Festival Rules
DANCE FESTIVAL RULES​
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The competition is for amateurs and students who do not derive the main part of their income from the teaching or performance of dance. Professionals are not eligible to compete in this festival. For the purpose of this festival, professionals are defined as those who derive more than basic out-of-pocket expenses within the appropriate profession, either as a performer or as a teacher, or attend a stage/dance school on a full-time basis.
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Entry fees are not refundable except in exceptional cases and only at the committee's discretion, whose decision shall be final.
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Performers age to be taken as on 31 August 2024. Performers may only complete in the correct age group and must be prepared to produce their birth certificate on request. Teachers are reminded that a performers correct date of birth must be on the entry form.
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In all classes, time must be strictly observed. Times will be check from the first movement of the dance.
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In the event of an early conclusion to any class, the committee reserves the right to commence the following class earlier than advertised but no earlier than 30 minutes before the stated time. We recommend that you arrive at least one hour before the scheduled time of the section (with the exception of the first section of the day) and be prepared to go on stage thirty minutes before the section is due to begin
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The stage and wings are out of bounds to all except authorised persons and competitors about to perform. (Authorised persons are Festival Stewards and Dance Teachers and they must all hold a Local Authority Issued Chaperone Licence, and this Licence must be submitted to the Lincolnshire Dance Festival Designated Safeguarding Lead prior to the Festival).
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For the duration of the Festival, all teachers are responsible for the continuous care and supervision of their own pupils in all areas including back stage, and all teachers must hold a valid and in date Local Authority Issued Chaperone Licence. If a teacher is unable to attend personally, they must delegate their responsibilities to an identified adult and ensure that their children/pupils and festival organisers are aware of the identity and name of the person responsible for their care and that the identified adult holds a Local Authority Issued Chaperone Licence. This includes supervision throughout the festival venue, practice and changing areas that may be provided.
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Access to dressing rooms is restricted to teachers and parents to assist performers with dressing. Anyone not included in this category will be asked to leave the area. Female and Male changing areas will be separate and no member of the opposite gender will be allowed in the changing rooms under any circumstances. A family changing room can be provided for the scenario of Female parent/carer with male child or male parent/carer with female child. Please contact us to request this.
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We request that dressing rooms must be kept tidy throughout the day and that the Grimsby Institutes property must be respected at all times. Any possessions left in the dressing rooms are entirely at the owner’s risk. A lost property box will be on site, but any items remaining at the end of the festival will be either donated to charity or disposed of if not claimed promptly
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ALL TEACHERS must have read the enclosed Child Protection Policy, Data Protection and Privacy Statement. It is the TEACHER’S responsibility to ensure all parents and children have read and are aware of our Policies.
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It is a requirement of North East Lincolnshire Council that the Festival Organisers hold the Full Name, Date of Births and addresses of all children taking part and a declaration of fitness from the parent of each child. This information is not required at the point of entry but will be collected by the Entries Secretary prior to the commencement of the Festival and will be captured via an online form that a parent/carer for each child will need to complete. The link to this form will be sent after all entries are processed, and no performer will be able to perform if this form has not been completed.
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The festival cannot take any responsibility for property left unattended.
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Performers report to the Stage Steward at least 30 minutes before the start of the class and be ready in the wings before their number is announced.
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Performers must dance in correct numerical order except where a complete change of makeup and hairstyle is involved and only at the organiser's discretion. Permission must be sought in advance to ensure a smooth running of the sections. Requests to perform at different days and times will be declined.
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The Committee may combine Sections or Classes when entries are small, divide when large, and make other regulations or interpret or qualify any rules as occasion may arise. Small sections may be adjudicated at the same time as other sections. This will be indicated in the programme. In some circumstances, the Committee may reserve the right to not hold a section or class dependent on entry numbers.
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Re-dances are allowed in Novice, Pre-Junior and A classes or if there is a technical issue. Please note, in these circumstances, written feedback will be given, and a mark only at the discretion of the Adjudicator.
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The Adjudicator's decision is final. No discussion or correspondence concerning any decision may ensue. The Adjudicator may not award a place when in his or her opinion, the standard is not sufficiently high or when individuals infringe rules.
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The adjudicator’s notes and marks on performance can be obtained after the section without charge but we cannot guarantee a time frame.
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The organisers reserve the right to substitute or appoint other Adjudicators should any unforeseen contingency arise.
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Communication with the Adjudicator concerning any matters relating to the competition by entrants, teachers or other interested parties prior to or during the competition is prohibited and may lead to disqualification.
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Competitors who are awarded a cup or trophy will be asked to sign a receipt. By signing this, they agree to return the cup, clean and undamaged and engraved where appropriate. The cost of engraving must be borne by the recipient, but such engraving is not obligatory. If a cup is not returned by this date and alternative arrangements have not been discussed, or if a cup is lost or damaged, the Festival Committee reserve the right to charge for repair or replacement and to withhold the presentation of further trophies to competitors who have not returned cups or shields.
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The festival does not accept liability for copyright infringement, recording or performing rights arising from any entrant's accompaniment or performance. It contributes to a Group Licence to cover payment of fees for using recorded music at its events. Teachers and choreographers using music created from commercial recordings are advised that they are responsible for seeking permission to re-record from the recording companies concerned.
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All music is to be uploaded to the Lincolnshire Dance Festival online library in an appropriate format. It is advised that all performers bring a back up recording on a USB device or mobile phone in the event of technical issues.
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In ALL Musical Theatre classes, no vocals or chanting should be used on the backing tracks. Performers may be disqualified if using music with original vocal recordings as backing.
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In all classical sections, no vocals should be used by performers, either spoken or musical. Performers may be disqualified if this is the case.
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Pre-recorded music used in Tap Sections must not include any recorded tap or similar sound effects.
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Teachers are reminded that the lyrics on recorded tracks must be suitable for an audience with children. An inappropriate lyric may be penalised. The quality of recordings and suitability of recorded vocals may be taken into account by the Adjudicator.
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Please note that the Pointe work cannot be danced until the competitor is 13 years or over.
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When requested in advance, the Official will announce the title of the dance and, if requested, a short synopsis not exceeding 30 words.
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In all Group Classes, entries may be used for 2 years only. Following this, they may not then be used for a FURTHER 2 YEARS.
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Senior Groups – Should it be necessary to include performers under the age of 15 years, they may perform provided they number less than 50% of the Group as a whole.
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In Group Classes, a maximum of 2 entries per school will be permitted.
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Groups will be allowed 1 minute for setting up and 1 minute for exiting after they have performed.
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In order to comply with our fire regulations, props should be brought on the day of the performance and removed the same day. Please remember anything left on stage has to be removed before the next performer can begin. Please be mindful of this when planning.
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All props must comply with our Health and Safety regulations. Specifically, no substances or items are to be deposited or used on stage which could cause harm or injury to other performers (for example glass, powders, liquids, wood splinters). Any infringement of these rules may lead to performers being disqualified. Particularly, we will not accept glass, naked flames, liquids. We reserve the right to remove any props that are considered dangerous or inappropriate or that do not fall in line with venue regulations.
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Grimsby Institute is a No smoking/vaping building. No smoking/vaping is allowed in all areas of the Lincolnshire Dance Festival.
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Audience entry to the auditorium must not occur during a performance or adjudication and is at the discretion of the doorkeeper at all times.
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Audiences should show their appreciation of a performance by clapping. Cheering is not encouraged.
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All forms of a visual or audio recording of performances are prohibited except by the official photographer/videographer appointed by the festival organisers. This includes photographs of dancers in the line-up for adjudication. This prohibition also applies to the use of mobile phones for such purposes. Mobile phones must be turned off or switched to a silent mode in the auditorium during performances. Anyone not obeying this rule may be asked to leave and must demonstrate that the recorded material has been fully deleted from the device. Please ensure this information is passed on to students and parents/guardians.
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Duet, Trio and Quartet Classes – No performer shall be allowed to dance more than once in the same class and a performer substitution may only be allowed in the event of unforeseen circumstances, i.e. illness. The Entries Secretary and Stage Steward must be notified of changes prior to the commencement of the class.
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A performer winning a Novice Class after the entries have been received and prior to the Festival, must inform the Entries Secretary and must compete in the Open Class. A dancer who has previously danced in an Open section at any other festival cannot return to Novice for that discipline.
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Novice entries will be limited to 2 entries per dancer.
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We reserve the right to refuse any entries in excess of 1000 as agreed by the Committee. In the event of over-subscription, please note priority will be given to those schools who have been consistent attendees (priority given to those who are our longest supporters). If necessary, we will use the additional rule where we calculate the amount of ‘non-performers’ from a school previous entries to the Festival. These rules will only be applied if we are over-subscribed. We do welcome entries from all dance schools.
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No guarantee can be made on the day on which any particular section will be held prior to the final programme being issued.
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Abusive behaviour, verbal or physical, towards the festival staff will not be tolerated. Anyone behaving this way will be asked to leave, and no refund will be given.