-JFK Miss Dance Team MN General Info-
General Info:
The Miss Dance Team Minnesota competition is an event presented by Just For Kix, Inc. It is a dance-based competition, which will determine one winner to represent the state of Minnesota at the Miss Dance/Drill Team USA pageant in Los Angeles, California. This national pageant has taken place for many years, but it wasn't until recently that Minnesota has gotten in on the action! Contestants in the “Miss” division will be judged on a solo dance performance, a modeling display of technical skills, and a short interview. Contestants in the “Best of Minnesota” division compete with only a solo routine.
Eligibility:
All contestants must be of high school age (14-18) and be an active member of a Minnesota dance team. She should be of good character and represent herself with intelligence, poise, health, and fitness.
Registration Deadline:
October 1, 2008 (postmarked). $25 late fee for registrations received after the deadline. No registrations will be accepted after October 5th.
Entry Fees:
$100.00 (non-refundable) per “Miss” solo contestant.
$85.00 (non-refundable) per Best of MN (solo only) contestant.
This includes registration fee, program, contestant gift package, and admission to all events.
Additional $10.00 fee to enter the Academic scholarship competition
Divisions:
Best of Minnesota: All freshman, sophomore, and junior participants who wish to compete only a solo routine will compete in this division.
Miss: ALL seniors will compete in the "Miss" division. Junior dancers may also opt to compete in the “Miss” division to qualify to compete in this division at the nationals.
Duet/Trio: Dancers of any grade/age may enter the duet/trio category as long as someone from their school is represented in the solo category.
Team MN: A group of the top dancers from the day will be chosen as TEAM MN. This group will be invited to attend the nationals and compete as a team.
Miss Dance Team Minnesota Academic Scholarship:
We are proud that Minnesota's Dance Team members are not only strong, talented, and dedicated to their dancing but also to their education. For this reason we have created an academic scholarship to award these individuals. Any participant wishing to compete for the Academic scholarship presented at the Miss Dance Team MN competition must submit the following items:
• Current high school transcript and GPA
• A one page essay explaining how dance team has helped them to excel in academics as well as athletics
• A letter of recommendation by a teacher, school faculty member, or mentor (this letter may be submitted with the transcript and essay or be mailed privately from the author)
Application fee: $10.00
Prize package: $500 academic scholarship towards the pursuit of higher education
(The monetary distribution of this scholarship will take place once a college or university is chosen. The $500 award will be written over directly to the institution.)
Miss Congeniality:
All of the contestants of the 2007 Miss Dance Team Minnesota competition will vote on once contest as Miss Congeniality. This person must represent outstanding sportsmanship and support of other contestants and the competition.
No registration fee.
Prize package: Title and official Miss Congeniality plaque and a $100 gift certificate to the Just For Kix Catalog Sales catalog.
Judges:
Our judges will be hired based on their expertise in areas of dance, modeling, public speaking, health, fitness, pageantry and other related industries.
Judging Criteria for “Miss” division:
Solo routine: 70% of final score
Contestants will perform a routine within the time limits of 1 to 2 minutes. Timing will begin at the first beat of the music and end with the last beat of the music. Scoring will be based on appearance, routine choreography, execution, difficulty, and showmanship. Routines are limited to 3 gymnastic feats.
*note: routine does not need to be choreographed by the dancer
Music: Cassette tapes or CD must be of high quality and must be queued. Have the cassette or CD labeled with contestants name, school, song name, and playtime.
Props: The use of props is allowed. Please choose props based on the ability for quick set-up and take down and minimal cleanup.
Uniform: The contestants costume is left up to the discretion of the dancer and coach. The uniform must be appropriate for high school age performers. Shoes are optional, you may have bare feet.
Modeling: 15% of final score
Contestants will be judged on modeling and displaying five dance poses or technical skills. Total time of modeling segment must not exceed 45 seconds. There will be upbeat music played. The modeling segment of the competition will be done in a star formation. The contestant will enter from stage right, start at the center of the stage in the back. Take 8 steps downstage-right (point 1), pose or skill. Take 8 steps to upstage-left (point 2), pose or skill. Take 8 steps stage right (point 3), pose or skill. Take 8 steps downstage-left (point 4), pose or skill. Exit to stage left.
Interview: 15% of final score
All contestants will be asked one interview question in which they have approximately 45 seconds to answer. Questions can be of any subject matter and will be announced to each contestant shortly before they enter competition. This portion of the preliminaries will be closed to the public. It will be conducted in front of a private judging panel.
Judging Criteria for “Best of Minnesota” division:
Solo routine: Contestants will perform a routine within the time limits of 1 to 2 minutes. Timing will begin at the first beat of the music and end with the last beat of the music. Scoring will be based on appearance, routine choreography, execution, difficulty, and showmanship. Routines are limited to 3 gymnastic feats.
*note: routine does not need to be choreographed by the dancer
Music: Cassette tapes or CD must be of high quality and must be queued. Have the cassette or CD labeled with contestants name, school, song name, and playtime.
Props: The use of props is allowed. Please choose props based on the ability for quick set-up and take down and minimal cleanup.
Uniform: The contestants costume is left up to the discretion of the dancer and coach. The uniform must be appropriate for high school age performers. Shoes are optional, you may have bare feet.
Deductions: One judge is assigned to monitor all deductions. All judging decisions are final and may not be disputed!
Time: (over or under the time limit in all events) 2 points off overall score for that event
Choreography: (suggestive or poor taste) 5 points off of overall solo routine score
Costume: (incorrect footwear, incorrect apparel) 2 points off of overall score for that event (inappropriate/ suggestive uniform or gown) 5 points off overall score of that event
Production number: All contestants will perform in a production number at the beginning of the final competition on Saturday evening. Everyone is to wear their solo competition costume during the production number. There will be a practice Friday evening following the preliminaries, to learn the routine. There will be a rehearsal on Saturday afternoon to review the routine. No judging will take place during this performance.
Awards:
"Miss" division: Second runner-up, First runner-up, and Miss Dance Team Minnesota will be announced after the final competition. All three winners are eligible to compete at the Miss Dance/Drill Team USA National Pageant. Only Miss Dance Team Minnesota will receive a "paid" bid to the national pageant.
"Best of Minnesota" division: The winners of this division will receive an "unpaid" bid to compete at the Miss Dance/Drill Team USA National Pageant.
Duet/Trio Division:
Miss Dance Team MN is proud to announce a new category this year! As another additional category, all contestants may enter the duet/trio division, with yet another opportunity to win a bid to the nationals! In order to enter this category, there must be at least one contestant representing your school in the “Miss” competition. Contestants can do both the “Miss” , “Best of MN” and the duet/trio category.
Entry fee: $100 per routine
General Information:
For the Duet/Trio Division, contestants will perform a routine within the time limits of 2 to 3 minutes. Timing will begin at the first beat of the music and end with the last beat of the music. Scoring will be based on appearance, routine choreography, execution, difficulty, and showmanship. Routines are limited to 3 gymnastic feats.
*note: routine does not need to be choreographed by the dancer
Music: Cassette tapes or CD must be of high quality and must be queued. Have the cassette or CD labeled with contestants name, school, song name, and playtime.
Props: The use of props is allowed. Please choose props based on the ability for quick set-up and take down and minimal cleanup.
Uniform: The contestants costume is left up to the discretion of the dancer and coach. The uniform must be appropriate for high school age performers. Shoes are optional; you may have bare feet.
Judging Criteria:
30% of score based on choreography and routine construction
30% of score based on technique and execution
30% of score based on showmanship
10% of score based on overall appearance
Team MN:
Each contestant can also compete for the opportunity to be a part of Team MN. Judges will select a group of qualified and elite dancers to compete in a combined group. They will go on to the national Miss Dance Team USA Pageant (at their own expense) to represent Just For Kix and Miss Dance Team MN as our Team MN. Team registration fees to the nationals will be included in the prize package and paid for by Just For Kix. Being selected for this elite team will require dancers to attend mandatory rehearsals, scheduled by the directors, 1 month prior to the nationals.
