Dance Competition

Signing Up

• Signups will be held at con on Saturday, September 9 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
• Both solo and group entries are permitted.
• Music selection should be radio edited (PG-13) versions of songs.
• Send your music by email to the dance events coordinator at Terkwolf@hotmail.com The subject of your email should be in the format: "Furvana 2023 Dance Competition music submission: [Stage name]". The file name of your music should be in the format: [Stage name]_FurvanaDanceComp.mp3
• Music submission must be in MP3 format in the highest quality possible.

Costume expectations

Appropriateness: All competitors are required to wear appropriate clothing and costumes, free from profanity or inappropriate accessories, at the discretion of the competition organizers.

Completeness: Both full suits and partial suits are allowed to compete, but costumes should be arranged that no skin be exposed or visible at any point during the performer's showcase.

Minimum requirements: All competitors are required to wear, at minimum, the following components of a fursuit when auditioning and through the performance:

• Fursuit head: A full-face costume mask that fully covers the dancer's whole head, but can include head designs that use the performer's eyes.
• Fursuit hands: Costume gloves that fully cover the dancer's hands, but cannot include store-bought gloves lacking further modification.
• Fursuit feet: Costume feet that fully cover the dancer's feet and/or shoes, but can include feet designs that are sockpaws or shoe spats.

Props: Props may be permitted at the discretion of the event organizers and will require inspection prior to entry into preliminaries. For the safety of performers, judges, and the audience, large heavier props such as baseball bats, staves, golf clubs, etc. will not be allowed.

Preliminaries

Preliminaries will be competition style. Performers will perform the first minute of their routine in a private setting for a separate panel of judges from the finals.

The panel will consist of multiple judges who will independently rate each performance. Those decisions will collectively determine the performances which will move on to the finals. Factors which may be considered in this decision include but are not limited to:

• How well a competitor shows the music with their dance.
• The emotional impact of the dance, often referred to as "energy."
• The quality of the movements used and how well executed they are.
• The ability of the competitor to dance with their costume.

Finals

Finals will be held on Sunday, September 10 from 2:30pm to 4:00pm in the Main Theater.

Attendance: Finalists must arrive at the finals venue at least 30 minutes prior to the event, though we urge you to come earlier if possible. The order of final acts will be shared at the event. If a dancer does not show up by the time the first final act is called to perform, that act will automatically be scratched from the competition. Dancers are expected to be in full costume and ready to dance as of the beginning of the performance preceding theirs.

Runtime: Solo performances are to be no longer than 2:00. For each additional person in a group performance, an additional 0:30 is allowed per person, with a maximum time of 4:00. For example, a two-person performance can be max 2:30, and a four-person performance can be max 3:30, but a six-person performance is restricted to max 4:00. Music should be cut and edited for final performance. If the music exceeds the max limit, the music will very swiftly fade out at the max limit. Additionally, routines (music and choreography) should be censored to a radio edit rating. Not adhering to this rule can result in disqualification.

Competition Style: Finalists will dance their performance routine on the convention-provided dance floor which is a raised stage facing the seated audience with the judging panel at the front and center of the audience behind tables. It is assumed that the music will begin when competitors are in the middle of the dance floor. If the music should begin at an alternative cue, you must communicate this to the A/V team during the staging time before the event.

Judging Criteria

• Technique – Demonstration of correct technique within the chosen styles. Use of fundamental dance concepts such as levels, and effective use of the space provided.
• Execution – Quality of the approach to movements used. The degree of body control and awareness.
• Expression – Intensity, energy, emotion, and confidence displayed.
• Musicality – How well the performance illustrates the music. Demonstration of musical mastery beyond the basic beat.
• Creativity – The originality of the routine including interesting or unexpected moves and variety. Also includes the use of the costume itself in creative ways.
• Difficulty – Effective incorporation of difficult moves and transitions, tricks, and other "wow" moments.
• Overall Impression – How well each aspect of the routine works together and how well it connects with the audience and judges.