All Solo Title Pageant
Rules and Regulations

1. The entrant must be a student of a MEMBER of Dance Masters of California, Inc. (DMC).
MEMBERS must be in good standing and entrant must be associated with a said MEMBER for a period of not less than one (1) year. DMC MEMBERS may enter as many contestants as they wish. The Teacher of Record must be a DMC member whose signature appears on the Solo Title application for both Local Chapter and National applications. The Teacher of Record, and parent chaperone shall be legally responsible for the entrant. The Teacher of Record, entrant and chaperone must be registered at the host hotel for duration of All Solo Title Weekend. All entrants regardless of age must have a parent or legal guardian (over the age of 25 years) in attendance for the weekend.

2. Division age requirements:
Petite Miss and Master Dance Solo Title Entrants age as of June 1, 2009 shall not be – less than seven (7) years and not more than nine (9) years.
Jr. Miss and Jr. Mr. Dance Solo Title Entrants age as of June 1, 2009 shall not be – less than ten (10) years and not more than twelve (12) years.
Teen Miss and Teen Mr. Dance Solo Title Entrants age as of June 1, 2009 shall not be – less than thirteen (13) years and not more than fifteen (15) years.
Miss and Mr. Dance Solo Title Entrants age as of June 1, 2009 shall not be – less than sixteen (16)
Years and not more than twenty-three (23) years.

3. Entrant must be single; never been married, divorced, or had a marriage annulled; childless and never have been convicted of a crime.

4. Entrant may be either amateur or professional, but must state as such on the application.

5. MEMBER in good standing is defined by:
All dues are current
Must have attended at least one Grand Body Meeting from the time of May 2008 through September 2008.

6. The Solo Title Scholarship Applications and Fee’s must be submitted by mail, postmarked no later than September 22, 2008. The following items must be included:
Entrance fee ($100.00) payable to DMC, Inc. (This is non-refundable)
A complete application (4 pages plus resume) signed by Teacher of Record, Parent or Legal Guardian, and Entrant
Copy of the entrant's birth certificate.
One Page Resume (see Example Resume)
Pageant Evaluation Selection Sheet

7. The following is due to the Pageant Director on the first rehearsal on October 26, 2008. All photos must be labeled with the entrant's name, division and contestant number:
One color vertical 5x7 shoulder pose photo on professional white background. No photo copies, digital photos okay.
A snapshot of the entrant in Formal attire to be submitted for approval
A snapshot of the entrant in Talent Costume to be submitted for approval.
Talent Performance Information Worksheet (Sponsor Teacher will receive by mail, along with confirmation, once official application is submitted)
Failure to comply with the above will result in a five (5) point penalty to be deducted from the entrant's final score.

8. Entrant must not change name of routine, attire or costume as stated on the talent performance information worksheet or submission of photos. Talent Performance Information and photos must be submitted October 26, 2008.
Failure to comply with the above will result in a five (5) point penalty to be deducted from the contestant's final score per each offense.

9. Two (2) new cassette tape recordings of the entrant's Talent music are required. (CD's will be accepted, however they must be in a plastic Jewel Case. There is to be only one song per CD.) Tapes or CDs are due on October 26, 2008. Each tape or CD (NOT case!) should be labeled as follows:
Division
Contestant Number
Entrant's Name
Title of Music
Failure to comply with the above deadline or labeling will result in a five (5) point penalty to be deducted from the contestant's final score per each offense.

10. Entrant must display a TALENT routine, not to exceed two minutes and fifty seconds (2:50).
Failure to comply with the above deadline or labeling will result in a five (5) point penalty to be deducted from the contestant's final score per each offense.

11. Entrant's TALENT must be a performing arts dance routine. The following are not permitted: singing, baton twirling, playing of musical instruments and audible taps added to music. No props are allowed in the presentation of the TALENT unless they are absolutely functional and are an integral part of the routine. ***Cassettes with vocals are acceptable.
A five (5) point penalty will be deducted from the final score of the contestant if the above rules are not adhered to. *** Cassettes with vocals are acceptable.

12. All entrants regardless of age along with parent/legal guardian (over 25 years of age) are required to stay at the host hotel on Friday November 7, 2008. Reservations are required 30 days prior to the event date to assure availability and receive discounted DMC rate. Reservations made after this date will not be guaranteed availability. For security purposes, the entrants will be required to give their hotel room number to the Pageant Director at roll call on Friday, November 7, 2008. Please make all hotel room reservations by phone to ensure DMC meets the required room count.

13. A personal interview will be held with each entrant consisting of a question and answer period with the judges. The interview will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Santa Clara Convention Center/Hyatt Hotel. Contestants are required to wear interview attire that is age appropriate.

14. All contestants will participate in subject evaluations on Friday, November 7, 2008 at the Santa Clara Convention Center/Hyatt Hotel. Contestants are required to take a minimum of 2 evaluation classes. Classes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Acrobatics will be offered. Dress in appropriate dancewear (Girls-black leotard and tan tights, Boys-solid white T-shirt and black jazz pants) and bring appropriate shoes for each subject. Entrants will learn a combination in their chosen subjects and perform them for the judges. Please refer to the Pageant Evaluation Selection Sheet.

15. Appropriate On-stage Formal Attire:
Miss Dance---evening gown in any color. (Please note that the winner will have to supply the color of gown specified by the Director of the National Miss Dance Pageant).
Mr. Dance --- Suit: Dress Shirt, Slacks, Jacket and Tie (No Tuxedos).
Petite / Junior Miss- Party dresses. Dresses should not be strapless and cannot be longer than mid calf length.
Teen Miss Dance - Evening gown in any color. Dress should not be strapless, and may be mid-calf or floor length.
Master / Junior / Teen Mister- Dress Shirt, Slacks and Tie, Jacket (is optional). (No Tuxedos)

16. All entrants must be dressed in their Opening Number Costume for the on- stage rehearsal Saturday, November 8, 2008. Time TBA.
Failure to comply with the above rule will result in a two (2) point penalty deduction from the contestant's final score.

17. Penalties for being tardy or absent from REQUIRED rehearsals and meetings:
A two (2) point penalty will be deducted for the following: being up to ten (10) minutes late for a meeting or rehearsal.
A five (5) point penalty will be deducted for the following: being ten (10) or more minutes late for a meeting or rehearsal.
A ten (10) point penalty will be deducted for the following: not attending a meeting or rehearsal.

18. All entrants will perform the Opening Number on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Solo Title Competition to begin at 6:00pm and at the start of the Performing Arts Competition on Sunday November 9, 2008.

19. Entrant agrees that the time, manner and method of judging the pageant shall be solely within the discretion of DMC, Inc. and the decision of the judges shall be final. Any questions concerning this matter must be submitted in writing by the Teacher of Record (MEMBER Teacher) and addressed to the Board of Directors of DMC.

20. Entrant shall understand that all score sheets and judges ballots are the sole property of the pageant director and the Board of Directors of DMC, Inc. and are not available for viewing. A competition score summary will be mailed to the Teacher of Record approximately 3 weeks after the pageant weekend.

21. No video taping or photography, including digital and cell phone cameras, allowed at any time during the Pageant Performance.

22. Any contestant receiving a score of 80% or above will be eligible to compete in the National Final Performing Arts Competition in July 2009. Secretary must provide chapter’s verification of score.

Should you become a DMC Title Holder, the following will apply:
23. All new solo title winners, parent/legal guardian and Teacher of Record are required to attend a mandatory meeting for the signing of contracts. This meeting will be held Sunday, November 9, 2008 in the DMC Conference Room. There will be no exceptions. Failure for all to attend will result in the forfeiture of the title. Please plan ahead and inform all of the people involved.

24. All new solo title winners are required to perform the Opening Number on Sunday, November 9, 2008 as well as their winning routines at the Performing Arts Competition. This must be the same routine in the same costume, just as it was presented at the pageant.

25. All new solo title winners will be a guest at all DMC Workshops for the duration of the reigning year and will be contracted to return to the pageant the following year to perform a two minute fifty second (2:50) performing arts solo of the same type dance he/she won the title. Failure to carry out the above stated will result in the forfeiture of the Title and Scholarship.

26. As a representative of DMC the solo title winners will be expected to dress appropriately for all DMC events attended. They must also participate in workshop classes as assigned by pageant director.

27. Title Holders will not be able to compete in the DMC All Solo Title Pageant for one (1) year from the conclusion of his/her reign.

28. Title Holders will not be able to compete in the Performing Arts Competition (PAC) as soloists or in a Duo or Trio with a fellow DMC/DMA Title Holder during his/her reign.

29. Title Holders may not hold the same title twice.

30. The winners of the Miss and Mr. Dance Title will only be required to attend the On-Stage Rehearsal the day of the pageant. All other rehearsals are optional for them, however, if they do not attend the scheduled rehearsals, a part in the pageant Opening Number cannot be guaranteed.

31. It is understood that the Title Holders will perform the same dance routine, choreographic style and exact music edit (if attending) the National All Solo Title Pageant. Any exceptions to this must have prior approval by the Dance Masters of California Inc., Chapter 13 Board of Directors.

32. Miss and Mr. Dance are required to attend the National All Solo Title Pageant in July 2009.

33. If for any reason the Miss and/or Mr. Dance Title Holder can not compete in the National Pageant, the first runner-up will be given the opportunity to compete.

34. If funds are available, Miss and Mr. Dance shall receive ½ of hotel accommodations, ½ of airfare and their Dance Masters of America, Inc. National convention fees as a DMC Title Holder.