Rules

1.  The festival is for amateurs; for the festival, an amateur is not considered to derive his/her/their primary income from performing or teaching.

2. The age of the competitor is taken from September 1, 2024. Entry into the incorrect age group may lead to disqualification. In cases of doubt, the competitor may be required to produce a birth certificate to confirm their age. No dancer in a solo section may dance in a higher age category.

3. The organisers reserve the right to divide, combine, or split classes should the occasion arise. They can interpret or qualify any of these rules if they deem appropriate. 

4. The festival does not accept liability for infringing copyright recording or performing rights arising from any competitor’s accompaniment or performance. The festival contributes to a Group Licence to cover payment of fees for using recorded music at its events. Teachers and Choreographers using recordings created from commercial recordings are advised that they are themselves responsible for seeking permission to re-record from the recording companies concerned. 

5. Photography, filming, video or phone recording is prohibited. However, competitors must be prepared to perform before the cameras of the media or agents of the competition. Permission will be sought at the point of entry.

6. The Adjudicator’s decision is final, and no discussion or correspondence concerning such a decision will be entered into. The Adjudicator reserves the right not to award any place when, in their opinion, the standard of dance is insufficiently high or to individuals who infringe these rules. 

7. It is prohibited for competitors, teachers, or other parties to communicate with the Adjudicator during the competition concerning any matters relating to the competition. 

8. The stage and stage wings are out of bounds to all except authorised personnel and persons about to perform. Authorised persons with a Chaperone License may accompany children aged seven years and under. They may accompany older competitors for the sole purpose of props. 

9. Competitors must report to the stage steward at least 20 minutes before the class starts. They must dance in the correct order and be ready in the wings two dances before their own. Absentees and incorrect music submissions risk disqualification. 

10.  Music must be uploaded to the GPAF website via the Play & Perform database and submitted by the deadline; other media is no longer permitted. 

11. Competitors aged 11 years or over will not be allowed to re-dance except for a technical reason determined by the stage steward. Competitors under 11 years may be permitted to re-dance at the adjudicator's discretion. 

12. Entrance to the auditorium will only be allowed between performances and not during Adjudication. Competitors will be allowed into the auditorium provided their costumes are covered and appropriate protective footwear is worn. An adult must accompany children under 16. 

13. In compliance with health and safety regulations, members of the public and competitors will be allowed entry to the venue at 8.45 a.m. any morning of the festival.

14. Children can only play or rehearse in the appointed area(s). 

15. Time limits for dances must not be exceeded. Times will be checked from the first note or word of the accompaniment or the first movement of the dancer, whichever is the sooner.

16. Marks may be lost if the time limit is exceeded. 

17. When requested, the steward will announce the dance title and, if appropriate, a short synopsis not exceeding thirty words for Greek/Global and narrative Characters. 

18. Solo techniques are defined as follows: 

    1. Classical: Ballet, Global, Contemporary, Greek and Character/Narrative 

    2. Stage: Jazz Modern, Lyrical Modern, Tap, Musical Theatre, & Vocal.

19. Pre-recorded music in any Musical Theatre section must not include singing or chanting. Pre-recorded music used in tap sections must not use any recorded tap or similar effect. 

20. Fixed tap (single sound) only may be used for tap dancing. The intentional loosening of taps is not permitted.

21. Pointe work is prohibited for competitors under 13 years or in Novice Sections. 

22. Acrobatic work is not allowed in the Modern Jazz Section, but gymnastic work is permitted as long as it is kept with the choreography. Acrobatic and gymnastic work will not be permitted in the Lyrical Modern Section.

23. Dancers under 13 may not be included in Contemporary or Modern Ballet solo, duet or trio sections.  Dancers under 13 may enter Contemporary or Modern Ballet but must not dance en pointe. Where teachers wish, for artistic reasons, to include a younger dancer in a Contemporary or Contemporary Ballet group, they should enter the group in the Narrative section.

24. Competitors may perform not more than: 

    1. Once in their age group for each solo technique (classical or stage)

    2. Once in each technique in a duet class with the same partner 

    3. Once in each technique in a trio/quartet class with the same dancers

25. NB dancers are permitted to dance more than once with different partners 

26. A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 dancers constitute a Small Group, and a minimum of 11 and a maximum of 30 dancers constitutes a Group.

27. The eldest competitor's age determines the correct class for all entries with multiple performers. 

28. The competition may award performers in categories of its choice. These awards must be returned to the designated competition representative by the first day of the following year’s competition. 

29. The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry or stop the performance of unsuitable dance, props or costumes. 

30. Using talc and oil or any other substance anywhere on the body or a prop, which could leave a residue on the floor, compromises safety and is strictly prohibited.

31. The use of rosin needs to be carefully considered. You will be advised of venue-specific policies and expected to adhere to them.

32. The organisers are not liable for any loss or damage to articles of clothing or personal injury during the Festival unless proven negligent. 

33. Parents, relatives or friends who attend the festival with a dancer must pay the appropriate entry money when entering the venue. Competitors dancing on the day will not be required to pay the proper entry money on their performing days.

34. If they cannot attend their class, competitors are invited to call the Festival representative to let them know. The Festival programme will include a telephone number , which will be available during Festival hours. 

35. Entries will be allocated on a first come/first served basis if necessary. 

36. The Festival carries public liability insurance, and a certificate & BOPA License will be displayed at the venue during the Festival. 

37. A responsible adult must supervise all children. Parents and teachers are reminded that the safety of young people and their belongings are their responsibility during the Festival. A separate dressing room will be provided for males and females, and a family dressing room will be provided for all. No males will be allowed entry to any female dressing room, and vice versa; please use the family room allocated. 

38. Appropriate Festival volunteers will regularly check all dressing rooms, backstage areas and toilet areas. Appropriate Festival volunteers will supervise performance areas. The Festival reserves the right to question any person within the backstage area and, where deemed relevant, request them to leave. 

39. The Festival accepts no responsibility for the personal effects of entrants or their helpers. 

 

NOVICE SOLO SECTIONS  

 

40.  A Novice is a dancer who has never gained more than 83/Merit (New Marking) marks in a discipline; this section is reserved for new fledgling performers and not experienced festival/competition dancers.  

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