The Categories

Every style tells a different story. Every performance adds another brushstroke to the canvas.

Age Divisions

Tiny5 & Under
Mini6 – 8
Junior9 – 10
Preteen11 – 12
Teen13 – 15
Senior16 – 18
Adult19 & Up

Age division is determined by the average age of all performers in a routine, calculated as of January 1 of the competition season, and applies to Solo, Duo/Trio, Small Group, Large Group, Line, and Production entries. If a routine's average falls within 0.5 years of the next division, the Studio Director may elect to compete in the higher division.

Competition Divisions

Solo

One dancer. One story.

Duo / Trio

Two or three dancers. Twice the impact.

Small Group

4–9 performers.

Large Group

10–15 performers.

Line

16+ performers in a line formation.

Production

16+ performers with props, sets, and a story that comes to life.

Time Limits — Solo 2:45 · Duo/Trio 3:00 · Small Group 3:00 · Large Group 3:30 · Line 8:00 · Production 8:00 (min. 16 performers)

Performance Levels

Novice

For dancers with 3 hours or less of dance training per week.

Intermediate

For dancers with 4–6 hours of dance training per week.

Advanced

For dancers with 7+ hours of dance training per week.

Studio Directors place each routine based on training hours, but Canvas of Dance reserves the right to reclassify (“bump”) an entry if the judging panel determines it was entered below its appropriate level.

Dance Categories

Ballet
Pointe
Tap
Jazz
Lyrical
Contemporary
Modern
Hip Hop
Acro
Musical Theatre
Character
Open

Also offered: Clogging and Professional/Amateur (Pro-Am). Routines with more than three connected acro passes must be entered in Acro or Open, and acro passes aren’t permitted in Ballet, Pointe, or Tap. (An Acro Pass = two or more connected skills — a single trick like a cartwheel, aerial, handspring, or tuck doesn’t count on its own.)