Fine tune your footwork and get your head in the game for a truly epic experience at Epic Dance Showcase. With over 30 years of experience in the dance world, EDS takes the best qualities from conventions and competitions, and eliminates the unfavorable aspects. Putting years of knowledge to use, they made a system that addresses studio size and places performers in guaranteed level playing fields during competitions. Much like the college sports system, studios place in a division with other studios of comparable size. Finally the stress of competing against studios much smaller or larger than yours is eliminated! In addition to fair competitions, EDS has 2 divisions (DI and DII) of overall awards, scholarships, games, and cash prizes. If there ever was an unbiased, honorable competition, Epic Dance Showcase is it.
Epic Dance Showcase’s faculty won’t disappoint
Fueling the next generation of professional dancers with sound advice and remarkable skills is a staff of successful teachers. To get an idea of their level of professionalism, below is the background of a couple faculty members.
Jim Nowakowski, a classically trained premier danseur, was born in South Korea and adopted into an American family at 6 ½ years old. He was born with a cleft palate and underwent over 9 surgeries to correct the issue. Enduring years of bullying, Jim found his solace in the beauty of dance and began formal ballet training at 11, continuing to 18.When training was over, Jim’s ambition drove him to take his dance to the professional level. He wanted to show that anyone can go through challenges and transformations, yet still achieve success by remaining passionate.
The success Jim desired came with an appearance on So You Think You Can Dance, when Nigel Lythgoe said his performance was “stunning.” Throughout the season, Nigel considered him one of the best dancers on SYTYCD. Since the show, Jim studies other forms of dance outside of his comfort zone, in hopes of growing his repertoire.
Another great teacher at Epic Dance Showcase is hip hop dancer Comfort Fedoke, from season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance. Since the show, she competes in freestyle dance battles all across the world, most notably Juste Debout in France (an international competition for street style dances) and KOD in China. It didn’t take long before her dance battle skills received celebrity attention. Musical artists like LL Cool J, Rhianna, and Missy Elliott asked to include her in their live shows. Comfort’s career credits include performances at the Guys Choice Awards, the iHeart Radio Music Awards, and Super Bowl 49 halftime show. When she is not busy performing alongside A-List celebrities, Comfort enjoys choreographing and teaching fellow dancers how make their own names in the industry.
2 sets of overall awards at regional competitions
As mentioned before, Epic Dance Showcase levels the playing field by matching studios with other studios of similar size. Due to this division, they created 2 sets of overall awards; 1 set for Division I competitors- studios with a total enrollment of 200 students or less- and Division II- studios with 201 students or more.
Honoring the hours of work every attending performer puts into competition preparation, Epic Dance Showcase gives a trophy to all entries. However, cash prizes and scholarships only go to the highest scoring routines in their respective category. The amount of cash prizes, gift certificates, and/or scholarships given at regionals depends on the number of competition entries. If 1-4 routines compete in a division, only the 1st place routine gets an award. However, if more than 4 routines compete in a division, other placements receive awards as well. To find out where you can compete, please see the end of the article. Also, don’t forget to do some post competition celebration in some of the awesome cities on tour, like Asheville, NC, nestled in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains.
Age divisions and guidelines
Epic Dance Showcase’s competition is open to dancers of all ages and there are 6 age divisions; Mini (age 6 and under), Petite (ages 7-9), Junior (ages 10-12), Teen (ages 13-15), Senior (16-20) and Adult (21 years and older, including teachers). Age is determined as of January 1, and group performances use average age determine division placement. If the average contains a decimal, drop the decimal to get the average age. For instance, if the average age is 13.7, the group average would be 13, so they would compete in the Teen division.
Also, please be aware there is a bump rule, which applies to a majority of age groups and categories, except for the production category. The bump rule states that groups cannot compete in an age division that is more than one division younger than their oldest member, regardless of average age. So, if a 19 year old performs in a group with the average age of 11, that performance is scored in the teen category, not the junior category (because junior would be two age divisions down from the oldest dancer, not one).
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Gather ‘round solo performers, Epic Dance Showcase offers a Title Division
EDS offers a title competition for all solo performers in the advanced and elite skills levels. These dancers compete for the title of Dancer of the Year. Title winners are selected from each age group, and finalists are chosen by the judges. The judges base their selections on a variety of factors like performance, technique, choreography, etc. The best part is there is no minimum or maximum number of finalists chosen in each region. Therefore, as long as your performance captures the judges eye, your a Dancer of the Year contender!
Point system and scores
Judges score routines using a point system, and their decisions are absolutely final. The Diamond score is the highest score available, given to routines that score 300-290 points. From Diamond, the scores go down from High Platinum, Platinum, High Gold, Gold, and Silver. The judges refer to these score during the selection process for Nationals.
Gear up for Epic Dance Showcase Nationals
Nationals for Epic Dance Showcase occur at the end of the touring season. Routines from the petite, junior, teen, and senior age groups that scored Diamond at regionals, are automatically considered an “Epic Dancer.” These select few dancers participate in the National Opening Number.
Aside from Diamond scoring routines, routines scoring Gold or higher during regionals also qualify for Nationals. If your team is unable to compete in a regional event, Epic Dance Showcase has a solution. Simply submit a video entry of each routine you want the judges to review for Nationals and wait for a response. The only stipulation is the video must be submitted at least 45 days before Nationals. In addition to the competition and Opening Number, EDC offers free master classes and workshops to all dancers.
Give your studio the opportunity they crave, and compete in a fair environment where size is not ignored, but regulated accordingly. The list of competition “musts” is basic ; they should have a faculty of professionals, fair judging, workshops, and supply an encouraging educational environment. Going down this list, Epic Dance Showcase checks yes for every requirement. So, what are you waiting for? Get on the computer and start registering!
March
Epic Dance Showcase- High Point – High Point Theater – High Point, NC
Epic Dance Showcase – Lexington – River Bluff High School – Lexington, SC
Epic Dance Showcase – Sevierville – Sevierville Convention Center – Sevierville, TN
Epic Dance Showcase – Charlotte – Kannapolis Performing Arts Center – Charlotte, NC
April
Epic Dance Showcase – Lincolnton – James W. Warren Citizens Center – Lincolnton, NC
Epic Dance Showcase – Asheville – US Cellular Center – Asheville, NC
May
Epic Dance Showcase – Taylorsville – Alexander Central High School – Taylorsville, NC
Epic Dance Showcase – Spartanburg – Twichell Auditorium at Converse College – Spartanburg, SC
June
Epic Dance Showcase – Nationals – Pigeon Forge/ Sevierville – Sevierville Convention Center – Pigeon Forge/ Sevierville, TN
For updated tournament information, please visit Epic Dance Showcase.