Awards

2025-26

Adjudication Awards

All routines will be adjudicated by three of the DanceMakers judges.

Solo routines will receive an adjudication score in your registration portal, but will not be announced for an adjudication award. All soloist will receive a participation award.

Duo/Trio and Group routines will receive an adjudication score in your registration portal and will be announced during their designated awards ceremony.

All routines that score 80 points or higher qualify to compete at Nationals.

If a routine performing was choreographed by one of the judges, that judge will only critique the routine and the score will be an average of the other two judges.

Adjudication	Points
High 1st Place	96-100
1st Place	90-95
High 2nd Place	85-89
2nd Place	80-84
3rd Place	70-79

Solo Overall Awards

Awards	Prize
High Score	Plaque / Free Routine Entry to Nationals
1st Runner Up	Plaque
2nd Runner Up	Plaque
3rd Runner Up	Plaque
4th Runner Up	Plaque
5th Runner Up	Plaque
6th Runner Up	Plaque
7th Runner Up	Plaque
8th Runner Up	Plaque
9th Runner Up	Plaque
10th-14th Runner Up	Recognition

Duo/Trio Overall Awards

Awards	Prize	Description
Style High Score	Plaque	Duo/Trio High Score in each age division (Camp Dance, Junior, Pre- Teen, Teen or Senior) and style (Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop or Open). Example: “Junior Tap Duo/Trio High Score”. Announced at the routine’s assigned awards ceremony on either Friday or Saturday evening.
Judges’ Pick	Plaque	Routines the judges pick for special recognition in each age division nondependent on scores. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony.
Directors’ Pick	Plaque	Routines that the directors pick for special recognition in each age division nondependent on scores. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony.
Judges’ Top Pick	Plaque	The routine the judges felt was most entertaining nondependent on scores. Can be from any age division or category. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony.
* Category 2nd - 3rd Place	Plaque	Duo/Trio 2nd - 3rd Place in each age division (Camp Dance, Junior, Pre- Teen, Teen or Senior). Example: “Junior Duo/Trio 2nd Place”. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony on Sunday.
Age Division Duo/Trio High Score	Plaque	Duo/Trio High Score in each age division (Camp Dance, Junior, Pre- Teen, Teen or Senior) excluding Category High Scores. Example: “Junior Duo/Trio High Score”. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony on Sunday.
Overall Duo/Trio High Score	Plaque/Free Routine Entry for Nationals	Highest Scoring Duo/Trio. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony on Sunday.

* DanceMakers reserves the rights to extend placement awards depending on the number of registered routines.

Group Overall Awards

Awards	Prize	Description
Style High Score	Plaque	High Score in each age division (Camp Dance, Junior, Pre- Teen, Teen or Senior), category (Group, Line, Extended Line or Production) and style (Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop or Open). Example: “Junior Tap Group High Score”. Announced at the routine’s assigned awards ceremony on either Friday or Saturday evening.
DanceAgain!	Performance/Plaque	Judges choose their favorite routines to Dance Again at the Wrap It Ceremony on Sunday and are nondependent on scores. These routines will perform LIVE during our Wrap It Ceremony on Sunday.
Judges’ Pick	Plaque	Routines the judges pick for special recognition in each age division and category nondependent on scores. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony.
Directors’ Pick	Plaque	Routines that the directors pick for special recognition in each age division and category nondependent on scores. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony.
Judges’ Top Pick	Plaque	The routine the judges felt was most entertaining nondependent on scores. Can be from any age division or category. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony.
Category High Score	Plaque	High Score in each age division (Camp Dance, Junior, Pre- Teen, Teen or Senior) and category (Group, Line, Extended Line or Production). Example: “Junior Group High Score”. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony on Sunday.
* Category 2nd - 3rd Place	Plaque	2nd - 3rd Place in each age division (Camp Dance, Junior, Pre- Teen, Teen or Senior) and category (Group, Line, Extended Line or Production). Example: “Junior Group 2nd Place”. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony on Sunday.
Age Division High Score	Plaque	High Score in each age division (Camp Dance, Junior, Pre- Teen, Teen or Senior). Example: “Junior High Score”. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony on Sunday.
Overall High Score	Plaque/Free Routine Entry for Nationals	Highest Score in all of group competition excluding Category High Scores and Age Division High Scores. Announced at the Wrap It Ceremony on Sunday.

* DanceMakers reserves the rights to extend placement awards depending on the number of registered routines.

Studio Awards

Awards	Prize	Description
The Shaffer Studio	Plaque/ $250 Competition Voucher for Nationals	This will be awarded to the studio that shows support, encouragement, professionalism and shares their love for dance with others throughout the event. This award is in honor of Mr. Doug Shaffer who has shared his love of dance with others for many years.
The Standout Studio	Plaque/ $250 Competition Voucher for Nationals	This will be awarded to the studio that stands out in convention work and competition performance.