•ETERNAL FLAME

Eternal Flame, HEAT’s title competition, is bringing something different to your average title competition. HEAT is moving forward with the times and will have only one winner in each age division, our best dancer, The Eternal Flame. Our Eternal Flame will be chosen to represent HEAT for the following season and contestants will be judged on their solo performance, interview & improv, classroom demeanor and overall presence throughout the weekend. 

All contestants will learn choreography, rehearse throughout the week, and perform at the Formal Closing Gala. Eternal Flame winners receive free attendance to every city the following year, The Official Eternal Flame Jacket, a customized trophy, sponsor gifts, a personal promotional video reel,  as well as the privilege of representing HEAT for an entire season.

Eternal Flame participants must pre-register before the Nationals event. The solo used for the Eternal Flame competition can only be used for the Eternal Flame battle. Contestants are eligible to enter another solo to compete for overalls in the Nationals Final Competition.

SCORING BREAKDOWN:

50% – Solo Score

20% – Workshop Performance

20% – Interview & Improv

10% – Overall Demeanor, Attitude & Presence

•BATTLE OF THE BEST

Rising Embers: Best Duo/Trio

The top scoring duo/trio from every age category will compete at our Closing Gala on Thursday evening to earn the Best Duo/Trio award!

Super Nova: Best Group Routine

The top scoring routine from every studio will recompete at our Closing Gala on Thursday evening to earn the Best Group award!

Inferno: Studio of the Year

The Inferno winner is awarded to the studio who encompass everything HEAT stands for: heart, professionalism, creativity… a simply inspiring studio.

•DANCE CHALLENGES

Choreography Challenge

HEAT’s Choreography Challenge combines dancers from different studios to work together and create a choreographic masterpiece! Immediately following the welcome party on Sunday evening dancers ages 10+ will choose their own groups, with a minimum of 6 dancers, and work together  for the remainder of Nationals week. Groups will choose from a pre-selected list of 12 songs to set their piece to. Dancers will have scheduled blocks of rehearsal, time where they will receive feedback from faculty. Cuts will be made throughout the week and the winners will perform at our closing Gala.

Runway Battle

Show off your best improv moves in your own design during our Annual Runway Ball! The theme for outfit design will be announced at the Welcome Party of the first day of Nationals and so dancers have to challenge themselves with what they brought to come up with the style that shows them off best! The Runway Battle will open our Runway Ball – Dancers Night Out & DJ. Divided into Mini, Junior, Teen and Senior divisions. Winners are chosen by our faculty, crowd appeal, and will receive a grab bag stuffed full of HEAT merch.

Heat Hip Hop Cypher

Taking its roots in the origins of Hip Hop, our Heat Cypher will be a hip hop dance off taking place during the Runway Ball.  Traditionally, a cypher is a freestyle dance jam where an open circle is created and people take turns dancing in the center. The cypher has deep, long-standing cultural roots in hip hop culture, African tradition and even religious beliefs.

HEAT Force

The HEAT Force is our pre-professional dance company that has traveled with HEAT all season – culminating with our HEAT Nationals. Our Force dancers are an integral part of HEAT National Finals. HEAT Force dancers will perform an exciting new piece with one of our faculty. Dancers will have a week full of specialized classes and be ambassadors & leaders in all events throughout the weekend.

HEAT Crew

The HEAT Crew is a Hip-Hop specific crew that also has traveled with HEAT throughout the season and studied under our hip hop faculty. Crew dancers will continue their journey and education at HEAT Nationals, learning more than just moves,  but also about the culture and history of Hip Hop. HEAT Crew dancers will perform a crowd raising new presentation at our Closing Gala, choreographed by our hip hop faculty.

•INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES

Triple Threat Experience

Our Triple Threat Experience is for dancers who want to push themselves beyond dancing. A profession in entertainment requires skills from a variety of the arts. Come learn and enhance these skill sets in the following genres:

    A La Cart Classes $40

    •Vocal Training , Dance for Camera, Acting

Industry Night

Learn about the industry from people who are making it happen. Participate in a Q&A from the panel of our very own working faculty and get real inside tips from some of the top industry professionals behind the scenes. Watch the Eternal Flame finalists interview & improv and cheer on the top groups from the choreography challenge as they take the stage.

•CLOSING GALA

Close out this incredible week by walking the red carpet, dining in formal attire, and experiencing an incredible night of performances while you cheer on the Battle of the Best!

Eternal Flame – Title Competition

Rising Embers – Best Duo/Trio

Super Nova – Best Group Routines

Inferno – Studio of the Year

PLUS…

Performances from your HEAT Faculty, HEAT Pros, Heat Force, and HEAT Crew!

Finalists of the Choreography Challenge battle to the top

Gala Pricing:

$175 – VIP Priority Seating, Dinner & Drink Coupon $125 – Gala & Dinner

$40 – General Admission

•ADDITIONAL EVENTS

Welcome Party

Kickoff HEAT Nationals with our Welcome Party where you will meet and get to know  all of us behind HEAT as well as all the attendees throughout the week. Test your HEAT knowledge with trivia games and icebreakers to make lasting friendships and memories. Snacks and drinks will be provided and prepare to have a blast.  The Welcome Party will transition into our Choreography Challenge group selections and first rehearsal.

Runway Ball & Dancer Night Out

In the spirit and history of the New York City Ballroom Scene of the 80’s & 90’s, our Runway Ball gives our attendees a chance to find their inner diva and VOGUE!!  Everyone young and old will hit the runway during our 2nd annual Runway Challenge and compete for our Runway LEGEND.  After the Runway Challenge, you dance the night away to the grooves of our very own DJ as they play the hottest tracks for our dancers! This is an exclusive event for our dancers to mingle and shake off competition stress. Come dressed in your theme inspired outfit and get ready to dance the night away!

•COMPETITION

Given our time restraints at regional events we often have to limit the amount of routines each studio can bring….. But not at Nationals. Studios can enter an unlimited number of routines to compete at our National Finals.

See our schedule for Competition times.

Dancers must check-in at least 20 minutes before their scheduled performance time backstage. Dressing rooms (girl, boy, & all gender) will be provided for costume changes. Please refer to the included competition schedule for your competition time.

Audience

HEAT is happy to offer an in-person audience, observer bands are not required. Live streaming will be provided during our competition.

All ages are as of January 1, 2022.

MINI DIVISION: 5-8 years

JUNIOR DIVISION: 9-11 years

TEEN DIVISION: 12-14 years

SENIOR DIVISION: 15-18 years

•AWARDS & SCORING

Competition Awards & Scoring

Awards will be given according to category and age division. HEAT categories include: solo, duo/trio, small group, large group and Line/Production . Age divisions are as follows: Minis, Juniors, Teens, and Seniors. Dancers/Routines will be placed and given the following awards: Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum, and the Fire Award. Adjudication will be based on a scoring criteria from our three judges and are listed to the right. We will conclude competition with Adjudicated and Overall Awards Ceremonies. Competition will be live streamed for those who wish to view the competition and awards ceremonies.

ADDITIONAL AWARDS:

Passion Award Judges Choice Award

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Technique – 30%

Choreography – 20%

Artistry/Creativity – 15%

Difficulty – 15%

Performance – 20%

SCORING:

Fire – 295-300

Platinum – 285-294

Rose Gold – 270-284

Gold – 250-269

Silver – 230-249

CLASSES FOR YOU

Teacher Classes

Following HEAT’s motto to Hear, Educate, Advocate & Train we believe that the learning does not stop at our dancers. We strive to provide educational training for our teachers, directors and studio owners to help elevate their classes. Teacher classes will be taken to a whole new level throughout nationals with classes from music editing to dancer mental health. Professionals will be brought in to offer feedback and ideas on how to advance your studio.

Specialty Classes

HEAT will be bringing all the classes you know and love as well as some extra classes with a special twist with heels, ballroom and dance for camera!!!

Parent Classes

Stay in mentally and physically in shape all week long with our parent classes taught by our very own faculty. From yoga to kickboxing to mediation you will find yourself motivated to wake up and get moving daily!

•TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Sunday

Competition Begins, Eternal Flame Rehearsal, HEAT Force Rehearsal, HEAT Crew Rehearsal, Bonus Classes, Registration Opens, Welcome Party, Director Happy Hour, Choreography Challenge

Monday

Eternal Flame Rehearsal, HEAT Force Rehearsal, Parent Class, Bonus Classes, Competition Continues, Eternal Flame Interviews, Choreography Challenge, Eternal Flame Competition

Tuesday

Opening Ceremony, Workshop Classes, Teacher/Parent Classes, HEAT Crew Rehearsal, Runway Ball, Dancer Night Out, Hip Hop Cypher.

Wednesday

Workshop Classes, Teacher/Parent Classes, HEAT Force Rehearsal, Choreography Challenge Finals, Industry Night.

Thursday

Workshop Classes, Teacher/Parent Classes, Studio Delegate Brunch, HEAT Force Rehearsal, HEAT Crew Rehearsal, Eternal Flame Rehearsal, Lip Sync Battle, & Choreography Challenge. 

Friday

Closing Gala Brunch & Scholarship Ceremony.

•NATIONAL PRICING

LEVEL AGE             EARLY BIRD         FULL PRICE

Mini 5-8                           $315                            $355

Junior 9-11                     $385                             $425

Teen 12-14                     $385                             $425

Senior 15-18                  $385                             $425

College 17-27                $315                             $345

Teacher 19+                   FREE                             FREE

Observer                         $70                               $80

*All ages are as of January 1 of the current year Ask us about our 2-day pricing

**HEAT encourages continued training and are proud to support college students with valid student ID. Dancers applying the college discount must be registered for the senior ballroom.

•COMPETITION PRICING

Eternal Flame – $275 (includes solo and choreography fee)

Eternal Flame winners receive free attendance to every city the following year, Eternal Flame Jacket, customized trophy, sponsor gifts as well as the privilege of representing HEAT for an entire season.

DIVISIONS            EARLY BIRD        FULL PRICE

Solo                                $170                           $195

Duo/Trio                        $85                              $95

Small Group (4-9)        $65                              $75

Large Group (10-17)    $65                             $75

Line (18-24 )                  $65                             $75

Production (25+)          $65                              $75

Divisions, Competition Rules and regulation details are available on the website.

•HOTEL & EVENT VENUE

JW Marriott Bonnet Creek

14900 Chelonia Pkwy Orlando, FL 32821

(407) 919-6300

Sponsors

Dream Duffel, Dance Buddy, Elevate Dance Apparel, Werk, & Revolution Dance Apparel.