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FEES

EMAIL TRUE DANCE CHALLENGE FOR 2026 RATES 

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ENTRIES AND PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS PRIOR

TO YOUR EVENT AND NO LATER THAN THE DEADLINES BELOW. A 5% LATE FEE

WILL BE APPLIED IF PAYMENT NOT RECEIVED 10 DAYS PRIOR TO EVENT.

 

MARCH 7-8 / BETHLEHEM, PA: EARLY  - FEBRUARY 2, 2026

MARCH 13-15 / BETHLEHEM, PA: LATE  - FEBRUARY 9, 2026

MARCH 28 / ALLENTOWN, PA (ONE DAY) - FEBRUARY 23, 2026
MARCH 29 / ALLENTOWN, PA (ONE DAY) - FEBRUARY 23, 2026

APRIL 24-26 / NEW CASTLE, PA - MARCH 23, 2026

MAY 1-3 / HAMPSTEAD, MD - MARCH 30, 2026

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• Deposit to reserve spot is required for studios with 10+ entries

• A 5%  late fee will be assessed for payments not received by entry deadline

• No entries will be accepted after entry deadline

• No refunds are given (including deposits) unless event is canceled due to unforeseen circumstance

• All entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis

• Entries are not considered received without full studio payment 

• A $35 service fee will automatically be assessed for any and all checks returned

 

ENTRY CATEGORIES & TIME LIMITS

DANCERS AND LIMITED TO 2 SOLOS  

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SOLO - 1 PERFORMER 3:00 min time limit   (extended time not available)

DUET/TRIO - 2-3 PERFORMERS 3:00 min time limit   (extended time not available)

SMALL GROUP - 4-9 PERFORMERS 3:00 min time limit  

LARGE GROUP - 10-19 PERFORMERS 3:00 min time limit   

LINE - 20-24 PERFORMERS 4:00 min time limit  

PRODUCTION - 25 OR MORE PERFORMERS 6:00 min time limit

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Any group, line or production that exceeds the time limit can be entered with EXTENDED TIME.  Additional time up to 30 sec will be charged a fee of $50 for the routine regardless of the number of dancers.  Additional time between 30 sec and 1 minute will be charged a fee of $100 for the routine regardless of the number of dancers. Music that exceeds the time limit by more than one minute will not be accepted without additional entry fees per dancer. 

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age DIVISIONS

ALL AGES ARE CALCULATED FROM THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, INCLUDING SOLOS

DECIMAL POINTS ARE DROPPED TO DETERMINE THE AVERAGE AGE

 

MINI Ages 5 & Under

PETITE Ages 6-8

JUNIOR Ages 9-11

TEEN Ages 12-14

SENIOR Ages 15-18

ADULT Ages 19+

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LEVELS & high scores 

LEVELS ARE DETERMINED BY OUR JUDGES

 

Studio directors will not be responsible for entering levels at registration.  All entries will be submitted without a level and will be placed in a division based on their adjudication received at the event. In addition, solo titles will no longer be gender based. All soloists will be automatically eligible for top soloist awards with no additional fee, and will be awarded in both TRUE Colors and TRUE Power divisions regardless of gender. 

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Cash awards are available in TRUE Power division only, however, overall high scores will be awarded in both TRUE Colors and TRUE Power divisions based on entry category and age. They are announced according to the following rubric:

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2 or fewer entries - Top 1 announced

3-4 entries - Top 3 announced

5-9 entries - Top 5 announced

10 or more entries - Top 10 announced

TRUE Colors Division (Earned Adjudication of Gold, High Gold, Platinum)

HIGH SCORES AND TITLES
 

Top Soloists will be recognized as:

TRUE Colors Mini Top Soloist  (Age 5 & Under)

TRUE Colors Petite Top Soloist (Age 6-8)

TRUE Colors Junior Top Soloist (Age 9-11)

TRUE Colors Teen Top Soloist (Age 12-14)

TRUE Colors Senior Top Soloist (Age 15-18)

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Additional High Scores awarded:

TRUE Colors Top Score Group/Line Production Age 11 & Under

TRUE Colors Top Score Group/Line Production Age 12+

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TRUE Power Division (Earned Adjudication of High Platinum or Diamond)

HIGH SCORES AND TITLES

This is the only division where cash prizes are awarded. There must be more than one

entry in a high score category for an entry to receive a cash prize. The cash awards breakdown

as $50 for Solos, Duets & Trios, $75 for Small Groups, $100 for Large Groups, Lines & Productions,

and $100 for Overall Top Scoring Group

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Top Soloists will be recognized as:

TRUE Power Mini Top Soloist  (Age 5 & Under)

TRUE Power Petite Top Soloist (Age 6-8)

TRUE Power Junior Top Soloist (Age 9-11)

TRUE Power Teen Top Soloist (Age 12-14)

TRUE Power Senior Top Soloist (Age 15-18)

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Additional High Scores awarded:

TRUE Power Top Score Group/Line Production Age 11 & Under

TRUE Power Top Score Group/Line Production Age 12+

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TRUE Believer Division

This division is reserved for any special needs performers and will have a separate set of high scores, regardless of adjudication. Please contact TDC to discuss any dancers that would qualify for our TRUE Believer division.

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PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES

ROUTINES WITH MORE THAN 3 ACRO PASSES SHOULD BE PLACED IN ACRO OR OPEN CATEGORY​

ONLY CATEGORIES THAT HAVE MORE THAN 1 ENTRY WILL RECEIVE 1ST IN CATEGORY TROPHY

 

Ballet: Routine must consist of ballet technique, classical steps and movements

Pointe: Routine must consist of pointe technique

Lyrical: Routine encompassing the use of balance, flexibility and control utilizing the lyrics and feeling of the music

Contemporary: Interpretive routine using a contemporary/modern style. Should incorporate balance, control, and extension moves

Ethnic: Routine using traditional ethnic and cultural technique

Jazz: Routine using primarily jazz technique

Hip Hop: Routine using primarily hip-hop technique and moves

Modern: Use of modern techniques and movement

Tap: Routine utilizing tap technique (no taps on music track or a 2 point deduction will result)

Acro: Routine using controlled moves such as walkovers, limbers, handstands, chest rolls, etc. May contain gymnastic passes, flexibility moves, and/or contortionist moves. Must contain dance moves, steps and choreography.

Character/Musical Theater: Routine must portray a character throughout. Can be from a play, movie, television, Broadway, or a stereotype such as a policeman, cowboy, doctor, animal, etc.

Open: Routine which does not fit into one of our performance categories or a routine which is a combination of two or more of our performance categories.​

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MUSIC

MUST BE RECEIVED AT LEAST 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO AN EVENT

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We will be importing and playing all music at the competition electronically. 

Submission of music can be uploaded directly into your DanceBug account.

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All music must be cut to the appropriate length allowed and free of inappropriate content.

A master back-up for the day of the event is still strongly recommended.  

USB with appropriately labeled files or an Apple device is preferred for back up music.

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judging

ADJUDICATION BREAKDOWN

TRUE POWER DIVISION

Diamond...................294 - 300

High Platinum.......286 - 293.99 

TRUE COLORS DIVISION

Platinum.....................278 - 285.99 

High Gold..................270 - 277.99 

Gold...............................255 - 269.99 

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TDC judges are certified through IDA (Impact Dance Adjudicators) and video critiques

are provided by DanceBUG (Video Judge). We employ 3 adjudicator judges and 1 special

awards judge.  The SA judge is solely responsible for awarding specials and

scholarships so our adjudicators can focus on accurate scoring! 

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PROPS

NO HELIUM BALLOONS OR LIQUID PROPS ALLOWED

AN ENTRY SURVEY IS SENT OUT PRIOR TO EACH EVENT FOR YOU TO PROVIDE PROP INFORMATION TO US

 

General props are allowed, however, studios are responsible for an immediate and expeditious removal of props and/or any debris.

Props that need assembly must be completed assembled offstage prior to the performance.  Performances that have props that take more than 2 minutes to set up or break down onstage will result in a 2 point deduction. Dangerous props such as fire, swords and knives are prohibited. Helium balloons and any liquid props are also prohibited.

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OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• The same participant(s) cannot compete more than once in the same category and age range in Solos or Duet/Trios to prevent performers from competing against themselves. No more than 50% of any group may compete more than once in the same category and age range.

• Good sportsmanship is expected from all participants, participant family and friends, and teachers. Failure to display such conduct may result in disqualification from high scores and special awards.

• Professional videographers and photographers are working the event so all photography and videotaping are strictly prohibited. 

• Any choreography, music or costume considered inappropriate for family viewing will have points deducted and will not be eligible for Top Score and Special Awards.  Please ensure all music is edited for content.

• Additional administration fees may able for music and waivers not received by deadline.

• Independent entries will be subject to additional administration fee of $25.

• TDC is a family event. We ask that all adults not abuse alcohol or behave inappropriately. Anyone causing this type of disruption will asked to leave the event.

• Any inquiries emailed to TDC from parents of dancers (unless entering independent dancers) will be redirected to their studio directors.

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Email TRUE DANCE CHALLENGE with questions or to reserve your studio's spot!