These guidelines are intended to help determine appropriate skill levels for dancers, serving as a framework for ensuring fair placement and competitive balance. While choreographers have the freedom to include any skills they feel best showcase their dancers, the execution of these skills will be the primary factor in determining if a routine aligns with the dancer’s registered level. If judges determine that the execution exceeds the intended level, the routine may be elevated to the next level to ensure fairness.

The Novice Division is designed for dancers who are new to competition and have limited training experience. This division focuses on building confidence and showcasing fundamental skills.

• Training: Dancers training no more than three hours per week, including all forms of dance, drill team, cheerleading, gymnastics, etc.
•  Routine Limit: Up to five group routines per contest. (Production not included)
• Solo Entries: Permitted only one solo entry.

Skills That May Trigger Level Promotion:

• Multiple pirouettes (more than two)
  • Aerials or back handsprings
  •  Advanced acrobatic skills, such as front aerials, back tucks, or walkovers
  • Toe extensions, such as winged pointe or over-splits
  • Advanced leaps or jumps, such as switch leaps with turns or firebirds
  • Sustained extensions requiring extreme flexibility or advanced control

• Contingency: If judges determine that a dancer exceeds the Novice criteria during the competition, they may be moved to the Intermediate Division. However, if the performance has already been adjudicated or if the division awards have been presented, the routine will compete for adjudication only and will not be eligible for Overall High Point Awards.
•  Eligibility: Not eligible for Ovation Title Winner or a Standing “O” award; no cash awards in this division.

The Intermediate Division is designed for dancers with moderate training and competition experience. This division serves as a bridge between beginner and advanced levels, offering a space for growth and development.

• Training: Dancers training no more than six hours per week, encompassing all forms of dance, drill team, cheerleading, gymnastics, etc.
•  Routine Limit: Up to nine group routines per contest. (Production not included)
• Solo Entries: Permitted up to three solo entries in different genres; only the highest
  scoring solo is eligible for Overall Top Score Awards.

 Skills That May Trigger Level Promotion:

• • Fouetté turns exceeding eight rotations or intricate turn combinations
    involving multiple directional changes.
  •  Tumbling passes including layouts, full twists, or aerial combinations
    involving flips and transitions.
  • Jumps or leaps such as switch leaps with multiple rotations, firebirds with additional directional turns, or highly advanced transitions requiring extreme flexibility or control.
  • Tap combinations with overly intricate rhythms or sequences beyond the intermediate complexity level.

• Contingency: If judges determine that a dancer's skill level or performance exceeds the Intermediate criteria, they may be moved to the Elite Division. However, if the performance has already been adjudicated or if division awards have been presented, the routine will compete for adjudication only and will not be eligible for Overall High Point Awards.
• Eligibility: Eligible for Ovation Title Winner, Standing “O” award, and other category recognitions.

The Elite Division is designed for highly trained dancers with extensive competition experience. This division challenges dancers to perform at their highest technical and artistic levels.

• Training: Dancers training more than six hours per week, encompassing all forms of dance, drill team, cheerleading, gymnastics, etc.
•  Routine Limit: No routine limit applies; Elite dancers often participate in multiple categories.
• Solo Entries: Permitted up to three solo entries in different genres; only the highest scoring solo is eligible for Overall Top Score Awards.
• Eligibility: Eligible for Ovation Title Winner, Standing “O” award, and cash prizes.

At Ovation Dance, we aim to ensure dancers are competing at a level that best matches their skills and experience to maintain a fair and competitive environment. Our Level Promotion Guidelines are as follows:

Judges have the discretion to promote a dancer or routine to a higher level if the skill execution, technical ability, or overall performance exceeds the current level.

• Triggering Factors: Exceptional execution of advanced skills, including but not limited to fouetté turns, intricate tumbling passes, or highly controlled extensions.
• Notification: If a performance is promoted during the competition, the studio will be notified immediately.

•  If the promoted level’s division has not yet been adjudicated, the routine’s scores will be used for eligibility for Overall High Point Awards in the higher division.
•  If the division has already completed and awards have been presented, the routine will not qualify for Overall High Point Awards and receive an Adjudication Only Award.

• Once a dancer or routine has been promoted to a higher level during a Regional Competition, they are required to compete in that higher level for the remainder of the season, including National Finals.

Choreographers are free to include any skills they feel best showcase their dancers. However, level promotion is based on execution, not simply the inclusion of advanced skills. If judges deem the performance’s execution significantly exceeds the registered level, promotion will occur.

Group routines with dancers from multiple levels will be evaluated as per our leveling calculator system, ensuring the overall level reflects the majority skillset of the group.

Note: All decisions by the judging panel and competition director regarding level
promotions are final and cannot be contested.

For routines with dancers from multiple levels, a point system is used to determine the appropriate competition level for the group. This ensures fairness and consistency across all entries.

Point System

•  Novice: 1 point per dancer
•  Intermediate: 2 points per dancer
•  Elite: 3 points per dancer

To determine the appropriate level:
1. Multiply the number of dancers in each level by the points assigned to their level.
2. Compare the total points contributed by each level.
3. The routine is placed in the highest level with the greater total contribution.

4. In the event of a tie, the system will automatically place the routine in the higher level. However, the studio owner may choose the competition level for the routine, but they must contact the competition before the final schedule is released to make this correction.

Example 1
6 dancers total:

• 2 dancers are Intermediate (2 points each): 2 × 2 = 4 points
• 4 dancers are Novice (1 point each): 4 × 1 = 4 points
  Since the totals are equal, the routine is placed in the higher level         (Intermediate).

Example 2
8 dancers total:

• 3 dancers are Intermediate (2 points each): 3 × 2 = 6 points
• 5 dancers are Elite (3 points each): 5 × 3 = 15 points
  Since 15 points (Elite) is greater than 6 points (Intermediate), the routine is placed in the Elite Division.

Level Placement

• The group is placed in the division corresponding to the level with the highest contribution based on the point system.

Additional Rules

• Adjudication Only: If a routine is found to be placed in a lower level than appropriate, it will compete for adjudication only and will not be eligible for high point awards.
• Judges’ Discretion: Judges have the authority to recommend level changes based on the execution and overall performance quality.