Remember the days when people looked one another in the eye, not at a screen, and valued human contact? Believe it or not, there still are organizations that excel in customer service and don’t rely on automated messages. At Inspire National Dance Competition, staff members greet everyone at the door, and not only remember your name, but continuously reach out to you during the registration process.
After registering, dancers have the opportunity to choose from 15 performance categories (including a Parent category for recreational level dancers) and best of all– there are no routine limits! The means studios have an endless number of routines to expose the talent hiding under their roof. Inspire NDC also offers FREE master classes at Nationals and welcomes independent dancers to compete at Regionals and Nationals! They only travel to the South East, so head down South for some Southern hospitality, warm weather, and experience what it’s like to compete while being treated like family.
Inspire National Dance Competition’s 4 skill levels
Inspire National Dance Competition has 4 division levels catering to varying skills, and studio directors should use their best judgement to determine division placement. However, routines that are obviously misplaced will be evaluated by the judges or Inspire management. To determine appropriate levels for each competitor, consider competition experience and class time. The levels include the Recreational Division, Competition, Competition Elite Division and Pro/Am Division (which is the only division teachers can participate in).
Incredible scoring transparency
Watching every routine is a panel of judges, who base their scores on 4 main criteria; technical ability, synchronization/ execution, choreography/routine and presentation/performance. In an effort to be as transparent as possible, each studio receives a digital video recording of the judges’ critiques. Scores may also be viewed online, and all scoring is completed electronically. In the event of technical malfunctioning, the feedback is provided in a written format. This method of digitally recording critiques is not a common feature of dance competitions, but it’s done this way to efficiently locate areas of improvement.
Regional award offerings
Inspire National Dance Competition likes to recognize and encourage all participants, therefore they give General Awards to each entry based on their achievements. Overall Top Awards go to the top scoring routines in each level of competition. Certain outstanding performances receive Achievement and Choreography awards, chosen by the judges. Last but not least, Inspire National Dance gives dancers competing in the Competition and Competition Elite divisions the chance to become Inspire All Stars. These dancers will be invited to perform in the All Star Opening Number at Nationals, where they will learn choreography from professional choreographers.
Do you have what it takes to be an Inspire All Star?
Were you invited to be an Inspire All Star? Then prepare to learn new choreography in all styles of dance for the opening number of the Crystal Showcase Championship. The event takes place on the last day of Nationals and dancers are expected to be at every rehearsal leading up to the big day. Two well-known choreographers, Carlos Garland and Christopher Robbins teach the rehearsals. These professionals expect hard work and dedication from the Inspire All-Stars, yet promise to make their classes an exciting and encouraging learning experience. For a listing of events arranged by month, check out the end of the article and become your studio’s Inspire All Star.
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Who are Carlos and Christopher?
Carlos Garland began his formal dance training at 13 years old and graduated college at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, studying dance all four years. During his years of study, he perfected various styles including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Breaking, Lyrical, Contemporary, Improvisation, various world ethnic dances, as well as acrobatics and martial arts. After college, Carlos joined the dance crew Systematic, which won BET’s 106th and Park dance competition two years in a row. They’re also featured in various national and international commercials.
Carols also danced with Rasta Thomas’ world renowned all male dance company, Bad Boys of Dance in their hit show Rock the 
Ballet. Carlos later become a top 20 finalist in season 10 of So You Think You Can Dance, and afterwards performed with the Broadway cast of Spider-man Turn Off The Dark in their final Gypsy Of The Year performance. For those who do not know, Gypsy of the Year is an event hosted by Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. Cast members from various Broadway and Off-Broadway companies compete against one another and raise money for people all over the world fighting AIDS and other life threatening diseases.
Carlo’s partner, Christopher Robbins, is a South Carolina native, working for television, radio, magazine, and stage shows throughout the World. Chris collaborates with artists and choreographers such as Donny and Jimmy Osmond, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Holiday, The Pointer Sisters, Joe Lanteri, and Jaime King. Chris was also in The Walt Disney Productions of Beauty and the Beast and Tarzan Rocks. He’s won numerous awards in national competitions around the US for his choreographies, among them the “Judges Critics Choice Award” at the New York City Dance Alliance. Many of his students have gone on to perform on Broadway, Radio City Rockettes, and Bad Boys of Dance.
Experience Nationals the Inspire NDC way
Nationals occur at the end of the year in Savannah, GA and to be eligible to attend, studio entries must achieve a Platinum Elite, Platinum, High Gold or Gold at Regionals. If a studio does not attend an Inspire Regional Competition, or if a particular entry was unable to compete at a regional event, they may contact Inspire NDC management for consideration.
FREE Master Classes are available to ALL registered dancers, as well as Improv Auditions (although there is a $40 registration fee for entry into this audition). Dancers receive audition and improvisation tips from choreographers prior to their audition, and audition in rooms separated by age. Musical excerpts are selected for the dancers to listen to and base their performance on. Select dancers from each age division receive the Inspire Improv Winners title, and these winners get a certificate, a dance top and a request to perform a selection of improv during the Inspire Crystal Title Showcase.
Crystal Production Showcase Championship
At Nationals, all productions compete in the Crystal Production Showcase Championship, which takes place on the final day of Nationals. The Production Showcase Championship awards a Recreational, Competition and Competition Elite champion. The Competition and Competition Elite Showcase Champion winner receives $500 cash AND $500 “Inspire Money”, good towards merchandise or future competitions. The Recreational Showcase Champion winner receives $250 cash and $250 “Inspire Money”.
Transparent judging, accommodating staff, improv auditions, free master classes…this dance competition seems to have it all. If you’ve been advised to register for a Regional event, but are still on the fence, read what these customers have to say; “Judging was fair–in fact, my child’s (who is my student) scores were stricter than they have been at other shows and I AGREE WITH THAT!!” Or, here’s another one to ponder, “My daughter was sick during the performance–and it was no issue to mail her trophies if we wanted. She also had two performances an hour away the same day and the staff had no issues making her number 001 so she could go first.”
In general, Inspire NDC is described as “the best competition,” with a staff that calls people by name and makes sure any conflicts are resolved in a discreet and efficient manner. If you’re tired of being treated poorly, do yourself a favor and come to a place where you will be greeted with a smile!
February
Inspire National Dance Competition – Asheville – U.S. Cellular Center – Asheville, NC
Inspire National Dance Competition – Charlotte I – Dale F. Halton Theater – Charlotte, NC
Inspire National Dance Competition – Statesboro – Georgia Southern Performing Arts Center – Statesboro, GA
Inspire National Dance Competition – Savannah – Savannah Civic Center – Savannah, GA
Inspire National Dance Competition – Orlando –Ocoee High School – Orlando, FL
March
Inspire National Dance Competition – Kannapolis – A.L. Brown High School – Kannapolis, NC
Inspire National Dance Competition – Rocky Mount – Minges Auditorium at the Dunn Center – Rocky Mount, NC
Inspire National Dance Competition – Valdosta – Valdosta High School – Valdosta, GA
April
Inspire National Dance Competition – Charlotte II – Dale F. Halton Theater – Charlotte, NC
Inspire National Dance Competition – Daphne – Daphne Civic Center – Daphne, AL
Inspire National Dance Competition – Dublin – Dublin High School – Dublin, GA
Inspire National Dance Competition – Montgomery – Davis Theater – Troy University – Montgomery, AL
May
Inspire National Dance Competition – Cleveland – Bradley Central High School – Cleveland, TN
Inspire National Dance Competition – Lynchburg – E.C. Glass Civic Auditorium – Lynchburg, VA
June
Inspire National Dance Competition – Nationals – Savannah Civic Center – Savannah, GA
For updated tournament information, please visit Inspire National Dance Competition