Rainbow National Dance Competition, dubbed the “competition with a heart,” earned this name by giving more than they take. With over 20 plus years in business, RNDC never loses sight of the people who matter most; the dancers and teachers. They proudly sponsor the Industry Dance Awards and Benefit Show–an awards show raising awareness and money for cancer patients and families in the dance community. Not only do they sponsor this show, but students go there to perform as an award.
In addition to an IDA invitation, Rainbow National Dance offers other unique awards which differ from the usual trophy or pin. They give students opportunities to further their education, believing the more access to the industry, the better. For instance, “All- Star” dancers chosen in every regional city receive an invitation to attend the New York City Dance Experience. This experience exposes students to master classes, Broadway Shows and much more. Discover what life is like over the rainbow and combine of some the best things in the world; dancing and giving back.
Rainbow National Dance Competition conventions
RNDC partners with KAR (Kids Artistic Revenue) for 1- day conventions. During KAR 
Dance Conventions, students learn from master teachers in various styles of dance. Their career credits include Broadway performances like Footloose, and guest appearances on So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars. Some stage performances include concerts with the Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Major Lazer…the list goes on.
The 1-day schedule includes 5 classes in Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre. Once classes end, the KAR Convention Showcase begins. This Showcase is for parents to see what their children retained during the day. It is free of charge and KAR encourages parents to take pictures. At the end of the Showcase, the faculty awards exemplary students with scholarships. The last event on the schedule is an audition workshop, which educates dancers on proper audition etiquette and technique. This is an extremely beneficial program, helping students nail their first audition by knowing what to expect.
Rainbow National Dance Competition levels
Every Rainbow National Dance regional competition offers 5 competition levels, based on experience and age. The Starz of Tomorrow level is for dancers practicing 3 hours per week, with little to no experience competing. Rising Starz is for dancers with 3-5 hours of practice a week and minimal experience with competitions. The Elite Starz level is appropriate for competition pros, practicing 5 hours or more a week. The Teacher and Adult level is for dancers 20 years or older, and neither level is eligible for cash awards. When placing duos/trios, group and line performances in a level, average the dancers experience level, while also considering age and technical ability. For a full list of RNDC events arranged by month, please see the end of the article.
RNDC places emphasis on education rather than podiums
All Star Dancers NYC
Rainbow National Dance’s highly desirable New York City Dance Experience is awarded to “All-Stars,” 9 years and older from Starz of Tomorrow, Rising Starz, and Elite Starz levels. Rainbow’s faculty selects this group at the end of each regional event. All Starz travel to NYC for master classes, and get to meet and ask questions to the infamous Rockettes. Also on the agenda is a Broadway Show and a tour of the city’s top destinations. When selecting recipients for this award, the faculty looks for a deep passion for performing on stage.
KAR Convention Scholarship
The KAR (Kids Artistic Revenue) Scholarship is presented to one or more outstanding soloist from the Starz of Tomorrow, Rising Starz, and Elite Starz levels. As previously noted, Kids Artistic Revenue (or KAR ) specializes in one day conventions, offering master classes taught by some of the industry’s best dancers and choreographers. Winners of this scholarship receive a full-tuition scholarship to attend any of KARS’s Dance Conventions. Previous KAR students now dance with A-list celebrities, and receive roles in Broadway shows.
To find hotel rooms for your gym or parents closest to where your team is playing in ANY city, visit https://www.hotels4teams.com/. Hotels4Teams – The Best Hotels at the Best Prices, Closest to the Action!
All Star Dancers Australia
Have you ever wanted to travel to Australia? Rainbow National Dance Competition could get you there! The All Star Dancers Australia award goes to dancers who display a rooted passion for performing on stage. Students 12 years of age and older travel with KAR/ Rainbow Kids and master teachers to Australia for the convention tour. Dancers meet students and pros from overseas and gain exposure to a new world of dance.
Rainbow National Dance Benefit Awards Show
RNDC is an advocate for performing arts, which is why they proudly sponsor the Industry Dance Awards and Benefit Show. This awards show is about compassion, with the focus of raising money and awareness for people in the performing arts community affected by cancer. Dance icons like Paula Abdul and professional instructors like Max and Val Chmerkovskiy from DWTS not only attend, but receive recognition for their contribution to dance. However, they are not the only ones who receive awards. Dancers from RNDC competitions also have the opportunity to participate in this wonderful night and showcase their talent in front of some of the top movers and shakers in the dance community.
How to land a ticket to the Industry Dance Awards (IDAs)
There are 2 Rainbow National Dance awards that send dancers to the IDAs; the IDA People’s Choice Award and the IDA Outstanding Performance Award. The selection process for the People’s Choice Award begins at Regionals. During regional competitions, judges award a Small Group, Large Group, Line, Super Line or Production that best represents RNDC, and displays exceptional talent, choreography and showmanship. Regional winners receive a feature on the IDA website and become a contender for the Top 5 Finalists. Voters select a routine from those featured on the website, and this group is announced at the IDA awards show in Hollywood, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles.
The Outstanding Performance Award selection process begins at the regional level as well. Elite Starz Group and Line routines with the highest overall score in certain categories will be in the running for the award. The final IDA Outstanding Performance Nominees are listed on the IDA website in June. These nominees present their routine the evening of the awards show, along with performances from professional dance companies.
Shine in the spotlight during RNDC’s Dancer of the Year signature solo competition
The Rainbow Dancer of the Year competition gives soloists from the Rising Starz and Elite Starz levels the chance to compete in their own separate, honorable division (and who doesn’t want special time in the spotlight?). Judges select multiple performers from all 4 age divisions at Regionals to be Dancer of the Year Finalists. The score sheet for this competition is separate from the rest, created solely for this competition. The emphasis is on overall entertainment and performance quality. Regional Dancer of the Year finalists receive a custom sweatshirt and an invite to compete in the National Dancer of the Year Competition.
During National Finals, the finalists participate in an opening introduction dance for the 
NDY competition. National winners from both Panama City and Pigeon Forge get a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to Australia to compete in the world renowned Get The Beat Champion of Champion’s Competition. This grand prize includes round trip airfare, hotel accommodations for 7 nights, and entry fees for the Get The Beat Champion competition! Dancers from all over the country pray and practice for hours on end, in hopes of receiving the honorable title of Dancer of the Year at this Champion’s Competition. If you win, take this honor seriously and properly represent your studio in the ultimate cross country title competition.
The list of dance competitions giving trophies and medals is endless, and if that’s your cup of tea, no problem. But, if you’re a dancer who wants more for their hard work, come to a regional competition hosted by Rainbow National Dance Competition. While they do acknowledge every routine with a plaque and pin, the top performances receive the opportunity to progress their art. RNDC sends dancers to Australia! How many companies do that? What’s even better is you can be involved in battle against cancer, and dance in front of thousands at the Industry Dance Awards. If you feel your art deserves more and can make a difference in the world, you know where to go.
January
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Seattle – Highline PAC – Seattle, WA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Long Beach I – Millikan High School – Long Beach, CA
February
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Escondido – California Center for the Arts – Escondido, CA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Detroit I – Walled Lake Western High School – Detroit, MI
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Fort Smith – Arcbest Performing Arts Center – Fort Smith, AR
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Redondo Beach I – Centinela Valley Center for the Arts – Redondo Beach, CA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Cleveland – Stocker Arts Center Hoke Theatre – Cleveland, OH
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Mesa – Higley Center for the Performing Arts – Mesa, AZ
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Denver – Vance Brand Civic Auditorium – Denver, CO
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Houston – Tompkins High School – Houston, TX
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Mobile – Mobile Civic Center – Mobile, AL
March
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Detroit II – Lake Orion High School – Detroit, MI
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Tulsa – Robson Performing Arts Center – Tulsa, OK
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Omaha – Mid America Center – Omaha, NE
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Spartanburg – Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium – Spartanburg, SC
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Columbus – Capitol Theatre – Columbus, OH
Rainbow National Dance Competition – San Mateo – San Mateo Performing Arts Center – San Mateo, CA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Escondido II – California Center for the Arts – Escondido, CA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Atlanta – Rialto Center for the Arts – Atlanta, GA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Baton Rouge – Baton Rouge River Center Theatre – Baton Rouge, LA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Austin – Hays Performing Arts Center – Austin, TX
Rainbow National Dance Competition – West Memphis – West Memphis Civic Auditorium – West Memphis, AR
April
Rainbow National Dance Competition – St. Louis I – William Purser Center – St. Louis, MO
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Green Bay – Weidner Center for the Performing Arts – Greenbay, WI
Rainbow National Dance Competition – St. Louis II – The Touhill Performing Arts Center – St. Louis, MO
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Louisville – Louisville Memorial Auditorium – Louisville, KY
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Overland Park – Overland Park Kansas Convention Center – Overland Park, KS
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Wichita – Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Chicago I – St. Charles North High School – Chicago, IL
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Sacramento – Sacramento Convention Center – Sacramento, CA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Hot Springs – Hot Springs Convention Center – Hot Springs, AR
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Milwaukee I – S. Milwaukee Performing Arts Center – Milwaukee, WI
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Redondo Beach II – Centinela Valley Center for the Arts – Redondo Beach, CA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Warren – Packard Music Hall – Warren, OH
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Milwaukee II – S. Milwaukee Performing Arts Center – Milwaukee, WI
Rainbow National Dance Competition – New Orleans – Jefferson Performing Arts Center –New Orleans, LA
May
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Grand Rapids –Van Singel Fine Arts Center – Grand Rapids, MI
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Chicago II – St. Charles North High School – Chicago, IL
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Upland – Highlander Auditorium – Upland, CA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Long Beach II – Millikan High School – Long Beach, CA
Rainbow National Dance Competition – Redondo Beach III – Centinela Valley Center for the Arts – Redondo Beach, CA
June / July
Rainbow National Dance Competition – National Finals Panama City – Marina Civic Center – Panama City, FL
Rainbow National Dance Competition – National Finals Pigeon Forge – The LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge – Pigeon Forge, TN
*For updated tournament information, please visit Rainbow National Dance Competition