Competition

Competition fees are charged per dancer, per routine.

Season Finale competition pricing will be available through the online registration portal beginning March 1, 2027.

Dance studios may apply their own administrative or overhead fees in addition to Velocity’s published competition rates.

A $50 deposit is required for each anticipated competition routine.

When beginning registration, studios must enter the number of routines they expect to register. The routine deposit must be submitted before competition entries can be added.

Studios may register up to five fewer routines than the number originally reserved without forfeiting those routine deposits.

When a studio registers more than five fewer routines than originally reserved, the $50 deposit for each additional unused routine will be forfeited.

For example, if a studio reserves 20 routines but registers 12, eight routine spaces were not used. The first five fall within the allowed adjustment, and the deposits for the remaining three unused routine spaces will be forfeited.

There is no additional charge beyond the forfeited deposit.

All deposits are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Deposits may not be transferred to another event, season, studio, or account.

Velocity accepts:

• Major credit cards
• Studio checks
• Business checks

Velocity does not accept:

• Personal checks
• Canadian checks
• Cash

All returned checks are subject to a $35 fee.

Checks should be made payable to:

Velocity Dance Convention

11159A South Towne Square

St. Louis, MO 63123

All balances must be paid in full by June 1, 2027. Unpaid or incomplete entries may be removed, and the reserved space may be released.

All competition fees and deposits are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Fees may not be transferred to another dancer, studio, routine, event, season, or account.

Velocity does not issue refunds or credits for withdrawals, injuries, illnesses, travel interruptions, scheduling conflicts, or routines that are unable to perform after registration has been submitted.

Velocity is proud to partner with C EVENT PICS to provide professional photography and video coverage throughout the Season Finale.

A mandatory $60 Season Finale Media Fee will be charged once per competing dancer. This fee provides access to professional photo and video coverage from every regular Season Finale routine in which the dancer competes.

A mandatory $65 MVA Media Fee will be charged to dancers participating in the MVA Program. The MVA Media Fee includes coverage of the dancer’s MVA solo and MVA group performance.

When a dancer participates in both the regular Season Finale Competition and the MVA Program, only the $65 MVA Media Fee will apply.

Media fees are separate from convention and competition registration fees.

Every routine entered in the Season Finale Competition must have received a High Gold adjudication or higher at a Velocity Regional event during the 2026-2027 season.

A routine that did not qualify at a Regional event may be submitted through Velocity’s video pre-qualification process.

All pre-qualification videos must be submitted through the online registration portal by May 7, 2027.

Velocity will not accept emailed videos or offer onsite pre-qualification during the Season Finale.

Pre-qualified routines must still be registered through a valid studio account by the May 22 registration deadline.

To compete at the Season Finale:

• The dancer must be registered through a valid studio account
• The Studio Owner or Director must give permission for the dancer and routine to compete
• The routine must have qualified at a Regional event or through video pre-qualification
• The dancer must be registered as a full Season Finale convention attendee
• All required waivers, music, participant assignments, and registration information must be complete
• The registration balance must be paid in full by June 1, 2027

A dancer may compete a solo or duo/trio without the studio entering a group routine.

Independent dancers may attend convention classes but may not compete.

Each dancer may compete one regular Season Finale solo.

A dancer participating in the MVA Program may also compete an MVA solo. The MVA solo is part of the separate MVA Program and must be different from the dancer’s regular Season Finale solo.

All solos must be registered through a valid studio account. A dancer does not need to compete in a group routine to compete a solo.

All competition ages are determined as of January 1, 2027.

The 2027 Season Finale competition 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

Petite and Mini remain separate competition divisions for entries, results, category awards, overall awards, and recognition.

The age division for a solo is determined by the dancer’s age.

The age division for a duo/trio or group is determined by the average age of all dancers in the routine. Add the ages of all participating dancers and divide that number by the total number of dancers. Any decimal will be dropped when determining the routine’s age division.

Names, ages, and birthdates for all dancers must be entered accurately in the registration system. Velocity may request proof of age when necessary.

A group routine may compete in the next older age division. A routine may not compete in a younger age division.

Competing routines may not compete against themselves within the same age division, routine size, and dance category.

When a studio enters more than one routine in the same category, the routines must have at least a 50 percent change in participating dancers.

All dancers performing in a routine must be listed and assigned to that routine in the registration system by the registration deadline.

Routine substitutions, additions, or participant changes are subject to Velocity’s approval.

All competition music must be uploaded through the online registration system as part of the completed competition registration.

Music will not be accepted by email, phone, or CD.

Studios should review every uploaded file to confirm that the correct music is attached to the correct routine and that the entire file plays properly.

Teachers should bring a backup copy of every routine’s music on a USB drive.

Velocity is not responsible for incorrect, incomplete, mislabeled, or improperly uploaded music.

Routines must perform in their scheduled order unless Velocity approves a hold for a legitimate costume-change conflict, injury, illness, or another circumstance outside the studio’s control.

Competition order will not be changed to allow for additional rehearsals, run-throughs, or circumstances within the studio’s control.

Holding a routine for rehearsal time or failing to appear in the scheduled performance order may result in a point deduction or disqualification.

Visual coaching from the audience or wings is prohibited.

Teachers are not permitted to perform with students.

All routines must be age-appropriate and suitable for family viewing. Routines that judges determine to be inappropriate may receive a point deduction or be disqualified.

General lifts are permitted.

All judging decisions are final.

General props are permitted.

Prop setup and removal may not exceed one minute unless prior approval has been received from Velocity.

Studios are responsible for confirming that props can fit through venue doors, hallways, backstage areas, and stage entrances.

The following are prohibited:

• Fire, sparklers, firearms, swords, or other dangerous props
• Live animals
• Water, paint, loose food, glitter, or materials that may damage or create a hazard onstage
• Releasing helium balloons
• Any substance or object that may leave the stage wet, slippery, damaged, or unsafe

Velocity may establish designated prop loading and storage times during the Season Finale. Props may only be stored in approved areas.

Velocity is not responsible for props that cannot be accommodated due to size, venue restrictions, or safety concerns.

All ties will be broken in the following order:

• Technique score
• Performance score
• Judges’ decision

Adjudicated awards are based on combined score, out of 300:

Velocity presents category awards within each age division, routine size, and dance category.

For example, category awards may include:

• Mini Small Group Tap, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place
• Mini Small Group Jazz, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place
• Additional category placements based on the routines entered in each division

Velocity also presents overall awards to the highest-scoring routines across all dance categories within each eligible age division and routine size.

For example, the Top 10 Mini Small Group Overall Awards recognize the 1st through 10th highest-scoring Mini Small Groups, regardless of dance category.

A cash award may be presented to the first-place overall routine within each eligible age division and routine size.

To receive a cash award, at least three routines must compete within that age division and routine size. When fewer than three routines compete, the first-place overall routine may receive a Velocity studio credit instead of a cash award.

Choreography awards may also be presented to routines demonstrating outstanding creative work.

All judging decisions are final.

Select top-scoring routines from the Season Finale Competition may be invited to perform during Velocity’s formal Gala on the final evening of the event.

Studios selected to perform will receive instructions during the Season Finale. Participation may require attendance at an additional rehearsal or staging time.

Gala admission is not included with competition or convention registration. Gala tickets must be purchased separately.

Photography, video recording, and livestreaming are prohibited during competition.

This policy protects the safety and privacy of participating dancers and the intellectual property of studios, choreographers, and performers.

Professional competition photography and video are provided through Velocity’s official media partner, C EVENT PICS.

Failure to follow the photography, recording, or livestreaming policy may result in removal from the competition area, a point deduction, or disqualification.

Backstage access is limited to registered Studio Directors, teachers, dancers, Velocity staff, and approved personnel.

Parents may assist with props only when directed by their Studio Owner or Director and approved by Velocity.

Parents, family members, and unauthorized individuals may not remain backstage.

Dressing or changing areas may not be created backstage, in hallways, or in undesignated areas without Velocity’s approval.

To protect the privacy, safety, and comfort of all dancers, the following rules apply in every Season Finale dressing room:

• Photography and video recording are strictly prohibited
• No rehearsing, running routines, marking choreography, practicing tricks, or warming up in crowded dressing room areas
• Dressing rooms may not be reserved or claimed as private space for an individual studio
• Personal belongings must be kept organized and out of walkways, entrances, and exits
• Music must be kept at a respectful volume, and personal speakers may not disrupt other dancers
• Dancers must respect the privacy, belongings, and personal space of others
• Children and younger dancers must remain appropriately supervised
• Food, drinks, costumes, and personal belongings must be cleaned up before leaving
• All dancers, teachers, Studio Representatives, and families must follow instructions from Velocity staff, venue personnel, and security

Anyone who violates the dressing room rules may be asked to leave the area or have their access restricted.

The Season Finale Competition features professional audio, performance lighting, stage monitors, and tap microphones positioned downstage.

Stage dimensions, wing space, entrances, exits, and prop access may vary by ballroom.

Studios are responsible for reviewing all stage and backstage information provided before the event and preparing routines and props accordingly.

Studios are responsible for collecting all adjudication awards and other awards before leaving the Season Finale.

Velocity is not responsible for awards that are not picked up onsite. Unclaimed awards will not be mailed or shipped after the event.

General admission to the Season Finale Competition is free.

Reserved seating may be available for registered teachers with competing routines.

Seats may not be saved or reserved for parents, dancers, or other guests unless specifically designated by Velocity.

Velocity reserves the right to adjust the competition schedule, stage assignments, performance order, awards, rules, and procedures when necessary for safety, capacity, timing, or event operations.

All participating dancers, studios, teachers, parents, and guests are expected to follow instructions from Velocity staff, venue personnel, security, and medical professionals.

Failure to follow competition, safety, backstage, dressing room, photography, or venue policies may result in restricted access, point deductions, or disqualification.

All judging decisions are final.