** NEW FOR 2011***PRO-AM: for any routine where a student and teacher are dancing together. 

PROFESSIONAL/TEACHER:

dancers who have graduated from high school and are paid for performing and/or teaching as a major source of income. However, teachers who are STILL active on a competitive team within their studio may compete in the serious competitor division (this division mainly applies to student teachers. A director/co-director or full time teacher at a studio MAY NOT COMPETE IN THE SERIOUS OR GENERAL COMPETITIVE CATEGORY, THEY MUST ENTER IN THE PRO-AM DIVISION IF DANCING WITH STUDENTS OR THE PROFESSIONAL DIVISION IF THEY ARE DANCING SOLO). If a teacher is in a group and NOT active on a competitive dance team this will cause the group will be moved to the PROFESSIONAL OR PRO AM category with the exception of PRODUCTION.

NOVICE:

Solo – a novice soloist who has never competed a solo before but could have competed in a duet/trio/group

Duet/Trio – two or more of the dancers must have never competed in a solo/duet/trio before to compete in the novice division

Group/Line – 75% or more of the dancers must have never competed before

RECREATIONAL FOR GROUPS ONLY: This applies to groups where at least 90% of the dancers train only 4 hours or less per week. These dancers are no longer novice but are those who dance more recreationally and love to compete. This is for groups only. There will be a separate overall for these groups (TOP OVERALL RECREATIONAL GROUP in each of the 6 divisions). 
**NOTE: PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN PLACING ROUTINES IN THIS DIVISION. If routines are incorrectly placed in this division, they will be disqualified. It is not fair for these dancers to be competing against those with a higher level of ability. We want to ensure that these routines have fair placement.

ADULT: to be considered an adult you must be at least 28 years of age +

UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE & HIGHSCHOOL ROUTINE: This applies to university/college/high school dance teams. This is for groups only, solos/duets/trios must be placed in the JR/SR/PROFESSIONAL division. There will be a separate overall for these groups (TOP OVERALL UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE/HIGH SCHOOL ROUTINE, in each of the 6 divisions) This division will only apply at selected venues; for 2009 it will be MEADOWVALE THEATRE #1, March 6-8th.

JUNIOR COMPETITIVE DIVISION :

This division is for those dancers who primarily compete for their love to dance alone. They can dance up to 6 hours per week including private lessons OR if they have been dancing 3 years or less (ie. if the dancer dances 8 hours per week but it is his/her 2nd or 3rd year in dance training they may enter in the Junior Competitive Division).

SERIOUS COMPETITIVE DIVISION :

This division is for those dancers who strive to compete and spend a lot, if not most of their time in the dance studio. Those who dance above and beyond 6 hours per week must be in this division; However, if the dancer has been dancing for 3 years or less but is training for over 6 hours per week they would compete in the Junior Competitive Division unless the Studio Director decides otherwise.

*For Duets/Trios it is up to the teacher’s discretion if it is 50/50 but please be fair to other competitors in their division*

NOTE: GROUPS (with the exception of University/College & High school, Pre-Competitive or Novice) WILL BE IN A GENERAL COMPETITIVE DIVISION

All Age Divisions Will Be Broken Down As Follows:

6 & under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, 19-20, 21-27, 28+

*Age is to be determined as of December 31, 2008*

*For age averaging, drop the decimal point*