Prove yourself on stage
Competition
Intrigue Competition gives dancers a stage to showcase their talent with fair, transparent judging across 14 categories. Solo, duo/trio, small group, large group, line and production entries. Three judges score each entry independently, and every routine receives detailed audio feedback with video.
Check your age and division for the 2026–2027 season!
Enter birthdate below. Ages are determined as of January 1, 2027.
Pricing
Solo
Per routine
Duo / Trio
Per dancer, per routine
Group (4 to 49)
Small Group, Large Group, Line, Production. Per dancer.
Extended Production
50 or more dancers. Per dancer.
Late Registration: Solo
Within 30 days of event.
Late Registration: Duo / Trio
Within 30 days of event.
Late Registration: Group (4 to 49)
Within 30 days of event.
Late Registration: Extended Production
Within 30 days of event.
Entry fees are per number and performer. Late fees apply to registrations within 30 days of the event.
Registration is handled through DanceCompGenie.
Highlights
- 14 dance categories, from Ballet and Tap to Hip Hop and Acrobatic Dance
- Three independent judges per entry, scores 1 to 100 each, 300 maximum
- Audio feedback with video for every entry
- High scores announced in every age division
- Professional stage with competition-grade lighting and sound
- Free admission for spectators
Rules & Guidelines
- Age Divisions
- Mini (5-9), Junior (10-12), Teen (13-15), Senior (16-21). Ages are determined as of January 1, 2027. For groups, ages are averaged and the decimal is dropped.
- Studio Registration Required
- Studios register their dancers. Independent students are not accepted, and every competitor must be registered for the convention. Payment is due 30 days prior to the event to avoid late fees.
- Time Limits
- Solo: 3 min Duo/Trio: 3 min Small Group: 3 min Large Group: 3 min Line: 4 min Production: 8 min Extended Production: 8 min Intrigue allows a ten second grace period for each routine. One point will be deducted every five seconds after the grace period. A fee of $5 per dancer will be added if a routine goes over the allotted time.
- Categories
- Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Ballroom, Tap, Hip Hop, Acrobatic Dance, Pom Pon, Specialty, Open. Each category is defined on the Rules page, and judges may move an entry to a different category if warranted.
- Scoring
- All entries are adjudicated by three judges. Each judge scores on a basis of 1 to 100 points. The combined score of the three judges is the total score, out of 300.
- Music
- Upload .mp3 or .m4a through DanceComp Genie 7 days prior to the event. USB backup accepted at the registration desk. All music must be edited for age-appropriate content, with no explicit lyrics.
- Props & Costumes
- Live props are not allowed. General props are welcome and must be self-contained. No large scenery, dangerous or oversized props. No fire, glass, liquid, glitter, confetti or live animals on stage. Costumes must be age-appropriate.
- Deadlines
- Registration for the competition closes four weeks before the event. Entry information must be completed to be accepted. All contestants must be registered for the entire convention in order to compete. The deadline for any changes to competition entries is three weeks before the competition. Changes after the deadline incur a $5 fee per routine.
Special & Studio Awards
Group entries only. Studio Awards are earned by a studio’s entry count and awarded to its highest scoring group. Special Awards are chosen by the judges.
Studio Awards
True Producer
Studios with 20 or more group entries across multiple genres.
The studio's highest scoring group entry wins. Every dancer in the winning entry receives free Nationals convention classes and 20% off Nationals competition entry.
True Director
Studios with 15 or more group entries across multiple genres.
The studio's highest scoring group entry wins. Every dancer in the winning entry receives 50% off Nationals convention classes and 20% off Nationals competition entry.
A studio can receive either True Director or True Producer at an event, not both. These awards are non-transferable: the dancers redeeming the benefit at Nationals must be the same dancers who competed in the winning entry, and the dancer count must match the winning entry exactly.
Special Awards
Choreography Award
Open to all group entries.
Selected by the Intrigue judges for the best choreography in each age division.
Visionary Award
Studios with 20 or more group entries at a single event.
Selected by the Intrigue judges for the most creative performance. The winning entry performs at the Showcase with a custom lighting design, limited to 7 cues with a deadline.
Judges' Choice
Studios with 15 or more entries, including 7 or more groups.
The winning entry performs at the Showcase. Visionary winners are not eligible for Judges' Choice.
Overall Award
The overall highest scoring routine of the competition in each age division must be a group. Solos and duo/trios are excluded. All group sizes are combined: small groups, large groups, lines, productions and extended productions. There must be at least 3 group entries in that age division for the overall to be announced, for example one Mini small group and two Mini large groups. The winning entry receives a $300 credit toward their next Intrigue event.
- Category Awards
- 1st place is awarded when a category has 3 or more entries, 2nd place with 5 or more, and 3rd place with 7 or more.
- Division High Scores
- High scores are announced in every age division: Mini, Junior, Teen and Senior. No minimum number of entries is required.
New This Season
Entry Limits
Starting January 2027, Intrigue regional events introduce entry limits tied to a studio’s registered convention dancer count. The minimum to compete in any capacity, including Improv and Imagination, is 5 convention dancers. Only studios with 5 or more dancers may add Improv or Imagination solo entries.
Each tier caps the studio’s total competition entries (every routine combined: solos, duos/trios, groups, lines, productions and Imagination solos) and the maximum that may be solos. Imagination solos count toward your maximum number of solos. Improv entries do not count toward your maximum entries.
Example: at the 5 to 25 tier you may bring up to 40 entries total, and up to 20 of those 40 can be solos, not 40 plus 20.
| Registered Convention Dancers | Total Entries(routines + solos combined) | Max Solos(within the total) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 25 | 40 | 20 |
| 26 to 49 | 50 | 30 |
| 50 to 74 | 60 | 40 |
| 75+ | Contact Intrigue | Contact Intrigue |
Subject to change: if this event hasn’t sold out, limits may be increased closer to the event date.
FAQ
- How is judging done?
- Three judges score each entry independently on a 1 to 100 scale, 300 combined. Audio feedback with video is provided for every entry.
- When do we get results?
- Results are announced at the awards ceremony and posted on DanceCompGenie within 24 hours.
- Can a dancer compete in multiple categories?
- Yes. Dancers can enter multiple categories and routines.
- Can a dancer enter more than one solo?
- A dancer may enter more than one solo when the event allows for it based on competition size. Each solo must be in a different category. Example: a dancer cannot enter two contemporary solos at the same event.
- What is the Overall Award?
- The overall highest scoring routine of the competition in each age division must be a group. Solos and duo/trios are excluded. All group sizes are combined: small groups, large groups, lines, productions and extended productions. There must be at least 3 group entries in that age division for the overall to be announced, for example one Mini small group and two Mini large groups. The winning entry receives a $300 credit toward their next Intrigue event.
- Can professional dancers compete?
- No. Teachers and professional dancers are not eligible to compete.
- Can a dancer register under two studios?
- No. Dancers cannot be registered under two different studios at the same event.
Registration is handled through DanceCompGenie.