Dance: Modern

Dance that is performed through a series of improvisation, expressive gestures, and unconventional movements from your emotion/feelings and interpretation of your selected music.

Overview

Are you ready to bring emotion and creativity to life through movement? Modern dance is all about interpreting music and feelings with expressive gestures, improvisation, and unconventional moves that tell a story. For this performance, your routine must be rooted in one or more recognized modern dance techniques—such as Dunham, Graham, Horton, Humphrey, Limon, or another established style. Let your artistry shine as you push boundaries and share your unique expression!

Notes for Judges ● Each contestant will have 5 minutes to present their performance and then the judging co-hort will have 5 minutes for any follow up questions and quick deliberations before the next contestant. Each contestant will only have an allocated time frame of 10 minutes. ● You should not under any circumstances engage with the students before or after the competition until the Awards Ceremony has concluded. ● You must provide honest constructive feedback for each contestant that you are judging. ● Scoring Rubric: ○ 95-100 - Qualifies as a Gold Medalist ○ 90+Up - Qualifies as a Silver Medalist ○ 85+Up - Qualifies as a Bronze Medalist ■ Please take heed that the identifying word here is “Qualifies”. There can be multiple contestants that can qualify as gold medalist and if that’s the case the highest score will receive the gold, and silver and bronze will be allocated to the next two highest scores. In the event the highest score is a 90 then there is no gold medalist and there’s only a possibility for a silver and bronze medalist as long as the remaining scores land within the 85+Up region.

Requirements:

1. Performance Time: The solo performance must not exceed five (5) minutes. Exceeding this time limit may result in points deduction or disqualification.

2. Costume: Costumes are optional but should be appropriate to the style and theme of the choreography.

3. Theme: Clearly identify the theme of the performance to the judges prior to the presentation.

This will help the judges understand your artistic intent.

Technique: Your performance must be rooted in one or more of the following modern dance techniques:

a. Dunham

b. Graham

c. Horton

d. Humphrey

e. Limon

f. or other recognized modern dance techniques

Contestants will be judged by the following criteria:

• Technical Proficiency/Skill (25 pts)

1. alignment

2. strength

3. endurance

4. flexibility

5. coordination

• Clarity and Consistency in Style (25 pts)

The clarity and consistency of your chosen modern dance style.

• Phrasing/Dynamics/Musicality (25 pts)

The quality of your phrasing, dynamic range, and musical interpretation.

• Clarity of Intent/Interpretation of Choreography (25 pts)

The clarity of your artistic intent and your ability to convey emotion through movement.

Point Deduction

-1 to -5
In the event the student performance exceeds 5 mins one point will be deducted for every minute over up to five points.

Tips for Dance Modern Contestants:

Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you practice, the more confident you’ll be.

Choose a Strong Song: Select a song that complements your dance style and inspires your performance.

Tell a Story: Use your body to convey a story or emotion through your dance.

Master the Fundamentals: Focus on strong technique and clean lines.

Perform with Passion: Let your enthusiasm shine through your performance.

Connect with the music: Feel the rhythm and let it guide your movements.

Stage Presence: Command the stage with confidence and charisma.

Dress to Impress: Choose a costume that enhances your performance and reflects your style.

Warm-up Before Your Performance: Prepare your body for the physical demands of dancing.

Have Fun! Enjoy the experience and let your love for dance shine.

By following these tips and focusing on the judging criteria, you can create a powerful and memorable performance!