CATEGORIES & SCORING

Understand how your performance is evaluated across all age divisions and categories.

PERFORMANCE DIVISIONS

Dancers are placed into competitive divisions based on training hours and experience.

Novice

Dancers in their first year of competitive dance, or first-time soloists who previously competed only in a group.

  • Applies to all members of Duo/Trio through Production.

Part-Time Competitive

Dancers who train **6 hours per week or less**.

  • Applies to all members of Duo/Trio through Production.

Competitive

Dancers who train **more than 6 hours per week**.

  • Applies to all members of Duo/Trio through Production.

GROUP CATEGORIES

  • Solo: 1 Dancer
  • Duo / Trio: 2 or 3 Dancers
  • Small Group: 4 - 9 Dancers
  • Large Group: 10 - 15 Dancers
  • Line: 16 - 20 Dancers
  • Extended Line: 21+ Dancers
  • Production: More than 20 Dancers and Over 5 Minutes in Length

AGE DIVISIONS

Ages are determined as of December 31st of the previous year (e.g., Dec. 31, 2017).

  • Petite: Ages 6 and Under
  • Mini: Ages 7 - 9 Years
  • Junior: Ages 10 - 12 Years
  • Teen: Ages 13 - 15 Years
  • Senior: Ages 16 - 18 Years
  • Adult: Ages 19 and Over

DANCE STYLES

  • Contemporary
  • Jazz
  • Lyrical
  • Open
  • Modern
  • Hip Hop
  • Tap
  • Solo Improv
  • Ballet
  • Character Ballet
  • Pointe
  • Contact Improv
  • Acrobatics
  • Musical Theatre
  • Song and Dance

AWARDS & JUDGING

SCORING SYSTEM

AWARD LEVEL
SCORE RANGE
Breaking Bounds96 and Higher
Platinum94 – 95.9
High Diamond92 – 93.9
Diamond90 – 91.9
High Gold88 – 89.9
Gold85 – 87.9
High Silver84.9 and Under

JUDGING CRITERIA

Total Score: 100 Points

  • Technique
  • Style
  • Choreography
  • Energy
  • Performance
  • Overall Appearance

Adjudication Process:

The routines performed at Breaking Bounds are judged by a panel of three qualified adjudicators, who award each a mark out of 100. The three marks are then averaged to determine the final mark for the performance. This could result in numerous routines winning at each award level. Every awards session includes feedback from the judges and the distribution of special awards from the panel. These special awards are based on creativity, technique, and various other dance elements.