Stage Quest Dance Festival

Stage Quest 2024

Day(s)

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Hour(s)

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Minute(s)

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Second(s)

Ballet / Neo Classical (Ballet: Strictly classical ballet technique – student to wear a Tutu. Neo classical: Still using ballet technique but a layout for instance can be done – NO TUTU, rather soft dress)

Lyrical: Portraying of lyrics in a song is important. Use of ballet technique an advantage.

Contemporary (Not lyrical) This is a style that uses modern and lyrical technique, mostly done on instrumental music with no words

Modern/Jazz: America Jazz or Old school Jazz (Fossie) can be done under this style.

Show Dance: Including Musical Theatre, Character and Broadway dances.

Disco Dance High impact dance movements required with body impulses

Hip Hop/Commercial (All styles: Crumping, House, Old school, Wacking ect).

Acro dance is a style of dance that combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements. 50% Dance and 50% tricks for each routine is a requirement.

Tap a dance performed wearing shoes fitted with metal taps, characterized by rythmical tapping of the toes and heels. Incl. Broadway or Rythmic Tap styles.

Acrobatic Gymnastics Group sections.Routines must consist of both dynamic and balance skills that are complimented with individual acrobatics and dance skill to be classified as an acrobatics gymnastics routine – teachers are allowed to have gymnastic mats on stage

Open. If a dancer has an extra dance of any style, it can go into Open

Spanish: All styles of Spanish Dancing (Flamenco, Sevillanas, Paso Doble etc) are done in one section.

Traditional Spanish dances showcase the diversity and beauty of rhythms and energetic moves with colourful costumes, hats, fans and traditional Spanish shoes.

Spanish dance is deeply rooted, rich cultural heritage and serves as a powerful medium for expressing emotions and telling stories through the graceful movements and passionate gestures of dancers.

Tik Tok Dance (Open) any age and any level of participant. (It must be a trending Tik Tok dance).

NEW SECTIONS

National Folk (New for 2025): reflect a country’s cultural roots through traditional steps, music, and costumes. Passed down through generations, they celebrate heritage—like Ireland’s step dance or India’s Bhangra—bringing history to life through movement.

Teacher section: any teacher who still like to perform but not necessarily want an award are welcome to enter (We will only have one section – Open)

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Category rules

Solo: The dancer’s age on 1 July will decide the age category they will dance in.
Beginner solos (dancers may do the same dance in the category.)
Groups/duo/trio: The average age of the group will be taken to determine the age category.
Only two or fewer Amateur dancers can dance in a Novice group.
ONLY ONE CHAMPIONSHIP dancers can dance in a Novice group.
If a group has more than 2 Amateur/ 1 Championships dancers, it will automatically be moved to the Amateur section.

Trio/Quartet – Same rule applies.
Duet: If a Novice and Amateur/Championship student dance together the duet will be competing in the Amateur section.
A dancer is only allowed to dance in their own age category or higher.
If a student is at Championship level with Modern/Jazz, Lyrical/Contemp, they will automatically fall into this level with Show dance/Musical Theatre/Disco.
If a student is at Championship level with Modern/Jazz, Lyrical/Contemp, they will automatically fall into this level with Show dance/Musical Theatre/Disco

If a Championship dancer starts with ballet/acro/tap or hip hop, you can enter them at the beginner level.
Any student who has participated overseas in an International Competition or has obtained 1st place in any other competition in the Amateur/Championships section is automatically an Amateur/Championship dancer at Stage Quest.
Only one solo per style allowed.
Note: This festival starts daily from 11:00am and end at 20:00pm. We start each day with the youngest contestants and end with senior or adult sections.
No special request – only Grade 12 learners will be taken into consideration

NEW RULES REGARDING ACROBATICS

Level 1, 2 and 3 (ASSA dancers) are seen as Beginner, Novice

Level 4 & 5 (ASSA dancers) are seen as Novice, Pre Amateur

Level 6 and above (ASSA dancers) are seen as Amateur and Championships

No Side/Front aerials, front handsprings, back handsprings or front/back tucks are permitted in a beginner acro solo.

Please note: The judges will move a dancer to another level if they feel the dancer was entered incorrectly.

AGE CATEGORIES

3 Years & Under

4 Years

5 Years

6 Years

7 – 8 Years

9 – 10 Years

11 – 12 Years

13 – 15 Years

16 – 17 Years

18 – 19 Years

20 & Over

Beginner

Beginner & Novice

Beginner, Novice & Pre-Amateur

Beginner, Novice, Pre-Amateur & Amateur

Beginner, Novice, Amateur & Championship

TIME LIMITS

Solo

All styles: 1.30min – 2min

D/T/Q

All styles: 2min

Group

All styles: 3-4min

Production

Any style: 5-15min

TikTok

30sec – 60sec max.

Pre-school Children

Teachers can dance with the dancers in front of the stage on the lower level until age 5.

Teachers are allowed to dance from the wings, but it is suggested that they rather dance in front to ensure the quality of the item on the video is of a good standard.

Level Description

Beginner (1-2 year of dance training)

Novice (2-3 Years of dance training)

Pre-Amateur (Received 85% in the Novice Section)

Amateur (Received 85% or above in the Pre-Amateur Section)

Championships (Received 85% or above in the Amateur Section)

Dance Teachers: (May enter any section in the Championships Section)

Take note: The judges have been in our industry for a long time and therefore carry a lot of knowledge. They have the right to move a dancer to a higher section/level if they feel that they were entered into the wrong level.

The judges also have the right to move an item in the style category if they feel a dancer has been entered into the wrong category.

SCORING

Scoring:

Bronze – 60% – 69%

Silver – 70% – 79%

Gold – 80% – 89%

High Gold – 90% – 100%

Section winner to be announced

When a dancer receives a gold medal (85%) he/she will be moved up to the next level automatically for the following year.

There will be price-giving in between sections during the day. All students will receive a medal.

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JUDGING PANEL

The judging panel will consist of 2 or more local judges.

Scoring points are given to each routine with a maximum score of 100%.

The decision of the judges is final and cannot be changed.

No Competitor, Teacher or parent are allowed to approach the judges.

PROGRAM

Will be available closer to the time

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

There will be a live schedule during the duration of the competition. There will also be a Photographer and Videographer who will be taking videos & photos of dancers.

Videos & photography by spectators are NOT allowed

Entries and Entry Fees.

Entries to be done on the StudentPlus system.

Registration: R250,00 per dancer (This includes all photos and videos)
Solos: R230,00 per solo
Groups: R180,00 per dancer per group
Duos/Trios: R180,00 per dancer

Closing date for entries: 30 August 2025

Entry fees to be paid over to Stage Quest: 6 September 2025
(If entry fees are not paid on time, dancers will be removed from the schedule)

Teachers must make one payment for all entries. Stage Quest Festival will not accept any individual payments.

Spectator’s Fees:

Adults: R100.00 per person per day entry fee

Children under 12 – R50.00 per day (Tickets available at the venue only – no cash)

Safety

Competitor safety is paramount, and Stage Quest will do everything possible to ensure it.

Stage Quest is not responsible for any injuries sustained by competitors or for property lost or stolen during the competition.

No entrant will hold the Stage Quest organizer, the staff, or the venue responsible for illnesses, injuries, or damage sustained by participating in any activity relating to the Stage Quest Festival.

By entering the Stage Quest Dance Festival, you/dancer/parent/guardian or teacher agree that Stage Quest Festival has the right to use all or any video footage and photography taken during dancers’ or teachers’ competitions in media campaigns.

FESTIVAL REGULATIONS FOR SPECTATORS

Please note:

The right-side door will be used as an entrance, and the left-side door will be used as an exit.

Spectators’ tickets must be bought on arrival, and a wrist band must be worn to gain entry to the auditorium.
Taking videos or photos is strictly prohibited.
The Medical Staff area is off-limits. Parents and students are not allowed to sit in this area (normally in the right corner of the auditorium).
The sides of the auditorium must be kept clear from dressing.
No eating or drinking is allowed inside the auditorium.
No moving/walking while a performance is busy on stage.
Auditorium doors will be closed while a dancer is performing.
No parents are allowed in the marshal area or backstage.
No parents are allowed to speak to the judges.
We ask kindly that the middle area be kept from sitting or standing. Spectators must sit on chairs and not on the walking pathways.
Outside area to be always kept neat.
We ask kindly that male spectators do not enter our dressing areas.
The front house of the auditorium is not a dressing area, and parents must obey this rule. Only during bad weather (hard rain) can it be used as such.
Please show your support for our car guards.
Lots of cheers and support towards our dancers are allowed!
The judges’ decision is final – no talking to judges is allowed after prizegiving.