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Now Registering for 2026 and 2027 Events

ENTRY GUIDELINES

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REGISTRATION:

  • All registrations must be completed by your studio or school. We do not accept individual entreis at this time. 
  • To register please fill out the following form and we will send you a registation package.
  • Registration will open in May of the previous year ie May 2026 for Spring 2027
  • We recommend that studios confirm their registration by January 1st with a $250 deposit and have all dances entered no later than February 1st. The final payment is required no later than 1 month prior to the event.  If spaces are available you can join at a later time. Please check availability with us by emailing info@caredance.ca. 

Click Here for Registation Form 2026

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AGE DIVISIONS:

To determine the average age for duets/trios and groups, simply add all of the performers' ages (as of December 31st of the current Sept-June Dance Season) together, divide by the number of performers in the routine and drop the decimal point.

  • Mini - ages 8 and under
  • Junior - ages 9-11
  • Intermediate - ages 12-14
  • Senior - ages 15-17
  • Adult - age 18+

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CATEGORIES:

  • NOVICE: A dancer who is performing for their first competitive season. For duets/trios or groups at least 50% of the group is in their first competitive season performing that type of routine.
  • AMATEUR: 1-3 hours of dance classes per week
  • ASPIRING: 4-6 hours of dance classes per week
  • ACHIEVING: 7-10 hours of dance classes per week
  • ADULT AMATEUR 18yrs+: 1-3 hours of dance classes per week
  • ADULT ASPIRING 18yrs+: 4 or more hours of dance classes per week

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ROUTINE TYPES:

Solo: 1 dancer
Duet/Trio: 2-3 dancers
Small Group: 4-9 dancers
Large Group: 10-19 dancers
Production: 20+ dancers

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DANCE STYLES:

  • ACROBATICS: Any routine that combines dance with gymnastic style tricks such as cartwheels, walkovers and more. 

  • AERIALS: A routine that is performed on a hanging aparatus such as hoops, silks or trapeze

  • BALLET: Classical Ballet on demi-pointe, or pointe, or character/national. 

  • CONTEMPORARY: Contemporary category includes current movements that challenges the nuances of classical dance creating dynamic lines, patterns. Can also be Modern dance including styles of Horton, Graham and Limon. 
  • CULTURAL: Any dance that represents a cuture such as Irish Dance, Bollywood, or folk dances.  
  • HIP HOP:  Hip Hop category includes hip hop, breakdance, K-Pop, street dance, etc. 

  • JAZZ: Jazz category includes traditional jazz, broadway jazz and lyrical jazz (ballet and jazz that tells a story) techniques and must limit acrobatic tricks. If you have more than 2 acro tricks please enter in OPEN.

  • MUSICAL THEATRE: A routines that portrays a character that includes lip sync (musical theatre) or singing (song and dance) of the lyrics. Can be combined with any dance style ie. jazz, tap, etc.  
  • TAP: A rhythmic style of dance using metal tap shoes.  Pre-recorded taps are not permitted.

  • OPEN: A routine that may be a combination of any of the above styles or that doesnt fit into the other styles.

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MUSIC

TIME LIMITS:

Solos: Maximum 2 min 45 seconds
Duet/Trio: Maximum 3 min
Small Groups (4-9 dancers): Maximum 3 min
Large Groups (10-19 dancers): Maximum 4 min
Production (20+ dancers): Maximum 10 minutes

MUSIC SUBMISSION:

  • E-mail all music through Google drive to info@caredance.ca
  • All music to Music must be submitted in MP3 Format
  • Back Up – Always bring a USB back up of all music with you to the event.

Ex: Unstoppable_Your_Dance_Studio

MUSIC APPROPRIATENESS:

  • Any music containing profanity, offensive language, references to adult themes or discriminatory content (including racial slurs) may not be performed. Please ensure lyrics, costumes and choreography are suitable for a family-friendly environment.

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PROPS & ACCESSORIES

  • All entries with the use of stage props that require set up time AND tear down time, must be declared to CARE Dance Festival, in writing at the time of registering and prior to the schedule being finalized.
  • Props for entries may only be placed backstage prior to the upcoming scheduled dance session and must be removed from the backstage area shortly after the performance.
  • Maximum prop height: 10’ unless otherwise arranged
  • The following are NOT permitted:
    • Use of fire, sand, mud, water, slime, silly foam
    • Live animals
    • Loose Sparkles/Glitters, Confetti, Flower petals, and/or loose feathers
    • Glass or sharp objects
    • Liquid or Food
    • Drones

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DARE Student Dance Choreography Challenge

Dancers, we DARE you... to create your own choreography for the the stage! For ages 13+

  • Design your own Routine
  • Achieve an adjudication and feedback
  • Reach to new heights with your creativity
  • Engage your audience with your dance concept

Now you can be the choreographer.... Ask your teacher about joining the DARE challenge.

Dancers in the teen, senior and graduate groups may compete in the DARE challenge and bring their own choreography to the stage.

Dancers competing in this category must create the entire routine without any help from their teachers. The teachers may make comments to clean lines and correct timing issues, but the dance choreography must be solely created by the dancers competing. Students may ask teachers for suggestions with costuming and music selection only. 

These routines will be marked with the same method but with additional comments on choreography and concept included with the adjudication.

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SCHEDULE:

The event performance schedule will be sent out to all studios via email to confirm all entries are correct 3-4 weeks before the scheduled event dates.  A final schedule will follow shortly after with all the necessary adjustments. Special scheduling requests may not be available, but we do our best to make adjustments to the schedule upon request.