Welcome to Ultra Dance Tour!
Don’t risk being disqualified – Please read the Rules and Regulations carefully.
- Entries will be accepted on a first come, first served basis and will be limited to the amount of performance time available. Most of our events sell out before the deadline date, so please send in your entries early.
- Dance studios must submit all entries. Independent entries will not be accepted.
- Registration must be submitted 60 days prior to the competition.
- Regional entries and payments must be received no later than 18 days prior to the event. No payments will be accepted at the event.
- A $10 charge will be issued for any changes made 5 days prior to the event.
- Be precise. When registering for a competition, enter Music Titles, Participant Names and studio names exactly as they should appear in the Program.
- Dancers’ birth dates must be entered correctly, or they will not be able to see their personal schedules and parents will not be able to download their videos.
TYPES OF ENTRIES
- Solo
- Duet/Trio (Duets and Trios compete against each other)
- Small Group (4 to 9 dancers)
- Large Group (10 to 19 dancers)
- Mega Group (20 or more dancers)
- Production (10 or more dancers)
COMPETITION LEVELS
Competitive
- This level is for dancers who take a total of less than three hours of combined dance and/or acrobatics lessons per week.
- If a dancer competes in the Competitive Level as a soloist they must remain in the Competitive Level for all solos.
- Please note that it is not mandatory to enter the Competitive level if you take three hours or less. You may also enter the Competitive+ or Ultra Competitive level. However, if a Duet/Trio or Group has one or more dancer(s) taking more than three hours of dance/acrobatics per week, it must enter a higher level.
Competitive+
- This level is for dancers on the rise between Competitive and Ultra Competitive levels.
- Competitive+ includes dancers taking three to five hours of dance and/or acrobatics per week with limited competition experience, and not yet ready to compete at the highest level.
- Dancers competing at the Competitive+ level as a soloist must remain in the Competitive+ level for all other solos, duet/trios, and group routines performed at that competition.
Ultra Competitive
- This level is for the highest and most competitive level of dancers.
- Ultra Competitive level includes:
- All dancers taking over five hours of dance and/or acrobatics per week
- Dancers who train for less than five hours per week but wish to compete at a higher level
- Dancers competing at the Ultra Competitive level as a soloist must remain in the Ultra Competitive level for all other solos, duet/trios, and group routines performed at that competition.
- Teachers must use their own sound judgment when determining the number of hours of practice per dancer and in which level contestants should be placed. Routines that are obviously under-placed may be placed into a higher level by the judges.
AGE DIVISIONS
- Ages for Solos, Duet/Trios, and Groups are as of January 1st.
- For Duet/Trios and Groups, the ages of all contestants as of January 1st must be averaged together. If there is a decimal, always drop the decimal.
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Contestants will compete in the following age groups:
- 6 & under
- 7-8 years
- 9-11 years
- 12-14 years
- 15-19 years
- 20 years & above
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Overall recognition and medals will be given in the following age divisions:
- Mini: 6 & under
- Petite: 7-8 years
- Junior: 9-11 years
- Teen: 12-14 years
- Senior: 15-19 years
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Adult: 20 years and over
- Please note that in the Ultra Competitive level, the youngest division is grouped as 8 & under (Petite) for the Overall High Point Awards.
- Duet/Trio and Group entries cannot compete in an age division more than one age division younger than the oldest dancer’s age as of January 1st, regardless of the average age.
- For example, if an 18-year-old (Senior) is dancing in a group with an average age of 10 (Junior), the group would be moved into the Teen category (one age division younger than Senior). In this example, although the average age is 10 (Junior), the group would be required to compete in the Teen category due to the age of the Senior dancer.
CATEGORY POINT DEDUCTIONS
- The ballet and pointe dance categories can contain no gymnastic/acrobatic tricks. A one-half (.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 one being supported by another dancer with any body part).
- 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.
DANCE CATEGORIES
Hip Hop |
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Musical Theater |
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Jazz |
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Tap |
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Ballet |
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Lyrical |
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Pointe |
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Song & Dance |
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Acro/Gymnastics |
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Pom Pon |
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Clogging |
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Folkloric |
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Open |
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Contemporary |
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Modern |
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Production |
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Teacher |
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ENTRY LIMITATIONS
- The dance studio must submit all entries. Independent entries will not be accepted.
PROPS
- Fire, swords and knives on stage are prohibited. Simulated weapons with dull, safe edges such as foam/rubber are acceptable with approval of Ultra Dance Tour.
- No liquid, paint, gel, aerosol, glitter, fog, smoke, powder, paint powder, ashes or similar substance that would affect the dancing surface is allowed, unless specifically approved by Ultra Dance Tour. If this occurs, the routine may be disqualified from Overall High Point awards 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, set up, and removed quickly. Judges may take excessive set-up or removal time into consideration.
- Helium balloons are not permitted unless special permission is given by the venue.
- Safety is always our top concern. If the stage is "littered" during a routine, please be prepared to clean it up immediately after the routine is finished.
- Hoverboards are prohibited.
PROPS SET-UP TIME LIMITS
- Solos, Duets, Trios, Small Groups and Large Groups are expected to set up props in 1:00 minute or less and remove props in 1:00 minute or less (2:00 minutes cumulative).
- Mega Groups are expected to set up props in 1:30 minutes or less and remove props in 1:30 minutes or less (3:00 minutes cumulative).
- Productions are expected to set up props in 2:30 minutes or less and remove props in 2:30 minutes or less (5:00 minutes cumulative).
- If prop set-up/removal exceeds the specified time limits, performances may be subject to point deductions. An additional 1:00 minute total for set-up/removal of props may be purchased for a flat fee of $25.00. Solos, Duets and Trios are not permitted extended prop set-up/removal time.
COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS
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Time limits allotted per dance:
- Solo, Duet/Trio, and Small Group entries: three minutes (3:00)
- Large Group and Mega Group entries: four minutes (4:00)
- Production category entries: eight minutes (8:00)
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Extended performance time is available for an additional fee:
- 1:00 minute for a fee of $3.00 per performer
- 2:00 minutes for a fee of $4.00 per performer
- 3:00 minutes for a fee of $5.00 per performer
- 4:00 minutes for a fee of $6.00 per performer
- Extended time is only available for Small Groups, Large Groups, Mega Groups and Productions. Solos, Duets and Trios are not permitted extended performance time.
- 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 allotted time per dance will be given for machine calibration error. A deduction of one tenth of a point (.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.
- The same contestant(s) cannot compete more than once in the same dance category and age group in Solo competition. This means that contestants must never compete against themselves in the same age group and dance category.
- Soloists are limited to two solo performances.
- Routines performed at Ultra regional competitions are eligible to enter any of the KAR National Finals, regardless of the regional location at which the contestant qualified.
- Routines are expected to perform in the order in which they are scheduled.
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Routines must be performed corresponding to the awards session in which they are scheduled. If the routine cannot perform in the segment corresponding to the awards session in which it is scheduled for any reason, it will be subject to being ineligible for Overall High Point Awards; see the examples and additional notes below:
- If a routine performs early (prior to the scheduled segment/corresponding awards session), the routine will receive its adjudication at the subsequent awards and will remain eligible for Overall High Point Awards. Overalls will be announced during the routine’s originally scheduled awards session.
- If a routine performs after its scheduled segment/corresponding awards session, the routine will receive its adjudication at the subsequent awards only, and will be ineligible for the Overall High Point Awards.
- The routine will be qualified for any KAR National Finals.
- In the Competitive+ and Ultra Competitive levels, the adjudication score will still be displayed at the end of the performance and the routine will receive judge comments as it normally would.
- Still photography/video recording is limited to taking photos/videos of your own child. No professional set-ups/tripods/monopods are allowed.
- 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.
- Air horns or similar devices are prohibited.
- Routines that are obviously under-placed into the wrong skill level may be placed into a higher level by the judges.
- Any studio that makes an enrollment/routine change 5 days prior to the event is subject to a $10 fee for each change.
- Duet/Trios cannot win in Group categories.
Scores & Deductions
- A panel of industry leading 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 Ultra Dance Tour and that all decisions of the judges are final.
- 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.
- Routines that are not completed (unless due to a costume malfunction that would result in an immodest performance) will no longer qualify for Overall High Point awards.
- Ties will not be broken during the General Placement Awards. Ties will however be broken for the Overall High Point Awards.
- A one point deduction per judge will be incurred if any special microphones or sound equipment is hooked up by Ultra Dance Tour for any performance.
- Live scores will be displayed at every regional event for all levels. Placement for these live scores are considered tentative and are not a direct representation of the Overall High Point Awards.
Music Requirements
- Each entry must furnish its own music through the Studio Center on our website.
- Music must be uploaded five (5) days prior to the event.
- Music on cell phones or other personal devices will not be accepted.
- It is recommended that you bring a second copy of your music on a USB as a backup in the event of malfunction of the original.
Ultra's Ultimate Improv Challenge
- The Ultimate Improv Challenge provides an opportunity for all dancers who are registered at the event to compete in an Improvisation category of competition, separate from the regular competitive entries. Each dancer will take the stage, and then music will be selected at random for them to perform. Improv dancing is unplanned, spontaneous, and in response to the music that plays at that moment; dancers can approach their performance applying any style of dance (or fusion of styles) that moves them in the moment.
- Judges will select winners based on each dancer’s abilities as an Improv soloist, based 75% on performance and movement quality and 25% on technique. Some factors that will be considered include authenticity of movement, musicality, and how well dancers can perform an unchoreographed piece.
- Dancers may wear anything that allows them to feel their best for the Improv Challenge, however please do not wear a dance costume.
- Each registered dancer will receive a number (to be attached to their clothing, audition-style). When it’s time to begin the Improv segment, an announcement will be made for all dancers who have registered for the Improv Challenge to gather backstage. Dancers will each enter the stage one at a time and improv for 45 seconds after the 10 second countdown ends. A winner will be selected by the judges from each of the four age categories listed below.
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Age categories for Ultra’s Ultimate Improv Challenge will be as follows:
- Junior: Ages 12 & Under
- Senior: Ages 13 & Above
- Selected winners will receive a full tuition scholarship to KAR Dance Convention (valued at $185) and an exclusive Ultimate Improv Challenge Winner T-shirt!
- Space for the Ultimate Improv Challenge is limited. The registration fee for this Challenge is $45 and will close 7 days prior to the event. Those who register after this point will incur an additional fee. At each event, once the maximum number of participants has been met, we will no longer accept new registration for the Improv Challenge; to avoid this, we encourage dancers to register before the 7 day cut off.
AWARDS
- Elite Platinum, Elite Top First Place, Top First Place, and First Place awards will be decided by the judges based on a predetermined range of points for each placement.
- There may be multiple Elite Platinum, Elite Top First Place, Top First Place, and First Place awards in each age group and category.
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Contestants will compete in the following age groups:
- 6 & under
- 7-8 years
- 9-11 years
- 12-14 years
- 15-19 years
- 20 years & above
- All Elite Platinum, Elite Top First Place, Top First Place, and First Place award winners will be eligible for any 2025 KAR National Finals.
- All gift certificates are automatically deposited into the Virtual Wallet in the Studio Center.
COMPETITIVE & COMPETITIVE+ LEVEL AWARDS
Overall recognition and medals will be given in the following six age divisions:
- Mini: 6 years & under
- Petite: 7-8 years
- Junior: 9-11 years
- Teen: 12-14 years
- Senior: 15-19 years
- Adult: 20 years and over
ULTRA COMPETITIVE LEVEL AWARDS
Overall recognition and medals will be given in the following five age divisions:
- Petite: 8 years & under
- Junior: 9-11 years
- Teen: 12-14 years
- Senior: 15-19 years
- Adult: 20 years and over
Top Solo
- A $50 Ultra Dance Tour gift certificate will be awarded to the Soloist in the Mini: 6 years & under, Petite: 7-8, Junior: 9-11, Teen: 12-14, and Senior: 15-19 age groups receiving the highest overall score; note however that in the Ultra Competitive level, the youngest division is grouped as 8 & under (Petite) for the Overall High Point Awards.
- If a contestant performs two solos, only the highest scoring one counts for the Overall High Point Awards.
- The Top 5 scoring soloists from the Junior, Teen and Senior divisions in all Levels at every regional event become Ultra Dance Tour All Star Dancers and are invited to the Hollywood Dance Experience with a $500 scholarship.
Top Duet/Trio
- A $50 Ultra Dance Tour gift certificate will be awarded to the Duet/Trio in the Mini: 6 years & under, Petite: 7-8, Junior: 9-11, Teen: 12-14, and Senior: 15-19 age groups receiving the highest overall score; note however that in the Ultra Competitive level, the youngest division is grouped as 8 & under (Petite) for the Overall High Point Awards.
- The Top 5 scoring Duet/Trios from the junior, teen and senior divisions in all levels at every regional event become Ultra Dance Tour All Star Dancers and are invited to the Hollywood Dance Experience with a $250 scholarship.
Top Small Group
- In the Competitive+ and Ultra Competitive Levels, a $500 Ultra Dance Tour gift certificate will be awarded to the Small Group in the Mini: 6 years & under, Petite: 7-8, Junior: 9-11, Teen: 12-14, and Senior: 15-19 age groups receiving the highest overall score; note however that in the Ultra Competitive level, the youngest division is grouped as 8 & under (Petite) for the Overall High Point Awards.
- In the Competitive Level, a $100 Ultra Dance Tour gift certificate will be awarded to the Small Group in the Mini: 6 years & under, Petite: 7-8, Junior: 9-11, Teen: 12-14, and Senior: 15-19 age groups receiving the highest overall score.
- The Top 3 scoring Small Group from the junior, teen and senior divisions in all levels at every regional event become Ultra Dance Tour All Star Dancers and are invited to the Hollywood Dance Experience with a $250 scholarship.
Top Large Group
- In the Competitive+ and Ultra Competitive Levels, a $1000 Ultra Dance Tour gift certificate will be awarded to the Large Group in the Mini: 6 years & under, Petite: 7-8, Junior: 9-11, Teen: 12-14, and Senior: 15-19 age groups receiving the highest overall score; note however that in the Ultra Competitive level, the youngest division is grouped as 8 & under (Petite) for the Overall High Point Awards.
- In the Competitive Level, a $100 Ultra Dance Tour gift certificate will be awarded to the Large Group in the Mini: 6 years & under, Petite: 7-8, Junior: 9-11, Teen: 12-14, and Senior: 15-19 age groups receiving the highest overall score.
- The Top 3 scoring Large Group from the junior, teen and senior divisions in all levels at every regional event become Ultra Dance Tour All Star Dancers and are invited to the Hollywood Dance Experience with a $250 scholarship.
Top Mega Group
- In the Competitive+ and Ultra Competitive Levels, a $1000 Ultra Dance Tour gift certificate will be awarded to the Mega Group in the Mini: 6 years & under, Petite: 7-8, Teen: 12-14, and Senior: 15-19 age groups receiving the highest overall score; note however that in the Ultra Competitive level, the youngest division is grouped as 8 & under (Petite) for the Overall High Point Awards.
- In the Competitive Level, a $100 Ultra Dance Tour gift certificate will be awarded to the Mega Group in the Mini: 6 years & under, Petite: 7-8, Junior: 9-11, Teen: 12-14, and Senior: 15-19 age groups receiving the highest overall score.
- The Top 3 scoring Mega Group from the junior, teen and senior divisions in all levels at every regional event become Ultra Dance Tour All Star Dancers and are invited to the Hollywood Dance Experience with a $250 scholarship.
Top Production
- A $100 Ultra Dance Tour gift certificate will be awarded to the Production group in the Competitive, Competitive+, and Ultra Competitive Level receiving the highest overall score; in the Production category, all ages will be combined together for the Overalls.
- The Top scoring Production from each level at every regional event become Ultra Dance Tour All Star Dancers and are invited to the Hollywood Dance Experience with a $250 scholarship.
REGIONAL ICON OF THE YEAR AWARD
- The Icon of The Year competition is open to all soloists in the Competitive, Competitive+ and Ultra Competitive level. All Regional Finalists will receive an Icon of The Year commemorative gift. The highest scoring Finalist will receive an Icon of The Year commemorative award.
- The registration fee for the Icon of the Year competition is $50.
- Dancers who are announced as Icon of the Year Finalists will be qualified to compete for Title at any KAR National Finals.
SUPERCHARGED PERFORMANCE AWARD
- At each regional Ultra Dance Tour event, the highest scoring routine from each level (Competitive, Competitive+, and Ultra Competitive) of the entire event will be awarded the Supercharged Performance Award, to be announced at the awards segment in which all routines from that level have competed.
- The Supercharged Performance Award can be awarded to any routine in any age division or category. Solos, Duet/Trios, Small Groups, Large Groups, Mega Groups, and Productions are all eligible for this award.
- The winners of the Supercharged Performance Award will receive a banner and will be in the running for the Supercharged Performance of the Season Award, to be announced online after all 2025 Ultra Dance Tour events have concluded.
DANCER HEADSHOT AWARD
- These awards will be presented to the contestants judged based on the following criteria: photo quality, creativity, presentation, visual appeal, expressiveness of the dancer, age appropriateness, composition, lighting and quality of the photo.
- For each regional competition, there will be one Junior Dancer Headshot winner (age 11 & Under) and one Senior Dancer Headshot winner (age 12 & Above).
- All entries must submit a recent headshot online through the Parent Center. All contestants must be registered at the Ultra Dance Tour regional event to enter the Dancer Headshot competition.
- Entry Fee $30
WITHDRAWING/ADDING DANCERS
- The studio must make all withdrawals and changes.
ULTRA DANCE TOUR APPROPRIATE
- 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.
PHOTO & VIDEO STUDIO PACKAGE
- Ultra Dance Tour is proud to offer the All Inclusive Photo & Video Studio Package for the 2025 Regional Tour! For the affordable price of $35 per dancer or $45 per family (siblings only), your studio will enjoy ALL your Regional Photos and Videos. The fee is required per dancer and will be due 14 days prior to the start of competition. Parents can access their dancers’ photos and videos inside their Parent Center online. Photos and Videos will be available 3-5 days after the completion of the competition.
- Studio Owners: Please make sure after you complete your registration and prior to paying your competition fees that all of your parents create Parent Center accounts and link their account to your studio. If you have already paid and your parents link their siblings prior to the event, the studio will receive a credit for the difference of the media fee with the Family Package. The credit will appear in your Studio Center “Wallet”. This Media Fee credit is non refundable. If your families wait until after the event to link siblings, there is no discount given and the Media Package is billed at FULL price ($35 per dancer). It is very important that your families sign up and link their account to your studio. Please also make sure to instruct them to download their photos and videos as they will only stay in the parent accounts for a limited amount of time.
- Multiple Regional Event Discount - Dancers who compete at multiple Ultra Dance Competitions do not have to pay an additional Media Fee! Once a dancer has paid the 2025 Regional media fee of $35 or $45 per family (siblings only), any regional event they attend thereafter will be complimentary.
ULTRA DANCE TOUR’S VIDEO & PHOTOGRAPHY USE
- Contestants and teachers by virtue of entering an Ultra Dance Tour event give their permission and consent to the Directors of Ultra Dance Tour to use their images, photographs or appear in videos, television, or any other electronic media for advertising, news coverage or any other commercial use of our events.
BE SAFE
- Any performer competing in dance competitions takes certain inherent risks. These include, but are not limited to, sprains, bruises, pulled muscles, and broken bones.
- Participation in this competition indicates the acceptance of such risks by performers. Therefore by virtue of entering this event, it is agreed that participants will not hold Ultra Dance Tour® Inc.; or its officers, directors, officials, staff or employees responsible for injuries sustained or illnesses contracted by them while in attendance and/or participating in any activity related to Ultra Dance Tour events.
- Ultra Dance Tour Inc., and the hosting facility are not responsible for personal injury to contestants or spectators.
- Ultra Dance Tour is not responsible for lost or stolen property. Do not leave your property and valuables unattended in the event center, theater, or dressing rooms.