FESTIVAL RULES & REGULATIONS

Teachers please ensure that the Competitors and Parents have read and understand the rules provided.

Failure to comply with any of the following rules and conditions will involve disqualifications and withholding of prizes and the decision of the committee in all questions or disputes arising out of, or not provided by these rules and regulations, shall be final.   All entries received are subject to that proviso and shall not be subject to any appeal at law as being contrary to the spirit of friendly competition upon which this festival is based.

CODE OF ETHICS:  The festival does not tolerate inappropriate, unfriendly or unsportsmanlike behaviour at any time by competitors, teachers and parents.   There will be no derogatory statements concerning another studio or fellow dancer at any time.   The Festival expects behaviour to be fitting and appropriate of our reputation and the art form we represent at all times.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

ALL COMPETITORS DANCE IN THIS FESTIVAL AT THEIR OWN RISK

1.         The closing date of entries will be advised each year for the Autumn Festival.  

            Age as at 31st March of the current year.  Troupe age as at 31st  December previous

            year.

            And for the Spring Festival the closing date will be advised each year.  

            Age as at 31st August of the current year.  Troupe age as at  31st  December previous

            year.

Entries that are submitted late will be considered for inclusion but will attract an additional fee   of $2.00 per entry.   Consideration will not be given to entries over one week past closing date.   All entries must be accompanied by a copy of the studio’s current public liability insurance policy and (A.P.R.A.) Australasian Performing Rights Association licence.

2.         Entries must be recorded into the on-line records system at West Coast Dance

            Festival by the due date or they will not be accepted.   

            westcoastdancefestival@hotmail.com

3.         An acknowledgement of receipt of entries will be made when they are received. If this  

            acknowledgement is not received within one week of  submitting your entry it is

            essential 

            that you contact West Coast Dance immediately.

4.         Entries must be paid by one cheque or money order (studio name on

            back) accompanying entry forms and sent to P.O. Box 810 Morley 6943 .  

            Please ensure the schools name and address is clearly printed on the back.

            No individual cheque will be accepted from any competitor.  All cheques returned by

            the bank for any reason incur a service charge of $30.00.

5.         No refunds will be given once the official closing date for entries has passed.

6.         ALL COMPETITORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY A $6.00 REGISTRATION FEE.  

            This fee is their Performer Pass into any session. Failure to display correct pass will    

             incur normal fee payment.

7.         In the event the auditorium is full, then holders of a Performers Pass may be requested

            to relinquish their seat for a paying Patron.

8.         Competition is open to all dancers, except full time professional dancers. If  you have a

            question about eligibility, contact the West Coast Dance office.

9.         All entries must be processed on regulation entry forms, competitors Full Name, age

            and date of birth on each entry, included in this brochure.  If  additional forms are

            needed, please  photocopy the regulation form and send altogether in one package.

10.       RIGHT TO REFUSE ENTRIES:  The West Coast Dance Festival Inc. and its Directors 

            reserve the right to refuse any application at any time.

11.       No competitor may appear more than once in any section.

12.       A competitor whose name is omitted from the program due to an administration

            oversight will be required to perform 1st in the appropriate section.

13.       Competitors who do not appear when their number is called may perform at the end of

             the section. They may not receive a mark. However, he or she will receive a report.

14.       If a competitor commences a dance then stops for any reason other than a technical

            fault on behalf of the organisers, then that competitor may appear again at the end of

            the section. However, he or she will not receive a mark.

15.       Only competitors, teachers and officials will be allowed back stage. Should

            a performer require props, their helpers (within reason), will be allowed to take props

            on stage, clear the stage at the end of the item, then immediately leave the backstage 

            area. NO FRIENDS, SIBLINGS OR PARENTS OF PERFORMERS ARE ALLOWED

            BACKSTAGE.

16.       A teacher may only remain in the wings whilst a competitor/s from their own school is

            performing.

17.      Competitors must perform the work of the school whose name appears on the entry

            form. The rights of choreography remain with the school under which they were last

            performed. (If a Teacher leaves a studio the work taught remains with the studio). 

            Dancer must have been receiving tuition with present teachers he or she is entered

            under for at least a period of three months prior to the commencement of this festival.   

            Dancers are still eligible to dance if the school has closed or change of ownership.

18.       No prompting is allowed. With the exception of the babies section. If prompted the

            competitor will be disqualified.

19.       If the adjudicator is approached by any competitor, relative, teacher or a member of

            that teacher’s school before the completion of the festival, disqualification of that 

            performer will occur immediately.

20.       The festival committee reserves the right to change the adjudicator for any reason 

            whatsoever.

21.       All soloists must dance within their own age limit – THEY CANNOT DANCE UP IN A

            HIGHER AGE GROUP.

22.       In the event of the competition not taking place for any reason, no responsibility will be

            accepted for any loss of time or expense incurred by the competitor.

23.       No substituting of any entrant, including troupes on the day.   However, under certain

            circumstances, and after conferring with the committee in advance of the festival, a

            substitution may be allowed.

24.       If a section has less than three entrants, the committee reserves the right to combine

            that section with the next age group up in the same code of dance.

25.      Competitors must report ready to perform at the backstage checkpoint with C.D. fifteen

            minutes before the time of their performance.

26.       PROTESTS:  Protests against any competitor or any decision must be made in writing

             to the “Protests Committee” within 1 hour after completion of section with a fee of

             $10.00. If in the opinion of the “Protest Committee” a protest is deemed frivolous, the

            deposit is forfeited.

27.       ETTIQUETTE & CONDUCT:  All dancers will say “thank-you” and curtsey/bow when

             receiving an award.

28.       Any studio, dancer or parent that abuses the dressing area will be disqualified or

            asked to leave the event. Each studio and participant will be responsible for totally

            cleaning their dressing areas.

 29.      No parent will call the West Coast Dance Festival office at any time. All inquiries will be

             made through the teacher of participating studios.

30.      PROGRAMMING: A full section listing will be forwarded to all dance teachers for

           review. Teachers are required to check all entries carefully and  notify us immediately if

           changes are to be made.  No modifications will be made to the programme once the

           notified due date has been passed.  A  complimentary copy of the programme will be

           distributed to all studios that have entered a minimum of 15 entries.  These must not be

           photocopied in whole or part.  Programmes may be purchased either during the  

           competitions  or prior to from a designated place.

31.     Please be courteous to your fellow competitors.  It is expected that all  competitors and 

           attendees will conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen at  all times, whether within

           the structure of the venue or within its immediate  vicinity. This includes, but is not

           limited to, conducting themselves as they would in any theatre so as not to disturb the

           performers; by not talking during performances, not using cellular phones, entering and

           exiting viewing areas only between entries, etc.   Inappropriate behaviour will result

           in disqualification as determined by West Coast Dance Festival onsite Directors.

32.      DISCLAIMERS:  Any dancer competing in a dance competition takes certain  

            incumbent risks.  Upon entering any West Coast Dance Festival Inc. sponsored event,

            it is agreed that all students, parents, relatives and teachers will not hold West Coast

            Dance Festival Inc. its staff or directors or the host facilities responsible for any injury or

            loss of property during the event.

33.      MUSIC: Competitors must use a single track Compact Disc. All recorded music must

           be edited to accommodate the routine W.C.D.F. does not accept requests for fast

           forwarding, pitch control, fade outs etc. and should have a  back up recording ready for

           use in case of an emergency.

34.     Once C.D.’s have been handed in, they are not to be removed or interfered with.

35.     Collection of music at the end of each section is at the cashier.

36.     All music must be labelled clearly with competitor’s name, number.

37.     W.C.D.F. will accept no responsibility for lost or misplaced C.D’S.

38.     W.C.D.F. sound technicians, and/or venue staff assume no responsibility for any

           labelling mistakes or poorly recorded music such as home burnt C.D.’ s.

39.     Live voiceover or audible announcements from an offstage source during the course of

          a routine are prohibited.  Any voiceover elements must be included on the recorded

          accompaniment for that routine.

40.    PROPS:  Scenery to be clearly labelled with studio name may be delivered to the Back

          Stage Holding Bay at the commencement of the required session and REMOVED at

          the conclusion of that session.

41.    Props must be freestanding and moved by competitors or persons designated by the

          studio. Persons placing or removing props must not wear any garment  denoting studio

         or organization affiliation.  Ensure no debris is left on the stage after your routine. Failure

         to comply may result in disqualification.

42.    Dangerous props are not allowed, to include, but not limited to: pyrotechnics,  fire, water,

         swords, knives, confetti, live animals and substances which alter the condition of the

         stage area.  Routines are not permitted to include any type of prop which has the

         capability of causing any injury or compromising  performance space.

43.    No Real Flowers, Fruit, Foliage, Vegetables, Straw or Cellophane props are to be used

         or worn by competitors.

44.    No props or effects are to be set up on stage prior to a performance. They should be

          safely stored backstage for the session prior to the section to be used. Props or effects

          are to be removed from backstage on the completion of the section.

45.    CURTAINS:  May be used for Troupes, Song and Dance, Acrobatic, and Demi-         Character. If no curtain operator is available the teacher will be responsible for this task.

46.    LIGHTING: Available for Troupes where possible.

47.    PHOTOGRAPHY, MOBILE PHONES AND VIDEOGRAPHY. Flash  photography is

          strictly prohibited during competition due to the negative   impact it places on dancers

          while performing.  Anyone, using a camera and asked more than once to remove it from

          the auditorium will result in removal from the auditorium and or disqualification of their

          school.

48.    Mobile Phones must be turned off while owner is seated in the house section of

          the theatre or backstage during competition. Mobile phone use is limited to the lobby

          area of the venue.

49.     ALL PERPETUAL TROPHIES REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF W.C.D.F.  and must be

           returned to the studio prior to leaving or advising Co-ordinator

50.      Videotaping is prohibited. Violations will result in disqualification of the individual and

            affiliated organization. This rule will be strictly enforced to   protect the integrity of

            individual choreography. Unauthorised Videoing is in contravention of APRA and

            PPCA it also carries a substantial fine.

51.     Teachers Passes:  Will be allotted by the number of entries and their categories.

           Passes to be worn both backstage and at the front entrance.

52.      Non-profit clause - The assets and income of the association shall be applied solely   in furtherance of its above-mentioned objects and no portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to the members of the association except as bona fide compensation for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the association.

53.      Dissolution clause
            In the event of the association being dissolved, the amount that remains after such              dissolution and the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall be transferred to any  Association with similar purposes which is not carried on for the profit or gain of its individual  members.