DISCIPLINE DESCRIPTIONS

Classical & Repertoire

CLASSICAL BALLET  is the most formal of the ballet styles, adhering to traditional ballet technique.  Classical refers to any of the traditional styles of ballet with formalized movements and body positioning to allow the dancer to move with grace, precision, and flowing movements, illustrating graceful ethereal qualities, and unique features and technique such as pointe work, turned out legs, and high extensions.  The stylistic variations of classical ballet relate to the area of origin, distinguishing between Russian, French, British, and Italian ballet.  The Vaganova method, named after Agrippina Vaganova (Russian), and the Cecchetti method, named after Enrico Ceccetti (Italian), are derived from the original French method.  Classical Ballet is the most formal of the ballet styles; it adheres to traditional ballet technique.    This discipline must be performed using the Classical Ballet Technique and style and may be performed in soft ballet slippers or Pointe shoes. Although choreography may be of a modern nature, it may not deviate from what is commonly known as Classical Ballet. 

Dancers must perform original choreography with classical music.  ONLY 100% own/original choreography in classical sections – NO repertoire pieces, themes, costuming, or music (even with own/original choreography).  

REPERTOIRE  generally describes a catalogue or list of the traditional compositions that a company performs.   In ballet, the term refers to an entire ballet story (such as ‘Nutcracker’), or a non-narrative ballet (such as Les Sylphides) and includes variations or shorter pieces within the ballet (such as a solo part or pas de deux).  

Variations are performed with traditional choreography, although there may be differences in staging/adaptations.  Variations showcase the dancer’s technical skill (turns/leaps) and artistry while highlighting a specific character or emotion within a ballet’s narrative.

Dancers may perform any repertoire.  

ONLY repertoire pieces in repertoire section – ONLY original choreography in classical section.  

Lyric, Modern and Modern Jazz pieces may not be performed in this discipline.

Adult Division (all female dancers) – must dance en pointe. Choice of en pointe or demi-pointe in Junior. En pointe is not allowed in the Children’s age division.

See examples HERE and HERE and HERE

JAZZ DANCE is a multi-faceted art form that reflects the historical diversity in various cultures . The below-mentioned types of Jazz Dance are examples of what is permissible in this category.   The entire routine must consist of Jazz work.  Timing and rhythm will be considered in evaluation,  in addition to jazz technique as it pertains to turns, jumps isolations, stretch, as well as use of port de bras, legs, and upper body carriage 

Jazz Dance Styles: 

Primitive: This dance form stems from early African folk dances that were performed by enslaved people brought to America by Africa, West Indies, Cuba, Panama and Haiti. 

Early: Originated via the music of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Dances included the Two-Step or Cakewalk, and later became the Grizzly Bear, Bunny Hug, Turkey Trot, and Texas Tommy. This evolved into the fast music and dances of the 1920’s, the One-Step, Lindy Hop, Charleston and Black Bottom.

Musical Comedy / Theatre Jazz: These forms of Jazz became very popular via movies / theatre during the 1930s and 1940s. Many dance forms were incorporated in Musical Comedy Jazz. Ballet with “On Your Toes”, and Modern Dance in “Oklahoma” and “Brigadoon”. During the 1950s and 1960s, dance became an integral part of telling the story in Musical Theatre, as illustrated in musicals such as “Flower Drum Song”, “Destry Rides Again”, “West Side Story” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”. In 1978, the musical “Dancing” showed that the songs and books were secondary to the dancing; in fact, they are almost non-existent. 

Modern/Contemporary Jazz (meaning new): Primarily performed to music of the day, it began in the late 1950s to the music of Contemporary Jazz musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum and Dave Brubeck.  It evolved in this time period through inspiration from classical ballet and Caribbean  traditional dance and by incorporating the rhythmic and syncopated movements of traditional jazz with. 

Lyrical: A style of jazz that embodies various aspects of ballet, jazz, and modern dance, as they relate with the lyrics or  mood of the music.  It is 'lyrical' because of the connection with the lyrics or essence of the musical story if instrumental music is used.

Today’s Jazz Dance: This discipline may be danced using many different styles and tempos, using themes based on Afro-Cuban, Oriental, Spanish or other national themes. It may be performed as a character, such as Cowboy, Sailor, Clown, etc. It may also be abstract in nature. Lyrical Jazz, performed to such music as Bette Midlers “Wind Beneath My Wings”, may be included in Jazz Dance Discipline 

DIFFERENCES NOTE: Contemporary Ballet should not be confused with Jazz Dance, and may not compete in this discipline. Other contemporary styles such as Hip-Hop, Disco, Break Dance and Electric Boogie may be incorporated, but must never control / dominate Jazz Dance performances.  Contemporary Dance, rooted in traditional Modern Dance, may not compete in Jazz categories, only Modern/Contemporary.  Acrobatics should not be used in Jazz categories and props are limited to hand-held, easily moved props and not sets.

See examples HERE and HERE and HERE

MODERN DANCE is an artistic form with many styles that has undergone development over a relatively long period of time. Modern dance is a more relaxed, free style of dance in which choreographer’s uses emotions and moods to design their own steps, in contrast to ballet’s structured code of steps. It has a deliberate use of gravity, whereas ballet strives to be light/airy. 

The development of modern dance was the logical consequence of the dancing styles that existed at the start of the 20th century, when the modern dancers of that period attempted to break free from established ballet forms, which they considered to be stiff, strict and restrictive and therefore they started searching for new trends and techniques to give dance a new direction. 

This particular dance discipline concerns using modern dancing techniques that were created for the most part during the first half of the 20th century by renowned dance teachers and choreographers, /e.g. Martha Graham, José Limon, Alvin Ailey, Merce Cunningham, Lester Horton and a host of others on the American continent, and Kurt Jooss, Mary Wigman, Hanya Holm and many others in Europe.

 In view of the fact that all dance remains in a constant state of movement and development, this does not mean that we have to use only the aforementioned techniques in their original forms.   On the contrary, it is also about using contemporary trends in modern dance techniques that either goes back to the foundations established by the aforementioned dance instructors or we can use totally new, experimental and original concepts for modern dance.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE brings new information about body and how the body works, offers new quality of movement, new shapes of body in area, brings new composition process and space for experiment.

The entire routine must consist of modern dance techniques and current trends, and should correspond with age categories and the movement skills of the dancers. Contemporary. 

Ballet should not be confused with Modern Dance, and may not compete in this discipline. Other contemporary styles such as Hip-Hop, Disco, Break Dance and Electric Boogie may be incorporated, but must never control / dominate Modern dance performances. 

The main point of assessment for this discipline will be the level of the dance movements carried out, as well as the theme and story line. The story, the building of a plot, is possible, but not so much emphasized here as, for example, for Show dance. It is primarily about pictures, moods. 

In Modern Dance, a story, theme, idea or concept may be used but must always be in good taste for children, junior and adult situations, but human situations, especially those dealing with intimate or personal relationships should acceptable to viewing by all ages.

See examples HERE and HERE

TAP DANCE is a form of dance that uses the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of perrcussion.  Although the primary emphasis should be on the harmonious blend of the dancer’s footwork (sound), many variables exist.

 All forms of tap will compete against each other, such as: Rhythm, Hoofing, Buck and Wing, Waltz Clog, Military, Precision Kick Line, Latin and Musical Theatre.

See examples HERE and HERE and HERE

SHOW DANCE in the broadest sense is based either on any Jazz/Lyrical, Ballet and/or Modern and Contemporary dance technique with emphasis on having show value to entertain the audience.    Other dance disciplines can also be incorporated but cannot dominate.   The dancer's personal interpretation should be clearly evident when using any of these disciplines or styles.   

Show Dance allows the use of lifts (except for Children), acrobatics, props, lip-sync and other theatrical effects.   All Show Dance presentations shall be based on a concept, story, theme or idea. There must be a title of the Show. The concept, story, theme or idea must be fully understandable and will be expressed by means of dance movements that adhere to the piece being presented, along with being creative, imaginative and original.  It is very important to present harmony of idea, music, dance, choreography, costume and props in the presentation, as the entire image will be used in evaluating the performance.  

See an example HERE and  HERE and HERE and HERE

ACROBATIC DANCE combines the art, performance, or activity of an acrobat, demonstrating the complex agility, balance, and motor coordination of acrobatic feats, combined with the artistry of dance, rooted in classic dance techniques such as jazz/lyrical,  modern/contemporary, and or ballet  styles.

The separation between Acro-Sport and Acro-Dance lies within the nature of the performance.

Acro-Dance blends acrobatic elements and dance equally and seamlessly.  Transitions occur smoothly through dance rather than tumbling lines (which are limited to 4 continuous tricks ).

See examples HERE  and HERE