LAUNCH, The Competition & Convention

2022-2023 RULES & REGULATIONS

 

 

RELEASE FORMS

All contestants must sign a release and it must be handed in at the competition/convention at registration.

 

ENTRIES

Enter ‘ON-LINE’ at www.launchtalentny.com

No refunds are issued for any reason.

Privacy Policy – We do not share customer data with anyone.

 

AGE

Each entry will be placed in one of the following age groups based on the average age of all competitors in the routine. The average age is calculated by adding the age of each competitor (as of JANUARY 1) and dividing by the total number of competitors in the routine (using integer ages).  Decimals are dropped. Example; if the average age is 10.7, the group would compete in Age 10. If a question should arise concerning the age of a contestant, proof of age by birth certificate must be provided.  Changes in age at the event will disqualify the contestant from National final showcase performance and regional or national top awards.

 

AGE GROUPS

Mini 10 and Under

Junior 11-12

Teen 13-15

Senior 16-19

Adult 20+

 

DIVISIONS

Every entry will be placed in one of the following divisions based on the number of competitors in each routine;

Division/ Number of Participants/Time Limit

Solo 1 Performer……………….…...........3 Minute Max

Duet/Trio 2 – 3 Performers....…....3 Minute Max

Small Group 4 - 9 Performers….4 Minute Max

Large Group 10-19 Performers...4 Minute Max

Line 20+ Performers…………….......…4 Minute Max

Small Production 15-24………......….4 Minute Max

Large Production 25+…………........…8 Minute Max

Monologue - Solo 1 Performer....3 Minute Max

Vocal - Solo 1 Performer...................3 Minute Max

Vocal - Duet/Trio...................................3 Minute Max

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Entries with 15 or more dancers will be given the opportunity to register as a large group or production. Entries with 20 or more dancers will be given the opportunity to register as a line or production. Productions will compete under the same level.

Routines exceeding their time limits without previous approval may be subject to a point deduction for every 10 seconds the routine runs beyond the allotted time limit

as stated above.  Studio Directors contact us for information on extended time options.

CATEGORIES

Soloists may only perform ONE solo per category.

Every entry will be placed in one of the following categories;

BALLET

A routine containing classical Ballet technique; no acrobatic/gymnastic tricks are allowed.  

 

CONTEMPORARY

A routine combining Jazz and Lyrical technique. 

 

HIP HOP

A routine containing Hip Hop technique - no Jazz technique.

 

JAZZ

A routine containing Jazz technique.

 

LYRICAL

A routine containing Jazz and Ballet technique.  

 

MODERN

A routine containing Modern technique.

 

MONOLOGUE

A composition performed by a single actor.

 

MUSICAL THEATRE

A routine containing Broadway/Theatre Dance. 

 

OPEN

A routine consisting of multiple or unspecified styles of dance.

  

POINTE

A routine containing Pointe technique; no acrobatic/gymnastic tricks are allowed.  The Pointe category can only be entered in the Intermediate and Competitive levels.

 

SPECIALTY

A routine containing any other style of performance movement; pant-o-mime, ethnic, clogging, ballroom, routines portraying a character (unlimited amount of acrobatic moves allowed).

 

TAP

A routine containing Tap technique; no pre-recorded Tap sounds in the music; Tap shoes must be worn.

 

VOCAL STAGE

A vocal presentation in the Stage genre; no lead or back up vocals are allowed on performance tracks.

 

VOCAL POP

A vocal presentation in the pop genre; no lead or back up vocals are allowed on performance tracks.

 

Judges reserve the right to change the competing dancer's category.

 

ACRO POLICY

Routines in the Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, and Culture categories may not contain more than two acrobatic tricks.  Routines exceeding this limit will be subject to a point deduction. An acrobatic trick is defined as one continuous pass where the performer(s) is completely inverted. Examples: round off back handspring back tuck, round off back handspring, round off back layout, etc. 

 

PERFORMANCE LEVEL

Upon registering, the performance level will be chosen per dancer by the studio director. Group entry levels will be averaged based on the registered dancers in each entry.

 

PRIMARY

Dancers in the Primary level train no more than 3 hours per week in a dance studio, including all training, rehearsals, and coaching.  Primary singers have less than one-year formal vocal training.  Placement in the Primary level is left to the discretion of the instructor, however, our judging panel may move the entry up if deemed necessary. There is no PRIMARY level for Vocal or Monologue categories.

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ADVANCED

Dancers in the Advanced level train 4-5 hours per week. Placement in the Advanced level is left to the discretion of the instructor, however, our judging panel may move the entry up if deemed necessary. 

ADVANCED 

Performers having 3 or fewer years of formal vocal or acting training.

 

COMPETITIVE

Dancers in the Competitive level train for 6 or more hours per week in a dance studio, including all training, rehearsals, and coaching.  Competitive singers have more than one-year formal vocal training.

COMPETITIVE

Performers having more than 3 years of formal vocal or acting training.

 

If a soloist is registered in more than one solo at any one LAUNCH competition, the lowest level of competition the competitor may be registered into is Advanced.

Group entries consisting of 50% or more competitive level dancers will automatically be registered for the Competitive level. If a level is not chosen it will automatically be placed at the Competitive level.

 

Soloists are limited to 3 solos per competition city. All qualified solos may compete at Nationals. However, soloists may never compete in any Performance Category more than once – both at the Regional and Nationals.

 

Competing performers may compete for one studio only.

Professional dancers are not permitted to compete if over age eighteen.

 

Up to the top ten scoring entries in each level, division and age group will be announced. Entries entered in the Primary and Advanced divisions will not be eligible for cash prizes. Productions will all compete under the same level.

 

SCORING AND AWARDS

Each entry will receive a total score out of 300 possible points. These scores will be used for adjudicated awards as well as overall awards.

 

Each entry will be scored using three judges. Each judge will give each entry a score out of 100 possible points. The three scores will be added together to produce

the total adjudication and overall score.

 

CRITERIA

Each dance will be adjudicated on the following three criteria weighted as follows:

General Effect 1-30

Choreography & Design 1-20

Technique 1-30

Musicality & Performance 1-20

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CRITERIA – VOCAL

Each performer will be adjudicated on the following criteria as follows;

General Effect - Eye Contact/Confidence/Connection with the Audience/Attire appropriate to the song/1-30

Technique - Song Choice for age and ability level/Vocal Strength/Use and Choice of Vocal Technique/ 1-30

Musicality - Pitch/Tone/Melody 1-20

Performance – Facial Expression/Body Language 1-20

 

CRITERIA – MONOLOGUE

Each performer will be adjudicated on the following criteria as follows;

General Effect – Eye Contact/Confidence/Dramatic or Comedic Impact/Attire Appropriate to monologue/1-30

Technique – Monologue choice for age and ability/Diction/Volume/Physical Characterization/ 1-30

Connection & Commitment – Character believability/commitment and professionalism/1-20

Performance – Facial Expression/Body Language/Staging/ 1-20

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Scoring is calculated using one decimal place (e.g. 287.1).  

 

JUDGE’s AWARDS

At each competition, our judges will be selecting entries for Judges’ Awards based on extraordinary attributes to performance.  Judges’ Awards are not based

on adjudicated scores. Entries of all ages, levels, and divisions are eligible to be nominated for a Judges Award by our judges.

 

SCORING

Based on these total scores, each entry will receive an adjudicated award as follows:

Adjudicated Scoring Scale

 

Diamond                         291 -  300                     

Platinum                         270 -  290.9                  

High Gold                        255 – 269.9                  

Gold                                  240 – 254.9                   

High Silver                      up to  239.9                 

 

OPENING NUMBER - NATIONALS  

Opening Number Invitations are awarded to dancers, singers or actors chosen from those who place in the top 10 of our junior, teen and senior solo and duo/trio competitive divisions.

Opening Number Invitations invite the dancer to participate in the Opening Number at our National Finals that same calendar year.  Opening Number Invitations are only awarded at the competitive level and are non-transferable. Based on the judge's discretion, a member of a group routine placing in the top ten of the competitive level can be chosen and invited to the national opening number. 

 

HIGH SCORES & CASH PRIZES

In addition to adjudicated awards, the top-scoring routines will be recognized. The number of top scores announced will be determined by the number of entries in each division and level. The top-scoring entry in each competitive division will be awarded a cash prize as shown below:

 

CASH PRIZES

Division 1st Place Cash Prize

Solo $100

Duet/Trio $100

Small Group $125

Large Group $150

Line $175

Production $200

The Solo and Duet/Trio Competitive divisions must have at least 15 entries in order for cash prizes to be awarded. All Competitive group divisions (including Productions) must have at least 10 entries in order for cash prizes to be awarded. All cash prizes will be made payable to the studio or studio director. No soloist may place more than twice in any single overall. In the event that a soloist places with more than two routines, only the two highest-scoring solos will be announced. No cash prizes will be awarded in the Primary and Intermediate levels. 

 

OVERALL STUDIO AWARDS

LAUNCH will award the following overall Studio Awards at each of our Regional Competitions and National Finals:

• Technique Award

• Choreography Award

• Professionalism Award

• Versatility Award

• Story Telling Award

• TOP STUDIO AWARD - 'GO FOR LAUNCH' CHAMPIONS

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TITLE WINNERS

LAUNCH offers Solo Title at both the Regional and National Finals Competition.

LAUNCH will select a male and female winner from the Mini, Junior, Teen, and Senior age groups.

 

Each National Title winner will win a $150 cash prize, a full LAUNCH convention scholarship, a plaque, a custom LAUNCH Sweatshirt and will be one of our merchandise models for our upcoming season. Soloists registered for the National Title Competition must compete at the Competitive level. In addition to their solo performance, each Title contestant must also be present in all of the National convention classes offered at the appropriate age level. Each solo entry competing in the National Title division will be charged an additional $50 fee. All standard solo division rules apply. Each National Title division must have at least three (3) contestants in order for a cash prize to be awarded.

 

LAUNCH NATIONAL FINALS

During our National Finals, the judges will select multiple entries to compete in The LAUNCH NATIONAL FINAL COUNTDOWN using adjudicated scores from the Advanced and Competitive divisions. The selection will be made from the Mini Small Group and Large Group, Junior Small Group and Large Group, Teen Small Group and Large Group, Senior Small Group and Large Group, 12 & Under Line, 13+ Line, 12 & Under Production and 13+ Production divisions. Of these divisions, each studio may have no more than one entry in each division. We will announce the top entries in each division, as well as the overall winner of 12 & under divisions and the overall winner of the 13 & over divisions. The overall 12 & under and overall 13 & over LAUNCH NATIONAL COUNTDOWN FINALS winners will each receive a $500 cash prize.

  

NATIONALS

Only contestants who qualify at a regional may compete in the National Finals. No substitutions or additions are allowed.  Reduced size groups will be allowed in the National Finals. Group size can go down to small from large or if two or three members only, to a duo/trio. Contestants must enter the same category and level and be from the same studio in the finals from which they qualified in the regional. Music and routine can change but category and level must remain the same. Contestants with new studios must re-qualify to compete at the nationals. A pre-qualification competition will be held on the first day of each national for those routines having not performed at a regional event in that competitive year who wish to qualify to compete in the national competition.

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NYC NATIONAL

More Details coming soon.

Judges will include representatives from the professional performance industry. Casting Directors, Managers, Agents, and other industry professionals will be present.  Special Awards will be presented in the duo/trio and solo divisions for dance, acting and vocal categories. 

 

MUSIC

All music must be cut, edited and of the correct pitch. Our staff is not capable of making music edits or alterations onsite. All tempos, pitches, and keys must be correct on each track. Music containing inappropriate lyrics will be subject to a 5 point deduction. Music must be of a reasonable volume and uploaded 72 hours prior to the start of the event. Studio owners should have at least two backup copies of all music. One (1) wireless microphone

and/or one (1) wired microphone can be provided by LAUNCH for usage during an entry. LAUNCH does not allow any outside microphones of any kind.

 

MANDATORY MUSIC UPLOAD

Studio directors must submit their music electronically via our online music upload system located within your studio account.  The following formats will be accepted: MP3, M4A. Music may only be uploaded after your registration has been finalized for your event. Music must be uploaded no less than 72 hours prior to the start of your event. Music upload is mandatory. Please be sure to upload the correct version of your music as pitch and speed cannot be adjusted at the event. Please bring a backup copy of your music to your event in the form of iPod, iPad or USB.

 

PROPS

All props must be mobile and under the watch of someone from your studio at all times.

Props must be brought on and off stage in a timely manner (1-minute maximum).

Props may not be in the wings for more than a few numbers prior to the routine (based on the stage manager’s discretion). Props must be removed from the wings immediately after the routine. Props must be stored away from pedestrian & vehicle traffic & NOT backstage, in the lobby or an inconvenient location. Fire, swords, knives, guns, live animals, powders, liquids, glitter, confetti, paint, sand, etc. are NOT allowed. Routines causing prop delay may be subject to a three-point deduction. Prop coordinators are required to follow ALL instructions as per the LAUNCH stage crew at ALL times. All props must fit through a standard 36-inch wide doorway. Props cannot be stored in the venue until the day of the performance.

Props placing the dancer 12 feet or higher off of the ground are deemed unsafe and are prohibited. Studios are responsible for the transportation, storage, set up and removal of all sets and props. Check with each venue, as fees and restrictions may apply. Excessive scenery and special lighting may not be used.

 

MICS

Vocalists must use a wireless handheld or headset microphone provided by LAUNCH. No supplemental sound equipment permitted. No lead or back up vocals are permitted on the accompaniment tracks, otherwise, a 5 point deduction will be enforced.

 

SPORTSMANSHIP

All competitors, teachers, studios owners, family members, and audience members are required to show respect, courtesy and sportsman-like behavior to all competitors, staff, teachers, etc. at all times during the competition. We reserve the right to remove anyone from an event if he/she is hindering the achievement of any of the above goals. No air horns, bells, whistles or other noise-making devices are allowed.

 

PAYMENTS

All competition fees must be received in full 15 business days before the start of the competition. Entries submitted after such time may not be eligible for the event. Payments must be made by credit card, certified check or money order 30 days before the event.

Registration deadline is 15 business days prior to the competition date. An administrative fee of $10/routine for any entry not received or not paid in full 15 business days prior to the competition.

Entries are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and are limited to performance time available.  Faxed entries are not accepted.  Gift Certificates must be submitted in their original form.  No personal or Studio Checks are accepted. Entries will not be accepted or recognized as an ‘entry’ until paid in full by verified funds and until all necessary information is provided; Name of all contestants, first and last names, contestant’s birthdays month, day and year, category, division, level, and routine title. 

 

MISC RULES

Smoking is prohibited in or around the competition area. We ask that all smokers stand at least 50 yards from the competition venue to preserve the well-being of our dancers, audience members, and our staff members.

 

Soloists that choose to exit the stage prior to the conclusion of their solo will be eligible for adjudication only and will not be eligible for overall or category placement (this does NOT include music malfunction or costume malfunction).

 

Unless a piece of choreography has been copy-written, LAUNCH cannot enforce ANY plagiarism policies. Dancers may NOT exit or jump off the front of the LAUNCH stage at ANY time during a LAUNCH event (including performances). No bystander may approach the judging table or the judges themselves during the competition. Bystanders include but are not limited to studio directors, teachers, parents, and dancers.

 

Lighting may NOT be adjusted during a performance including but not limited to stage and house lighting.

 

We ask that all competitors and attendees alike please wear proper footwear at all times at all LAUNCH events to ensure their safety.

 

No cash refunds will be issued under ANY circumstances. Account credits will be issued for entry/dancer removals as long as this is done prior to the event. No credits will be issued during or after the completion of the event. "Day-Of" scratches due to injured dancers will not be issued credits. All credits will be issued to the account of which the dancer was registered. Credits may ONLY be used toward the entry fees/media fees/nationals fees of a LAUNCH event; they are not valid at the merchandise booth or registration deposits.

 

Competitors may only compete with one studio per event.

LAUNCH and host venues are not responsible for any personal injury/property loss before, during or after the event.

All competitors will be judged by a well-qualified panel of judges.

All judging decisions are final.

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VIDEO/PHOTO

Video cameras and still cameras are not prohibited inside competition venues. In order to protect the choreographer’s right and the safety and privacy of all competitors, we reserve the right to confiscate all recording devices used during an event and/or disqualify an entry. All competitors, teachers and studio owners consent to the use of video, audio and photographs for use in promotional material without royalty, fee or other compensation. By attending or competing in a LAUNCH regional or national event you are agreeing to the use of your image and likeness by LAUNCH, the competition & convention, LLC, all

partners, and affiliates. Violation of this policy will result in ejection from the event.

 

All competitors, teachers, studios owners, family members, and audience members are required to comply with rules and regulations set forth by our hosting venue. Those who do not may be removed from the event by either LAUNCH’s staff or the hosting venue’s staff.

Competitors, teachers, studio owners, and prop coordinators are the only persons allowed in the wings/backstage area. In order to minimize delay, we ask that all parents, family members, and audience members remain in the main venue or the lobby.

If a routine cannot perform during their allotted time and award ceremony, the routine will be eligible for adjudication, but not an overall score or category placement.

 

No studio, group or independent may use ANY music owned by Kirbyko Music LLC. Violators of this rule will be subject to copyright fees. All media is delivered in digital format; No DVDs will be issued. Hallways may NOT be used for changing, makeup application, storage of personal items or for any other reasons other than traveling throughout the building.

 

LAUNCH TALENT, LLC reserves the right to cancel any and all events due to lack of registration, inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances. LAUNCH TALENT, LLC reserves the right to change an event’s location, venue and/or date(s). Upon changing a location, venue and/or date(s), a representative from LAUNCH TALENT, LLC will contact your studio. LAUNCH TALENT, LLC  will not be held liable for any costs endured for any type of travel arrangements made upon canceling an event or an event selling out, including but not limited to hotel fees, transportation fees or bank fees. We HIGHLY recommend registering for an event prior to making ANY travel arrangements.