Rules & Guidelines
ARISE COMPETITIONS
Please note that rules for skill levels may vary from competition to competition. It's important to follow ARISE Competitions rules.
Ages of All Dancers are automatically calculated as of Sept 1, 2025
Beginning
This category is designed for true beginners who are building foundational technique and control. Dancers in this category are learning basic alignment, balance, and introductory stage performance.
Examples of skills for this category include: an attempted Single Pirouette, Chaîné Turns, Grande Jeté, Sissonne, Toe Touch, “C” Jump, all types of kicks, and Cartwheel. First-year competitors do not automatically qualify as Beginning dancers.
Not allowed : Not Allowed: Double Pirouette, Switch Leap, Switch Tilt, Back Leap, À la Seconde Turns, Fouetté Turns, Leg Hold Turns, Changing Spot Turns/Pirouettes, and no more than 2 airborne tumbling skill (Back Handspring, Tuck, or Aerial).
High Beginning
This category is designed for dancers who have progressed beyond the true Beginning level but are not yet ready for consistent Intermediate-level skills. Dancers in this category demonstrate stronger performance quality, body control, and execution of foundational skills.
High Beginning level would have a dancers that technically may have Difficulty maintaining proper spotting, limited balance, control, or stability. Difficulty connecting skills with control and fluidity. Shoulders lifting up durning turns.
Examples of skills for this category include: a solid Single Pirouette (working on doubles), Coupé or Pencil Turns, Piqué or Chaîné Turns, Grande Jeté, Sissonne, Toe Touch, “C” Jump, 1–2 À la Seconde Turns, and all types of kicks.
This level will be closely monitored by our Penalty Judge to ensure dancers are appropriately placed. The Penalty Judge reserves the right to flag a routine if the overall technical ability and skill level of the dancers exceeds the High Beginner Level. Even if the routine does not violate any of the specific skills or restrictions listed for this level
Not allowed : Triple Pirouette, Switch Leap, Switch Tilt, Back Leap, Fouetté Turns, Leg Hold Turns, Changing Spot Turns/Pirouettes, no more than 3 consecutive rotations in any turn combination, and no more than 3 airborne tumbling skills (Back Handspring, Tuck, or Aerial). For purposes of this rule, every time the head spots and the heel drops counts as one rotation.
Intermediate
This category is for dancers who are consistently executing double turns and are introducing more complex sequences. Dancers in this category are developing body control, flexibility, movement quality, and showmanship while continuing to build technical consistency.
Examples of skills for this category include: a solid Double Pirouette (working on triples), Coupé or Pencil Turns, Stag Leap (Calypso), Side Leap, Switch Leap, 3–5 À la Seconde Turns, all types of kicks, and Leg Hold Turns.
Not allowed: Triple Pirouette, Switch Tilt/Arabesque, Fouetté Turns, Changing Spot Turns/Pirouettes, no more than 5 consecutive rotations in any turn combination, and no more than 3 airborne tumbling skills. For purposes of this rule, every time the head spots and the heel drops counts as one rotation.
High Intermediate
This category is for dancers who are working toward advanced turns, jumps, and tricks with increasing strength, control, and consistency. Dancers demonstrate clear control, confidence, and complexity in their movement.
Examples of skills for this category include: Triple+ Pirouettes, À la Seconde Turns, Fouetté Turns, Changing Spot Turns/Pirouettes (Spotters/¾ or Around the World), Switch Leap, Switch Tilt, Switch Arabesque, Disc, Stag Leap (Calypso), and Leg Hold Turns. For purposes of this rule, every time the head spots and the heel drops counts as one rotation.
Not allowed : No more than 9 consecutive rotations in any turn combination.
Advanced
This category is for technically strong dancers who demonstrate consistent execution of advanced turns, jumps, tricks, and movement quality. Dancers should demonstrate strong stage presence, control, musicality, dynamics, versatility, and technical strength.
Examples of skills for this category include: Triple+ Pirouettes, Fouetté Turns, unlimited consecutive rotations, and a variety of advanced leaps, including 540, Disc, Switch Arabesque/Tilt, Rotating Leaps, and other advanced skills.
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Spotlight dancers - For Teams spotlight dancers are welcomed under the following conditions; they may only go up one level (i.e. advanced dancers can NOT be spotlighted in beginning routines or Intermediate). Only a small percentage of dancers can be spotlighted. I.e. if there are 5 or less dancers it can only be 1spotlighted dancer. If 5-7 dancer are registered for a routine, spotlight dancers can be a max 2 and 8 and more dancers a max of 3 spotlighted dancers in a routine.
Solo Duet and Trio - Dancers shall dance in the category they register for all routines. A dancer that registers may adjust for teams/other solos by one level. For example if an advanced dancer registers as a solo, then a duet with a younger sibling, they may enter as a High Intermediate, but not Intermediate or beginning.
Judges Discretion applies as they monitor routines to determine if a dancer has the skill level to be in a higher skill category than what they are entered as, even if the above routine rules are followed. If at least 3 of the 4 judges agree, a dancer/routine will be moved. This rule is designed to prevent dancers from removing dance/technical skills to compete in a lower level. If judges determine a dancer has the skill set to be in the higher level, they may move them. They will be ineligible for any overall or specialty awards.
Tumbling: If a routine exhibits more than 35% tumbling skills, it should be entered in the Acro Category.
If a Team Routines is found to have more dancers than the number entered, the studio will be billed "late entry" price for each additional dancer plus a $50 administrate fee. Penalty judges will monitor this during the competition or we may review routines after the competition in our video reviews. Studios will have 15 days to pay the balance difference.
Entering Exiting Stage - Solo and Team Routines will have 30 seconds to enter the stage once called. This includes all prop set up. Unless declared when registered. Show/Production Routines with more than 20 dancers will have extra time, but must have declared that on their registration and be cleared by the backstage manger.
Run Off- If a dancer runs off the stage prior to the completion of their routine, they will be judged on their performance up to that point. They will not be eligible for any overall awards. By default they will not be able to "redo" their performance.
Music Uploads - Directors or Parents uploading music are responsible to make sure the correct "version" is uploaded a minimum of 2 weeks prior to each event. Our upload tools allows you to listen to the entire version once uploaded. Changes to your uploads must be made 2 weeks prior to the event start date. If an incorrect version or poor quality upload of a routine music is uploaded and played during the performance, the dancers will not be able to "redo" their routine. They will be judged on their performance they perform on stage.
*Upload tips - Export using full compression, file size should be at least 3mb, avoid you tube based music and use High Quality music editing tools. Free editing tools may result in poor quality sound.
Props- No bare metal on any stage floor.
All props must be covered with cloth, carpet, or several layers of thick durable duct tape. This includes desks and chairs. (legs may have rubber feet). Heavy props should be carried not dragged. Props with wheels - wheels must be cleaned and free of debris (rocks etc) so they do not mark the floor.
Any damage or marks will be the responsibility of the studio or parent that registered.
Floor Marking - A center star will be placed on the stage floor by Arise Staff. Studio's may not apply tape or other markings on the floor.
Category Guidelines: Please use these guidelines when entering; it will help create a fair competition for everyone.
Overall Winners - If a soloist duet or trio has won overall in a division the year prior, they will need to move up a level for the current year. For example if a dancer wins Beginning overall, they may not compete in beginning the following year(s)
Violations: At ARISE a penalty judge will monitor all routines. If a dancer or routine is determined to be entered in an incorrect skill level, they will be moved by the tabulator to the correct skill level. The dancer/routine will still be adjucitated, ranked, and receive the included awards; however, the routine/dancer will be ineligible for any overall or specialty awards.
Time Limits: Pricing includes Team routines up to a 2:45 minutes and solos 2:30. Extra Large routines (routines with over 30 dancers) do not have a time limit. Extra time can be purchased for $25 up to 3:30. No Solos, Duets, Trios over 3:30
Doors Open 30 minutes prior to the start of first routine. Entering the school before this time will result in immediate disqualification from the competition. Also entering areas of the school that are "closed" will also result in disqualification.
We must follow the rules the school outlines for us. Please respect "closed" areas of the school and park in designated parking stalls only. City Police will regularly patrol and ticket parking violations.
Please make sure you review the above rules and contact your Studio Director with questions.
If your director is unsure, please have your Studio Director contact us.
Any intentional act that intends to deceive Judges or Arise Competition in general will result in immediate disqualification.