SOUTHERN DANCE FESTIVAL INC.

”Dance & make a difference”
Reg. No. A0013656X 

2024

General Rules and Conditions

1. All competitors dance completely at their own risk.

2. Costumes, choreography and musical lyrics must be age appropriate and family  friendly. The adjudicator or a committee member may stop the competition at any time if they feel that the content of a routine is not age or audience appropriate.

3. NOVICE is a competitor who has NOT won 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in the section/s they wish to enter at any time in any competition. Any competitor who has placed for the first time after our closing date may remain in novice for that year. 6 years and under sections are excluded from this rule.    

4. If a competitor leaves the stage before the end of an item other than through any fault of the committee, they may return at the end of the section and dance for a critique only except in Championship sections.

5. Only short tutus may be worn in Classical solo items.

6. Competitors must appear in the order in which their names are listed in the programme and may only appear once in any section, including duos/trios and troupes. Competitors arriving after their number has been called, but before the end of the section, will be allowed to dance at the end of the section for a critique only.  Proceedings will not be delayed due to the late arrival of a competitor.

7. Tap shoes must not be worn in the auditorium. Tap shoes are permitted in the rehearsal area, provided they are covered with socks.

8. Any item already performed must not be repeated in any sections, including special sections. VCE Dance items must not be repeated in the Choreographic championship.

9. Any audience member whose conduct is distracting to competitors will be asked to leave the auditorium. Inappropriate behavior will not be accepted at any time. Respect for all committee members, volunteers, competitors, and property of the venue is expected at all times.

10. A competitor may not dance a routine from a previous teacher, having left that school, unless permission in writing has been granted by the former teacher, and   provided to the committee.

11. In a medical emergency or accident situation, the Committee reserves the right to call an ambulance. Any cost incurred will be charged to the parent/guardian concerned. 

12. Any protest must be lodged in writing to a member of the committee, within one hour of the completion of the section, accompanied by a deposit of $20. If the protest is deemed to be unsubstantiated, the $20 will be donated to the Festival’s charity.

13. A competitor pass may not entitle entry to the theatre for all sections. Competitors may be asked to vacate the auditorium if there are insufficient seats for paying audience members.

14. At Carwatha College, there is to be NO smoking in the buildings or grounds. This is a State Government requirement.

15. Perpetual Trophies must be returned to the committee prior to or at the commencement of the following year’s competition. Trophies are to be returned in the condition in which they were presented and engraved with the successful recipient’s name. Any costs incurred by the committee in rectifying a damaged trophy or engraving etc., will be the responsibility of the previous year’s winner.

16. Any competitor may be photographed by an official photographer or member of the committee or their delegate during the Festival. These photos may be used on the official Festival social media sites or in printed material. If you wish to opt out, please let the committee know in writing prior to the Festival commencing.

17. Dancers are not permitted side stage until they are the next performer.

18. All information in the Schedule forms part of these rules.

ADJUDICATOR

19. The adjudicator’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

20. Communication with the adjudicator at any time during the competition by any persons other than members of the committee, is strictly forbidden.

21. Competitors will be ineligible to enter Southern Dance Festival if they have been taught or coached by an adjudicator in the 12 months immediately preceding the start of the Festival. Competitors may not perform any routine choreographed by an adjudicator.

22. The committee reserves the right to substitute an adjudicator or appoint a co-adjudicator as it sees fit.

23. Where only one competitor is present, they will be adjudicated to such standard as the adjudicator deems appropriate.

AGE

24. Competitor’s age before 1^st January 2024.

25. All competitors must have proof of age ready to present if requested. Failure to do so will result in the competitor not being able to compete or in the case of already having competed, being disqualified.

 

COPYRIGHT

26. In accordance with federal laws, competitors must use original music or have permission from the relevant owners of the copyright. The committee will not be responsible for any copyright infringements.

27. No recording devices of any nature may be used in the auditorium or change rooms other than by the official videographer or photographer or a committee member or their delegate. Any patron using a recording device must leave the auditorium immediately and delete any footage taken.

ENTRIES

28. Entries must be lodged via Stardom before the closing date and accompanied by the correct payment.

29. There will be no refunds, credits or exchanges for any sections entered where a  competitor is no longer able to attend, has been entered incorrectly or has been disqualified. It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure they enter the correct section.

30. Sections may be combined at the committee’s discretion if there are insufficient numbers.

31. In solo sections, competitors may only enter in their own age group and only in novice or open (not both).

32. In Championship sections, if there are fewer than 10 competitors, prize money may be reduced from that advertised. 

MUSIC

33. Competitors must upload their music to "Music Uploads" by the date advised by the committee once the system is available for use. Any other form of music will no longer be accepted.

34. Music downloaded into Music Uploads must contain all fades, stops etc required by the dancer. These will not be added by Festival staff.

35. Song & Dance and Song & Tap sections must not have recorded vocal in any part of the item. Recorded vocals may be used in the Revuette but not while competitors are singing. Pre-recorded music must not contain tapping beats for any tap item.

36. All items will be timed from when the competitor begins to perform, or commencement of their music, whichever comes first. If an item is over time the  competitor will be disqualified.

SPECIAL EFFECTS AND PROPS

37. No breakable items including but not limited to glass, mirrors and ceramics, loose   glitter, fresh fruit, flowers, hay or vegetables will be permitted. If in doubt, please contact the committee before submitting entries. Props considered dangerous by the committee will be disallowed.

38. The competitor is responsible for cleaning up after the use of props. If the competition needs to be stopped to clean up the stage after a prop, the competitor will be disqualified. No props are to be left side stage or backstage after the routine is completed.

39. Troupe and solo props should be of a size that can be handled easily by the competitor/s. Props must be supplied by the competitor/s eg: tables, chairs etc. at the venue are not to be used.

40. No person/s other than the competitor/s is permitted on stage during solo or duo/trio performance to assist the competitor/s.

41. Lighting which requires a change to the lighting board are prohibited at Carwatha    unless otherwise notified by the committee. Lighting sheets for troupes performing at The Drum must be completed correctly and returned by the due date.

42. Full Curtain is permitted only for troupes and championship sections. Half curtain is permitted for any item, provided props are involved in the item and the half curtain is operated by a teacher.

 

TEACHERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

43. No competitor may dance in both halves of divided troupe sections. Should this occur both troupes will be disqualified.

44. All teachers entering troupes must present to the Festival Secretary, via Stardom, a list of all troupe members (in age groups), together with the name and date of birth of each competitor.

45. Troupe rehearsals must only be conducted in the allocated changing space at The Drum. Dancers at Carwatha should use the rehearsal area for short rehearsals only. Priority will be given to items in the current section or the section about to commence.

GENERAL RULES

46. Southern Dance Festival is open to amateurs only. An amateur is one who does not derive a regular income from the Performing Arts. No full-time dancers are permitted to compete.

47. One person only with a pass/entry wristband will be allowed side-stage with competitors in solo and duo/trio sections for the duration of the item. Coaching from off-stage during a performance will not be allowed, except for Under 6 sections.

48. During championship sections, only the competitor on stage may have one person side stage. All other competitors, teachers etc must wait in the green room.

49. Each dancer entering one or more Championship sections must provide a volunteer to work one entire shift at the Festival. If multiple siblings performing in Championship sections, only one volunteer per family is required. The volunteer must hold a valid Working with Children Check card. Disqualification may result to any dancer not producing the requisite volunteer.

50. Troupes are to have a minimum of six competitors dancing.

51. Teachers are permitted side-stage throughout the festival with the exception of championships sections.

52. If the Festival is unable to proceed due to COVID-19 restrictions, entries will be refunded minus the stardom and administration fees.

53. The Southern Dance Festival Committee reserves the right to implement policies, procedures, restrictions and requirements for the running of the 2024 Southern Dance Festival to comply with government restrictions. All competitors and others who attend the dance venue are required to comply with such policies, procedures, restrictions, and requirements and may be required to provide contact details. There may also be delays in relation to hygiene and sanitization procedures implemented by the Committee that need to be adhered to for the safety of our competitors, audience members, family members and volunteers.

54. The committee can and will make any changes to the rules or running of the Festival, both before and during the Festival, which are required to ensure compliance with governmental guidelines, rules and restrictions relevant to the time. It is the responsibility of competitors to ensure that they follow all such rules and the advice of the Committee.

55. Tights must be worn by all competitors wearing a leotard or tutu.

GENRE DEFINITIONS

Character: a clear portrayal of a character or story by acting ability and expressive dancing using classical technique. Use of props is allowed.

Classical Ballet: A performance that must include classical steps and ballet technique. Ballet or Pointe shoes only to be worn. Only short tutus may be worn in Classical solo items.  

Contemporary: Contemporary dance incorporates abstract and extreme concepts using unpredictable changes in direction, speed and dynamics.

It combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz and classical ballet.

Hip Hop: A routine that utilizes Hip Hop / Breakdance or Rap movements.

Jazz: A routine using jazz technique including moves such as strong and sharp movements, splits, kicks, isolations, jumps etc.

Lyrical: Lyrical is expressive dance, focusing on conveying musicality and emotion through movement. It combines the many technical elements of classical ballet with aspects of jazz, acro and contemporary.

Musical Theatre/Broadway Jazz: A form of theatrical dancing that combines the music from a musical or film with the movements of classic jazz styles. Music does not have to be from the   original soundtrack.

National: a theatrically choreographed presentation of a dance from a country. Dance,    costume and music must be authentic to the country portrayed.

Neo Classical: Slow controlled ballet movements, set to slow music or ballad. Routine must demonstrate balance, flexibility and control utilizing the mood of the music.

Own Choreography: Must be 100% student produced, no teacher or choreographer assistance.

Song & Dance: can be either Song & Soft Shoe or Song & Tap. No pre-recorded vocals allowed in any part of the solo and no pre-recorded tap beats allowed.

Song & Soft Shoe: Routine that must contain both singing and dancing. No pre-recorded  vocals allowed in any part of the solo.

Song & Tap: Routine that must contain both singing and tapping. No pre-recorded vocals allowed in any part of the solo and no pre-recorded tap beats allowed.

Tap: Any style or tempo of tap permitted. No pre-recorded tap beats are allowed. 

Revuette:   An entertaining Song & Dance item with a theme or story.  Must contain more than one dance style.  A variety of performance features is to be encouraged.

Variation/Repertoire:   Routine must be from a Classical Ballet. Competitor must nominate which variation they will be performing. Appropriate costume for the variation to be worn.

Improvisation:   All competitors will hear the music once directly before performing on stage. Music will be chosen by Adjudicator. Time length could be between 30 seconds-90 seconds, at the Adjudicators discretion. All performers in a section will be given the same piece of music. All competitors will be kept separate for the duration of the section, including no teachers of student or support person to be backstage during this section. Competitors to wear Black Dance Attire with appropriate footwear. Girls – Black leotard with no headpiece. Boys – Black fitted top with Black Tights or Bike Shorts.