Dance Competition
Dance Application
2023 Times
| Signup | Open until Sunday, October 22nd |
| Auditions | Monday, October 30th from 4PM to 8PM at Third Stage |
| Competition | Thursday, November 2nd from 1PM to 3PM at Main Stage Please show up an hour before showtime. |
Audition Process
At-con signups will not be accepted.
Competitors will be performing their entire routines for three judges. All performers will be scored using the same system, and the best 20 to 25 acts will advance to the finals depending on availability.
We will contact you shortly before the convention with a timeslot for your at-con audition.
Fursuits are required for both auditions and finals.
Categories
There are two categories - Solo & Group acts. Group acts will be allotted more time per act depending on the number of dancers (See Performance Duration below). However, all acts will be judged together if there are fewer than 3 group acts in the finals. (i.e. There is only 1 first place, 1 second place, 1 third place. Tie breaker rules will be used to determine placement.) If there are 3 or more group acts, the Solo and Group categories may be judged separately with prizes awarded independently.
Dancers are permitted to audition for one (1) group act and one (1) solo act. In the event both auditions are selected for finals, event organizers cannot guarantee extra time to rest or change between performances.
Rules for Competing
Eligibility Requirements
All entries must have music for their routine, submitted with your entry form. Sorry, we will not take submissions at the convention. Try to keep your music PG-13, as the competition is an all-ages show. Please censor gratuitous expletives.
Music selections should be ready to play for your final performance, in MP3 format, and at least 256kbps. All files must be named: [Your Fursuit Name].mp3 (For example: Foxy McBushytail.mp3)
Your prelim must be your stage performance
What you perform in the preliminaries must be what you intend to perform for the actual show! This allows our prelim judges to make the most informed decision in choosing the best acts for the stage.
Performance Duration
- Solo routines cannot exceed 2 minutes
- All routines must be at least 1:15 (This has been lowered to compensate for the possibility that masks are required under fursuit)
- Routines not edited to be 2 minutes or under will be faded out. We encourage custom edits or mixes and recommend you choose themed music that complements your routine.
- Groups get 30 extra seconds per additional member up to 4 minutes: As an example, 2 members get up to 2:30, 5+ members get up to 4:00 minutes.
Fursuiters only
This is a fursuit dance competition after all! You need all of the following to compete: a head, hand paws, foot paws or costume shoes, and a tail. If you choose to wear a partial, please make sure you wear clothes that cover your bare skin! You will need to wear the above for auditions AND finals.
In cases where unique attire is necessary for your performance which requires modification or removal of one or more of the above required parts, at the discretion of the dance competition coordinator and judges, dancers may be: allowed to compete fully, allowed to perform but not compete, or not allowed to perform.
Be respectful!
You will actually be scored on this. Treat your other competitors with respect, as well as the staff running the competition. If you ever have a disagreement, always discuss it politely. While we appreciate the competitive spirit, try to make sure other dancers can have fun too. It’s not that serious, after all.
Keep it clean!
Furries of all ages will be watching and listening so make sure the lyrics are radio appropriate. Don’t go overboard with any vulgar content in your performance or there will be heck to pay! HECK!
Have fun!
In the end, remember most of all: This is just for fun! If you don’t get in, don’t get discouraged. We’re all dancers here, and the world is our stage; not just this one. Good luck, and see you out there on the dance floor!
Sick/nervous group member? The show can go on.
Groups who qualify for finals may substitute or drop one individual in finals as long as it affects less than half the group. (ie. a 2 person group must find a substitute in case one person cannot perform, but a 3-person group can either drop or substitute a member).
Judging Criteria
These are some of the aspects our judges will be looking for; some judges may consider different aspects more important than others!
Foundation
- Your musicality: How well does the character of the dance/choreo fit with or emphasize the character of the music?
- Your flow: How well do you transition from one part of your performance to the next?
- Your execution: How clean/precise are your moves?
Variety
- Your diversity: Are you mixing up the moves in your performance?
- Your tempo: Are you dancing at the same speed the entire time, or changing it up occasionally?
- Your levels: The use of your y axis. Are you changing up your stance while performing your moves? (Standing, jumping, bending, crouching, being on the floor, etc.)
Technique
- Your complexity and finesse: Are you challenging yourself and showing off your skill through your moves?
- Your traveling: When navigating your space, are you employing any footwork (spinning, gliding, housing, leaping, etc.) or merely walking around?
Stage Presence
- Your facing: Are you performing to the entire audience and not just front and center?
- Audience: How well are you captivating the crowd? Are they anticipating your next move with bated breath?
Sportsmanship
- All competitors will start with a full score. This score will only drop if you provide an unsportsmanlike experience to staffers or competitors, before or during the competition.
Contact Us
For all questions, please reach out to @BLFC_DanceComp on Twitter or @blfcdancecomp.bsky.social on Bluesky.