Convention

A full-weekend convention registration includes:

• Two full days of convention classes on Saturday and Sunday
• Instruction from Velocity faculty in the dancer’s assigned ballroom
• Access to eligible scholarship opportunities
• Admission to theShow on Sunday; Faculty Show & Scholarship Presentation
• Possible additional Friday evening master classes in select cities
• Select Regional events may also feature parent fitness classes and visits from talent agencies, college representatives, and other industry partners

Scheduling varies city by city. Studios should review the final event schedule for the specific classes and experiences offered during their weekend.

Registration and payment deadlines vary by city.

Please visit the Tour Dates page and select your event city to view the applicable registration deadline, payment deadline, hotel information, and other city-specific details.

Events may reach capacity before the published registration deadline. Studios are encouraged to complete their registrations as early as possible.

Beginning an online registration does not guarantee space at an event.

A registration is considered confirmed only after the required deposit has been successfully submitted and the registration has been accepted by Velocity.

Convention ballrooms may reach capacity before the published registration deadline. When an event or ballroom reaches capacity, Velocity may close registration or create a waiting list.

Placement on a waiting list does not guarantee that a dancer will be accepted into the event.

The published registration deadline is the final date registration may be accepted when space remains available. It does not guarantee that space will remain available through that date.

A convention deposit is required to begin registration for each Regional event.

Convention deposits begin at $200 and increase by $25 based on the number of dancers included in the registration. The registration system will automatically calculate the required deposit.

Studio convention deposits cannot otherwise be bypassed.

If only one dancer is attending a Regional event and using a valid Velocity scholarship, please contact info@velocitydanceconvention.com before beginning the registration. The Velocity office will review the scholarship and assist with bypassing the deposit step when applicable.

All convention deposits are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Deposits cannot be transferred to another city, studio, registration account, event, or season.

Please confirm that the correct event has been selected before submitting a deposit.

All registrations must be completed through Velocity’s online registration system.

Full payment is not required to close and save a registration. However, the registration and requested event placement are not guaranteed until the balance has been paid in full.

If payment is not received by the applicable event deadline, the placement may be released and offered to dancers or studios on the waiting list.

All registration fees are nonrefundable. Studio credits may be issued only at the discretion of Velocity Dance Convention.

Velocity accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express through the online registration system.

Velocity also accepts studio and business checks. Personal checks, Canadian checks, and cash are not accepted.

Checks should be made payable and mailed to:

Velocity Dance Convention

11159A South Towne Square

St. Louis, MO 63123

Please include the studio name and event city with the payment so it can be applied to the correct registration.

A $35 fee will be charged for returned checks.

Please mail payments in a standard letter-size envelope. Do not send boxes, oversized envelopes, or packages that require a signature.

Please carefully review every dancer’s name and date of birth before completing registration.

Names must be spelled correctly and dates of birth must be entered accurately. Incorrect information may prevent the dancer’s waiver from being completed and may delay the registration process.

Studios attending multiple Regional events should enter each dancer’s information consistently at every event.

A completed Velocity participant waiver is required for every registered dancer before the dancer may participate in convention classes.

Waivers for dancers under the age of 18 must be completed by the dancer’s parent or legal guardian.

Studios are responsible for reviewing their registration account and confirming that all required waivers have been completed by the payment deadline.

Registration packets may not be mailed or released until the registration balance has been paid and all required waivers have been completed.

Convention ages for the 2026-2027 season are determined by each dancer’s age as of January 1, 2027.

The dancer’s age as of January 1, 2027 will apply to every Regional event during the season, including events held in fall 2026 and spring 2027.

Velocity age divisions are:

• Petite: Ages 5 to 6
• Mini: Ages 7 to 8
• Junior: Ages 9 to 10
• Pre-Teen: Ages 11 to 12
• Teen: Ages 13 to 15
• Senior: Ages 16 to 18

Dancers must participate in scholarship auditions within their correct age division to remain eligible for audition based scholarships.

In Regional cities, Petite and Mini dancers will take convention classes together in the same ballroom.

Petite and Mini scholarship auditions and scholarship recipients will remain separated by age division.

In select Regional cities, Junior and Pre-Teen dancers may also take convention classes together.

Junior and Pre-Teen scholarship auditions and scholarship recipients will remain separated by age division.

Any combined ballroom information will be reflected in the final event schedule.

Petite and Mini dancers participate in half-day convention classes on both Saturday and Sunday.

Each studio should assign a registered teacher or Studio Representative to help supervise its Petite and Mini dancers throughout the weekend.

Only registered teachers and participating dancers are permitted inside the ballroom during scholarship auditions.

Parents, guardians, and Studio Representatives may not attend the scholarship audition.

Petite and Mini scholarship recipients are announced immediately following their final classes on Sunday in the Petite and Mini ballroom.

Dancers are expected to take classes in the ballroom associated with their registered age division.

A studio owner or director may request a different classroom placement when they believe another ballroom would better support a dancer’s training and experience.

All classroom placement changes must be approved by Velocity before the dancer changes ballrooms.

Parents and dancers may not independently request or make a ballroom change during the event.

Ballroom changes may not be available when an event or age division has reached capacity.

An approved classroom placement change does not change the dancer’s scholarship audition division. To remain eligible for audition based scholarships, the dancer must return to and participate in the audition for their correct age division.

One-day convention registration is available for dancers who are unable to attend the full weekend.

Dancers must select either Saturday or Sunday. A one-day registration cannot be divided between both days.

The one-day convention rate is available through Velocity’s registration system.

One-day dancers:

• May attend convention classes on their selected day
• May not compete
• May not participate in scholarship auditions
• May not receive Velocity scholarships
• May not receive partner scholarships
• May not receive class scholarships

A valid Velocity scholarship may be applied toward a one-day registration when the scholarship is eligible for Regional use.

If the value of the scholarship exceeds the one-day registration fee, the remaining value will not be refunded, credited, transferred, or saved for another registration.

Using a scholarship toward a one-day registration is considered full redemption of that scholarship.

Registered teachers may observe, take notes, or participate in classes in any ballroom throughout the convention weekend.

Registered teachers may also attend teacher seminars and other teacher specific classes/programs offered in their city.

Teacher credentials are intended only for active studio owners, directors, teachers, and staff members working with the registered studio during the current season.

All teachers and studio staff must be verified by the studio during registration.

Teacher credentials may not be assigned to parents or guardians who are not actively employed by or teaching for the studio.

Studio Representatives are adult parent or guardian chaperones selected by a studio to help supervise dancers when a studio owner, director, or teacher is unable to attend a ballroom.

Studio Representatives are not required to be teachers or employees of the studio.

A studio may register one Studio Representative for each age division in which the studio has registered dancers.

Representative spots are assigned per event based on the number of registered dancers. Complimentary reps attend at no charge; paid reps require the per-rep fee shown on your event summary.

Studio Representative wristbands:

• Are assigned to one specific age division
• Provide access only to the assigned ballroom
• May not be shared, transferred, or exchanged
• Does not provide access to scholarship auditions
• Does not include teacher classes or seminars
• Does not provide access to rehearsals, backstage areas, or restricted event spaces

Studio Representatives should remain along the ballroom perimeter when they are not actively assisting dancers.

Talking during class, distracting dancers, filming, saving large sections of seating, or interfering with instruction is not permitted.

Studio Representative access may be revoked if an individual does not follow Velocity policies, venue policies, or staff instructions.

An Independent dancer is a dancer who does not currently train with or represent a dance studio.

Independent dancers may attend Velocity convention classes.

Independent dancers:

• May attend convention classes
• May receive class scholarships selected by Velocity faculty
• May not compete
• May not receive Velocity tuition scholarships awarded through the scholarship audition
• May not receive partner scholarships or other audition based scholarships

A dancer who currently trains with a studio must be registered through that studio’s official Velocity account, even when attending without the rest of the studio.

Parent registrations will not be accepted for dancers who are affiliated with a studio.

Velocity scholarship auditions give eligible dancers an opportunity to be recognized for their work, potential, artistry, and participation.

Dancers will learn the audition combination during the scheduled audition class.

Only registered teachers and participating dancers are permitted inside the ballroom during scholarship auditions.

Parents, guardians, and Studio Representatives are not permitted inside the ballroom during the audition.

To be eligible for Velocity scholarships during the weekend, a dancer must:

• Be registered as a full weekend convention participant
• Be registered through a valid studio account
• Participate in the scholarship audition for their correct age division
• Participate in all convention classes in the age division they are registered in
• Follow all audition and event procedures

A dancer who takes regular convention classes in a different ballroom must return to the dancer’s correct age division for the scholarship audition.

Dancers who do not attend their assigned scholarship audition are not eligible to receive a scholarship from that weekend.

One-day dancers may not participate in scholarship auditions or receive scholarships.

Independent dancers may receive faculty selected class scholarships but are not eligible for audition based scholarships.

Petite and Mini scholarship recipients are announced immediately following their final classes on Sunday in the Petite and Mini ballroom.

Junior, Pre-Teen, Teen, and Senior scholarship recipients are announced during theShow.

theShow is Velocity’s scholarship presentation and faculty show. It takes place on the main stage after the final convention class on Sunday.

Exact times and locations will be included in the final event schedule.

Scholarships earned during the 2026-2027 season must be redeemed through the same studio account under which they were awarded.

If a dancer changes studios or begins attending as an Independent dancer, the dancer’s former studio must email Velocity from the studio’s official account email address and provide written permission releasing the scholarship.

Without written permission from the original studio, the scholarship cannot be transferred or redeemed through a different account.

To apply a scholarship:

• Add the dancer to the studio registration roster
• Select the scholarship beside the dancer’s name
• Choose the correct scholarship from the available menu
• Confirm that the correct scholarship value has been applied before submitting payment

Scholarships must be applied before the event registration and payment deadline.

Refunds and credits will not be issued for scholarships that were not applied correctly or were not redeemed within the required timeframe.

It is the studio’s responsibility to review the registration and confirm that all eligible scholarships have been entered correctly.

Please contact info@velocitydanceconvention.com before the payment deadline for assistance applying a scholarship.

A dancer may receive each scholarship type only once during a season.

For example, a dancer who has already received an MVA Runner-Up Scholarship may not receive another MVA Runner-Up Scholarship during the same season. The dancer may still be considered for a different scholarship or a higher MVA placement.

Pro-Am dancers are not eligible to receive scholarships.

Scholarships and awards must be collected during the scholarship presentation at the event. Unclaimed scholarships will not be shipped after the event.

Complimentary teacher wristbands, studio discounts, and hotel benefits are based on the number of qualifying full-price dancers registered by the applicable city deadline.

Scholarship recipients and other discounted registrations do not count toward studio discount qualifications.

Current studio discount qualifications are available through Velocity’s registration system.

All dancers used to qualify for studio discounts must be registered and paid by the applicable event deadline.

Studios that qualify for complimentary hotel nights must book their own reservation within the official Velocity room block.

Velocity will cover only the contracted group room rate.

Room upgrades, additional nights, resort fees, parking, incidentals, and charges above the contracted group rate remain the responsibility of the guest.

Qualifying studios must email the following information to info@velocitydanceconvention.com by the event registration deadline:

• Hotel confirmation number
• Name listed on the reservation
• Event city

Reservations submitted after the registration deadline may not be eligible for coverage.

Currently enrolled college students are eligible to receive 10% off convention fees with a valid college ID.

To receive the discount, students must present a current college ID at check-in. The discount applies to convention registration only and cannot be applied to competition fees.

Dancers attending more than one Velocity Regional event during the same season may receive 25 percent off their convention fee after their first Regional event has been paid in full.

This discount is not applied automatically.

Studios must email info@velocitydanceconvention.com to request the discount before completing payment for the additional event.

The Velocity office must verify and approve all multiple-city discounts.

Studio registrations with 15 or more dancers may be eligible to receive their registration packet by mail before the event.

Velocity will email qualifying studios to request a preferred mailing address. The studio must respond by the deadline included in the email.

Mailed registration packets are expected to arrive no later than the Wednesday before the event.

Studios that do not respond by the requested deadline must pick up their registration packet at the event.

Registration packets will not be mailed unless the studio balance has been paid in full and all required waivers have been completed by the payment deadline.

Studios with 14 or fewer registered dancers will pick up their registration packet at the event.

A registration packet must be picked up by a registered studio owner, director, or teacher.

A parent or dancer may pick up a registration packet only when the Velocity office has received written authorization from the studio owner or director before the event.

The Velocity registration booth is generally open on Friday morning/afternoon and again on Saturday morning. Exact registration hours will be included in the final event schedule.

A sample schedule is available on the Velocity website to provide a general outline of a Regional weekend.

Final convention schedules vary based on registration numbers, venue availability, ballroom capacity, and the programming offered in each city.

Velocity will email the final schedule to the registered studio owner or director approximately one week before the event.

The schedule will also be posted under the applicable city on the Tour Dates page.

All registration changes must be completed by the applicable event deadlines.

Velocity classes may include a wide variety of dance styles. Dancers should arrive prepared to participate in different genres throughout the weekend.

We recommend bringing:

• Dance shoes appropriate for multiple styles
• Comfortable dancewear that allows for movement
• Layers as ballroom temperatures may vary
• A refillable water bottle
• Snacks or meals needed during scheduled breaks
• Hair supplies and personal dance essentials
• Required medications or medical supplies
• A clearly labeled dance bag

Dancers should write their name and studio information on shoes, water bottles, jackets, and other personal belongings.

Shoes and an appropriate cover-up should be worn when dancers are outside the ballroom and moving through hotel or venue public spaces.

Food and beverage policies vary by venue. Attendees must follow all hotel and facility rules regarding outside food, coolers, and meal delivery.

All bags and personal items must be kept along the ballroom perimeter and away from doors, walkways, stages, and dancing areas.

Please avoid bringing valuable or unnecessary personal items. Velocity and the host venue are not responsible for lost, damaged, stolen, or unattended belongings.

Dancers are not issued wristbands for Regional events.

Each dancer must wear their assigned audition number throughout the convention weekend.

Dancer numbers allow Velocity staff and faculty to identify registered dancers during classes, auditions, and scholarship presentations.

Registered teachers and Studio Representatives must wear their assigned wristbands/lanyards throughout the event.

Anyone without the appropriate dancer number or wristband may be denied access to the ballrooms.

Velocity believes dancers are athletes and should have access to knowledgeable care during an event weekend.

Licensed physical therapists are available onsite through the Velocity Wellness Booth to assist dancers experiencing pain, discomfort, or an injury.

The Wellness Booth team may:

• Assess injuries and physical concerns
• Provide immediate support within their professional scope
• Help dancers determine whether continuing to participate is appropriate
• Recommend modifications when possible
• Guide dancers, teachers, and guardians when additional medical evaluation may be needed

Dancers needing assistance should visit the Velocity Wellness Booth or speak with a Velocity staff member at the registration area.

The Wellness Booth does not replace emergency medical services or a dancer’s established healthcare provider.

Parents, guardians, and teachers remain responsible for providing all necessary medications and making final decisions regarding a minor dancer’s medical care.

In an emergency, attendees should contact venue security, call 911, and notify a Velocity staff member immediately.

Velocity welcomes dancers with disabilities, neurodivergence, chronic health conditions, injuries, and other individual needs.

Studios and families are encouraged to contact Velocity before the event so our team can work with the venue and determine what reasonable accommodations may be available.

Accommodation requests should be emailed to info@velocitydanceconvention.com as early as possible before the event.

Providing information in advance gives Velocity and the host venue the best opportunity to prepare and support the dancer’s experience.

Velocity is committed to creating an environment where dancers, teachers, families, faculty, assistants, and staff feel safe, respected, and supported.

All attendees are expected to:

• Treat dancers, teachers, families, staff, faculty, and venue employees with respect
• Follow instructions provided by Velocity staff and venue personnel
• Respect personal space and physical boundaries
• Use appropriate language and behavior
• Support a positive classroom environment
• Keep entrances, exits, aisles, and dancing areas clear
• Respect restricted spaces, dressing areas, and backstage boundaries
• Protect the privacy of dancers and other attendees
• Report unsafe or concerning behavior

Bullying, harassment, discrimination, intimidation, retaliation, threatening behavior, and deliberate disruption are not permitted at Velocity events.

Unsafe or inappropriate conduct may result in removal from a ballroom or removal from the event without a refund.

Consent is an important part of the Velocity classroom experience. Faculty and assistants follow consent based practices when providing physical corrections. Dancers may decline physical contact at any time.

All dancers under the age of 18 must be accompanied at the event by a responsible adult age 18 or older.

Studio owners, teachers, parents, guardians, and Studio Representatives remain responsible for supervising the dancers in their care.

Velocity faculty, assistants, and staff members are not replacements for studio or guardian supervision.

Minor dancers should not leave a ballroom alone. They should be accompanied by a parent, guardian, registered teacher, or trusted adult designated by their studio.

Velocity wants every attendee to feel comfortable speaking up when something feels unsafe, inappropriate, or inconsistent with our standards.

Concerns may be reported to a Velocity staff member during the event or submitted through the contact options listed on our Safe Dance Commitment page.

Reports may involve:

• Bullying or harassment
• Discrimination or exclusion
• Inappropriate communication
• Boundary violations
• Unsafe behavior
• Retaliation
• Concerns involving an adult and a minor
• Any behavior that threatens the safety or well-being of an attendee

Velocity does not tolerate retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith.

For immediate assistance during an event, please speak with a Velocity director or staff member.

For additional information about Velocity’s safety standards, reporting process, accessibility commitment, and third-party reporting resources, please visit the Safe Dance Commitment page.

Velocity may update competition policies when necessary to address safety, venue requirements, event operations, or changes to the Regional season.

The current rules published on the Velocity website and within the registration system apply to each event.

Studios are responsible for reviewing all current policies before completing registration.