COMPETITION

All studios who enter a minimum amount of entries, will be gifted a FREE In-studio workshop, including studios choice of three genres, three instructors (selected by LDF) for two different age groups (*six hours of dance education). Date to be determined between LDF and studio. For more information on registration requirements please click below. 

All studio directors, teachers and competitors each receive one FREE Full festival entry pass.  All parents and immediate family members receive a special family discount on festival passes.  

All studio directors, teachers and competitors each receive one day FREE Full festival entry pass.  

Littles; 3-5 yrs

Mini; 6-8 yrs 

Junior; 9-12 yrs

Intermediate; 13-15 yrs

Senior; 16-18 yrs 

Pre-Pro/Professional; 18+ yrs

**Average age of total group participants. Drop the decimal, ie. 15.7 = 15 OR 8.3 = 8

Solo; 1pax                          Max Time: 3min

Duet; 2pax                         Max Time: 3min

Trio; 3pax                           Max Time: 3min

Small Group; 4-8pax       Max Time: 3min

Large Group; 9-15pax     Max Time: 4min

Line; 16-35pax                  Max Time: 7min

**Please discuss use of large props with Festival in advance of registering routine.

Novice:  All participants within the registered category will be competing for the first time (ie. will have never competed before in their lifetime) and will have 2 years or less dance experience within the genre. 

Average Age Acceptance: 3yrs - 15yrs

Pre-Competitive: All participants within the registered category will have had competed for maximum 2 seasons in their lifetime, but only trains a total of 4hrs or less a week inclusive of regularly scheduled choreography rehearsals. 

Average Age Acceptance: 6yrs - 17yrs

Competitive: All participants within the registered category will have been competing for 1 season or more, and training 5hrs or more a week. 

Average Age Acceptance: 6yrs - 18yrs

Pre-Professional: The dancer/group is no longer a student of a registered dance studio, is in post-secondary uni/college dance programme, training programme, certificate programme, dance programme of some type to which they are in the first year of teaching and/or performing. 

Average Age Acceptance: 18+yrs

Professional: The dancer/group is no longer a student of a registered dance studio, is in post-secondary uni/college dance programme, training programme, certificate programme, dance programme of some type to which they are in the first year of teaching and/or performing. 

Average Age Acceptance: 18+yrs

Ballet is a classical dance form demanding grace and precision and employing formalized steps and gestures set in intricate, flowing patterns to create expression through movement. Including, various techniques ranging across multiple internationally known ballet syllabus.

Pointe  is a classical dance form demanding grace and precision and employing formalized steps and gestures set in intricate, flowing patterns to create expression through movement. Including, various techniques ranging across multiple internationally known ballet syllabus. (All dancers must be wearing traditional pointe shoes)

Jazz dance combines techniques of classical ballet and modern dance with the current forms of popular dance. Jazz also has its own movement vocabulary ranging from the isolation of certain body parts to the movement of the entire body with the accents of musical rhythms. Emphasis is on the importance of energy, rhythmical accuracy, and style. 

Tap dance refers to dancer/s wearing tap shoes fitted with heel and toe taps, sounds out audible beats by rhythmically striking the floor or hard surface (No tap sounds permitted in music)

Musical Theatre is a form of theatre combining music, songs, spoken dialog, and dance. Live vocals are permitted with the use of the dancer/studios own devices. Please notify festival in advance to ensure proper technical support can be provided.

Street Jazz/ Jazz Funk/ Commercial is a blended fusion of a variety of street styles and jazz, involving syncopated musicality, intricate movement and femininity.

Lyrical is a combination of ballet and jazz techniques/inspired movements that enraptures a poetic and expressive quality through the use and selection of emotional driven lyrics and music.

Contemporary dance is an expressive combination of jazz, modern and ballet styles, strongly focused on connecting the mind and body through fluid or abstract movements.

Modern dance employs special techniques or a collection of principles regarding movement for developing the use of the entire body in movements expressive of abstract ideas.

Acrobatics is the art, performance or activity of an acrobat using a variety of stands, holds, tilts, flips and more in time and sync with selected music. Minimum 5 acrobatic movements to be included in routine. Arial silks, hoops and other tools are welcome, but must be provided by dancer/studio, and festival to be notified in advanced to ensure proper support can be provided.

Hip Hop derived from a lifestyle and culture, includes a multitude of styles that commit to break dance, DJing, graffiti, emceeing & knowledge. The form of hip hop dance is immersive and ever growing, performed to hip hop genres of music that which is communal, with high sense of musicality.

House is an inclusive style of dance that is influenced by African dance, latin dance, tap, jazz, hip hop, breakin' & capoeira. It involves intricate footwork, flow, vibe & jacking within the freedom of itself and love of house music.

Popping/ Locking / Funk Popping is a style of dance in which there is a sudden tensing and releasing of the muscles to rhythm of beats in music. Locking is the expression of the individual using the lock as the base. 

Waacking is about celebrating individuality, self-expression, freedom, storytelling and drama through distinct arm, hand and wrist movements with a striking motion. 

Choreography is based on how your movement speaks to your audience, through the use of music, emotion and techniques/movements to convey a message, emotional response/feeling. It involves design, creativity and risk taking. 

Open is a category that can speak to a variety of genres, that are not listed above. All styles welcomed and encouraged. 

Each judge will be specifically selected based on their expertise, knowledge and overall experience as a well rounded dance professional. 

All routines will be provided 3 unique and individual critiques. One from each judge on the panel. It will be a voice recorded critique that will speak to overall choreography, technique and performance of the dancer/s. We believe in further education and self growth to which all routines will be dancing towards earning the chance to further educate themselves and gain new dance experiences through potentially winning special awards or scholarships. 

*(No scores or placements will be provided)

Special awards will be allotted to those that are picked by the judges throughout the duration of the competition. Special awards are to acknowledge other aspects of a routine/dancers presence, that do not necessarily speak to the three critiqued categories (technique, choreography or performance).

Scholarships will be handed out to selected dancers, teachers and choreographers throughout the weekend, to attend various workshops, intensives and other dance opportunities. 

DOWNSVIEW PARK  |  70 Canuck Ave, North York, ON M3K 2C5  |  downsviewpark.ca

Friday 10th June, 9am - 7pm

Saturday 11th June, 9am - 7pm

Sunday 12th June, 9am - 7pm

**Lunch breaks and short intermissions will happen throughout the day.

Dressing room area will be provided.  Schedules for use will be provided in advance of competition in accordance to studio schedules. 

24’ x 24’ x 16” Stage Deck

There will be one zone dedicated to a shared rehearsal space that all studios and dancers are free to use. We ask that the space is used respectfully in accordance too when the dancer/s need to perform. 

Parking on site. 

All spectators are required to purchase a festival pass to enter festival grounds and enjoy the full experience of LIVE Dance Festival, as they watch their dancers hit the stage!