Competition Info

* Early rates apply to registrations received before standard rates apply.
* Prices are per dancer, per routine.
* Standard rates apply to any registration received after the early rate cut-off date.

• Each studio may enter a maximum of 65 competition routines.
• If a teacher owns more than one studio, they may compete a maximum of 65 entries for each studio.
• A dancer may compete with only one of the studios.
• Exception: A dancer may compete with more than one studio only if those studios are owned by different teachers and that dancer is registered at each of the studios as a regular attending student. Unless authorized prior to the event by LA Dance Magic.

• Competition Music must be uploaded 7 days PRIOR to your Convention weekend.  You can upload your music from your studio’s registration page.  All uploaded music must be attached using the audio assignment tool.  Once attached you will see a check mark in the assigned column of the audio assignment tool.
• Teachers please double-check your music after you have uploaded it.  You will be able to play it directly from your account.  This is the exact version that will be played onsite, please ensure you have attached all uploaded music to the correct routine.  Any changes after the 7 day cut off will not be reflected onsite.
• To upload or change music after the 7 day cut off please contact our office.
• If turning the music in at the event all Flash Drives must be submitted to the registration desk prior to the start of your designated competition session.
• Music Files must be in an MP3, M4A, and MP4 files.
• At the event, LADM cannot control the pitch level or speed of the music. Please be sure to upload the accurate version that you would like your dancer to perform to.
• Studios are required to bring a backup of ALL music, this can be by iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Flash Drive. Any music turned in at the event must be picked up on the last day of the event. Music that is not claimed at the end of the event will be discarded unless previous arrangements were made with the LADM.

• Mini: 4-6 years old
• Junior Prep: 7-8 years old
• Junior: 9-10 years old
• Preteen: 11-12 years old
• Teen: 13-15 years old
• Senior: 16-18 years old
• Pro: 19 years old and up

• All ages will be calculated as of January 1, 2025, for the current season, including National Finals. For example, ages for our Houston & Denver 2024 events will be calculated as of January 1, 2025, and ages for our Chicago & Anaheim 2025 events will be calculated as of January 1, 2025.
• No singing allowed. Lip syncing and talking are permitted.
• In order to compete a Solo, you must be registered in a small group, large group, line, ext. line or production routine. Independent students are welcome to perform solos as exhibition.  NEW! Exhibition solos will receive a critique, score and medal placement.  Exhibition solo medal placements will be announced at awards.  However exhibition solos are not eligible for any other award including but not limited to overall awards, cash prizes, special awards, MP Finalist and/or Magic Honors.  Exhibition soloists are eligible to participate in scholarship auditions and are eligible for Magic Performer of the Weekend and Runner Up scholarships.
• Current Magic Performers of the Year are unable to audition for scholarships during their reign. Also, they are unable to compete a solo in regular competition however they are eligible to perform a solo for exhibition only. They may, however, compete in all other competition divisions (duo/trio/small group, etc.)
• Deposit is required in order for any routine to be accepted and scheduled into the competition lineup.
• A five-point deduction will be taken if routine exceeds the time limit.
• Top Overall winners may now compete their routine in multiple LADM regional cities during the same season. Routines may now win Top Overall in multiple regional cities.
• Registered routines are only eligible to win a High Point award once per season.  Any routine receiving a High Point award will not be eligible to win another High Point award during the existing season.  However these routines will still be eligible for Top Overall, Overall, Category Spotlight, Cuz Awards and Cash Awards in Multiple regional cities.
• General props are permitted. No dangerous props, no live animals, no glass.
• Production routines need to portray a storyline.
• All props will have 2 minutes to be brought on and off stage. If your prop load time is over 2 minutes each judge will deduct 5 points.
• All competitors must dress in the dressing rooms assigned by L.A.Dance Magic or risk the possibility of disqualification.
• No coaching from the sideline.
• All routines must be age appropriate and suitable for family viewing.
• Courteous behavior must be exhibited at all times at the event.
• In some cities, there may be THURSDAY and/or FRIDAY COMPETITION.
• We reserve the right to run ahead and/or behind schedule during competition.
• Regional competitions will be limited to time available. If the quota is reached before competition cut-off date, your entry may not be accepted.
• Cash prizes should be picked up at the event by the studio owner, director or a representative designated by the studio owner.  Any unclaimed cash prizes will be sent back to our office following the event.  Studios with unclaimed cash prizes will have 14 days to reach out to our office and arrange mailing.  After 14 days cash prizes will be given in the form of a credit on the studio account, valid for one year from the date of the event.
• Regionals: For prize money to be awarded at a regional competition, a minimum of five routines must be entered in that category. No cash prizes will be awarded in the Breakout and Pro age division.
• National Finals: For 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize money to be awarded at National Finals, a minimum of five routines must be entered in that category. If there are fewer than five routines in that category, then only 1st place prize money will be awarded. If there is only one routine entered in that category, that routine must earn an elite platinum medal in order to receive 1st place prize money.
• Xtreme Dance Challenge: In order to compete for the title of National Grand Champion and cash prize there must be 3 or more routines in the age division. If there is only one routine no cash prize will be awarded.  Routines invited to recompete in the Xtreme Dance Challenge will be selected based on scores.  Studios may only be represented once in each age division. To perform in the banquet the routine must receive a Platinum score.
• All decisions made by the judges are final.

Dancers who are interested in competing for Magic Performer of the Year may now pre-qualify at an LADM regional event with a registered solo in our competition.  Interested dancers may compete a solo in our regional competition and register for the MP FINALIST program.  Dancers registered for MP FINALIST who receive a diamond or elite platinum medal placement for their solo will qualify as an MP FINALIST.  Dancers who qualify as an MP FINALIST by scoring diamond or elite platinum will be invited to attend this season’s National Finals and participate in the MP EXPERIENCE, to compete for the title MAGIC PERFORMER OF THE YEAR.

In order to participate in our regional MP FINALIST program dancers must:

To register, please select MP FINALIST for each solo you would like to enter through our online convention and competition registration system.  Dancers may enter multiple solos for MP FINALIST.  A fee of $50 will be charged per entry.  Winners will be announced during solo awards for each age division.  Exhibition solos are not eligible to compete for MP FINALIST.  However, all registered dancers who participate in our competition, exhibition solos included, are invited to attend Scholarship Auditions and audition for Magic Performer of the Weekend.  Dancers who participate in the MP FINALIST program are still eligible to audition for Magic Performer of the Weekend.

• Diamond: 100-95.0
• Elite Platinum: 94.9-92.0
• Platinum: 91.9-89.0
• Elite Gold: 88.9-86.0
• Gold: 85.9-80.0

Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Open, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Ballroom, Jazz Funk

Open Category Guidelines
Your routine is in this category if:

• • • It consists of (3) or more tumbling passes
    • It combines styles of dance; i.e. jazz & tap
    • It demonstrates styles of other cultures
    • If you are unsure, call the office

We invite the parents, family & friends to observe competition for free!
Diamond, Elite Platinum, Platinum and Elite Gold all qualify for National Finals!

• • • Competing dancers may enter routines in multiple categories, but they may not compete against themselves in the same division, category and age group.
    • Routines entered in the same division, category and age group must have a minimum 50% change in participants.
    • In a routine, 50% of the contestants (in age divisions Mini, JR Prep, Junior,Pre-Teen, Breakout, Teen or Senior) must be of that age in order to compete in that division. If more than 50% are of a higher age division, then that routine must compete in the higher age division, even though the calculated average age may be of the lower age division.
    • You must be able to provide proof of age for each contestant.
    • Teachers and professionals may not compete; that is one who owns or operates a dance studio, receives payment for instruction or choreography and does not attend primary education.
    • All contestants must be registered, along with a teacher, for the entire convention.
    • In order to compete, a teacher must be REGISTERED AND PRESENT for the entire convention.
    • All performers are expected to perform in their scheduled order & designated session. Performers unable to perform in their designated sessions must contact the office prior to the event. If the office is not contacted, any routines that did not make their designated session may not be able to perform.

You have the option to Pay by Check or Credit Card prior to the event. Only cash or credit cards will be accepted at the door.

• • • If paying by check, send separate checks for convention and competition fees. You must submit both checks at the same time.
    • No refunds or cancellations.
    • Only credit cards and cashiers checks will be accepted at the door. No studio or personal checks.
    • Faculty subject to change.
    • We reserve the right to refuse service.
    • Credit card processing fees are non-refundable.
    • All accounts must be paid in full to participate in the convention and competition. In the unlikely circumstances that a studio’s account is unpaid or found with insufficient funds following the event attended, a 20% fee will be incurred.