COMPETITION RULES

AGE CATEGORIES

The age of the dancer is determined as of January 1st 2026. Apex Dance LTD reserves the right to ask dancers for a copy of identification if age is in question. If a dancer fails to provide adequate identification we reserve the right to disqualify the dancer or move them to the appropriate age category.

Mini ages 5-7

Junior ages 8-12

Teen ages 13-16

Senior ages 17+

Overall High Score age divisions for our online competition

12 and under

13-16

17+Pre-professional

STYLES DIVISIONS

Styles to compete under for Apex Dance Awards online Competition:

◦ Acro/Gymnastics – A fusion of dance technique and acrobatic elements, showcasing tumbling skills, seamless transitions, strength, balance, and flexibility.

◦ Ballet – A classical dance form focused on grace, precision, and strong technique, highlighting clean lines, turnout, control, and traditional movement vocabulary; ballet shoes required (pointe shoes not permitted).

◦ Contemporary – A blend of various dance techniques, emphasizing fluidity, creativity, innovative movement, and emotional expression.

◦ Freestyle Disco – A fast-paced, high-energy style popular in England, featuring sharp footwork, spins, kicks, and dynamic performance to upbeat music.

◦ Hip Hop – Originating from street culture, this style includes a wide range of movements such as popping, locking, and groove-based choreography driven by rhythm and musicality.

◦ Jazz – A high-energy style combining sharp, rhythmic movements with smooth transitions, featuring technical skills such as isolations, leaps, turns, and kicks.

◦ Lyrical – A combination of ballet and jazz techniques that focuses on emotional storytelling through expressive, flowing movement.

◦ Modern – A creative and expressive style built on movement concepts, composition, and structured choreographic ideas.

◦ Musical Theater – A performance-based style that blends acting, dancing, and singing to tell a story, often portraying specific characters and emotions.

◦ Open – A flexible category allowing a mix of styles and techniques, encouraging creativity and individuality.

◦ Pointe – An advanced ballet style performed in pointe shoes, requiring exceptional strength, control, and technical precision.

◦ Tap – Performed in tap shoes, this style focuses on rhythm, timing, and coordination through percussive footwork.

Each dancer may enter one solo in each style category. Dancers may not compete more than 1 solo in each style for our online competition.

SCORING

Adjudication: Each routine is awarded a score that will be sent to each dancer once the competition is closed and all routines have been adjudicated. Each judge has 100 points to allocate.

Judges' decisions are final. Judges will also decide on the Apex ‘Pinnacle of success awards’.

Each soloist will be judged by 3 members of our judging panel who are best equipped to judge that category. First place winners in each style division will be judged by our full panel to decide on the overall winner.

TOTAL SCORE: /100

Scoring is split into 4 categories:

◦ Technique 25

◦ Performance/ Costuming/ Expression 25

◦ Choreography 25

◦ Musicality/Timing 25

TIME LIMITS

Solos: 2:00 minutes
Duet/Trio: 2:45 minutes
Small Group (4-9 dancers): 3:00
Large Group (10-19 dancers): 4:00 minutes
Production 20+ dancers: 8:00 minutes

PRIZES AND AWARDS

The highest-scoring champion in each category will win the cash prize for that age division, no matter where they are in the world. Winners will also earn the prestigious title ‘Apex Platinum Artist’, along with global social media recognition and the chance to be scouted by industry professionals.

The overall highscore winning studio will win the Apex Legacy Studio Award for achieving the highest amount of points across the board and will be recognised on social media blasts!

First place dancers from each age and style category will have their solo live-streamed in our global online event for the world to see!

Dancers will receive their final score alongside their Apex Title on an email certification. They will be notified if they have also won a ‘Pinnacle of success Award’

Title:

98–100 👑 Apex Platinum Artist

92–97🏆 Apex Elite Artist

85–91 🥇 Apex Gold Artist

75–84 Apex Rising Artist

74 and below Apex Emerging Artist

In addition to our overall high score winners awards, dancers and their studios will have the opportunity to WIN: