There is a limit of 3 solo per person, each solo MUST be a different genre. Solo entries are not allowed to compete against themselves in the same category.

We reserve the right to limit solos to two per dancer, depending on the venue capability and space.

Tiny Tot: 4 -6yrs

Mini: 7 - 9yrs

Junior: 10-12yrs

Teen: 13-15yrs

Senior: 16+yrs

​Age is determined by how old you are on the 1st September.

Duo/Trio age is determined by the oldest dancer.

Group ages are determined by the average age of the dancers.

Any protests regarding age must be brought to the attention of The Aaron Dwyer Competition within 30 minutes of the number being performed. Any disputes raised after this will not be submitted. If a protest arises, all competitors must be prepared to present proof of age within 30 minutes of a dispute being raised on the day of the competition of may be disqualified.

Acro & Cheerleading – A routine that contains primarily gymnastics

/acro tricks. With a blend of dance movement.

Ballet – A routine consisting of classical steps & ballet technique. Ballet shoes must be worn.

Contemporary – A routine that combines both lyrical and modern movements.

Commercial / Hip Hop / Street – A dance that consists of the latest street dance styles, as seen in current dance videos.

Jazz – A routine that utilises jazz technique such as splits, isolation, leaps, etc.

Lyrical – A routine that is performed to the lyrics or mood of the music.

Musical Theatre – A routine performed to the music from a stage or film musical.

Open – A routine that is a combination of any of the other categories; a routine that does not exactly fit any of the definitions of any other category.

Tap – A routine utilising tap technique and must be performed with tap shoes only.

DEDUCTIONS

• Use of acrobatic/gymnastic elements (unless in Acro/Cheer OR Open sections)

• Two or more acrobatic/gymnastic elements in Commercial Category

• Inappropriate costume

• Tripping or falling

• Accidents falls of props or clothing

• Inappropriate choreography for an age group

• Wrong age category (This will be brought to the attention of the studio within 30 minutes after routine)

• Wrong level (This will be brought to the attention of the studio within 30 minutes after routine)

• Late arrival to stage

• Throwing items into the audience

• Inappropriate music or language

• Routine length

Level Guidelines

The following guidelines are suggestions to be used in determining the appropriate level placement of each competitor. Because no competition can possibly know how many hours a child dances or for how many years they have danced, it is left to the teachers' own sound judgement when entering level placement for their students.

Novice Level:

The Aaron Dwyer Competition wants to encourage all dancers to compete at a competitive level, however we understand that newer dancers or less experienced competitive dancers may still wish to perform. For these dancers we have our novice level. Novice competitors will not get awards in their category, and are not eligible for any additional awards. All novice competitors will be entered into an overall age category and a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be given to the highest scoring novice from that age group. A token award / medal will be given for 1st place in their category.

Dancers may only be considered ‘novice’ dancers if the dancer receives under 5 hours of training a week and has only been competing for 1 year, or, if a dancer receives over 5 hours of training a week and this is their very first competition. You do not have to enter as a novice, even if you fall under this guidance. We actively encourage you to join a competitive level even if this is your first competition, to push yourself against more experienced dancers.

Dancers who have previously won 1st place at The Aaron Dwyer Competition cannot compete again in a novice category.

Novice Age Groups & Placement

A maximum of three awards will be given for each age group.

Mini Novice - 1st 2nd & 3rd Place

Junior Novice - 1st 2nd & 3rd Place

Teen Novice - 1st 2nd & 3rd Place

Senior Novice - 1st 2nd & 3rd Place

Adult Novice - 1st 2nd & 3rd Place

Competitive Level:

This level is for competitive dancers who have experience of competing and/or receive over 5 hours of training a week. Entries in this level are eligible for all full competition awards such as overall awards and title awards.

Large/Small Groups and Duet/Trios – The highest level of dancer in a routine will determine the level of the routine. Example: One competitive dancer and 8 novice dancers will determine the routine to be in the competitive level.

If we determine that a dancer has been put into the novice level and they are competing at a competitive level we will move their level, at which point they will become eligible for the full competition awards. This will not be done without talking to the dancer and their teacher/chaperone first.

We welcome both independent and studio registrations.

• Independent Entries:

Dancers may not compete as both an independent and as part of a registered studio at the same event location.

If a studio is registered for a location, dancers from that studio cannot enter as independents (e.g., entering a solo as an independent while also performing in group routines with their school).

This policy ensures fairness and clarity for all participants.

• Deposits and Registration:

A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. Registrations without a deposit will be removed from the system within 48 hours to allow other studios to enter.

• Registration Confirmation:

Upon completing your registration, you will receive a summary including dancer names, entry name, category, and level. Please notify us within 72 hours if any changes are needed. After this period, any changes will incur a £25 administration fee.

• Payment Deadlines:

Full payment is required 5 weeks (35 days) before the event. Payments received after this deadline will incur a 10% late fee. All registration must be paid in full by the payment deadline. The Aaron Dwyer Competition reserves the right to release your space if payment is not received on time.

• Capacity and Waiting List:

If the competition reaches capacity, registration will close regardless of the date. Any unpaid routines at the time will have 72 hours to pay before their places are offered to our waiting list. Deposits for unpaid routines are non-refundable.

• Payment Methods:

Payment methods can be made through our DanceComp Genie registration system. We also accept bank transfers.

• No Hidden Fees:

There are no hidden charges in the registration process. We do not have membership fees or dancer participation fees.

• Refund Policy:

All deposit payments and competition fees are strictly non-refundable and non-transferable.

In order to receive our Early Bird discount, all entries must be submitted online through Dance Comp Genie and paid IN FULL twelve weeks prior to the competition start date, please check the website for early bird deadlines.

Once registration closes any changes will incur a late fee of £5 per dancers per routine. Changes include routine name, dancer name, adding and removing routines or dancers, music changes these changes must be communicated via email. No exceptions will be made.

Please upload all music through the DanceComp Genie account two weeks (14 Days) prior to the competition, failure to do so will result in a £15 late administration fee.

All fees will be added onto your dance comp genie account and will need to be paid before entering any future competitions with The Aaron Dwyer Competition. So if you are unsure of dates or students availability, do not enter until you can confirm.

The Aaron Dwyer Competition reserves the right to add or reduce competition days or move the competition location due to unforeseen circumstances. Any change in competition days and/or times is at the sole discretion of The Aaron Dwyer Competition. All dancers must be available from the start of the competition to the end of the competition day. Please be aware that for competitions running over two days, all dancers must be available for both days. In the event of a third-party cancellation that is out of our control (e.g., a venue gets flooded or becomes unsafe to use), all routines are transferable to an alternate venue, date, or competition location, either this season or the following seasons. In this case, no refunds will be made.

If a competition is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and a refund is issued, please note that all refunds will be processed 30 days after the event date.

Competition Schedule & Entry Guidelines

The competition schedule will be released after registration closes and all entry fees have been received. It will include your entry number and allocated performance time. This information will not be available before the schedule is published.

Once full payment has been made, an entry summary will be sent to you. Please review it carefully and submit any corrections. A correction refers only to spelling errors or incorrect genre listings. Any other changes (e.g. routine name, dancer additions/removals, music updates) must be requested via email within 3 days of receiving your summary. No changes will be made once the schedule is finalised.

Please note: Performance times and slots cannot be changed once the schedule has been issued. If a dancer needs additional time between routines, this must be flagged with Laura Tindle on the morning of the event. Adjustments will not be made after the schedule is released.

For two-day competitions, performances may be scheduled on either day. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate requests for specific days, as the schedule is designed to ensure a dynamic, show-like experience for all.

Once the final schedule has been sent, no changes will be accepted. We reserve the right to amend the programme or change the venue if necessary. No refunds will be issued in such cases.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT MUSIC LESS THAN 14 DAYS PRIOR TO or ON THE DAY OF COMPETITION.

All music must be provided and uploaded online by the stated time.

No music will be accepted on the day. Need a full stop after music changes.

Please ensure when uploading your music that the information is entered correctly, this will ensure that you will be entered into the correct category.

NO exceptions will be made for music that is over the time limit (this includes any ‘fade in’ or ‘fade out’ in the music)

Music that runs over the time limit will stop automatically.

Extra time can be purchased for £5 for an additional 1 minute.

All music must be entered into your registration page no later than two weeks before the competition. Failure to do so may result in the act not being able to perform. Any requested changes to music must be submitted by email at least 1 week prior to the competition and will incur a £25 admin fee.

It is required to bring a backup of music for all entries on a USB, we do not accept mobile phones, laptops or iPads.

Solo: 2:00 mins

Duo / Tiro: 2:30 mins

Small Group: 3:00 mins

Large Group: 4:00 mins

Production 5:00 mins

EXTENDED TIMES: Solos, Duet/Trios, Groups & Lines may purchase an extended time at £5/per 1 minute

Please ensure entries are stage appropriate and do NOT contain explicit or inappropriate content. Any explicit content will incur deductions in points.

​Sportsmanlike behaviour is expected at all times, failure to display proper decorum could result in immediate disqualification. Spectators/audience members are expected to treat all competitors with respect.

ALL competitors are the sole responsibility of their dance school/ studio, The Aaron Dwyer Competition is NOT responsible for any competitor. ALL entrants under the age of 16 must be chaperoned by a nominated adult at any competition run by Aaron Dwyer Company. The chaperones will be accountable for the behaviour and welfare of minors at all our events. ​

Backstage Access

Only one teacher or chaperone per performance is permitted in the backstage area.

Filming Policy Filming other dance schools is strictly prohibited. Doing so may result in your school being disqualified and barred from attending future events. We reserve the right to delete any unauthorized footage. It is your responsibility to ensure all dancers, parents, and guardians are made aware of these rules.

Code of Conduct Failure to maintain proper conduct may lead to immediate disqualification and exclusion from future events. This includes any attempt to recruit students from other studios during our events.

Performance Eligibility

Teachers are not permitted to participate in any performances.

Spectator wristbands can be purchased prior to the competition at our discounted price of £15 via our website. Spectator tickets are also available on the door at £20. Studios will receive 2 free wristbands.

Any audience members dancers and teachers found to be making insulting or derogatory comments about other schools or dancers will be removed from the audience and their dancer/school may be disqualified.

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO RECORDING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. The Aaron Dwyer Company provides a professional independent photographer at all locations where photos can be purchased directly via them after the competition.

No outside alcohol is allowed or permitted into the theatre in any areas unless purchased from the venue.

Every venue is different and we try to accommodate changing areas fairly to all studios. You will be allocated your designated dressing room at registration. You may have to share your changing area, please understand sometimes it is totally out of our control and we expect you to treat all dancers in a shared space with respect. Any unsportsmanlike behaviour may result in disqualification.

Only two teachers and nominated chaperones per dance school allowed in all backstage areas and dressing rooms.

​Sportsmanlike behaviour is expected at all times, failure to display proper decorum could result in immediate disqualification. Dancers Chaperones & Teachers are expected to treat all competitors with respect and refrain from making unnecessary noise or movement during performances, however once performances are complete cheering and encouragement are very welcome.

ALL competitors are the sole responsibility of their dance school/ studio, The Aaron Dwyer Competition is NOT responsible for any competitor. ALL entrants under the age of 16 must be chaperoned by a nominated adult at any competition run by Take The Stage. The chaperones will be accountable for the behaviour and welfare of minors at all our events. ​

Please respect other dancers in shared spaces.

All competitors must present themselves at the registration desk upon arrival to the competition to be signed in and receive their dancer wristband which must be kept on throughout the day with no exceptions.

Dancers without a wristband will result in the competitor unable to compete.

Please be aware if your student is not competing they will be charged a spectator fee to enter the venue

The Aaron Dwyer Competition has a track record for our competitions running ahead of schedule. It is your sole responsibility to ensure you are registered into the venue at least 1 hour before your performance (this does not apply to the first hour of competitors) no responsibility will be taken by The Aaron Dwyer Dance Company for missed performances and you will not be able to compete.

Doors open 30 minutes before the competition starts entries 1-30 will be registered separately.

All competitors will receive two calls from our backstage manager, please make sure you are backstage at least five songs before your allocated performance time. If a competitor is not backstage at their allocated performance time they will forfeit their space and will not be able to perform.

YOU NEED TO CHECK IN WITH THE BACKSTAGE MANAGER WHEN YOU ARRIVE BACKSTAGE

The entry number in which each routine is assigned is for reference and identification purposes. Routines will perform in numerical order. If the backstage manager sees potential delays due to costume changes, you may be asked to compete out of sequence. Please be prepared to compete when we call your number, even though it may be a few numbers earlier or later than you anticipated.

**NOTE** If you determine that you do not have enough time between numbers to change costumes, it is imperative that you advise the backstage manager at the beginning of the competition day. If the backstage manager has not been notified of any problem, and you are not ready to compete when called, your routine may not be able to perform.

A full days schedule will be available in our programme, your school will be sent a electronic schedule of your studios entries and times. We will not be providing to teachers a printed copy on the day. Programs will be available to purchase on the day, this will also include workshop times and our other event information.

Please be aware dressing rooms may vary in the amount available and size and will all depend on the venue, we will try our hardest to accommodate decent dressing room space for all competitors, please only use the dressing rooms for changing, hair and make up, once you are ready please make your way to the auditorium where you can support your fellow competitor. You may share a dressing room with other studios, your dressing room will be allocated to you at registration.

Photography will be taken throughout the day which can be purchased after the competition. Please do not walk in front of our photographer or the judges table while a routine is being performed.

Special stage or house lighting will NOT be provided or changed for any performances.

Before the award ceremony there will be a 20 minute scheduled round up time where all dressing rooms are expected to be clear as these will be locked before our award ceremony. Any damage made by your school will be invoiced to you.

Food, snacks, and beverages are not permitted backstage, on stage, or during award ceremonies — only water is allowed.

NO SMOKING is permitted in any of our venues.

No outside alcohol is allowed or permitted into the theatre in any areas unless purchased from the venue.

Trophies can be purchased on the day for £25 please be aware there is a limited amount and will run on a first come first serve basis.

Some venues require us to perform bag checks before you enter. Please work with us on this to make it as swift as possible.

The Aaron Dwyer Competition and the hosting venue are not responsible for personal injury or property loss.

The pannel will include at least three judges who specialise in different dance styles. All decisions of the judges are final.

Communication with the judges during the competition is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification.

Feedback is a valuable part of our dance competitions, allowing industry professionals to give their comments live to every dancer.

Every entry at The Aaron Dwyer Competition will receive individual audio feedback sent to the Studio Director, which gives dancers recognition of the areas that they performed well and vital tips on how to improve in the future.

Giving professional critiques to work on and high standard tips on how to make your routine stand out!

Scoring is set at 100 points per judge totalling 300 points.

Technique 25 points

Musicality 25 points

Performance 25 points

Choreography 25 Points

Placement

Bronze - 200 to 229 points

Silver - 230 to 269 points

Gold - 270 to 289 points

Platinum - 290 to 300 points

Please be aware our scoring is tough, we really don't want dancers to be offended if they receive a low score when they first start competing with The Aaron Dwyer Competition, this should be a goal to receive a higher score at our finals or next season. Our platinum placement is not offered lightly, platinum awards will be given to dancers who are outstanding.

Entries placed in the wrong section will either be moved to the correct category or receive a score reduction. Music used must be age appropriate with NO explicit language. There will be no music for bows. Time limits are strictly enforced. If music is over the stated time limit, music will stopped and a 2-point deduction will be taken from the competitor.

Tricks are only permitted in the Acro and Cheer categories.

If more than two tricks are performed in any other category, a 2-point deduction will be applied to the routine’s overall score. However, if the judges believe the use of tricks enhances the routine and contributes meaningfully to the story or choreography, their inclusion may be permitted at the judges’ discretion.

Please note that the final decision regarding the allowance of tricks outside the Acro and Cheer categories rests with the judging panel.

Any group found to have more dancers than on their entry forms will be disqualified immediately.

Deductions will include but are not limited to the below:

• Use of acrobatic/gymnastic elements (unless in Acro/Cheer OR Open sections)

• Two or more acrobatic/gymnastic elements in Commercial Category

• Inappropriate costume

• Tripping or falling

• Inappropriate choreography for an age group

• Wrong age category (This will be brought to the attention of the studio within 30 minutes after routine)

• Wrong level (This will be brought to the attention of the studio within 30 minutes after routine)

• Late arrival to the stage

• Throwing items into the audience

• Inappropriate music or language

• Routine length

No dangerous props may be used such as sharp objects, flames, liquids etc. General props and gymnastics mats are allowed. All props must be placed within 30 seconds.

Please ensure all props are kept backstage and not in the dressing room (please speak to Laura Tindle to ensure there is efficient space, if not they will need to be kept elsewhere at your own risk) are labelled with School/Studio name for identification purposes.

No form of liquids (including water), gels, aerosols, glitter, or confetti, etc. which may affect the stage surface, may be used during a routine.

No additional sound equipment, lighting equipment or microphones may be used or connected to the The Aaron Dwyer Competition sound system.

The AD Awards Ceremony

Ceremony Information For Competitions Spanning 2 Days:

Please note that for competitions held over two days, the awards ceremony will take place at the conclusion of the second day. We understand that it may not always be possible for dancers to remain present until the end of the ceremony. In such cases, we offer the following alternatives for award collection:

• Nominated Representative: Dancers have the option to nominate a representative from their dance school to collect the award on their behalf. Please ensure that the nominated representative is identified to our event staff in advance.

• Mailing the Award: Alternatively, if neither the dancer nor a representative is able to collect the award in person, we are happy to arrange for the award to be mailed directly to the winner. To avail of this option, please provide us with the appropriate mailing address and any necessary details before the end of the competition.

We aim to ensure that all winners receive their awards in a manner that is convenient for them. For any further assistance or to provide the necessary details for award collection, please do not hesitate to contact our event team.

Awards Information

All participants will receive a The Aaron Dwyer Participation medal at the beginning of the award ceremony.

We award 1st, 2nd & 3rd place trophies in our competitive category which is broken down by age, style and number of competitors.

Novice competitors will receive a medal and 1st place rosette.

Additional Awards

Stop The Show - Golden Buzzer, each judge has one each (Novice & Competitive)

Highest Overall Routine - Per Age Category (Competitive only)

Highest Overall Top 3 Soloists - of the day. (Competitive only)

Judges Choice Award - Each judges favourite routine or solo of the day (Competitive only)

Stand Out Dancer Award - The dancer who has performed the best throughout the day, including in group routines and workshops. (Competitive only)

Title Awards (Competitive only)

Studio Award - The best studio backstage cohen by the Backstage Manager

Choreography Award - Chosen by judges for the best choreography of the day (Competitive only)

AD Fire Cracker -

AD Rising Star -

AD Technique -

AD Musicality -

AD Performer -

Scholarships - Knockout Workshops

Please Note - If there is only one entry in a division, a 1st place trophy will be awarded if the performer receives a gold or higher. If there are 2 or more entries in a category, a competitive first place award will be presented to the entry with the highest score. Any routine receiving a score of 270 or higher are eligible for the National Championships.

Title Awards are £10 per person and can be added at the time of registration. You may also enter on the day of the competition for £15. All Title entries must be registered as competitive solos.

Please ensure all routines are age-appropriate and free from explicit or inappropriate content.

At Finals, you may only enter the Title division in the same category as you did at Regionals. You must have entered a Title Award at a Regional event to be eligible for the Title division at Finals.

Each dancer may enter a maximum of three Title Awards. These are open to competitive solo performances only.

TITLE AGES

Mini Mr. ADC and Mini Miss ADC (Ages 8 and Under)

Junior Mr. ADC and Junior Miss ADC (Ages 9-11)

Teen Mr. ADC and Teen Miss ADC (Ages 12-14)

Senior Mr. ADC and Senior Miss ADC (Ages 15-17)

Mr. ADC and Miss ADC (Ages 18+)

Throughout each regional competition each judge is given a Golden Buzzer totalling three golden buzzers per competition which will put your routine on the Golden Buzzer Leader board which can be found on our website. All golden buzzers will automatically get through to the finals. The top 12 highest scoring golden buzzers throughout the regional competitions will compete at our finals during our Golden Dancers 2024 Showdown which will be judged by our three judges at the finals. The winner will be awarded Golden Dancer 2024.

The Aaron Dwyer Competition will use video & photograph taken throughout the competitions for promotional purposes. All rights to promotional material is reserved to The Aaron Dwyer Competition. All photographs and or videos can be used for local and/ or national television and/ or promotional material

If a participant cannot be filmed or photographed please let the The Aaron Dwyer Competition team know as soon as you arrive at the venue so allowances can be made

All performers are required to have proof of ages on hand. Failure to provide proof of age when challenged will result in disqualification of that routine.

A protest may only be initiated by a Studio Director/Teacher. It must be signed and submitted in writing to the director of the show within 30 minutes of the incident involved. Protests may not be submitted after an awards ceremony.

The Aaron Dwyer Competition are not responsible for any injury sustained whilst at our events. You acknowledge that you are visiting at your own risk.

The Aaron Dwyer Competition are not responsible for the loss or damage to any personal property during our live events.

The organisers, staff or representatives of The Aaron Dwyer Competition are not responsible for any claims for damages, loss or injuries sustained while taking part in any activity related to The Aaron Dwyer Competition competition. All schools must have their own liability insurance. All schools/studios are responsible for their dancers and parent’s behaviour. Anyone failing to follow rules of The Aaron Dwyer Competition or causing a disturbance will be asked to leave the competition and will not receive a refund. We hold a zero tolerance of verbal abuse to any staff members of The Aaron Dwyer Competition. Any problems found within The Aaron Dwyer Competition please report to the front desk reception staff, please do not approach the judges table.

Please note some councils may require children who perform more than three times in six months to have a child performance licence. Please contact your local council for more information all entrants under the age of 16 must be chaperoned.

In the event of a technical difficulty, The Aaron Dwyer Competition will endeavour to do everything we can to resolve it as soon as possible. By attending our event you acknowledge that technical difficulties may occur and that they arise through no fault of The Aaron Dwyer Competition. The Aaron Dwyer Competition will not provide a refund in the event of a technical difficulty arising.

If a technical fault happens during your performance we will endeavour you allow you to perform again however this may not always be possible and no refund or reimbursement will be given.

The Aaron Dwyer Competition reserves the right to communicate with you using the email provided in the registration system.

By entering your email address into Dance Genie and purchases from The Aaron Dwyer Competitionwebsite, you hereby agree to join The Aaron Dwyer Competition mailing list.

The Aaron Dwyer Competition will not pass your email on to any third party company.