GENERAL RULES & GUIDELINES: 

• All routines, including choreography, music, and costumes, must be appropriate for family viewing. Routines deemed inappropriate by Platinum Competition Staff will be stopped, disqualified, or face a deduction from the Judges. 

• No use of live animals or live people as props. 

• No use of dangerous/destructive props such as guns, knives, glass, sand, swords, water, paint, etc. 

• The stage must be left clean by the performers.  Platinum Staff will not be responsible for cleaning up any props used on the stage. 

• NEW FOR 2026 Production elements of the competition cannot be altered for any routine, this includes lighting, sound, or any other fixed production elements. 

• No coaching from the audience or sides of the stage. This may result in disqualification and/or point deduction. 

• Any routine which is not completed the first time, and is attempted a second time, will be adjudicated only and not eligible for Overall Top awards, Champions of the Category, or Artist of the Year nominations. 

• All competitors must be able to provide proof of their age at a Platinum competition if a protest regarding age occurs. Such a protest must be presented in writing to the director of Platinum within one-half hour of the performance of the entry in question. Only a Studio Director can initiate a protest. All regional ages are as of January 1 of the current competition year. 

• All competitors, teachers, and audience members should always conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. This includes in the dressing rooms, backstage, and the audience. Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated. 

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ENTRY CONFIRMATIONS AND SCHEDULING:

• NEW FOR 2026 Six weeks before the event, an email will be sent with your registration summary attached.  Any changes must be made from that six-week point up to the registration deadline of four weeks before a schedule is made.  Once the final schedule has been sent out, any additional changes must be made within 1 week of receipt, in one document.  Any changes made beyond this timeline will incur a $25 charge per change.   

• Dancers are allowed at least 4 acts between numbers to change costumes. The competition cannot be delayed due to performers taking longer than the allotted 4 acts to change. 

• Studio owners are to have their performers ready to perform one hour prior to their scheduled    time. Any delays caused by practicing, excessive costume change time, etc., may result in a point deduction due to failure to perform as scheduled. 

• Competitors must perform in the order in which they are scheduled. 

• No changes in category, entry participants, levels, or ages will be made on the day of the regional competition, unless special permission is granted by the Platinum Directors.  

• Please note that each show is scheduled independently based on the number of acts and how those acts break down among solos, duet/trios, and groups. As such, there is no “standard schedule” we can share prior to the schedule being emailed. It is impossible to even guess when an act or group of acts will perform prior to the final schedule. Please note that it is generally very difficult to accommodate individual schedule requests given that multiple such requests from multiple studios almost always conflict with one another. Finally, don’t make assumptions about the current schedule based on a prior year’s schedule. 

• NEW FOR 2026 Schedule requests will only be considered for studios with 10 or more entries registered for the competition.  Requests for Proms and First Communions are common in the season and largely accommodated, however, full days of conflicts will not be accepted.  Any schedule requests made after the registration deadline will not be considered. 

• At minimum, you will receive final confirmation and a time schedule two weeks prior to the competition. 

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PAYMENTS:   

• Registration for the following Season will start July 1st, by submitting your estimated number of routines.  Registrations will only be confirmed with a $500.00 deposit. 

• If an event sells out, a studio must confirm their registration with a $500.00 deposit or risk being put on a Waitlist until a deposit is made. 

• Platinum offers 5% and 10% early bird discounts. To qualify for the 10% discount, a $1000 deposit must be submitted by September 1st of the current year and payment in full 90 days before the competition date. To qualify for the 5% discount, registration must be paid in full 60 days before the competition date. No concessions or discounts for studios paying after these deadlines will be honored. 

• All entries submitted require payment in full, using a credit card (a 3% processing charge will be applied), bank check (cashier’s check), or money order for all entries from one studio. Studio checks or individual checks from parents will not be accepted. 

• Registered routines will not be scheduled without payment in full 

• There are no refunds for competition fees. 

• Any unpaid balance 2 weeks prior to the competition will be assessed a late fee equaling 5% of the unpaid balance. ​

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AGE DIVISIONS:

• The ages of performers will be determined as of January 1. The system will determine the age division for an entry by averaging the ages of the participants and then dropping the decimal point. Therefore, 8.5 would be age division 6-8, not 9-11. 

• Participants will be divided into the following age divisions: 

• Mini: Ages 5 and Under Petite: 6-8 Junior: 9-11 Teen: 12-14 Senior: 15-16   Pre-Pro: 17-19  

• NEW FOR 2026 Platinum Stars - dancers with disabilities who are eager to share their love for movement in their own way. *Mobility device accessibility is limited in some cities. Please inquire for more information.  

• Adult: Ages 20 and up and teachers who wish to compete 

• Adult Division includes the following: Teachers, Professionals, and Parents. Any routine solo, duet/trio, group, or line that has a performer 20 years old or older will automatically be placed in the adult age division, regardless of the average age of participants. 

• Teachers are only allowed to compete in the Adult Category. A “teacher” is defined as any individual who is being compensated for classes or choreography and/or teaches 3 or more  hours per week. 

• Adult routines are only eligible for “Top Adult Act”, no other awards will be presented.  Adult entries are not eligible for the Invitational. 

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TYPES OF ENTRIES: 

• Solo (1 performer)

• Duet/Trio (2-3 performers)

• Small Group (4-9 performers) 

• Large Group (10-19 performers)

• Lines (20+ performers) 

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FEES:  

• In order to see the fees for Platinum National Dance Competition events, you must register your studio in DanceComp Genie.  

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TIME LIMITS: 

• Solo: 3 minutes • Duet/Trio: 3 minutes • Groups: 3 minutes • Lines: 7 minutes 

• Entries exceeding the given time limit may choose to purchase extended time at NEW FOR 2026 $5.00 per minute per dancer. Entries that exceed the time requirement may result in a point deduction if “extra minutes” were not purchased. 

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LEVELS OF COMPETITION:  

• Our system will recognize the following:   

• Recreational: 1-3 hours of training per week.  A Recreational dancer can compete with only 1 solo and a maximum of 7 routines.  This level is for students new to competitions who take 3 hours or less of class per week. These students have limited competition experience of only 1-2 years.  

• Minis (5 & under) can only be entered as Recreational. 

• Intermediate: 4-6 hours of training per week. An Intermediate dancer can compete up to 2 solos and a maximum of 10 routines. Students who take 4-6 hours of class per week and have participated in competitions for 3-4 years. 

• Elite: 7+ hours of training per week. This level is designed for more advanced students who take 7+ hours of class per week and have at least 5+ years of competition experience. 

• NEW FOR 2026 Lines & Productions will not count towards a dancer’s maximum routines. 

• During your registration, you will add the number of hours your dancer takes class during the week. This will determine which level your dancer will be placed. The hours include technique classes, private lessons, and rehearsal times. 

• Dancers taking classes at different studios or at gymnastics centers should also include these hours in their training. 

• Once individual dancers are assigned their levels based on hours of dance a week, all duet/trios and groups will automatically be assigned their level placement.  NEW FOR 2026 Here is an explanation of how the system calculates this - 

• Recreational dancers are 1 point, Intermediate are 2 points, and Elite are 3 points. The level with the most points will determine the level the system will recognize.  Therefore, if a group has 7 Recreational dancers (7 points), 4 Intermediate dancers (8 points), and 2 Elite dancers (6 points), the system will make the routine Intermediate, even though there are more Recreational dancers in the routine. 

Additional Things to Consider 

• All solos performed by the same dancer must be entered at the same level. For example, a dancer who takes 4 hours of Jazz and 1 hour of Tap per week, would be considered an Intermediate dancer, regardless of the breakdown on disciplines. 

• Once a dancer has won multiple Overall wins in a particular level, they should consider graduating to the next higher level. 

• Any dancer in our Apprentice Program will be required to compete at the Elite Level. 

• Any changes to a level placement will need to be approved by the Platinum Office. 

• If an average of a duet, trio, or group is 50/50 with levels, the highest level will be assigned to the routine. 

• BUMPING UP DANCES: During competition, if all three judges nominate a dance to be promoted to a higher level unanimously, it will be moved up a level. The decisions of the Director and Judges are final.  

 

The spirit and intent of our Performance Levels is to provide dancers with the opportunity to compete against other dancers with similar experience and training. It is NOT designed so that your studio will place in the overalls more often. Our performance levels should not be     used as a tool to simply keep your groups from competing against one another. Each group’s placement should be based only upon the qualifications of that team. If you have any questions regarding placement or any other rule, please feel free to email or call us. We are always happy to help. 

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CATEGORIES OF COMPETITION: 

• There will be no limit placed on acro tricks that can be incorporated in a routine.  Acro elements are becoming more standard in choreography, however, if the routine is mostly comprised of acro elements it should be placed in the Acro/Gymnastics category or Open category.  Props are permitted in all categories. However, there is a 2-minute time limit in setting up and removing props. 

 

• ACRO-GYMNASTICS - A routine consisting of controlled moves such as walkovers, aerials, handstands, chest rolls, passes, etc. Most of the routine must be acrobatic moves; however, it must contain some dance moves, steps, and choreography. 

• BALLET - Routine which must include classical steps and ballet technique.  

• BATON - Routine using baton(s) and baton technique. 

• CHARACTER - A routine portraying an easily recognizable character throughout. It can be from a play, movie, television, Broadway, or a stereotype such as a lawyer, law enforcement officer, etc. 

• CLOGGING - A routine utilizing either traditional or contemporary clogging technique and style.  

• CONTEMPORARY- Routine incorporating lyrical or jazz movement fused with modern elements. 

•  DRILL TEAM - Precision marching in military or dance styles. 

• FOLK/ETHNIC - A routine incorporating ethnic styles of dance such as polkas, Hawaiian, or Spanish, etc. 

•  HIP HOP - Routine must consist primarily of hip hop technique.  

• JAZZ - Routine must consist of primarily jazz technique. 

• LYRICAL - Routine should demonstrate balance, extension, isolations, and control using contemporary lyrical moves set to the mood or lyrics of the music. 

• MODERN - Interpretive dance using balance and control. 

• MUSICAL THEATRE - Routine featuring any style of dance interpreting a song from a Broadway show or movie musical. 

• OPEN - Routine consisting of any of our listed categories or combinations of listed category styles. This category can be used for a dancer’s second solo of identical style. 

• POINTE - Routine must consist of pointe/toe technique. 

• POM PON - Routine which must include such elements as marching, clean, sharp arm movements, kicks, leaps, jumps, and splits. The routine must incorporate pom pons.  

• PRODUCTION – *Can only be a Line. Utilizing props, sets, and a main theme or storyline. 

• SONG & DANCE - Routine must contain both singing and any listed category of dance (tap, jazz, ballet, etc.). Accompaniment must be uploaded directly, and backup voices only will be permitted. 

• TAP - Routine must contain tap technique. 

• VOCAL - Routine may be any type of vocal presentation. Accompaniment must be uploaded directly or live. No lead vocals permitted on tape; backup voices only will be permitted. 

• Please understand that Platinum is primarily a dance competition. We have, however, included the vocal category as a performance opportunity for those dance competitors who are involved in vocal instruction, as part of a well-rounded performance education. The vocal category stands alone and has its own overall awards.  

• No additional sound equipment or microphones may be used or connected to the Platinum sound system. 

• There will be a maximum of 2 handheld microphones available for any Vocal routines. 

• Vocal Routines are not eligible for Artist of the Year Nominations or Invitations. 

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GENERAL AWARDS: 

• Each entry will be adjudicated and receive an award indicating their entry’s achievement based on the scoring system for each level of competition. 

• One award will be given to the studio for their entry’s achievement: Gold, High Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus. Individual placement pins indicating the entry’s achievement will be given to each participant in a group/line.  Solos and Duet/Trios will each receive an adjudication medal. 

• The “Champion of the Category” will be announced for all categories in which there are two or more entries per age division and category. Only one award will be given to the studio for their entry’s achievement 

• NEW FOR 2026 Any studio not in attendance to win an award may request to have the awards shipped to them following the competition at the studios’ expense. 

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ADJUDICATIONS:

• Platinum will provide a judging panel of teachers, choreographers, and working professionals who are well versed in the categories of competition. They will also understand what it takes to choreograph for children and what skills are attainable for performers at various ages. All decisions of the Judges are final. 

• Routines will be given a numerical score from each Judge. 

• Judging Criteria is as follows: 

• Technique - 40 pts    Execution of Choreo - 20 pts    Choreography - 15 pts 

• Showmanship/Presentation - 15 pts    Overall Impression - 5 pts   Costume - 5 pts 

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• Recreational 

•  Gold: 240 & below  High Gold: 241-251       Platinum: 252-274         Platinum Plus: 275-300 

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• Intermediate 

• Gold: 251 & below    High Gold: 252-260     Platinum: 261-279           Platinum Plus: 280-300 

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• Elite 

• Gold: 262 & below   High Gold: 263-269     Platinum: 270-284          Platinum Plus: 285-300 

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REGIONAL AWARDS:

• Adjudications, Special Judges Awards, Overall Top Awards, Artist of the Year nominations, Vocal Category, Adult Category, Top Scoring Recreational, Intermediate, and Elite Acts, Heart of Gold Awards, Photogenic/Costume - Petite, Junior, Teen, and Senior age divisions, Choreography Awards - Jazz, Contemporary/Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop, Open, and All-Around, Technique Awards – 11 & Under and 12 & Over, Sportsmanship Award, Top Recreational, Intermediate, & Elite Studio, Studio of Excellence, and Platinum Power, which  is the entry deemed the most entertaining group or line of the entire competition. 

• NEW FOR 2026 During Registration, Studios can choose to participate in our Awards Donation option.  This will only include groups’ adjudication, overall plaques and champions of the category.  These awards will not be presented to studios that opt for this program.  Top Act Trophies and Platinum Power will still be awarded to studios that opt for this program. A choice of charity will be made available during the registration process. 

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OVERALL TOP AWARDS:

• Overall Awards will be presented to the TOP scoring entries in each level of competition.  

• One award will be given to the studio of the TOP Overall scoring solo, duet/trio, small group, large group, or line/production in each level of competition. Overall Winners from small groups, large groups, lines/productions will receive a pin for each entry participant recognizing their Overall placement. 

• Only one solo per dancer is eligible for Overall Awards. 

• Top Overalls will be based on the number of entries at the regional competition.   

• 1-4 entries – 1st Place, 5-6 entries – Top 3, 7-11 entries – Top 5, 12-29 entries – Top 10, 30+ entries – Top 20 

• All ties will be broken; first by technique score, second by showmanship/presentation score, and third by a judges’ poll. 

• Those who perform outside their scheduled section will not be eligible for Top Overall Awards. 

• “Platinum Stars” are not eligible for Overall Top Awards, however, they will receive their own recognition. 

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REGIONAL AWARDS VOUCHERS: 

• These will be automatically credited to the studios’ account within a week of the event.  Vouchers will not be credited to an account if a balance on the account remains. 

 

• Top Overall Solo  

• Recreational - $75.00 

• Intermediate - $100.00 

• Elite - $125.00 

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• Top Overall Duet/Trio  

• Recreational - $100.00 

• Intermediate - $125.00 

• Elite - $150.00 

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• Top Overall Small Group  

• Recreational - $125.00 

• Intermediate - $150.00 

• Elite - $175.00 

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• Top Overall Large Group  

• Recreational - $150.00 

• Intermediate - $175.00 

• Elite - $200.00 

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• Top Overall Line  

• Recreational - $200.00 

• Intermediate - $225.00 

•  Elite - $250.00 

 

• Top Studios (Recreational, Intermediate, & Elite) - To qualify, a studio must have a minimum of 10 entries; of those, 5 must be groups. We will average the scores of all group routines by level. The highest scoring studio is the winner for that level. A Studio can only win one Top Studio Award at a Regional Competition. The Studio of Excellence is a studio that is high scoring across multiple levels. 

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PHOTOGENIC, COSTUME AND IMPROV ENTRIES: 

• Photogenic, costume and improv entries are to be registered on the day of the competition only, not in advance. Photogenic and Costume Awards will be presented at the Age Division’s Solo Award ceremony. 

• Photogenic entries may be any size, color or black and white. You will complete an entry form at the Retail/Registration table when you check in on the day of the competition. Please submit a photograph that can be kept by Platinum. Photogenic entries will receive a score sheet that can be picked up at the Retail area at the conclusion of the Awards Ceremony.  

• Costume entries will be completed by registering the entry number at the Retail area.  The judges will determine the winner from watching their performance. 

• An improv competition will be held before the awards at regional competitions. Each dancer will perform alone onstage to about 30 seconds of music from the style they chose at registration, either Jazz, Contemporary/Lyrical, Tap, or Hip Hop. Master Music Lists will be made available on Spotify. One or more winners will be awarded in each age division regardless of style chosen to improv, based on the number of dancers entered. 

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ARTIST OF THE YEAR:     

• Every soloist is eligible for a nomination for “Artist of the Year”. There is no additional fee. Nominees will be determined by adding their Technique, Showmanship/Presentation, and Overall Impression scores. We will award the highest scoring Recreational dancer, the 3 highest scoring Intermediate dancers, and 5 highest scoring Elite Dancers with nominations. The “Artist of the Year” Finals will be held at our Invitational event during the summer.   

• Any “Artist of the Year” winners will not be eligible for a nomination the following year. 

• Artist of the Year Age Divisions 

-Petite Artist of the Year: 8 & Under (includes Minis) 

-Junior Artist of the Year:  9 – 11 

-Teen Artist of the Year: 12 - 14 

-Senior Artist of the Year: 15 - 19 (includes Pre-Pros) 

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JUDGES CRITIQUES: 

• Platinum provides verbal critiques to each studio owner online from all three judges for each routine in a timely fashion following the conclusion of the competition.  If for any reason a critique is not available, due to some technical interference, a critique can be provided after the event if the studio reaches out to the office. 

• Score sheets will be available online within 48 hours of the competition. Access your score sheets and video critiques through your DanceComp Genie account. 

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PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOTAPING: 

• Video recording and photography of any kind are STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Photography and video are only allowed during awards presentations. We have put this rule in place to protect studio choreography and costuming rights. More importantly we enforce this rule to protect children from having their images used inappropriately and without consent. We urge all studio owners, teachers, and parents to keep our performers photographically safe. Platinum reserves the right to remove the media being used or those using it from the event. Failure to comply with these rules could result in the disqualification of dancers and/or studios. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. 

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MUSIC: 

• Music must be directly uploaded through DanceComp Genie’s registration process prior to the first day of competition. 

• Backup music may only be supplied on a USB Flashdrive. 

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MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION: 

• All contestants grant permission to Platinum National Dance Competition to use their names, photographs, or to appear on local and/or national television, social media, in brochures, and/or on the Platinum website to promote its competitions. 

• Smoking, vaping, eating, and drinking are prohibited in the competition area and dressing room.  

• Platinum reserves the right to cancel any competition due to weather, number of entries, or any other circumstances deemed necessary. Platinum reserves the right to move the competition’s location or date due to unforeseen circumstances. 

• Sportsmanlike behavior is always expected. 

• Studios may not reserve seats or dressing rooms. 

• Platinum National Dance Competition and the hosting facility are not responsible for personal injury to contestants or spectators or property loss. By entering this event, it is agreed that participants and/or spectators will not hold Platinum National Dance Competition, LLC, or its officers, directors, staff, or employees responsible for injuries sustained or illnesses contracted by them while in attendance of one of their competitions.