DECEMBER 13, 2026
SoCal Event:
SANTA ANA, CA
JANUARY 24, 2027
NorCal Event:
SAN JOSE, CA
CREATING SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES
FOR CALIFORNIA DANCERS
The 2nd annual Dance Team California event brings together talented dancers from school dance programs, dance studios & all-star dance programs across California for a special pre-season experience!
Many California dancers grow through both school and studio training, and we believe our dance community is strongest when those two worlds support one another. Dance Team California hopes to create more opportunities for collaboration, connection, and mutual respect among the coaches, teachers, studios, and school programs helping our State’s young dancers thrive.
Dancers at this event have the opportunity to represent their school, studio, or both while building confidence, making new friends, and connecting with other dancers from throughout the state. For coaches, directors, and educators, our event provides an early-season opportunity to celebrate soloists, identify performance strengths and areas for growth, and give graduating seniors a memorable kickoff to their final year of dance.
COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY
All contestants must be currently enrolled in school grades 6-12.
Dancers may represent their school dance program, dance studio, all-star dance program, and/or all of the above!
Students do NOT need to be members of an official school dance team or dance studio program in order to participate.
All participants & parent/guardians will be required to sign a liability release waiver prior to check-in on the day of the event.
SOLO DIVISIONS
Dancers at this event compete by grade level (not date of birth).
Contestants in High School (grades 9-12) will compete against dancers in their own school grade level.
Contestants in Middle School (grades 6-8) will all compete in one division. But may be separated by grade if registration allows.
Solo routines may be performed in any dance genre or combination of styles. Dancers are encouraged to present choreography that best showcases their individual strengths, artistry, personality, and technical abilities.
All soloists will compete within their appropriate grade-level age division regardless of dance style.
RULES & SCORING
12th GRADE SOLOS
Our Senior Solo experience celebrates graduating dancers as accomplished performers, leaders, and role models within their high school, studio, and/or local dance communities.
By recognizing seniors across performance, individual skills, and leadership, we hope to give instructors, coaches and directors another opportunity to celebrate their dancers while preparing them for opportunities beyond high school.
By recognizing seniors across performance, individual skills, and leadership, we hope to give coaches another opportunity to empower their senior dancers to help set the standard, culture, and tone for their performance season ahead. And to help prepare them for life and opportunities beyond high school graduation. Seniors are scored in three areas:
Dance Routine (70% of score)
Dance routine length is 2:00 maximum. May be of any style or dance genre.
Skills Spotlight (20% of score)
This element is NOT set to music, and the session is closed to the public (with exception of coaches & directors). The Skills Spotlight allows dancers the opportunity to demonstrate specialties, technical areas of strength, and movement qualities that might not already be included in their choreographed solo routine. This element may showcase any dance skills, stylized movement, tricks, turns, leaps, jumps, acro, floorwork, footwork, etc.
Dancers may utilize different areas of the performance floor as needed (there is NO required travel pattern). Dancers may start their sequence anywhere on the stage they wish, and are welcome to move freely around the performance floor while demonstrating their skills sequence. It’s important to create a cohesive and continuous flow between your chosen skills and movements.
Skills Time Limit: Up to 0:45 seconds maximum in length and scored based on dance technique, quality of movement, performance showmanship, and overall content. Be sure to hold the ending position briefly and then a friendly waive to our judges so they know when you are finished.
Skills Attire: Seniors may wear any style of comfortable solid-colored dance rehearsal attire or apparel (NO “bling”, team logos, sequins, or rhinestones). All apparel for this element must be solid colored, but top/bottom colors do not have to match. Dancers may NOT wear their solo routine costume for this element.
EXAMPLE VIDEO:
Leadership Question (10% of Score)
The purpose of this element is to help prepare graduating dancers for opportunities and experiences beyond high school. Senior soloists will be provided a question to prepare an answer prior to entering the interview room (closed to public). Dancers are given up to 0:45 to answer the question in front of our very friendly panel of judges. Scoring is based on answer content and overall delivery.
Special Awards / Recognition For Graduating Seniors
Dance Team California strives to recognize as many graduating seniors as possible. We present awards to the Top 5 Leadership Question scores, the Top 8 Skills Spotlight scores, and the Top 10 Solo Routine scores! (Along with other special awards).
We will then announce the Dance Team California (Top 5) 12th grade overall winners… which is based on the combined total score of all three categories. The highest scoring overall winner will be crowned Top Overall Senior Solo Champion
There will also be a Team CA announcement to recognize additional graduating seniors, plus duet/trios and high scoring soloists from other grade level age-divisions. Scroll down for more information on Team CA
*Total award recipients may be adjusted higher or lower based on registration numbers. Dancers will receive their scores, along with their placement in comparison to others in their category following the competition.
11th GRADE, 10th GRADE, 9th GRADE & MIDDLE SCHOOL SOLOS
Dancers will compete a solo routine that is 2:00 maximum in length. May be of any style or dance genre.
These grade level solos are only evaluated/scored by their dance routine.
Dancers will receive their scores, along with their placement in comparison to others in their category following the competition. We will announce/award approximately the top 1/4 of each grade level division. Additionally, we may also present special awards to Top solo routines by dance genre: Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical.
DUET / TRIO * NEW DIVISION FOR 2026-2027 *
Dancers will compete a duet or trio routine that is 2:00 maximum in length, in any dance genre or style.
Dancers will receive their scores, along with their placement in comparison to others in their category following the competition. We will announce/award approximately the top half of routines in this category.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Music
All music for routines must be edited to 1:30-2:00 in length. Assure that lyrics are suitable for a middle and high school dance competition. Music MUST be uploaded in your registration account 1-week before the event.
Props
The use of props is allowed. Please choose props based on the ability for quick set-up and take down with minimal post-performance cleanup.
Costume & Footwear
Costuming is left up to the discretion of the dancer and coach/director. But must be appropriate for middle and high school age performers. Dance footwear is optional (dancers may have bare feet or wear dance socks, half soles, sneakers, or jazz shoes if they wish).
Choreography
Choreography can be done by a coach or choreographer, or the dancer may choose to create on their own. Movements must be appropriate for middle and high school age performers, and a family-friendly audience.
PREVIEW SHOWCASE
Your Opportunity For Pre-Season Critique
Wanna get your group dance routines on the floor before the regional competition season begins? School dance programs, dance studios, and all-star teams with at least THREE competing soloists have the option of also participating in our group dance pre-season showcase.
Give your dancers this opportunity to prepare for the demands of the upcoming performance season… Coaches & Directors may register ONE group dance of any size for pre-season critique from our panel of judges. This is an ideal opportunity to receive constructive critique, identify areas for growth, and give your dancers additional performance experience before the competition season gets underway. This opportunity also allows the younger dancers in your program to support AND learn from graduating seniors & role model soloists.
Showcase routines may be of any style or genre (Time Limit Maximum: 3:30).
There is NO registration fee associated with this opportunity.
The preview showcase is scheduled after all solo and duo/trio competition has concluded on the day of our event (scheduled prior to awards).
Judges critiques and scores will be provided following the event; But NO awards will be presented for showcase routines.
TEAM CA
National Exposure For California’s TOP Dance Talent
Team California brings together outstanding California high school dancers selected through Dance Team California and other approved California events.
Students selected for Team CA have the opportunity to represent their school, studio, dance community, AND the State of California at a National Championship level.
Team California representatives participate in Dance Team World Education Foundation’s National Title Solo Championship, a nationwide program that combines solo dance competition with leadership-focused programming, master class workshops, connection with dancers from other states, and additional educational experiences.
This past season, Team California / Title Solo participants took part in exciting workshops with the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiderettes and the National Championship-winning UNLV Hip Hop Team, among other experiences. Programming for the upcoming Title Solo National Championship experience is currently being developed.
For the 2026-2027 season, Team California selections may receive either Full or 50% Title Solo registration scholarships to:
Dance Team World National Championship
March 19-21, 2027
Las Vegas, Nevada
Participation in the Title Solo National Championship program is optional. Our goal is to create an affordable pathway for outstanding California dancers to gain national exposure, build connections beyond their local competition season, and represent our state as part of a unified Team California experience.
As the program grows, the Dance Team World Education Foundation also hopes to connect Team California dancers with additional out-of-state and international opportunities through future partnerships, scholarships, and grant-supported programming.
Team CA Selection Events (2026-27)
In addition to Dance Team California, approved independent California competitions may select outstanding eligible high school soloists for Team California recognition and Title Solo National Championship registration scholarships. Each partner event maintains its own judges, scoresheets, divisions, and selection process.
Current Confirmed Selection Events:
• Dance Team California — Southern California (12/13/26)
• Dance Team California — Northern California (1/24/27)
• Arlington Golden Classic — Riverside / Inland Empire (1/30/27)
Additional selection events will be added as event partnerships are confirmed.
WORKSHOP & AUDITION FOR SENIORS
Disney Parks and Cruise Lines (SoCal Date Only)
At our Southern California event, graduating seniors will have the opportunity to participate in an audition workshop with the casting department from Disney Parks & Cruise Lines.
Participation is optional, and is limited to only 30 students currently in 12th grade (Workshop participation priority will be given to graduating seniors registered in a solo or duet/trio at the SoCal event earlier that day).
We recommend that students only participate if they plan to remain in the Southern California area following graduation from high school, and if they are serious about potential employment with Disney.
There is no fee to participate in this workshop. In the event that we have more than 30 seniors wishing to participate, a randomized selection process will take place prior to the event.
Note: We are currently exploring additional opportunities for our NorCal event. To be announced.
HIP HOP WORKSHOP WITH
NEW AGE THEATRICS
Included for all Participants
(NorCal Date Only)
At our Northern California event, all performing dancers are welcome to participate in this exciting master class workshop hosted by New Age Theatrics… one of the bay area’s premier community hip hop programs.
New Age Theatrics is directed by Francis Tyrell & Erika Gomez. Their work has recently appeared on carious hip hop circuits including World of Dance, Prelude, Vibe, and IDL.
Participation is optional, and is limited to only 50 students. This 60-minute master class will be held at the end of competition (prior to our awards ceremony).
There is no fee to participate in this workshop. In the event that we have more than 50 dancers wishing to participate, a randomized selection process will take place prior to the event, with preference given to competing soloists.
