ShowMakers of America® is proud to host the 2008 Greater Houston Spectacular™, Alamo City Dance/Drill Team Competition™ , Texas State Dance/Drill Team Championship™, and the Hawaii Spring Fling National Dance/Drill Team Competition™. Outstanding performances will be recognized with trophies, plaques, banners, and medals.  Our competition is open to Private/Parochial/Community Pre-Kindergarten/Grades 1-3/4-6/ 6-8 or 7-9/9-12 or 10-12 as well as to Public Jr. High, High School and Elite Teams.  Public High School teams (excluding Pep Squads, Drill or JV, or Elite Teams) entering our contest will be evaluated according to Small Team (2-15), Medium Team (16-29), Large Team (30-49), and Extra Large Team (50 plus). IMPORTANT: Team size is NOT determined by the number of performers but by the actual number of members on the team.   Changes in team size must be made in writing 3 weeks before the contest and signed by an administrator.  No changes in team size will be made after the schedule is sent out.  Varsity Public High School Dance Teams must perform a minimum of 70% of their actual team membership on all team routine events entered.  Any team that elects to perform less than 70% will be placed in the Elite category.  If a drop in the number performing is due to eligibility, transfers, illness and/or injury, please notify us by e-mail to discuss these special circumstances and exceptions.

Team Competition
Your team may choose to enter any number of the following categories: Jazz, Hip Hop/Funk, Lyrical, Pom, Modern, High Kick, Military, Novelty, Prop, Co-Ed, Open and Production.  The top 3 scores will be tabulated for schools entering 4 or more categories.

Production - Time limitation will be a maximum of 10 minutes.  This will include set up, entrance, performance, exit and tear down.  This routine should incorporate a theme while utilizing props, costuming, backdrops, sets, etc.

Open - Any dance entry not adhering to the above team competition categories.  Examples include but are not limited to the following: Ballet, Folkloric, combination routines, and Tap (with boards).

Props and Backdrops - Curtains, staging, and other props for routines should be constructed to fit through a 7 foot tall double door, with the center support bar removed, found at most public school gymnasiums where regional contests are held.  Props and staging may have minor assembly on the floor but setup and breakdown time for props and staging will be added to the actual routine performance time length to produce total floor time.  Total floor time should not exceed 5 minutes for all dance categories except show production (10 minutes).  Any exceptions must be approved by the contest administrator, in advance of the competition.

Performance Schedule - A 5 point penalty will be assessed to teams not ready to perform when scheduled unless the delay is caused by a technical problem in the competition.  If the competition is running ahead of schedule, teams will have the option of performing early or waiting until their scheduled time but no later.

High School Pep Squad / JV / Elite Team Competition
Pep Squads may enter any number of the categories mentioned in the team information.  Pep Squads and Elite Teams will compete in their own class.  JV High School squads (called Drill Teams in some areas) also compete in their own class unless the director specifically enters JV into the Pep Squad class.  Pep Squad, JV and Elite Line of Champions will be awarded only if at least 5 or more teams are entered per classification.

Officer Competition
Officers may enter any number of the categories mentioned in the team information excluding the Production category.  The top 3 scores will be tabulated for schools entering 4 or more categories.  A minimum of 3 performers will be allowed.  Officer choreography must be different from the school’s team entry.  This competition will be held partially or entirely on Friday or Saturday depending upon the size of the contest of the Houston, San Antonio & Texas State locations.  Start time will be sent with the final information packet.
*Please be prepared to begin on Friday at approx. 3 p.m. at the Texas State location and at 4 p.m. at all other locations.

Solo Competition
Solo competition will be open to all contest participants.  Maximum time limit:  2:15.  Solos will be judged on routine choreography, technique, dance ability, showmanship and skill level.  Top finalists will perform (only if score average is 93+) their routine prior to the final awards ceremony.  The WINNER only will perform (if score average is 93+) from Pre-K through Sr. Co. divisions.  Trophies will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place winners in all age divisions:  Pre-K, K-3, 4-6, Jr. Co.(6-8 or 7-9), Jr. H.(6-8 or 7-9), Sr. Co. and High School.  High School will include Pep, Drill, JV& Elite).  Soloists receiving superior ratings (85+ average) will be awarded a medal.  This competition will be held on Friday at most contest locations. Be prepared to begin on Friday at approx. 3 p.m. at the Texas State location and at 4 p.m. at all other locations.  *See Community/Junior Team section for specific solo information.
See Community/Junior Team for solo information.

Ensemble Competition
Divisions of competition: Duets, Trios, Small Ensemble: 4-5 performers, Medium Ensemble: 6-8 performers, Large Ensemble: 9-14, Extra Large Ensemble:  15-25.  No ensemble can exceed the 25-performer limit!  There will not be a limit on the number of ensembles entered.  1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies will be awarded in all age divisions (Pre-K, K-3, 4-6, Jr. Co., Jr. H., Pep/JV, Sr. Co., and High School).  Ensembles receiving superior ratings (85+ average) will receive a medal for each participant.  Please include the enclosed performance sheet with your registration form.  For scheduling purposes, a list of names for solos and ensembles MUST be sent with the entry form.  Conflicts for officer, solo and ensemble routines must be indicated to allow time between performances.  This competition will be held on Friday at most contest locations. Be prepared to begin on Friday at approx. 3 p.m. at the Texas State location and at 4 p.m. at all other locations.

Private / Parochial / Community Pre-K-12 and Junior High Competition
Community Pre-K-12 and Junior High teams may choose to enter any of the categories mentioned in the team information and will be classified according to age division(Pre-Kindergarten, 1-3, 4-6, Jr. Co.(6-8 or 7-9), Jr. H. and Senior Co.).  Solo, Ensemble, Officer and Team entries will be evaluated according to the appropriate level.  The grade level of the oldest member determines the classification of the group.  There must be at least 2 teams entering each category, otherwise they will be grouped K-6, 7-9.  Each classification must have a minimum of 5 performers to qualify as a team.  Numbers that fall below 5 will be placed in the Ensemble or Officer category.  High School Community 9th-12th dancers may compete in the Senior Community category until their 20th birthday.  High School Community teams may compete in the high school team/officer categories if there is no other Community team competing.  Private and Parochial schools may wish to compete with community or with the public schools.

Time Limit
Time limitation for TEAM performances must not exceed 5 minutes inclusive of entrance and exit.  PRODUCTION time limit will be a maximum of 10 minutes to include entrance, set up, tear down and exit.  Novelty/Prop/Backdrops: Please call for additional time needed for set up.  OFFICER and ENSEMBLE performances must not exceed 2:30 minutes.  SOLO time must not exceed 2:15 minutes.

Performance Area Performances for team competition will take place on a regulation size basketball court. Only rubber-soled or lyrical shoes allowed on the gym floor.  All props making contact with the floor must be padded or properly taped to prevent damage to the floor.  Contact the host school for more information on prop size and storage concerns.  Officers, Solos and Ensembles should be prepared to perform in a smaller location (wood, tile or cement surface). Floor diagrams and complex layout will be included in the information packet, which will be e-mailed upon ShowMakers® receipt of each school’s contest registration.  Entrance, exit and judges’ area will be indicated on these diagrams. Music Music must be on cassette or compact disc only, and each cassette/CD is to be labeled with school’s name and routine category.  Place each song on a separate tape/CD.  A director or team representative must be at the sound table during the performance with a back-up tape on hand to avoid potential delays.  It is best to tape music to performance tempo. ShowMakers® uses variable speed cassette and CD players.  Sound checks will be made only during break intervals or prior to the start of the contest. *Be aware that burned CDs may not always play on professional music equipment.  Please have a cassette tape as backup.

Judging Criteria
Our professional judges will score performances based on the following criteria: appearance, choreography, technique, precision, showmanship, and creativity.  A rating of I, II or III will be given by each judge.  Additionally, a panel of three judges will provide oral and written critiques during team and officer performances and one judge for solo and ensemble performances.  *Penalty points will be given in the appearance and choreography categories for inappropriate costuming, movements, or music use.  These penalty points will be given at the discretion of the judges.  *More information will be included in your contest handbook.  Each school will receive critique tapes and score sheets at the conclusion of the contest.

2007 Regional / State Entry Fees
2008 Fees will be available soon