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Dance Rules & Regulations

The Festival relies on the integrity of entrants to comply with all rules regarding age, membership, etc. in entering specific classes.

In these rules and regulations:

  1. "Festival" means The Kiwanis Festival Association of Greater Toronto.

  2. "Festival Office" means The Kiwanis Festival Office.

  3. "Amateur" means any person who, up to the date of closing of entries for the forthcoming Festival, has not received remuneration forming the major portion of his/her livelihood from the profession or practice of dance.

  4. "Professional" means any person who, up to the date of closing of entries for the forthcoming Festival, has received remuneration forming the major portion of his/her livelihood from the profession or practice of dance.

  5. The Festival will not be responsible for personal injury or the loss of or damage to any personal property.

Management

  1. The competitions will be under the management of the Festival. All matters not dealt with in these rules will be referred to the Festival whose decisions on such matters will be final and binding upon all concerned. Complaints or protests will not be considered unless made in writing to the Festival Office. Under no circumstances are such protests to be made to the adjudicator.

Eligibility

  1. All competitions, unless otherwise stated, will be open to amateurs only, as defined above.

  2. All competitions, unless otherwise stated in these rules and regulations and the category definitions, will be open to any competitor without regard to residence or domicile.

  3. The Festival is divided into two categories. All entrants are to indicate their affiliation on the entry form. The two classifications are:

    a. Community Groups and Schools
    i. Schools and Community Centres – students attend between 1 and 3 classes a week (this section includes Fine Arts Schools).

    b. Studios
    i. Students participate in four (4) or fewer hours of classes per week (Recreational competitive)
    ii. Students participate in five (5) or more hours of classes per week (Competitive.)'

    Community participants may, if they wish, participate in the Studio classes. Studio competitors may not, however, apply for Community classes.

Entries and Entry Fees

  1. Copies of the Syllabus and entry forms may be obtained from The Kiwanis Festival Office or by visiting the website www.kiwanismusictoronto.org.

Fee Schedule

  1. Schools and Community Groups
    Solos – $70.00 per person
    Duet/Trio – $30.00 per person
    Group (4-9) – $30.00 per person
    Line (10-15) – $30.00 per person
    Extended Line (16 or more) – $325.00 flat fee
    Production – $450.00 flat fee

    Studio Entries
    Solos – $70.00
    Duet/Trio – $50.00 per person
    Group – (4-9) $45.00 per person
    Line – (10-15) $45.00 per person
    Extended Line (16 or more) – $45.00 per person
    Production – $750.00 flat fee

    A $10.00 administration fee will be added to all entries.
    In case of cancellation of the Festival, all entry fees will be refunded except for the $10.00 administration fee.

    The Association will levy a $50.00 administration charge for N.S.F. cheques.

  2. Registrations must be completed using our online system (www.competitionwizard.com/login/1) with payment forwarded to the festival via cheque or e-transfer.

    • Earlybird Entries must be received through our registration system no later than December 13, 2023. You may apply a 5% discount for registrations received no later than the above date.

    • Regular Entries must be received through our registration system no later than January 17, 2024.

  3. Entry fees cannot be refunded except under circumstances where the entry is rejected by the Festival. Competitors desiring to withdraw their entry must do so in writing to the Festival Office as early as possible. The Festival reserves the right to change venues if necessary.

  4. AGE GUIDELINES:
    Competitors must be no older than the prescribed age on December 31, 2023. Contestants may enter their own age category or any age level above, duets and trios included. A competitor may NOT enter an age category which is lower than his/her own age.

    Duets, Trios and Group entries should be averaged. Add the ages of all competitors and divide by the number in the group. (Where the average age is not a whole number – use the whole number i.e. 10.4 = 10, 10.8 = 10).

  5. Competitors are grouped into age categories as follows:
    Minis – Ages 4-7
    Junior – Ages 8-11
    Intermediate – Ages 12-14
    Senior – Ages 15+

  6. All entries must be properly completed in the online registration system. Entries without the foregoing information will not be accepted.

  7. There are three (3) group categories: Groups (4-9 members); Line (10-15 members); Extended Line (16 members or more). An individual competitor cannot compete in more than one group in each class.

  8. Please indicate on the entry form if the competitor(s) are of novice standing (have never competed in any dance competition prior to December 31, 2024). A student who has competed in groups but has never danced a solo, duet or trio is still a novice competitor for solos, duets and trios. Once a dancer has done a solo in ANY DISCIPLINE, they are no longer considered a novice. Duets must be 100% novice. Trios or groups must be at least 75% novice (2 out of 3 in trio).

    Competitors are urged to exercise care in entering the category information on the entry form since transfers to other classes are not possible following the closing date for entries.

  9. Please notify the Festival Office of any change of address following submission of entry form(s).

  10. The Association reserves the right to reject any entry for any reason.

Programme Procedure

  1. Following the closing date for entries, the Association will decide the schedule of the classes and reserves the right to alter such schedule if necessary.

  2. The Festival may, at its sole discretion, combine classes if it considers the number of entries in any one class to be insufficient. In addition, the Festival reserves the right to subdivide any class into two or more competitions under circumstances where the number or character of the entries would justify such a subdivision.

  3. The Festival reserves the right to substitute or appoint additional adjudicators.

  4. No competitor may contact the adjudicator(s). This may result in disqualification. No teacher or member of the public may contact the adjudicator(s). Necessary questions from a competitor must be directed to a member of the Festival staff.

  5. The marks awarded by the adjudicator are final.

  6. The same routine or music cannot be used in more than one class by the same competitor.

  7. Music should be uploaded into the registration system no later than March 21, 2024. Please ensure that you bring a back-up copy of your music, preferably on a USB key. The playing of each piece will be supervised by the house technician.

  8. Only children ages 8 and under will be allowed to be assisted on to the stage by a teacher, parent or assistant. Otherwise only Festival representatives are allowed backstage. Teachers may not demonstrate or cue students of any age from on or off stage.

  9. No substitutes will be allowed in solo classes. In the event of illness, one substitute will be allowed in duets or trios on notice to the Festival Office. The person substituting must be eligible with respect to age and other requirements to perform in that class.

  10. A competitor requiring a "second start" due to a lapse of memory or illness will receive an adjudication but will not receive a mark, except in novice categories.

  11. No strobe or theatrical lighting will be permitted. Props that are simple to set up and remove are allowed. Prop set-up time will be included in the maximum time limit for the dance. For props requiring longer set-up time, please contact the office so that we can schedule appropriately. Breakable props, or props that would pose danger (such as knives, swords, fire are PROHIBITED. Also, no liquid substances, glitter or confetti are permitted in any routine.

  12. The maximum time allowed for all performances are:
    Solos – 3 minutes
    Duets/Trios – 3 minutes
    Lines – 3.5 minutes
    Productions – 10 minutes (minimum of 15 dancers)
    There is no time minimum. Time limits will be strictly enforced.

  13. All competitors should be in costume, warmed-up and prepared to dance one half hour prior to the stated class time. The Festival reserves the right to disqualify any competitor or group who is not ready to perform when called.

  14. It is essential that each teacher and student check in upon arrival.

  15. Proper conduct in the auditorium and backstage must be followed at all times. Excessive noise or disruptions will not be tolerated and may result in the disqualification of entrants and/or ejection of audience members from the auditorium. Front of House and Backstage Managers will enforce this rule strictly.

  16. During the competition, photography of any kind (including video cameras and cell phones) is strictly prohibited.

Awards and Scholarships

  1. Marks and medals will be presented during the competitions and in accordance with the following classifications and marks:
    Diamond – minimum of 93
    Ruby – minimum of 89
    Emerald – minimum of 85
    Sapphire – minimum of 81
    All competitors reaching these marks will be awarded the appropriate pins. If there is a first place tie, it will be at the adjudicators discretion as to who will be the trophy winner.

  2. Adjudicators' marks will be announced during each adjudication.

  3. Special awards may be awarded to both schools and studios in the following:
    • Adjudicator Choice Awards which may include: choreography, best smile, best costume, originality, most enthusiasm, etc.
    • Best in Discipline Awards
    • Best All-Round Dancers:
    Minis (Ages 4-7); Junior (Ages 8-11); Intermediate (Ages 12-14); Senior (Ages 15+)
    • Best of the Festival Award

  4. All entrants are eligible. Trophy winners will automatically receive a CASH scholarship. Adjudicators will make recommendations for additional recipients. Scholarship cheques will be mailed or e-transferred after the competition. Total scholarship pool will be approximately $10,000. All scholarships are cash awards.

Syllabus & Entry Form

Earlybird Deadline: December 13, 2023
Final Entry Deadline: January 17, 2024

SyllabusRegistration Link