Competition Day Protocal

Everything you need to know to ensure a smooth, organized and stress-free competition day

Competition schedules are sent to the studio 2–4 weeks prior to the event. Dancers’ performance times will be included, but adjudication/award times are not.
Once at the competition, programs are available for purchase, where you can view the complete schedule for all dances in your session and the entire event.

Dancers are only required to attend on their performance days and times, not the entire event.
Competitions work hard to avoid scheduling during school hours, but overlap may occur.
If your dancer is scheduled to perform on multiple days, staying close to the venue may be helpful but is not required.

Dancers must arrive no later than 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to their scheduled performance time. Competitions rarely run exactly on schedule and can run ahead or behind.
If your dancer's performance time is near the top of the day, please make sure you are aware of the venue's opening time, as this will be your dancer's required arrival time.
Competitions running ahead or behind schedule, is not under our control. Dancers will be required to stay until their performance time. For this reason, we recommend not planning anything for at least 2–3 hours after your dancer’s scheduled performance.
Costumes must be brought to the venue in their garment bag and dancers should change into them there.
Hair and makeup can be done at the competition as long as your dancer is ready at least 30 minutes prior to their performance. We recommend preparing as much as possible beforehand or arriving earlier than the 1-hour mark.
The stages and theaters are much larger than the Eagle Eye Theater, which means dancers will need more makeup than they may be used to. All hair, makeup, shoes and costume details can be found in your parent portal under costumes.
Fake eyelashes are optional but encouraged, as they help open the dancers’ eyes on the larger stage.

Dancers must wear their Dance Directions jackets on stage for adjudication.
When in the lobby, dancers’ costumes must be covered with their Dance Directions jacket.
Nail polish must be removed, and no fake nails are permitted.
All jewelry not part of the costume must be removed.
Hair ties must be removed from wrists.
Dance shoes should be clean, and tights must be free of holes or runs. Our goal is a unified look on stage for all group dances.
Food and juice that can stain are not allowed while dancers’ costumes are uncovered. If dancers are wearing their costume while eating please make sure your costume is covered.
Please bring a full water bottle and snacks to keep your dancer hydrated and fuelled throughout the day. Snacks should be non-messy.

Miss Cierra will be responsible for dancers backstage. Parents are to watch from the audience.
Parents are not permitted in the practice/warm-up rooms while there is a teacher available for the dancers. Once dancers are ready, they will warm up with Miss Cierra and run their dances before performing.
Parents are welcome in the dressing rooms before and after their dancers go on stage, but not backstage.
Dancers are only permitted backstage a few numbers before it is their turn and must return to the dressing room or audience after completing their dance.
Please only enter and exit the audience between dances. This is a rule at all competitions and is also respectful to the dancers performing.
Miss Cierra is not always available to accompany dancers back to the dressing room as she may need to stay backstage for another dancer.
Please be respectful of all other dancers and studios. Competition is a wonderful opportunity for our dancers to make connections and friendships, and we strive to represent Dance Directions as an inclusive and supportive community. Dancers are encouraged to compliment other dancers if they see something they like or inspires them.

Teachers are not required to be at competitions. If they attend, it is on their own free time and they are not compensated. We love when teachers come to support our dancers, but please note this is not required of them.
Miss Cierra will be at all competitions to ensure your dancers have support throughout the day.

After performing, dancers will return to the stage for adjudication and awards, which includes all dances in the session. Dancers must remain on stage for the entirety of adjudication.
Sessions can be 1-3 hours long.
While it is not required to stay for adjudication, it is an exciting and important part of the competition. If your dancer performs near the beginning of the session, you may leave and return for awards, but please plan to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the award start time.
We encourage dancers to watch other performances in the audience. It’s a great way to be inspired and see what they can strive for in their own dancing.

If parking is limited, we ask that you drop your dancer at the front and send them in with their things to find Miss Cierra in the dressing rooms while you go park.
Pick-up is after your dancer has finished dancing. Dancers may meet you in the audience or you may pick them up from the dressing room and return to the audience. Please make sure your dancer knows your plan.
After your dancer has performed and reconnects with you, they are no longer under the supervision of Dance Directions.

If your dancer has a prop, it is the dancer’s responsibility to bring and manage it.
Miss Cierra will have the studio phone with her at competitions: 604-848-9060. Please call or text this number for competition-related communication. Miss Cierra will not be answering messages or calls on her personal phone while at competition.

No photos or videos are permitted at competitions. Any violation may result in our dancers being disqualified.
Photos and videos are usually available for purchase from the competition.

For urgent competition-day matters:

Call or Text: 604-848-9060

Please avoid emailing for time-sensitive matters during competition weekends.

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