want to showcase their love for dance in a welcoming and nurturing environment. The dynamic division will have the same adjudication breakdown as Division 1. The dynamic division will have it’s own overall category and will still be eligible for special awards as well as judge’s awards. Studio owners may make notes when registering for any suitable accommodations that will help cultivate confidence during their performance. Accommodations may include level of music, brightness of lights, performance time, etc. Please send an email to office@highvoltagedance.com with any questions on accommodations we are able to make and we will be happy to try and make it work!
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Solos – Dancers will compete in the division they are registered.
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Duet/Trios and All Groups – If 40% of the dancers in a group are from a higher competitive level than the rest of the group, the group will be placed in the higher division.
For example, a small group of 9 dancers where four of them are Division 3, three of them are Division 2, and two are Division 1 will be placed in Division 3.​
Division 3 dancers are not able to compete in routines in Division 1. If a Division 3 dancer is registered in a routine with Division 1 dancers it will automatically default to Division 2 with the possibility of being in Division 3 depending on the full mix of dancers within the group.
Upgraded Routines: It is not uncommon for our judges to upgrade a dance they feel is under-placed to the appropriate division. To be upgraded, all judges must agree. The show director will make every effort to let the studio director know if their routine is being upgraded before the award ceremony. If the higher division has already competed and received overalls, the upgraded routine will be for adjudication only. All decisions are final.
PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES
ALL ACTS MUST BE DOMINANT TO THE CATEGORY
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To protect the integrity and to ensure a quality event, no acrobatic tricks are allowed in the Ballet or Pointe category. ​
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An acro/gymnastic trick refers to a sequence of movements that transition through or come to a complete halt in a fully inverted (upside down) position, with both feet elevated off the floor.
Ballet
Routine must consist of ballet technique. Must include classical steps and movements. No pointe shoes allowed.
EVENT INFO
SCHEDULE​
Schedule and event specific information will be emailed to studio directors two weeks prior to the event. All information will be sent using the email associated with the studio’s Dance Bug account. Accounts must be paid in full to receive schedule/event information.
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​Schedule Requests- High Voltage does accept schedule requests made more than 30 days prior to the competition date. We will make an effort to accommodate but are not able to guarantee requests will be fulfilled. Please email your schedule request to office@highvoltagedance.com
MUSIC
All music needs to be uploaded using the DanceBug music upload feature. All music needs to be uploaded by the Wednesday before the start of the competition. We do recommend all studios bring backup music on a USB.
PROPS
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General props are permitted. No dangerous props (swords, fire, etc.). No live animals.
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All props must be marley safe.
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The use of body paint, glitter, confetti, rosin, baby powder, or any other material that can leave a residue on the stage is prohibited.
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Prop set-up time should take less than 30 seconds for solos and duet/trios and up to 3 minutes total (90 seconds set up/take down) for groups. You may buy extra time for prop set up during registration.
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Any routines with a prop violation will incur a 3 point deduction. 1 point will be taken off the choreography category from each judge to equal 3 points.
EVENT CHECK-IN
Studio directors (or appointed representative) should check in at the merchandise table 30 minutes before the start of the event or 90 minutes before your first scheduled performance.
BACKSTAGE/ROUTINE CHECK-IN
Routines must check in with the backstage manager 3-5 routines prior to their performance. We will not hold the stage for a routine that is rehearsing, delaying, or otherwise. Any routine that does not perform in schedule order without prior permission will be for adjudication only.
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Doors will open to the venue 30 minutes prior to the first performance. As the day goes on, we have a tendency to run ahead of schedule. Dancers should arrive 90 minutes prior to their scheduled performance time. We will not delay the event if a dancer(s) is not present when their routine is called to perform.
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Teachers and performers only are permitted backstage. Parents and dancers not performing within 5 routines should watch from the audience.
OUTSTAGE INFO
All routines, music, choreography, and costumes must be suitable for family viewing and listening. Failure to comply with this rule may result in point deductions or entry disqualification.
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A three-point deduction will be made for dancers that leave the stage without completing the performance. 1 point will be taken off the choreography category from each judge to equal 3 points. Dancers will have the option to re-perform the routine, but for adjudication only. If they choose to perform again, they will not be eligible for overalls.
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If the music stops or another technical issue, routines will be allow to re-perform without penalty.
PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY
For the safety of the dancers and to protect the choreographers, photo/video of any kind is not allowed in the performance space during performances. Use of cameras during performances will result in point deductions, disqualification of routine, or disqualification of studio if the issue persists. Please alert your students and parents.
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Video cameras and flash photography are welcomed during award ceremonies and Improv Competition only. High Voltage Dance Competitions will have a videographer and photographer at each event providing videos and photos of performances for purchase. Participation in any High Voltage Dance Competitions indicates permission to use any photographs or video taken during the event in promotional items including, but not limited to, newspapers, brochures, ads, television, videos, newsletters, and the Internet.