Rules and Regulations  

The Newcastle Dance Awards – Australia is an open dance tuition scholarship program for dancers aged 8yrs – 17yrs, we are happy to offer 10 age divisions in this competition to allow for complete fairness based on age factor and each level of learning skills. 

RULES OF THE COMPETITION: 
* Open to both Male and Female Dancers currently residing or training in Newcastle, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Central Coast, the Hunter Valley and surrounding areas. 
* Ages 8yrs – 17yrs may enter 
* Student must be the exact age of the division they are registering for. 
* D.O.B. Must be submitted on our online registration form, 
* Entry fee to compete is $59.00 (must be paid online before cut-off date)
all fees are non-refundable.  
Each Dancers must be accompanied by one parent – Upon registering a dancer to compete your initial purchase will total $85 which includes one all-day pass for 1 parent to attend at a discounted rate.  Additional tix are available online for family and friends.
* Registration opens each year on October 1st and closes 4 days prior to competition date in March. 
* Each dancer will be allowed a 3min routine with competitors own choice of music 
* Music must be submitted as MP3 file by date – March 9, 2023.
Please e-mail music file to: newcastledanceawards@yahoo.com 
* Parents, please be sure to bring a backup of your child’s music on a CD or USB drive to the competition. 
* Parents are to bring all registering paperwork and CERTIFICATE of REGISTRATION to the competition for check in at least 30mins prior to division start time. 
* All styles of dance are allowed - our judges are looking for talent and performance skills! 

IMPORTANT : 

• Competitors enter at their own risk. 

• Upon making a registration payment for a dancer to compete in the Newcastle Dance Awards – Australia, you have agreed to accept all liability for you and your child within the event. The Newcastle Dance Awards accepts NO responsibility for any accidents or injury to any persons associated with the event, either as a Competitor, Volunteer or a member of the General Public, at any time. 
• Competition Director/s can overrule any of the rules we have in place at any time. 
• The Competition Director/s shall decide on any matter not covered by these rules and its decision on any questions or dispute shall be final 
• By Registering your child and submitting an image/s for promotional use, you agree to give us full permission to use your child’s images in any Newcastle Dance Awards – Australia competitions and partnering event programs (created by Entertainmentfirst) 
• Upon Registering your child, you have also granted us permission to photograph and video your child’s dance performances, including in foyer, backstage and winners photo ops for promotional use by our company. 

• You agree to receive marketing emails from our company and partnering companies for similar events/programs. 
• Newcastle Dance Awards – Australia reserves the right to change competition days or move location due to unforeseen circumstances and only then will refunds be considered. 

RELEASE FORM INFORMATION  – VERY IMPORTANT 

• All Parents will sign a sign in sheet upon check in (with date and time of check in), this sign in sheet will act as our release form for all competitors and guests entering the venue, Warners Bay Theatre (formerly Lake Macquarie Performing Arts Center) stating that they have read these rules and will abide by all rules listed here at all times. Again – all competitors and guests enter the competition & venue at own risk and the Newcastle Dance Awards – Australia/Entertainmentfirst/Partnering Companies/Staff/Judges will not be responsible for any injury or loss of property during the event date. 

AGE DIVISION ROUNDS: 
Each Dance Competitor will be placed in their age division round 8yrs, 9yrs, 10yrs……….17yrs. 
Dancers will check-in in the foyer area then will quietly head backstage to dressing rooms to get ready to perform. (see backstage rules below)
Parents can help with costumes backstage. 

SEMI-FINALISTS: 
Top 2 competitors for each age division will be chosen by judges and announced at the end of the Junior or Senior section.
Semi-finalists will return to venue by 5:30pm
Semi-finalists will dance their main routine again for judges to find our Top 10…….

FINALISTS & SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS: 
Top Dancer for each Age Division will be awarded sponsored prizes & scholarships. 
Awards include;
Age Division Framed Certificates + Tuition Scholarships + Sponsored Prizes
PERPETUAL TROPHY WINNERS take ELITE PRIZES
Top 2 Dancers of the day will receive;
$500 Junior Tuition Scholarship Award & Perpetual Trophy + Sponsored Prizes
$500 Senior Tuition Scholarship Award & Perpetual Trophy + Sponsored Prizes. 

MUSIC SUBMISSION: 

• Each dancer will be allowed a 3min routine with competitors own choice of music 
• Music must be submitted as MP3 file by DATE 
  Please e-mail music file to: newcastledanceawards@yahoo.com 
  DANCER’S FULL NAME – AGE DIVISION – SONG TITLE 
• The End of a dancer’s Routine must be Definite (fade out is OK). The dancer will curtsey or bow at completion of their routine without additional music backing music when the event MC says thank you on stage to that dancer – so please be sure not to tag additional music on the end of the dancers routine music for a curtsey or bow as this will not be played. 

• Parents, please be sure to bring a backup of your child’s music on a CD or USB drive to the competition in case of any reading errors on event computers. Please be sure you CD or USB is marked with DANCER’S FULL NAME – AGE DIVISION – SONG TITLE 
• Parents are to bring all registering paperwork and CERTIFICATE of REGISTRATION to the competition for check in one (1) hour prior to division start time. 
• Please be sure to print your child’s CERTIFICATE of REGISTRATION in full colour as this will be used in a photograph upon sign in at the venue front desk. 

JUDGES/ADJUDICATORS 

• If a judge is unable to perform his/her duties, The Newcastle Dance Awards – Australia reserves the right to appoint a new judge without notice to any competitor/parent/dance school or sponsor. 
• The adjudicator’s decision is final. 
• At no time during the competition can any competitor, parent or guest approach our judges to ask about their decision making at any time during the competition. 
• Award Winners will be chosen based on their overall performance skills. 

VENUE RULES 

• No Food is allowed inside the venue at any time – this includes Theatre/Auditorium and Backstage areas. – 
• NO Food or drinks will be sold at the venue for this event. 
• There is a park next door to the venue where you may freely eat and drink snacks, lunch, dinner – if needed. 
• Warners Bay Hotel is directly across from the Venue and there are more stores along the lakefront for food purchases such as subway, cafe’s, coffee shops and Coles is diagonally opposite the venue. 

BACKSTAGE RULES 

• All registered dancers need to be backstage at least 30mins prior to their Age Division Start Time so please be sure to check in on time. 
• Parents will be allowed backstage to help with your child’s costume and makeup, please just be sure to clean your area when you leave.
• All dancer competitors must follow the direction of backstage crew at all times 
• NO FOOD is permitted backstage. 
• Noise must be kept to a minimum in dressing rooms and all backstage areas, especially closing of doors.

• There is to be no congregating in the wings during another dancer’s performance.
• Backstage crew will co-ordinate all dancers by age groups where needed. 
• All Registered dancers are to change in the allocated changing rooms ONLY – we do not use the public toilets as a change area or for any hair and makeup touch ups – so be sure to have hair and makeup finished upon arrival to the venue. 
• Please remember to respect each other’s space and personal belongings. 
• Any arguing, fighting or bad sportsmanship will result in immediate disqualification. 

• Please be sure to leave the dressing room tidy and clean. 
• Any dance competitor found to have caused damage to the dressing room will be charged the relevant repair costs. If existing damage is found within the dressing room, please notify the Competition Director/s immediately 
• Dressing room checks will be made by staff prior to each age division load in for any damages to dressing room (to help narrow down any incidents that may occur) 
• Tap shoes must be covered at all times when not performing 

PHOTO/VIDEO 

• NO PHOTOS or VIDEO IS ALLOWED IN AUDITORIUM 
• Backstage pictures of your own child is allowed, just do this quietly.
• Foyer photos with event banners are a great way to promote your child’s participation.  
• KNIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY is the official photography company that will be taking photos and video of any dancer that has pre-purchased a Photo/Video package. 
• Packages are available for purchase prior to the event and will be sent digitally to your
  e-mail via dropbox within 30days after competition. 
• Upon receipt of a paid entry, you have given us permission to tape/capture/video/photograph you & all dancers performing in our competition if the official photographers and video team see need to capture footage.  

ALL DANCERS MUST CHECK IN 45mins PRIOR TO DIVISION START TIME 
and no less than 20mins prior otherwise they may be eliminated from the competition – no exceptions and no refunds of entry fees or any guest tickets. 

ALL DANCE STYLES ACCEPTED 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW