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Energetiks Dance Competition 2022

Dates:

Thursday 15^th September to Saturday 1^st October

VENUE:

1879 Founders Theatre – Federation University, Ballarat

Section Chair

Sally Stevens

Sub Committee

To be confirmed

RULES & SPECIAL CONDITIONS

IMPORTANT: To be read in conjunction with General Conditions.

1) AGE:

The age of the competitor shall be taken as that on 31^st December of the preceding year (2021). Birth certificate of proof of age may be requested at any time. See General Conditions 2. Solos in age levels, Groups/Troupes. ‘OPEN’ means any age level.

2) AGGREGATE AWARDS:

Points for aggregates will be awarded as follows.

First ~ 6; Second ~ 4; Third ~ 2; Honourable Mention (HM) ~ 1

Solo Aggregates ~ All Solos Sections excluding Novice are scored.

School Aggregates ~ All Groups/Troupes are scored.

3) ASSISTANCE:

Teachers or non-members of groups, who are not on stage performing, are not to give assistance in singing to troupes or solo performers who are performing.

4) CURTAINS:

House (Front) curtain will only be used for Demi-Character Solos and Demi-Character Duos or Trios.
House (Front) curtain will be used for all Groups/Troupes.
Mid curtain may only be used for Troupe sections.
No curtain for under 6 years, Novice Sections of any age (including Demi-Character Solo Sections)
Scrim curtain may only be used for Troupes.

5) ENTRIES:

Numbers ~ where entries in a section are excessive, extra divisions or heats and finals may be arranged at the Committee’s discretion. Where numbers are inadequate, sections maybe combined or cancelled.
Changing Divisions ~ Once the current guidebook is printed, competitors are not permitted to change between divisions of a section or their order in division, except in exceptional circumstances. Requests for changes must be made via email to admin@royalsouthstreet.com.au who will send to the section chair for approval.

6) LIMITED COMPETITION:

One Appearance ~ a competitor or Group/Troupe can only appear once in any one section. A Dancer cannot enter twice under different schools or re-appear in different Group/Troupe of the same school in the one section.
No Repeat ~ An item by any Competitor, specifically the choreography, is not to be performed again by that competitor in any other section. (see General Conditions 1.)
Dance Copyright ~ Competitors must be aware of copyright responsibilities. The Royal South Street Society is in no way responsible for personal breach of copyright. If in doubt, APRA AMCOS may be contacted directly.

7) PROPERTY and SCENERY:

All props for use must comply with safety regulations as stated on the Royal South Street Society website under “Props”. Failure to comply will result in the props being prohibited.
The props must be made to stand safely on a stage sloping at 37mm per metre length. They must not be attached to theatre curtains and must not damage the stage floor. See 16.5
Props & Scenery items should be kept to a minimum. All items should be labelled with competitor’s name or Dance School and Section number.
Scenery/backdrops may be hung from fly bars prior to the section, by arrangement with the Duty Technician. (Scene cloths should be 6.5 to 7 metres in height). Intention to fly scenery must be notified on the teacher’s “lighting cue sheet”. Choice of fly bar will be determined by order of request & operational limitations. Scenery must comply with safety standards such as anchor points and fire proofing or will not be hung.
All props, backdrops etc. must be removed from the Stage area after the time of use, and not stored backstage except with special permission from Stage Manager.
Internal combustion engines are not to be operated on stage. If part of a prop, it must be drained of all fuel and oil before entering the theatre.
Weapons such as Guns for use as props must NOT be real or look authentic. Swords, knives etc, used as props must be blunt and made of wood or plastic.
Chemical Aerosol cans must not be used on stage unless prior approval is obtained from Venue Technician or Royal South Street Society Stage Manager. Talcum powder or similar is not to be used in props, costumes, or hair. Rosin is not to be used on the stage. Stage must not be sprayed with any paint, lacquer, glue or similar. Similarly, no props to be spray painted, lacquered, glued or similar up behind the black curtain at the rear of the Stage, behind Cyc curtain.
Glass or ceramic items are not allowed on stage.
Shoes with stiletto heels are not allowed on the Tarkett floor.

8) PERFORMANCES:

Rehearsals: No practice is allowed on stage during the dance competitions, except for prior Championship Sections when the Stage Manager will call performers to the stage.
Stage Check: There shall be no warming up, no practice, no marking through, and no setting of formations during a “stage check”.
Registration: Dancers should book in with the registrar before the start of the morning, afternoon or evening session. The deadline is 5 minutes before the start of section. Competitors may not be allowed to perform unless permission is granted by the Stage Manager.
Withdrawals: As a matter of courtesy, please notify admin@royalsouthstreet.com.au of withdrawals as soon as possible.
Side Stage Helpers: Solo/Duo dances are limited to having 2 Teachers & 2 prop helpers/assistants side stage; so, a maximum of 4. Teachers (unless they have students in the next dance), and Helpers must leave the stage area as soon as dance is finished.
Warm Up: During Solo Sessions, only three (3) Competitors in performance order and their Teacher (Maximum of 2 allowed) may mark/warm up quietly backstage behind the black curtain. Never on OP side stage (stage right). No Jumping allowed.

Competitors and Teachers (unless Teacher has the next student onstage) are then required to exit through the Back-Stage Door when their dance is completed. Otherwise, Competitors and Teachers are requested to wait quietly in the Green Room to be called in turn to mark/warm up, by the Stage Manager. Competitors have time with this system, to get “into the zone” of the stage area before they perform.

Entering the Stage Area: Competitors, Teachers and /or helpers are NOT permitted to enter through the Back-Stage Door at ANY time when the RED light is flashing, signifying that the stage is live. No exceptions, for Teachers or helpers with Props!
Group/Troupe Starts: When called on Stage prior to starting performance, Group/Troupe members must go straight to their start positions. There shall be NO marking, blocking of troupes, or rehearsal whilst waiting on the stage.
Group/Troupe Numbers: In all Group/Troupe sections, the minimum number of dancers is 6. The maximum number of dancers on the performance area of the stage, at any one time in any one item, shall be 30.
Dance Safety Performances should be designed to be safe for everyone. Safety concerns will over-ride all Competition Rules. Performances will be stopped or disallowed if safety is deemed inadequate as determined by the Duty Technician, Adjudicator or Stage Manager. Any potentially unsafe choreographic movement e.g.: aerials, lifts etc may have an on-stage practice, by request to/of and under the supervision of the Duty Technician or Stage Manager.
Dangerous Dancing Any dance requiring the use of wheels (e.g.: bicycles, tricycles, scooters, skateboards, roller-skates, mobile props), balls, ladders, throwing of items and any performance in front of the house curtain, must have a “Risk Assessment” form completed and lodged with Royal South Street Society office on the day of performance. Forms are available on the Royal South Street Society website.

9) RESTARTS:

a) A competitor who commences performing an item and stops, and is allowed to re-start the item, will receive a Critique only, with no official marks. Exceptions as follows:

b) Commencing with the wrong music may be tolerated, provided the fault is quickly corrected and the dance has not begun.

c) If serious interference, with the wrong or premature cessation of a performance is caused by a fault of Royal South Street Society management of equipment, or by an accident beyond anyone’s reasonable control, then that item may be repeated and adjudicated accordingly. See also Safety Rule 16 and General Rule Safety Rule 8. A performance-in-crisis (say injury or costume/prop malfunction) may be stopped by the Adjudicator, Teacher, Duty Technician or Stage Manager. A repeat performance will be allowed, subject to Adjudicator’s wish, safety and practical considerations. Adjudication will be made on the first performance up to the point of disaster, and on any work after that point, in the repeat performance.

d) Once a performance has commenced and the music is faulty or ceases to play the dancer must continue. At the discretion of the Stage Manager, in consultation with the Adjudicator, the performance may be stopped and restarted or repeated at the end of the section. Should the competitor leave the stage without the direction of the stage manager, they may be offered the opportunity to repeat the dance for a critique only at the discretion of the Stage Manager in consultation with the Adjudicator.

10) DANCE GENRES DESCRIPTIONS:

CLASSICAL BALLET:

Shall be based on classical ballet techniques. In solos, short ballet tutus, romantic length tutus, or short skirts (Balanchine Style) to be worn. Properties and handheld accessories are not to be used.

DEMI-CHARACTER:

A clear portrayal of a character or story by demonstrating acting and miming ability and expressive dancing using classical technique. Properties and handheld accessories are permitted.

MODERN DANCE:

Shall include Modern, Neo-Classical (which means ‘new’ Classical), and/or Spiritual/Liturgical. Not Jazz, Disco, Musical Theatre/Comedy, Funk or Hip Hop. Note: From 8 years to Under 10 up, Contemporary styles are separated to an individual section.

LYRICAL

Danced to music with lyrics. Competitor should tell the story of the lyrics with emotion, feeling through the body (artistry), as well as showing a clear understanding of the progressing dance technique according to age level.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE:

Shall include all styles of Contemporary technique or syllabi, demonstrating the melting pot of unconventional movement gathered from all dance styles – embracing freedom of space, trying to explore the absolute limits of the human from and visual expression of raw feelings/emotions. Ideally, should show the development of new forms and dynamics, such as quick oppositional moves, contractions, body rolls, shifting alignments, systematic breathing, standing or non-standing positions. eg: using the floor as a suspended space. Can be executed with or without music.

SONG AND DANCE:

Any dance style can be used, but No Tapping allowed.

SONG AND TAP:

Shall be Tapping Only

SONG AND TAP/SONG AND DANCE:

All vocal work must be performed live by members of the item. If recorded music is used, it must not contain any vocalization. EG: singing, speaking, shouts, harmony backing etc). No assistance with singing.

TAP:

No recorded Tapping in background music is allowed.

JAZZ:

Shall include Jazz, Disco, Cabaret, Musical Comedy (Musical Theatre) and Up-Tempo Modern styles. Teachers are encouraged in 10 to Under 12 years and 12 to Under 14 years to refrain from using inappropriate costuming for these underage groups (eg: Showgirl; type of costume). Teachers are also encouraged to use age-appropriate music with age-appropriate lyrics.

GROUPS / TROUPES:

Minimum number of 6 (SIX) dancers in the troupe and maximum number of 30 performers on stage at any one time (refer to Performance Rule 8i).

NOVICE:

A Competitor who at the time of entry, has never previously won 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd place at any Competition/Eisteddfod, anywhere or in any genre/ style. A novice dancer does not have to enter a Novice Section and is permitted to enter any Normal Non-Novice Section. A Novice dancer may choose to enter one or two dances in the Novice Sections. An entrant into a Novice Section, can only choose one style of dance from the “Classical Novice Section” (EG: Classical, Demi-Character or Modern) AND/OR Choose One style of dance from the Theatrical Novice Section. (EG: Jazz, Tap, Song & Tap or Song & Dance) Entering two dances from the one Novice Section (EG: Classical and Modern in Classical Novice Section or Tap and Jazz in Theatrical Novice Section) would not be allowed. Competitors entered in a Championship Section cannot enter a Novice Section.

A novice dance cannot be repeated in any other normal non-Novice Section.

11) SPECIAL EFFECTS:

Special lighting, or other effects only to be used for Groups/Troupes.
Special lighting by Duty Technician must have prior arrangement by way of Lighting Forms. Plotting sessions will be available the night before the Troupes/Groups commences. Please note that lighting sheets must be typed if no lighting form is not submitted only standard lighting (as per solos) will be provided.
Protected lights may be attached to Competitors’ scenery and backdrops, but not to theatre curtains.
Naked flames, fuel lamps lighted cigarettes, fireworks, or apparatus capable of causing fire or smoke are not permitted.
Bubble, Snow and Smoke machines are Not Allowed.
Helium filled balloons are not permitted anywhere in the theatre

12) DATA LIGHT PROJECTOR (DLP)

Available for use in Group/Troup Sections. There is a hiring fee of $35 per DLP per item.
The Royal South Street Society Laptop computer must be used.
Images to be provide on a dedicated CD, DVD, USB Memory Stick, and be programmed to as Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation. Please only one item on each CD/DVD, however multiples can be placed on USB.
Audio may also be submitted on the same devise as the PowerPoint presentation. These must be checked by Duty Technician during a pre-booked plotting session.
A separate copy of the music must be provided as a backup.
Teachers must provide their own operator for the DLP.

13) STAGE:
1879 Founders Hall Federation University
2022 – Measurements to be provided to entrants after closing date.

Her Majesty’s Theatre

Area:

The performing area of the stage is approximately 8.5m wide by 9.25 m deep (for Solos) or 10.80m deep for Groups/Troupes. Stage slopes (Raked Stage) towards the audience at 37mm per metre length. Height to below borders (top curtains) is 5 metres, to middle positions for fly bar is 6 metres.

Orchestra Pit:

The area from the front curtain to the edge of the stage is 800mm. An orchestra pit lies across the front of the stage and it has a drop of 900mm to a solid surface. There shall be no jumping into the orchestra pit as part of any performance. The pit is covered by an extended stage. This extension is not suitable for performance.

Tarkett:

Royal South Street Society owns an Ivy League 4mm Tarkett/Vinyl floor to fit the entire stage of the theatre. The Tarkett is manufactured to ‘cushion’ and protect feet, ankles, knee and hip joints and prevent injuries. It is also the preferred surface for pointe work. It is suitable for all the Classical, Modern, contemporary and so on. However, it is not suitable for large tap troupes. If we receive enough Tap and Theatrical style Troupe entries, these will be performed without the Tarkett. Shoes with stiletto heels are not permitted on the Tarkett.

14) MUSIC:

In 2022, we are trailing a new way of playing music. Once entries are closed you will be given a link to upload your music. We shall send you all the instructions to make this as easy as possible, this is a way of moving forward.
A volunteer music player laptop operator will be provided for you, to operate, however, CD’S or USBs can be used as a backup.
Do not put stick-on labels on the actual disc. There should be only 1 track per CD. Multiple CDS cannot be played for one performance item. Back-up music may be on CD or USB, but not digital music devices EG: iPod, iPad, Laptop or Smart Phone.
There will be a duplicate TASCAM CD player with headphones, identical to the one used side-stage, operational at all time in the Green Room for Competitors/Teachers to check music.
Music recordings must be made with a good quality programme on good quality CD’S preferably using wav, mp2 or mp3 file formats. Make sure your recording is ‘Finalised”.
Volume: The Stage Manager, Music Operator or the venue Duty Technician shall have the right to limit the volume level of the music to safe level. See General Rule 3.6

15) TIME LIMITS:

Performance time is taken from the start of correct music or movement of the Competitor until the Competitor stops dancing, leaves the stage or the curtain falls. Timing does not include the reverence or tag.
Novice Solos ~ 3 minutes maximum
Tap Solo, Duo’s or Trios ~ 2.5 minutes maximum
All other dance styles ~ Solo’s, Duo’s or Trio’s – 3 minutes
Song & Dance or Song & Tap ~ Solo, Duo or Trio – 4 minutes maximum
Special Tap Solo ~ Championships (sections 390, 391, 394, 39) – 4 minutes maximum
Groups and Troupes all styles ~ 5 minutes maximum
Preparation Time: Time allowed to prepare the Stage is limited to 1 minute for all solos, Duos or trios. Groups / Troupes have a maximum of strictly 5 minutes set up time. Have Prop helpers ready to set up, dismantle and exit stage area quickly. Maximum of 4 Teachers (including assistants).

16) SAFETY

No children unless in current performance item. No babies, pushers, prams allowed backstage at any time.
Electricals ~ All leads, appliances, lights and stage prop lighting for use on 240 volts within the Theatre, must have a current Safety Compliance Tag. This includes any 240-volt circuit supplied by a battery inverter, and any electrical item used in the dressing rooms. EG: hair straighteners, curling wands, Hair dryers, portable CD players & Laptops.
In service safety inspections and testing to Australian Standard 3760, can be performed by your local A or B Grade Electrician. See General Rule 5.7
Any batteries used in a performance, must be sealed and unspillable.
Props must be designed for use on a sloping stage (37mm per metre), and to enable the use of sandbags for hold-down. Glass electrical globes and electrical wiring must be recessed or caged or protected to prevent damage or being touched. Ladders must be industrial, and a Competitor (Soloist or a Group/Troupe member) can only climb the first two steps. Higher climbs require support, Risk Assessment Forms and approval.
Theatre Requirements: All Teachers/Competitors whether Solos, Groups/Troupes performing must read ‘Theatre Rules’ and the “risk Assessment Checklist” on the Royal South Street Society website Competition Page and act where relevant: http://royalsouthstreet.com.au/competition/dance/
Dressing Rooms: Competitors must change in their designated Dressing Room. No public area is to be used for changing. Dressing Rooms are to be left neat and tidy. Rubbish is to be placed in bins provided.
Vandalism: There is to be no graffiti, wanton damage, defacing of furniture or fixtures any act of vandalism made to Dressing Rooms, Auditorium, or any part of the Theatre. Dance Teachers are requested to address this issue with their students prior to the competition. The consequence of any act of vandalism may result in offending Competitor(s) and /or the Dance School involved, being disqualified from the Competition, with costs of repair or damage applied.