The Novice Division is designed for dancers who are new to competition and have limited training experience.

Training: Dancers training no more than 3 hours per week, including all dance classes, drill team, cheerleading, gymnastics, and acro.

Routine Limit: Up to 5 group routines per competition (Productions excluded).Solo Entries: One solo entry per competition. (A second solo may be permitted if thedancer is not competing in any group routines. Studio owners must contact ODC to request approval before adding the additional solo.)

Previous Novice Winners: Dancers who have earned 1st Overall in the Novice Division at any Ovation Dance Challenge competition must compete in the Intermediate Division for future events.

Mini Division: All Mini dancers automatically compete in the Novice Division. Competition levels do not apply to the Mini age division.

Novice Restricted Skills (NEW):

Novice routines may not include:

• Acrobatic tricks where both hands leave the floor (including aerials and front

aerials)

• Back handsprings

• A la seconde turns

• Fouetté turns

• Triple (or more) pirouettes

Any routine containing one or more of these skills will be automatically moved to the Intermediate Division.

If division awards have already taken place, the routine will compete for Adjudication Only and will not be eligible for Overall High Point Awards.

Eligibility

Novice dancers are not eligible for Title, Standing “O” Awards, or cash awards.

The Intermediate Division is designed for dancers with moderate training and competition experience.

Training: Dancers training up to 6 hours per week, including all dance classes, drill team, cheerleading, gymnastics, and acro.

Routine Limit: Up to 9 group routines per competition (Productions excluded).Solo Entries: Up to 3 solo entries in di`erent genres. Only the highest-scoring solo is eligible for Overall High Point Awards.

Level Promotion

Judges may move a routine to the Elite Division if the overall skill level, technique, or execution clearly exceeds the Intermediate Division.

If division awards have already taken place, the routine will compete for Adjudication Only and will not be eligible for Overall High Point Awards.

Eligibility

Intermediate dancers are eligible for Standing “O” Awards and other category recognitions but are not eligible for Title or cash awards.

The Elite Division is designed for dancers with advanced training and extensive competition experience.

Training: Dancers training more than 6 hours per week, including all dance classes, drill team, cheerleading, gymnastics, and acro.

Routine Limit: No limit on the number of group routines.

Solo Entries: Up to 3 solo entries in di`erent genres. Only the highest-scoring solo is eligible for Overall High Point Awards.

Eligibility

Elite dancers are eligible for Title, Standing “O” Awards, Overall High Point Awards, and cash prizes, where applicable.

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.

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.

Elite dancers may not compete in a Novice routine, including Productions. If a Novice routine contains one or more Elite dancers, the routine will automatically compete in the Intermediate Division.

 If a routine is calculated as Intermediate, but the Elite dancers are the primary featured performers (such as dancing center or performing the majority of the advanced skills), judges may move the routine to the Elite Division.

Studio owners may always choose to level a routine up after TourPro calculates the competition level. However, routines may not be leveled down below the system-calculated division.