OTB Street Dance Competition April 2024 – Empress Ballroom, Blackpool Wintergardens
We’re so excited to be back in Blackpool at the Winter Gardens! Where champions are crowned and memories made!
This event is suitable for beginner- advanced level dancers
Dancers can enter a maximum of 4 events at this competition-
X 2 solo events (1 x set routine & 1 x freestyle solo)
X 1 duo event
X 1 team event
The day will be split into 2 main sections – 11 years & under/ 12 years & over.
Please find below all the information you need to plan your time with us.
Schedule
Please see the event schedule below:
8am – Doors open (teachers access just before all attendees)
8:30am – Section 1 teams (11 years & under) in the following order:
- 5 years & under beginners (2 teams)
- 7 years & under beginners (4 teams)
- 9 years & under beginners (5 teams
- 11 years & under beginners (4 teams)
- 9 years & under intermediates (2 teams)
- 11 years & under intermediates (2 teams)
9:30am – Section 1 set routines (11 years & under)
*awards presented immediately after each final*
11:15am – 11 years & under set routine spotlight
11:30am – Section 1 freestyle solos (11 years & under)
*awards presented immediately after each final*
1:15pm – 11 years & under freestyle spotlight solos
1:25pm – Section 1 duos (11 years & under) & parents solos
*awards presented immediately after each final*
2:30pm – Section 2 teams (12 years & over/parents teams) in the following order
- 13 years & under beginners (4 teams)
- 15 years & under beginners (1 team)
- 16 years & over beginners (2 teams)
- 13 years & under intermediates (3 teams)
- 15 years & under intermediates (3 teams)
- 16 years & over intermediates (6 teams)
- 16 years & over advanced (2 teams)
- Parents (2 teams)
4pm – Section 2 set routines (12 years & over)
*awards presented immediately after each final*
5:30pm – 12 years & over set routine spotlight
5:45pm – Section 2 freestyle solos (12 years & over) – advanced soloist will dance first
*awards presented immediately after each final*
7:15pm – 12 years & over freestyle spotlight solos/elite allstars
7:30pm – Section 2 duos (12 years & over)
*awards presented immediately after each final*
8pm – approx finish time
Awards for solo & duos events- Awards will be presented immediately after each final in reverse order. Once the lineup is complete, there will be a photo opportunity (one person only please per dancer at this time (plus teachers)) whilst the next event make their way onto the floor. Please refrain from coming onto the floor to take any photos until the lineup is complete. if taking photos, please leave the floor at the side rather than walking through the middle of the floor.
Awards for team events- All teams will receive an award in our presentation. We will present all team categories in reverse order. Please can schools nominate 1 or 2 people to take a photo of each team with the judge. This can be immediately as that team is called out to the floor.
All dancers will receive an award for taking part in this event. Teachers will be given these at the start of the day for all dancers.
Team feedback will be sent directly to teachers within 1 week of the event.
Spotlight Awards
Almost like the ‘tops of’ event that we run at our weekender but this time all finalists of that section are invited to compete again. Judges will converse with each other and immediately award their chosen dancer on the spot. Lots of suspense and excitement for this one! This will be run for all set routines in both sections and for freestyle class members, beginners & intermediate. Note for advanced freestylers, we will just be running our Elite All Stars event which involves the winners competing with their own choreo as normal so there wont be a spotlight for advanced finalists.
Age Categories
Please see below the age categories for all solos (duos will be as the programme)
DANCE 1 (SOKOTO)
4 YEARS & UNDER
5 YEARS
6 YEARS
7 YEARS
8 YEARS
9 YEARS
10 & 11 YEARS
18 YEARS & OVER
PARENTS
DANCE 2 (COME ON GIRL)
6 & 7 YEARS
8 & 9 YEARS
10 & 11 YEARS
12 & 13 YEARS
14 YEARS & OVER
PARENTS
DANCE 3 (SWITCH)
7 & 8 YEARS
9 YEARS
10 YEARS
11 YEARS
12 & 13 YEARS
14 YEARS & OVER
PARENTS
DANCE 4 (3D)
7 & 8 YEARS
9 & 10 YEARS
11 YEARS
12 YEARS
13 & 14 YEARS
15 YEARS & OVER
PARENTS
DANCE 5 (AM TO PM)
9 YEARS & UNDER
10 & 11 YEARS
12 YEARS
13 YEARS
14 YEARS
15 YEARS
16 & 17 YEARS
18 & 19 YEARS
21 YEARS & OVER
PARENTS
DANCE 6 (LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD)
9 & 10 YEARS
12 & 13 YEARS
14 & 15 YEARS
16 & 17 YEARS
18 YEARS & OVER
PARENTS
CLASS MEMBERS FS
5 YEARS & UNDER
6 YEARS
7 YEARS
8 YEARS
9 YEARS
10 & 11 YEARS
12-14 YEARS
15 YEARS & OVER
BEGINNER FS
4 YEARS & UNDER
5 & 6 YEARS
7 YEARS
8 YEARS
9 YEARS
10 YEARS
11 YEARS
12 YEARS
13 YEARS
14 YEARS
15 YEARS
16 & 17 YEARS
18 & 19 YEARS
20 YEARS & OVER
INTERMEDIATE FS
7-9 YEARS
10 & 11 YEARS
12 & 13 YEARS
14 YEARS
15 & 16 YEARS
17 YEARS & OVER
ADVANCED FS
8 & 9 YEARS
10 & 11 YEARS
12 & 13 YEARS
14 & 15 YEARS
16 YEARS & OVER
PARENTS FS
Judges
Speakers
-
Kristina PinheiroJudge -
Maisie WilsonJudge -
Matt GreihJudgeMatthew Grieh has been dancing for 20 years.
He moved up to Scotland in 2016 where he has taught at many schools throughout the whole of Scotland and the UK. He has his own events company that runs competitions across Scotland.
His main style is breaking and Hip Hop and he is so excited to judge On The Beat.
Important Information
A Body of Persons Approval (BOPA) has been issued for this event by Blackpool Council. Under BOPA conditions, the priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all event participants, with particular attention to children up to school-leaving age. This should be considered a team effort between:* Event Organisers
* Event Staff
* Licensed Chaperones
* Dance School Teachers/Leaders
* Parents/Guardians/Responsible Adults
It would be much appreciated if all attendees could take note of the following information….
Photo/ Video Policy-
As this is a private event for event participants and their family/friends, our organisation would like to be able to permit the use of cameras to capture these special memories. We would however like to bring your attention to the following:
Solos & Duos- If you are intending to upload photos/videos of your participant to social media, it is recommended that you consider your privacy settings so that you limit your audience to close friends & family. Our team may also take videos and photos to use on OTB social media pages. If anyone does have any concerns/objections to this or would like us to make adjustments for any particular event, please speak to your dance school lead who will communicate this with our events team.
Team events- One nominated person from the dance school performing their team routine may video the routine from the front. It is strictly prohibited for anyone else in the venue to take a video recording. It is then at the teachers’ discretion where that recording gets shared. This is so that the teacher can decide who has access to their choreography and also for safeguarding reasons which are considered different to a solos/duos type event. Still photographs are permitted but please consider the points highlighted in the solos/pairs sections above.
Child Supervision & Sign in/ Sign Out Procedure- Participants up to school-leaving age are supervised by a responsible adult at all times. Participants of this age will not be permitted to pass our door/security team without a responsible adult accompanying them. On arrival and departure, event participants are asked to inform their teacher/group lead so that they can record attendance times at the event.
Safeguarding info- Our safeguarding policy can be found here
The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Cheerdance UK is Jessica Porter, she will be in attendance for the duration of the event and will be based on the stage. Alternatively, you can email info@onthebeat.dance
Venue Information
Please note that it will be the Victoria Street entrance (opposite Bella Italia) that will be used on the day of the competition (this is different to the usual entrance that we use at this venue)
Arrival info- Please make sure your wristbands are securely fastened before entering the building. After you have arrived via the Victoria Street entrance, please make your way to Arena 1 inside the Wintergardens. Access to the Empress Ballroom where our event is being held will be via Arena 1.
Please note that there are other dance competitions inside the Wintergardens on the same day. Please follow the above info carefully to ensure you arrive at the correct area.
Please see the venue page for information on travel, parking, changing facilities, emergency procedures and first aid.
Merchandise– Our merchandise stall will be available in the Arena. Payments by cash & card are accepted.
Wristband Information
Please have your wristbands on and fastened securely before entering the building. Lost, damaged or forgotten wristbands will not be replaced and will have to be re-purchased. Please see our full wristband policy here.
There will be a limited number of wristbands available on the door priced at £25- priority access will be given to those who have a wristband in advance. Please note that bands are only available to people attending with a dance school and are not on sale to the general public.
Allocated Seating- All seating will be reserved clearly with your dance school name.