or AVI format on a flash drive labeled with your name in a Ziploc
bag stapled to your form to Ms. Gonzalez in Room 145 by
11/7/2025
Entry Checklist & Reminders
National-Level Requirements
Student Artist: Must be the original choreographer. Only the choreographer (e.g., student submitting the entry) is recognized for awards.
Performers: The choreographer may be the performer or one of the performers but does not have to perform in the entry.
Lengths and Size: Videos must not exceed 5 minutes or 1,000 MB (1,000 megabyte).
Cite Sources: If background music is used, it must be cited on the entry form.
Formats: Accepted file formats: MP4, MOV, AVI.
Reminders
Performing others' choreography (e.g., recitals, renditions, dance trends) is not accepted. Submit only original pieces inspired by the theme.
Editing: Entries with added elements (e.g., graphics, filters) or heavy video editing are not accepted.
Category Tips: Artist Statement and Title
Titles and artist statements can be useful in sharing details specific to your choreography that help capture your creative process and theme interpretation. Consider the following:
Describe the choreographic style and techniques and how your choices connect to the theme or your interpretation.
Explain how background song(s), props and/or the location influence the narrative of your choreography.
Highlight any innovative approaches or elements that blend traditional elements with contemporary techniques.
Discuss your use of a range of movements, structure, form and/or variations in speed, intensity and emotion, and how your choices convey specific thoughts, feelings, or emotions.
Video Quality Tips
Tips for creating, finalizing and saving a high-quality video file for your submission:
Start and end with silence: Leave two seconds of silence at the beginning and end of your recording.
Do a test recording: Record a short test and listen to it. Make sure the record volume is not too high or too low.
Remove background noise: Make the room quiet by turning off things like air conditioners, fans, and phones.
Clear background music: If using background music, make sure it sounds clear in the recording. Using an external speaker can help improve the sound quality.
Use the back camera: If recording with a smartphone, use the back camera for better quality.
Keep the camera still: Use a tripod to hold the camera steady. Avoid editing, multiple angles, and jump cuts, as they can distract from the choreography.
Choose good angles: Make sure the camera shows all of you. Film in a horizontal position (side-to-side) to show more space. Remember that the camera's height affects how you look.
Fill the frame: Try to fill the camera frame with your dance without cutting off any part of your body. Don't film too far away so your facial expressions are still visible. Mark the floor to know where the edges of the frame are.
Good lighting: Record in a well-lit space and try to avoid shadows that block any part of your body or choreography.
Copyright and Plagiarism
Plagiarized entries will be disqualified. Use of copyrighted material is not acceptable, including any copyrighted cartoon characters, material downloaded from the internet, copyrighted recorded music, or copyrighted photographs or stock images, except for the following:
Entries may include public places, well-known products, trademarks, or certain other copyrighted material as long as that copyrighted material is incidental to the subject matter of the piece and/or is a smaller element of a whole. The resulting work cannot try to establish an association between the student and the trademark/business/material or influence the purchase/non-purchase of the trademarked good.
If background music is used in dance choreography entries, it must be cited on the entry form (title, composer, and performer).
Digital Tools and Technology
Digital technology and/or software may not provide the primary design and/or concept, but can be used to develop, enhance, and/or present an entry. Entries may not be exclusively created with generative tools (e.g. AI) and/or composed exclusively of elements generated or provided by the technology platform.
Accepted:
Videos may only be minimally edited, using basic visual/audio touch-ups (e.g. remove background noise, crop video background).
Not Accepted
Videos submitted with extensive edits, added digital graphics, and/or other elements. Only choreography is scored.
Guidelines
Describe Use of Technology: If digital technology is used, entrants must use the “Additional Details” field to provide a brief description of the tools and method used in the creation process, including any generative elements (10 to 50 words).
Verify Prohibited Technology: Check if your state PTA prohibits the use of any digital platforms and/or methods (i.e. artificial intelligence).
