Guidelines of Competition Eligibility Policy Only North Dakota school affiliated teams are eligible for NDADD membership and participation in NDADD sponsored competitions. Each team must submit an Eligibility Form at team registration certifying their school affiliation and team member roster. Exception may be made for teams who are recognized in their community as representing their school, even though they are not officially recognized by their school as an activity. They must perform at school functions like basketball games or pep rallies, and they may not be run or directed by any for-profit individual or business. Their Eligibility Form will show an exception to the school-affiliated clause, but must still list all dancers and certify their individual eligibility to participate in extra-curricular activities at their school. The board must make prior approval of any such team. A dancer may not be listed on more than one roster or dance for more than one team.

Competition Categories
Varsity teams may compete in up to five categories: High Kick, Jazz, Pom, Hip-Hop and Novelty. Junior Varsity teams may compete in up to three categories: High Kick, Jazz and Pom. There is no category distinction for Junior High or College teams. Please choose your category carefully according to the category guidelines.

Poms are allowed only in the Pom category. Themes, the combination of costume, music and choreography, are allowed in all categories.

All choreography must originate from active team members. Entries are limited to one team per school per category.

Competition Format
All teams compete in preliminary competition. Categories with at least six teams competing will have a finals level of competition. Preliminary round scores do not affect final round scores. Teams advancing to finals will perform the same dance(s) again. Varsity Novelty performs only in finals round.

An adult representative from the team must remain at the music table during each performance. This person is responsible for making decisions in the event of an emergency. The music will not begin without this representative.

Judging
Judges award points on a 100 point scale in prelims, and a 25 point scale in finals. Each performance is ranked based on raw judge scores. The ranks then determine the places. Judging of each performance starts when the music begins and ends when the music ends.
One place per every three teams, plus one extra place, is awarded in each category. In the event of a tie in prelims, the designated number of teams advancing to finals remains the same unless there is a tie in the final advancing position. Categories without a preliminary competition will follow the tie breaker policy for finals competition In the event of a tie that cannot be broken in the finals round, both teams will share the place and each receive a trophy.

Rules of Competition
Any team that violates these competition rule will be disqualified from that category.
General Rules:

• Routine must be between 1:50 and 4 minutes long.
• Routine may not contain any banned moves. ( See Safety First section.)
• Routine performed in finals must be the same routine performed in prelims (regarding music, choreography, dancers and costumes.)
  Exception will be made only for injuries occurring in prelims, in which case an alternate dancer may replace the injured dancer.
• NO GLITTER in makeup or costumes.
• Teams must compete with a minimum of 60% of their roster or five dancers, whichever is greater. Individual exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the Executive Board. For such exceptions, the team must be restricted by school policy, and the coach must petition the board in writing.

Any team that violates these competition rules will be disqualified from that category.

General Rules:

• Routine must be between 1:50 and 4 minutes long.
  
• Routine may not contain any banned moves. (See safety First section.)
  
• Routine performed in finals must be the same routine performed in prelims (regarding music, choreography, dancers and costumes.) Exception will be made only for injuries occurring in prelims, in which case an alternate dancer may replace the injured dancer.
  
• NO GLITTER in make-up or costume.
  
• Teams must compete with a minimum of 60% of their roster or five dancers, whichever is greater. Individual exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the Executive Board. For such exceptions, the team must be restricted by school policy, and the coach must petition the board in writing.

Registration

• MANDATORY! Bring your signed Certification Form. This form lists your Official Member Roster and certifies that your choreography originates from active team members. You will receive this in the January mailer, or you can print it from the NDADD website.
  
  
• Participant wristbands will be distributed at registration. Teams will receive one black participant wristband for each person listed on their Certification Form. Coaches—please have your team wait on the bus while you come in alone with your Certification Form; then take your participant wristbands out to the bus. Wristbands will be checked at the door.
  
  
• Only team members are admitted at team registration. Parents and other spectators must enter through the spectator doors, which open at 4:00 p.m. Friday and 8:00 a.m. Saturday. No early admissions!

Appearance Policy Requirements

• NO PIERCED JEWELRY—This includes all body piercings and piercing retainers. If a dancer must wear a religious medal or medic alert tag, it must be taped to the body.
• NO TATTOOS—They must be covered with makeup or band-aids and not showing through sheer fabric.
• NO VISIBLE UNDERGARMENTS—Bras, thongs, etc. cannot show through the uniform fabric. All parts of each team’s uniform must be the same.

Penalty for an infraction of the Appearance Policy will be three (3) points per seated judge . The penalty judge will be situated on the floor to do appearance checks during prelims and finals. She notes penalties before each team takes the floor, or during the performance. Seated judges may also call a penalty if they see it from the stands during a performance. Teams who are penalized will be notified by the tabulation judge after the category.

Dressing Space

• Dressing space is very limited. Bring only what is absolutely necessary.
• Only official team members, student trainers, and coaches will be allowed in the dressing area. No parents, friends, etc.
• Do not bring outside food into the building.
• A variety of nutritious food will be available for the dancers to buy.
• Don't leave valuables in your dressing area.
• Clean up your dressing area before leaving.

Safety First

These moves are banned from NDADD sponsored competition:

• Splits immediately preceded by a jump or leap.
• Toe-touches or Russian splits to a flat back, push up, or kneeling position.
• Any full body drop (such as a bowling pin fall).
• Lifts above the waist- the base person must be standing or kneeling on the floor lifting another person only to the waist. This includes lifts, lift-offs or throws of a dancer above waist level.

Wristband Admission
All dancers, coaches, officials and spectators must wear wristbands throughout the competition. Judging will not be affected by team wristbands,
even if they are visible during performance.

Wristbands may also be pre-sold to spectators by teams before the event to speed things up the day of competition. Send in your wristband order form with payment by December 15.

Entrances & Exits
No choreographed exits or entrances are allowed, nor are they judged. Help shorten our long day by moving quickly to your beginning spots and off the floor at the end of your performance. THANKS!

Music

• Music must be between 1:50 and 4 minutes long
• CD or cassette may be used
• Use a good quality CD or tape
• Label CD or tape with team name, class and category
• Adjust speed ahead of time. This cannot be done competition day
• Your performance song should be the only thing on your CD or tape
• Bring a backup copy of your music!

State Contest Fast Track to Information

 • Schedule  • Spectator and Participant information • Hotels • 

 • Competition Rules and Regulations  • Judging Criteria • Admission • 

 • Click here to register your team as a member of NDADD in order to compete • 

 • Click here to register your team for contest if you are already a member of NDADD  •

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