In a world of endless possibilities we need websites like Yelp to weed through the mumbo-jumbo and determine what restaurant or activity is worthy of our time. Similar to Yelp, certain websites review dance companies and inform parents, dancers, and studio owners what competitions and conventions are best. On the top of the list is StarQuest which is one of the few platinum star rated dance companies on dancecompetitionhub.com. To be worthy of such an assessment the company must have over 100 reviews, with a 4 star-rating or better, and a high response rate.
With 25 years of delivering heart-wrenching emotion, endless celebrations and unforgettable moments, this review should not come as a surprise. StarQuest founder Steve Wappel says, “We saw the need for an event that combined fun with on-time professionalism. Our commitment to detail in every phase of the competition continues to set us apart.” This attentiveness to detail is the reason why StarQuest’s events are comparable to Broadway performances. Additionally, in celebration of 25 years in business, they’re offering more rewards and recognition for individual studios than ever before! At StarQuest, “the experience is the real reward,” and they’re waiting for you to have yours.
StarQuest’s Broadway quality events
To compare an experience to Broadway is a pretty bold assertion and should have some backing to it, right? The reason StarQuest holds this comparison is due to their ability to host a seamless event at an unbelievable pace. One parent even complained that the event ran ahead of schedule, which is definitely not a bad problem to have. Another reason for this comparison is StarQuest’s attention to detail, which trickles all the way down to the dressing rooms. Every studio has a designated dressing area, including a separate section for boys, with sounds from the show flowing into the dressing room.
Owen Goldman, a former publisher of Dancer Magazine wrote, “Until StarQuest came along, nobody made an issue out of running a competition event on-time…parents and teachers didn’t know it could be accomplished. StarQuest makes it look smooth, simple and effortless. StarQuest is currently the only competition organization in which every Regional and Finals event starts and ends precisely on time!. . . a feat still unequaled in the competition industry.” With such a timely schedule, take advantage while you can and explore the activity filled cities on tour like Portland, OR.
StarQuest is offering more awards than ever!
As mentioned previously, in honor of their 25th year anniversary StarQuest is vastly improving their awards and associated perks. For example, title winners now receive up to $500 in entry fees to use towards World Finals. Also, routines that receive the Apogee Award from Regionals get to compete at Worlds for absolutely nothing! That’s right; winners get to showcase their stellar routine for free, and hopefully win.
In addition to improvements, StarQuest is introducing totally new awards. Some of them include Top In Category Awards, People’s Choice Award, and the Superlative Awards. The first two are self-explanatory but the Superlative Award requires some explanation. This award goes to those who dare to be bold, and bold for StarQuest means including unique creative concepts like musicality, complex staging, storytelling, and/or incorporating innovative ideas. These are just a few of the new awards, so to find out where you can seize these prizes and more, check out the end of the article.
Unparalleled customer service
Any dance company can claim to have an attentive, accommodating staff, but the question remains, is it true? At StarQuest, you can rest peacefully knowing they’re not pulling one over on you. When interviewing for client relation positions they only hire candidates with outstanding service-oriented personalities, and warm, welcoming hearts. Clearly the selection process is working because numerous reviews from parents, teachers, and dancers boast about the stellar treatment they received during their Regional or Finals experience.
To see StarQuest’s service-oriented practices in motion, all you need to do is check out various social media outlets. For example, on dancecompetitionhub.com you’ll see StarQuest provides a detailed response to almost every review they receive, good or bad. They even take it a step further by providing contact information to resolve any issues. This practice is rarely seen on review sites (aside from Facebook) and proves StarQuests takes pride in their communication.
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3 competition levels
To ensure level playing fields, StarQuest offers 3 levels which cater to various skill levels. The first of the three is Select, best suited for advanced dancers who’ve been around the competition block quite a bit. The second level is for intermediate dancers and is called Classic. Last but not least is Nova, which is designed to introduce novice dancers to the competition world.
No need to attend StarQuest Regionals to compete at Finals
After reading that, any competition-oriented studio out there is probably thinking, “Well what kind of competition is this, if studios don’t need to qualify to attend?” While understandable, don’t let this concern significantly weigh- in on your decision.
The reason the six-day all-inclusive Finals is an open invitation event makes perfect sense. First, Star Quest would never want to forbid a dancer entry simply because they couldn’t attend Regionals. After all, forcing someone to qualify in order to share the same experience as others seems rather unfair. Second, after reviewing the entire list of major dance competitions in the U.S., StarQuest concluded practically every dancer attending Regionals qualified for Nationals in some way, shape, or form. Therefore, why make Regionals a requirement, other than wanting more business? After considering their methodology, perhaps having open-ended invitations to Finals makes more sense now.
What to expect at Worlds
Worlds is the premier event of the season where according to StarQuest, dancers “live for the moments that can’t be put into words.” This six-day event is hosted in 3 different cities, one being Virginia Beach, VA, which happens to be one of the longest beaches in the world! Some of the highlights on the schedule include The Classic Dance Off, a title competition and FREE master classes all week long. With classes every day, dancers can continue developing their skill when they’re not on stage.
Prepare for battle
The Classic Dance Off, as implied in title, is a competition for the top 5 studios from each age division registered as Classic. Studios get to go toe-to-toe with other studios from around the nation, making this a terrific learning experience. This adrenaline-fueled event is a studio favorite, combining the right amount of fun and excitement with competition. Dance Off winners receive trophies, cash, and gift certificates.
Quest for the Best
For dancers with the most experience and skill, StarQuest World’s wants to see who can practice what they preach. To determine this, they host a Quest for the Best competition. This battle of the champ’s event is only for the top 5 solo and due/trio performances registered in the Select performance level. Because Select is the highest skill level, expect this competition to challenge and push personal limits. To win, think of ways to be distinctive because this is definitely not the time to blend in.
While other dance companies admirably try to keep up with StarQuest standards, it’s continuously proven time and time again to be a difficult feat. The reason for such difficulty is StarQuest’s events run incredibly smooth and are just absolutely beautiful. There is no detail left unattended. Join founder Steve Wappel this dance season and remember, whether it’s a Regional or Final event, you’re invited, no pre-qualification is necessary. Just bring your passion and cherish every moment because as they say, “the experience is the real reward.”
*For updated tournament information, please visit StarQuest.