Dance

(Google Version of Dance Guide)

2024-2025 VPA DANCE GUIDE

For the 2024-2025 school year, Dance has been approved as a varsity activity for the Winter Season.  Dance is an approved activity of the National Federation of State High School Associations, and as such, falls under the NHS Spirit Rules and Guidelines.  During the Winter Season, a number of competitions will be offered at various VPA member schools.  In order to compete in these regular season competitions, Dance teams must meet the eligibility requirements listed below (#1).  Items #2 through #8 relate directly to the VPA Championship event at the end of the regular season and may not be in effect during the regular season. 

1) Eligibility

• All schools entering a Dance team in the year-end championship must be from a VPA member school.
• All teams entering the championship must be recognized by their school as an approved sport.
• All students participating on a Dance team must meet VPA and school eligibility requirements.
• All teams entering the year-end championship must have completed a minimum of three Vermont competitions.  Schools must compete once in each category to be performed at the state championship.

2) Divisions and Team Size

For the 2024-2025 school year, there shall be a Varsity division at the year-end championship.  Schools must notify the VPA by January 26, 2025 as to which division and category (s) they plan on being in.  The categories will be Jazz, Hip Hop, and Pom.  A team must enter themselves in 2 of the 3 categories. 

• A school may enter more than 20 performers on the registration form; however, a maximum of 20 performers may be on the floor at any given time.
• A minimum of 3 performers may be on the floor at any given time.
• Schools may enter only one team in the Varsity Division.

3) Performance Rules

• There shall be only one round in each category.
• Each team will perform a routine with a maximum time limit of two and a half minutes and a minimum time limit of two minutes (sound or movement – whichever one comes first).  Teams will be penalized if they go over or under the time limit during the State Championship.
• Teams may only use recorded music. However, teams must furnish their own music and must submit their music to David Marlow at (david.marlow@mmuusd.org) in mp3 or mp4 format all music will then be forwarded to the competitions DJ in performance order. The music must be sent by February 6, 2025. The music must be appropriate and contain no vulgar or obscene language.  Questions about the appropriateness of music may be directed to member(s) of the Dance Committee.  If music is determined to be inappropriate during competition, the team will be penalized.  Teams should also bring a backup copy of their music. The VPA is not responsible for music malfunctions.  
• All music being used by Dance Teams must meet music copyright compliance. All copyright permissions must be properly and completely obtained by the individual or group that is responsible for creating the routine music for a team. All recordings mixed together in Dance routines should be properly licensed and written confirmation of such licenses should be provided to the VPA by January 26, 2025. Attached to the guide is the VPA Dance Championship music copyright compliance form. 
• Routine interruption: if your routine is interrupted due to failure of competition equipment, facilities, and/or injury, you will be allowed to perform again, going last in your division.   
• Each team will be given 5 minutes to practice each of their routines on the competition floor before the event begins.  A schedule of practice times will be made available before the championship.
• All uniforms and accessories must comply with the rules listed in the NFHS Spirit Guide.  Please note that no bare midriff/torso is allowed.  Please note: if a team is not wearing a one-piece uniform, a leotard or undergarment must be worn. Additional Note: Coaches are responsible for ensuring that their teams meet these rules.  Violations of the uniform and accessories rules will result in a team being penalized. No jewelry (including earrings) is allowed. 
• Props are not permissible in the routine.  A “prop” is anything that is not permanently attached or positioned on a uniform and is used to add to the overall effect of the routine.  Props may not be used as bases (Spirit Guide Rule #3, Section 5).  Questions about the appropriateness of a prop shall be referred to the Dance Committee by January 1, 2025.
• Teams that are performing a stunt(s) in their routine must abide by the following restrictions:

Note – Schools who did not complete the coaches’ training in Fall 2024 and take the NFHS Cheer and Dance Safety Certification course may not perform lifts under the current criteria.  A representative from your school must attend in person for your school to attempt lifts. Below is the link for the NFHS course for Dance coaches to complete in order to perform the lifts outlined in the guide. 

https://nfhslearn.com/courses/cheer-and-dance-safety-certification

A. TUMBLING AND SKILLS (EXECUTED BY INDIVIDUALS) 

Hip over-head rotation skills with hand support are not allowed while holding poms in the supporting hand. (Exception: Forward rolls and backward rolls are allowed). The proper use of hands-free poms for hip over-head skills is allowed. 

*Please reference the Hands-Free Poms section for more details* 

Tumbling skills with hip over-head rotation: 

1. Airborne skills with hand support may not be airborne in approach but may be airborne in descent if the approach is non-airborne (clarification: a round off is allowed hands touch the ground before the foot leaves the ground). 
2. Airborne skills with or without hand support that land in a perpendicular inversion may not have backward momentum in the approach. 

Tumbling skills with hip over-head rotation is limited to 3 connected skills. (Example: 3 consecutive headsprings are allowed; 4 are not allowed). 

Airborne hip overhead rotation skills without hand support are not allowed. (Exception: Aerial cartwheels/side somis not connected to any other hip over-head rotation skill are allowed.) 

a. Airborne hip overhead rotation skills without hand support may not involve any twisting motion or a blind landing. Exception: Round Offs with no hands will be allowed. 

b. Recommendation: If using non-hands-free poms in an aerial cartwheel/side somi, dancers should place both poms in non-dominant hand. If a dancer bears weight on the performance surface with a hand that is holding a pom during the skill, a penalty will be assessed. 

Simultaneous tumbling over or under another dancer that includes hip over-head rotation by both dancers is not allowed. 

Choreographed drops to the knee, thigh, back, front, head, shoulder, or seat onto the performing surface are not allowed unless the dancer first bears weight on the hand(s) or foot/feet. 

Landing in a push-up position onto the performance surface is allowed from a standing or kneeling position or from a jump with forward momentum. All variations of a Shushanova are not allowed. 

Airborne skills without hip over-head rotation may not jump from a standing or squatting position backwards onto the neck, head, back, shoulder, and/or hands. Any kip up motion must initiate from the back/shoulder area touching the ground. (NOTE: This rule refers specifically and only to the “rubber band”/” bronco” kip up skill, as well as any skill jumping backwards into a headstand/handstand stall).

*Below are some examples of commonly known dance skills. This does NOT mean that they are required for your routine, nor does this list encompass all skills that are legal/illegal. The above rules still apply* 

ALLOWED: 

Aerial Cartwheels	Side Somi Stalls/Freezes	Backward Rolls	Handstands
Front/Back Walkovers	Backbends	Windmills	Shoulder Rolls
Front Handsprings	Forward Rolls	Cartwheels	Headstands
Round Offs(with or without hands)	Head spins	Kip Ups	Headsprings(with hands)

NOT ALLOWED: 

Front Tucks	No handed headsprings	Layouts
Back Handsprings	Dive Rolls	Shushunova
Front Aerials	Toe Pitch Back Tucks	Back Tucks

B. DANCE LIFTS AND PARTNERING (Executed in pairs or groups) 1. The Executing Dancer must receive support from a Supporting Dancer who is in direct contact with the performance surface through the entire skill. (Exception: Kick Line Leaps). 

At least one Supporting Dancer must maintain contact with Executing Dancer(s) throughout the entire skill. 

1. Lifting with poms is allowed. 
2. Extensions, pyramids, and basket tosses are NOT allowed.

Swinging in and out of lifts and tricks is allowed in the prone and/or supine positions; swinging forwards, backwards, or making a complete circular rotation will not be allowed if the Executing Dancer is in a prone position (body facing the ground). 

Hip over-head rotation of the Executing Dancer(s) may occur if a Supporting Dancer maintains contact until the Executing Dancer returns to the performance surface or is returning to the upright position. 

Vertical Inversions are allowed if: 

a. The Supporting Dancer(s) maintain contact until the Executing Dancer returns to the performance surface or returns to the upright position. 

b. When the height of the Executing Dancers shoulders exceeds shoulder level of the Supporting dancer, there is at least one additional dancer to spot who does not bear weight. 

C. RELEASE MOVES/UNASSISTED DISMOUNTS TO THE PERFORMANCE SURFACE 

An Executing Dancer may jump, leap, step, or push off a Supporting Dancer if: a. The highest point of the release does not elevate the Executing Dancer’s feet above head level of the Supporting Dancer. 

a. Exception: toe touches off a dancers back/leapfrog jumps will be allowed b. The Executing Dancer may not pass through the prone or inverted position after the release. 

c. Toe pitch back tucks are not allowed. 

A Supporting Dancer may release/toss an Executing Dancer if: 

a. The highest point of the release/toss does not elevate the Executing Dancer’s hips above head level of the Supporting Dancer. 

b. The Executing Dancer is not supine or inverted when released. 

c. The Executing Dancer does not pass through a prone or inverted position after release. 

d. Toe Pitch back tucks are not allowed.

4) Appeals

All appeals of competition rules must be filed with the Championship Coordinator. A specific explanation of the appeal is to be given. A decision will be made immediately in regard to the appeal. 

5) Scoring

The championship will be following the scoring guidelines developed by the Dance Committee that follow basic UDA guidelines. Dance scoring sheets can be found in the hosting guide.

• Judges score routines using the score sheet, the total judge scores are then converted into a rank for each judge.  The rank scores from the three judges are added up; the team with the lowest number of rank points wins.  Teams will receive a printout of the result including all team results by judge showing their overall ranks in each category.

6) Judges

Judges for the 2024-2025 Dance Championship are experienced people with a thorough knowledge, and background in the various areas of dance.  The judges will use the following criteria to select the top teams: appearance, technique, group execution, choreography, and overall effect.  A panel of judges will be used and the scores of three judges will be combined to determine the final score for each performance.  A technical judge will be used to rule on violations.

7) Championships Entry Fees

The costs will be $200 per team entering the Championship. Please make checks out to “VPA” and mailed to the address below. 

Checks should be made out to the VPA and mailed to: 

Vermont Principals’ Association,

Two Prospect St., Suite 3

Montpelier, VT 05602

• Registration forms need to be entered on the VPA Website www.vpaonline.org, Online Registration by February 4^th, 2025.
• Music needs to be sent to David Marlow; (david.marlow@mmuusd.org) by February 4^th, 2025

8) Championship Location and Date

Sites/Times: Vergennes HS 5:30 PM. Saturday, February 17, 2025

9) Expectations for Hosting a Dance Competition

Hosting Guide

2025 Vermont Principals’ Association  Dance  Championship

Music Copyright Compliance #ICC16

All copyright permissions must be properly and completely obtained by the individual or group that is responsible for creating the routine music for a team. All recordings mixed together in dance routines should be properly licensed and written confirmation of such licenses should be provided to the Vermont Principals’ Association.

You may use recordings that are purchased from vendors that comply with US Copyright laws or create/commission original works for your team (i.e. an original song and recording to which you own or license the rights by written agreement). Under US Copyright law, no teams are permitted to create a re-mix, mash-up or medley without proper written authorization from the copyright owners.

US Copyright laws apply any time music is not being used for personal use. Purchasing a legal copy of a song (iTunes, CD, Amazon download, etc.) only grants the user private, personal use of the music. If you purchase a recording, that alone does not give you the right to make additional copies or mix the recording with other recordings for any other purpose–including use at school functions or other public performances. Personal use gives you the right to listen to the song but does not give you any other rights in the bundle of rights to that piece of music, which is why the music should not be copied, modified, or used in a public place without additional consent.

However, if teams wish to use only a single song in their routine, they may bring a legally purchased copy of that recording to be used at the event. Teams may not re-mix these recordings in any way (such as adding sound effects, changing tempo, or mixing with any other recordings), but you may make minor edits for timing purposes only (i.e. removing a chorus or bridge to fit the duration of the music time limit).

Link to NFHS-approved music: https://nfhs.clicknclear.com/en-us/featured

Remember:

• Do not use mash-ups, either created by you or sold by music providers using music without proper licensing.
• Do not download songs from sites that do not have properly licensed music.
• Do not copy or distribute to others a recording you have legally purchased.
• Licenses/Permissions must be received in writing (or by email) and must be provided to you by all copyright owners.
• If you request a license and you get no response, this does NOT mean that you have permission to use the music.

Coaches are responsible for ensuring that the music used by their teams for any public performance and all competitions follow the above guidelines

Guidelines for Music Providers:

• When recordings and compositions are completely original:

• All elements in the recordings, including instrumentation and vocal performances, are owned or controlled by the music provider. If any elements are not owned or controlled by the music provider, the music provider must obtain the appropriate licenses from the applicable copyright owners to edit, re-arrange or otherwise alter such works to create a new work for your team.
• If teams want to create their own re-mix or otherwise edit any music purchased from a provider of original music, their license agreement with such providers of original music must also specifically include this right to edit, re-arrange or otherwise alter works.

• When recordings are cover recordings of popular music:

• Guidelines provide that cover recordings of popular music may be used in re-mixes only if the purchase/license of the cover recording includes an explicit right to alter the cover recordings and create new works from these cover recording elements.

• Unlicensed samples may not be used in routine music.

• No unauthorized third-party recordings may be used in any way in the new recordings without a proper license.  “Sampling” a series of words or beats from any recording is not permitted unless an appropriate written sampling license was obtained.

• Music providers should allow each team to make up to 40 copies of the recordings.

• A mechanical license fee may need to be paid to reproduce copyrighted musical compositions on CDs, records, downloads, etc. If the music provider does not own or control the underlying musical composition, they will need to obtain a mechanical license to make copies of each recording. The music provider is responsible for obtaining the mechanical license and paying any royalties for each copy made–this includes the copy provided upon your initial purchase of the recording, any subsequent recordings in which they are incorporated, and any additional copies that will be distributed to the team.

2025 VPA DANCE Championship

Music Copyright Compliance Form #ICC16

In order to protect the VPA Dance Championship and its participants, we are requiring that all participating teams provide proof of music copyright compliance prior to the competition.

By signing this form, you are verifying that all copyright requirements were met prior to you obtaining your music from your producer.

I, _____________________________________________, verify that all copyright permissions (Coach’s Name) were properly and completely obtained by ___________________________________________, (Music Mixer’s Name)

prior to the production of the 2025 VPA Dance Championship routine music for the 

________________________ team from ____________________________________.

School’s Name Class and Region

These permissions can be verified by certification document(s) available upon request.

I acknowledge that this form will be kept on file by the Vermont Principals’ Association, and I will need to keep my certification documents on file for a minimum of THREE (3) years.

By signing this form, I confirm that the information above is complete and accurate. I also acknowledge that my signing of this form releases the Vermont Principals’ Association of any liability pertaining to my use of copyrighted music in my routine.

Coach Name (Printed):___________________________________________________

Coach Signature: _______________________________________________________

Date: ______________________

Administrator Name (Printed): _____________________________________________

Administrator Signature: _________________________________________________

Date: ______________________

NOTE: This form must be completed and returned to the VPA office prior to the championship.

CNESSPA’s 2024 New England Championship Packet