Syllabus

Please note:

• Age of Stage Groups, Duets, Trios & Quartets are determined by the age of the oldest competitor. 
• Competitors Age is taken from 31st August of the previous year. For 2025 Festival age taken 31st August 2024.
• Age 15+ may be divided into 15-16 & 17-21 according to All England age categories however this will be dependant upon entries.
• Pointe work is not allowed for any entrant under 13 years of age
• No un-authorised person at side of stage
• No re-dance unless it is at fault of the music or at adjudicators discretion
• Entrants only accepted with dance teachers permission, please do not enter unless you have their permission.
• Live singing is only allowed in the Musical Theatre/Nursery Rhyme class. Pre-recorded singing or chanting is NOT allowed in the Musical Theatre class.
• Pre-recorded music in the tap class must NOT include any recorded tap or similar sound effect.
• In all classes please ensure the costume, movement and music is appropriate for the age of the entrant.
• Musical Theatre should now portray the character & does not necessarily need to be 50/50 but a good balance and characterisation sound be shown.
• Please remember Modern, Lyrical Jazz & contemporary is NOT an Acro section, All England rules do not allow acrobatic movement.
• Duets, Trios, Quartets & Groups may be combined into Classical Section (Ballet – Modern & Classical, Narrative/Character, Contemporary, Greek & Global Dance/ National) or 
• Stage Section (Modern, Tap, Musical Theatre/Nursery Rhyme & Lyrical Jazz, Acro & Commercial) dependant upon entry numbers.
• Novice & Open sections may be combined dependant upon entry numbers
• Novice – A participant that has NOT placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd Position & gained to following marks
  

  Age 8 & Under 82 marks, Age 9&10 83 marks, Age 11-12 84 marks

  Age 6&Under or Age 13+ we do not offer novice sections. This is following the  British & International Federation of Festivals marking scheme. This is ideal for first time festival participants.

• Open – Any participant who HAS placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd & scored over the above marks in a specific genre EVER at a British & International Federation of Festivals, however, any participant can enter into the open section regardless of previous placing.  Example – Florence has won her ballet section in 2017 at Portsmouth dance festival this means her ballet will forever more be in the open section, regardless of if the music/costume/age changes, However as she hasn’t placed her jazz or tap solos they remain in the Novice section. The aim is to get all solos in the open section by age 13 when all sections become open.