Parent & Studio Guide
How to Choose the Best Dance Convention
Search “best dance convention” and you'll get a dozen confident rankings that all disagree. Here's the honest version: there isn't one best convention for every dancer — there's the right one for yours. This guide walks through what actually separates a great convention weekend from an average one, so you can judge any event for yourself.
Start with your dancer, not the rankings
A convention that's perfect for a competition-driven senior may be the wrong fit for a nine-year-old who's there to fall in love with class. Before you compare events, get clear on what your dancer needs this season: more technical training, more performance experience, exposure to new styles, scholarship and title opportunities, or simply a great first taste of the convention world. The “best” event is the one that answers that need — which is why the rest of this guide is about criteria, not a leaderboard.
1. Faculty — look at who's actually teaching
Faculty is the product. The logo on the banner matters far less than the names in the rooms and what they've done lately. Look for a roster of working professionals — choreographers and performers with current TV, film, Broadway, and touring credits — not just one headline name. At Intrigue, for example, the faculty includes Emmy-winning and Broadway artists who are actively working in the industry, so dancers train with people shaping it right now.
2. Format — training, performance, and room to create
Conventions differ in what they emphasize. Some are competition-first with classes attached; others put training at the center. The best ones also give dancers room to create, not just execute — improvisation and choreography platforms where a dancer develops their own voice instead of only learning someone else's combination. If that matters to your dancer, ask whether an event offers it.
It's the idea behind Intrigue's convention classes running alongside competition, plus improv and self-choreographed platforms — a “dance different” structure built so a weekend grows the whole dancer, not just the routine.
3. Opportunity — what a dancer leaves with
Look past the trophy. The events dancers remember are the ones that invest in them: scholarships, titles, and assistant or training-program invitations that open real doors — the kind college programs and agencies notice. Ask what an event awards and who it has lifted. A weekend that can change a dancer's year is worth more than one that only hands out placements.
4. The room — how dancers are looked after
Class sizes at a convention are bigger than studio classes by design — learning to pick up choreography fast in a packed room is part of the value. But there's a difference between a big room that's well run and one where dancers get lost. Ask how age levels are split, how crowded the rooms get, and how the event keeps younger dancers supported across a long weekend.
5. Value — measure cost against what you get
Convention tuition usually lands between $200 and $350 per dancer for the weekend, with competition entries charged separately and travel, hotel, and meals on top. “Best” isn't the cheapest — it's the best value. Weigh the faculty access, the platforms, the scholarships, and the experience against the total cost, and the right choice usually becomes obvious.
A quick word on timing
Tours announce their cities in the spring and summer before the season, and the popular stops fill up. Once your studio decides which weekend it's attending, register early to lock the date and any early pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a dance convention the best one?
There isn't one best dance convention for everyone — the best convention is the one whose faculty, format, and opportunities fit your dancer's goals, not the one with the biggest logo. The right questions are: who is actually teaching, does the weekend balance real training with performance, and what does the event offer a dancer beyond a trophy?
How do I choose a dance convention for my dancer or studio?
Weigh five things: faculty (who is actually in the room and what they've done recently), format (whether it's training-first or competition-first, and whether it offers creative platforms like improvisation and choreography), opportunity (scholarships, titles, and assistant or training-program invitations), the in-room experience (class size and how dancers are looked after), and total value (tuition plus travel measured against what the weekend actually delivers).
Are bigger dance conventions better?
Not automatically. A larger convention means more dancers in the room and a more familiar brand, but it can also mean less individual attention. A mid-size or creativity-focused convention can produce more growth for some dancers. Match the event to the dancer rather than assuming biggest equals best.
What should I look for in a convention's faculty?
Look past the logo at the actual names teaching and what they've done lately — choreographers and performers with current television, film, Broadway, or touring credits. Faculty is the real product of a convention weekend, so a current, working roster matters more than a big name on the banner.
How much does a dance convention cost, and what counts as good value?
Convention tuition typically runs $200–$350 per dancer for a full weekend, with competition entries charged separately per routine, plus travel, hotel, and meals. 'Best' is about value rather than the lowest price — weigh what the event delivers (faculty access, creative platforms, scholarships, the experience) against what it costs.
When should I register for a dance convention?
Tours announce their cities in the spring and summer before the season, and popular stops fill up early. Once your studio confirms which weekend it's attending, register as soon as you can to secure the date and any early pricing.
Judge one for yourself
The best way to evaluate a convention is to see it. Intrigue tours 30-plus cities a season with convention classes, competition, improv, and choreography platforms, taught by Emmy-winning and Broadway faculty. Find the stop nearest your studio and hold it up to every criterion above.
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