sdc faq:

Fee information is available to Studio Directors only. Please log into your studio account to view the rates.

Spotlight no longer accepts independent entries. Independent dancers can still register for an event, but must be registered under a Studio account.

Payment is required at the point of registration via our online payment system.

• PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE (32+ days prior to event): E-check, credit/debit card, studio check, cashiers’ check, money order and/or gift certificates.

• AFTER THE CLOSING DATE (31-21 days prior to event): E-check, credit/debit card, cashiers’ check, money order.
  NOTE: NO personal or studio checks will be accepted past the event closing date. Regular Rates apply, and expedited shipping of cashiers’ checks and/or money orders is required.

• AFTER THE CLOSING DATE (20 or less days prior to event): Credit card only. Regular Rates apply.

• AT EVENT: For at-event additions only, subject to schedule availability. Credit/debit card, cashiers’ check, money order. Regular Rates apply.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Returned checks incur a $50 fee, rebates are forfeited, and Regular Rates apply.

• Refunds for overpayments will be issued within 10 days after the event.

• Mail payments early or use expedited service to meet deadlines. Payments postmarked after the Closing Date will incur the Regular Rate.

• Gift Certificates must be submitted at the time of payment to be applied to your invoice.

Teacher Packets, including the event schedule, studio-specific schedule with entry numbers, facility directions, and other relevant information, will be available on your account home page about two weeks before the event. You’ll receive an email notification when they are ready. 

NOTE: Studio-specific schedules will be accessible only when accounts are fully paid.

All music must be uploaded to the Online Registration Portal. The deadline for uploading music is the MONDAY prior to the start of the regional event, by 11:59pm MST.

Yes, but we do require video qualification. Please contact our office for additional information.

NEW: We do NOT accept schedule requests for solos.

You will need your Studio Director to submit a special request prior to the event closing date. There is a $20 fee per request, and payment is due at the time of the request. Spotlight will make every effort to meet requests, however, if we are unable to do so, the studio will be notified with alternatives which may include a refund for the affected routine.

When registering, you will need to select the Extended Time box for the routine. Please refer to ‘Time Limits’ in our Rules for maximum time limits for groups of all sizes. Additional fees apply.

NO photo or video recording of performances is allowed to protect privacy and comply with copyright laws. A professional videographer and photographer will capture media for FREE at each event. Recording devices are also prohibited in dressing rooms. Violating these rules may result in penalties, routine disqualification, or immediate removal from the event.

PLEASE ALLOW UP TO TWO WEEKS POST-EVENT FOR YOUR MEDIA TO BE FULLY AVAILABLE.

PARENTS:

• Via your app store, download the “Spotlight Events” app.
• Once downloaded, log in with your account, or create a new account (“Sign Up” button on upper right).
• After signing in, at the bottom of the screen you will see “Add Event”. Select that option.
• Select “View All Events”, then “Past Events”. From here you can select the event you attended.
• You will then be taken to a blank screen that says “MY DANCERS”
• Select the “+” in the upper right-hand corner.
• Enter your dancer’s name and date of birth, and click “Confirm”
• You will see a list of all routines they have performed in, with access to previews of your media.
• From here you can click “Continue”, and create an account to download your full-length videos and high-resolution photos.

TEACHERS + DIRECTORS:

•Download the “Spotlight Events” app via your app store.
• Use the same login info you used to register for the event
• Find the Competition you attended
• Click Studio Media
• This will display a list of all your routines, you can also search for a specific routine with the search bar at the top of the list
• Tap any routine to view media - Share and enjoy!

PLEASE ALLOW UP TO TWO WEEKS POST-EVENT FOR YOUR MEDIA TO BE FULLY AVAILABLE.
IF AFTER TWO WEEKS TIME YOU STILL CANNOT ACCESS YOUR MEDIA, PLEASE MAKE A REQUEST USING THIS FORM.

• Fire, knives, weapons, live animals, helium-filled balloons and fog machines are prohibited.

• Motor vehicles cannot be started.

• Special lighting requests are not permitted.

• Props involving electricity.

Spotlight Dance Cup offers special awards to highlight your studio’s top dancers in the Elite Gems Division. Register in advance or at the event. You can enter multiple combinations per award, but each routine may be used only once. The highest combined score wins a crystal trophy. Additional fees apply.

Experience a professional audition process by learning a short jazz-style combination on stage for the judges. Dancers are grouped, and winners are selected through process of elimination. Tickets are $20 at the Spotlight Boutique. Register by age on the day of the event. Prizes are awarded to finalists. Dance Downs may include:

• FUTURE GEMS: For Novice + Future Gems dancers (select cities only)

• JUNIOR: Dancers 12 + under (min. age 8)

• SENIOR: Dancers ages 13-19

Dancers competing for this prestigious Spotlight award will perform in two categories – Title Solo and On-Stage Interview. Scores are combined to determine overall winners; when multiple solos are entered for Title, the highest Solo score is used. Title upgrades are allowed at the event at the Regular Rate if time permits. Dancers must compete for Title and qualify at a Regional event in order to compete for the National Title.

NEW: TITLE SOLO: Title solos are now eligible in both the Future Gems and Elite Gems Divisions. Novice Gems dancers are not eligible for Title.

ON STAGE INTERVIEW:
All title contestants in the same Division and Age Category will join the Show Director on stage to perform the following:
• BIOGRAPHY: Recite a bio that includes name, age, city, state, studio, and teacher(s)/choreographer(s). This can be phrased in any fashion, however, no singing or additional information permitted.
• Q+A, FOR THE ELITE GEMS TITLE CONTESTANT: Answer one of four questions, which may be obtained from the Stage Manager no more than one hour prior to the on-stage interview. Q+A is not applicable to Future Gems contestants, who are scored upon Biography and Dance Combo only.
• DANCE COMBO: Contestants will perform a prepared combination in any style, to a pre-selected piece of music. A music link will be sent out to Studio Directors in the Teacher Packet approximately 2 weeks prior to the event.
• ATTIRE: Basic dancewear and any type of shoe is permitted. No costumes or embellishments of any kind permitted on the attire. Rhinestone jewelry and/or hair accessories are acceptable.

Submit all photogenic entries to the Spotlight Boutique at the event—do not mail them. $35 for the first photo and $15 for each additional submission of the same dancer. The Age Category is based on the dancer’s age as of January 1st of the competition year. Online submissions are not accepted. Register up to one hour before the awards ceremony. Photos should be an 8x10 headshot taken within the past year. Complete and attach the provided label to the back of each photo. Multiple photos can be submitted, but each photo must feature only one dancer. Winning photos will be entered into the National Photogenic Competition and may be used in Spotlight’s promotional materials. Non-winning photos must be retrieved from the Boutique by the end of the event. Spotlight is not responsible for lost, misplaced, or damaged photos.