POLE Stars AMATEUR Competition Rules
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Eligibility
1. Entry is open to anyone aged over 18 years.
2. Entry is open to national and international competitors.
3. Applicants will be selected based on their video entry which should be a completely unaltered and single continuous video recording of the entrant’s previous performance that demonstrates their pole dancing abilities.
a) The video does not need to reflect the entrant’s intended performance for the Competition Date.
b) Video entries will be judged on presentation, pole tricks skills, dance skills and performance ability.
Competition Dates and Details
Competition Date: The competition is scheduled for Saturday 24 February 2024, exact timing TBA
Rehearsals: Timing TBA
Competition Venue: Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (1 Powerhouse Rd, Casula NSW 2170)
Props Approval Deadline: TBC
Usage of Props
4. All Props require pre-approval from Organisers by Props Approval Deadline.
As a general rule non-human props are NOT permitted if they involve:
a) confetti or glitter,
b) smoke,
c) liquid,
d) fire or sparks; and/or
e) takes longer than 1 minute to set up and cleared up within 1 minute by 2 persons.
5. Human props of up to 3 people per performance are permitted provided:
a) they are approved by Props Approval Deadline;
b) all human props have purchased a valid ticket to the Competition;
c) they sign a liability waiver by Props Approval Deadline;
d) they do not make physical contact with the poles before, during or after the performance.
Costuming
6. Regarding costuming:
a) Any type of footwear is allowed including bare feet, shoes, heels or boots;
b) Competitors are allowed to remove items of clothing during their performance however, no nudity or G-strings are permitted.;
c) All private parts and nipples covered as complete nudity is not allowed (having said this, sensual and sexy styles are welcome, pasties are welcome, & cheeky bottoms and tops are welcome!)
d) Gloves and knee pads are allowed.
Stage & Pole Dimensions
Stage Dimensions: Elevated (above level of audience); Approx 6m long x 3.5m wide
Diagram for Stage Dimensions will be uploaded shortly.
Pole Specifications:
- 1 x 40mm Brass X-Poles;
- Approx 3.2 metres high.
Required Pole Settings:
- Competitors have the choice to set the pole to Static or Spin.
Terms & Conditions of Entry
Competitors Are Fully Responsible for all Aspects of their Performance
7. Other than the above stage and pole, competitors are responsible for:
a) bringing all and any grips aids,
b) bringing all and any props and organising the transport to and removal of such props within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the Competition,
c) any other items or objects or persons permitted within the Competition Rules,
d) their own travel to and from the Competition Venue,
e) being on time to the Competition Venue,
to effectively participate in rehearsals and fully execute their performances on the day of the competition.
Rehearsals, Warm Ups and Pre-Comp Briefing:
8. Competitors are expected to be at the venue and check in with competition staff no later than 30 minutes before their scheduled rehearsal time:
a) Rehearsal times will be allocated to each competitor on the Competition Date, so please do not be late otherwise you will forfeit your time;
b) Competitors must ensure they have warmed up and stretched properly prior to rehearsals and performing;
c) All competitors must be at the venue for competitor briefing at the time allocated by the competition organisers.
9. Competitors must not consume and/or bring to the Competition Venue alcohol or any prohibited substance prior to performing or participating in rehearsals.
Performance Length
10. Performances must be no longer than:
a) For Nebula Beginners Division Competitors - 2 minutes
b) For Protostar Intermediate Division - 2 minutes and 30 seconds
c) For Supernova Advanced Division Competitors - 3 minutes
d) For Hypernova Elite Division Competitors - 3 minutes 30 seconds
e) For Galaxy Semi-Professional Division Competitors - 4 minutes
Division Rules
11. Competitors agree to be subject to Division Criteria set out below and will enter the correct the Division in accordance with the Division Criteria.
a) Organisers reserve the right to adjust competitors division if it is found out that a competitor has entered the incorrect division (prior to the competition).
b) Any competitor who is found to have competed in a division lower than they should be competing at, will be disqualified and subsequently stripped of their title and any prizes they may have received. They may also be banned from all future Competitions hosted by Wanderlust Pole & Aerial Studio.
Waiver of liability
12. The competitors acknowledge and accept that Pole Stars Organiser and its owners, and staff (the Organisers) their directors, instructors, employees, agents and other related parties (“Related Parties”) are not responsible for injury or damage resulting from participation in the competition, including any damage done to the venue within which the competitor chooses to perform in.
13. The competitors acknowledge and voluntarily accept the risks associated in participating in the competition.
14. The competitors waive to the fullest extent permitted by law all legal rights of action against and fully releases the Organisers and Related Parties for the loss, damages, or injury howsoever arising out of or in relation to the participation by the competitors in the activities conducted or organised by the Organisers and Related Parties including without limitation, liability for any negligent or tortious act or omission, breac.h of duty, breach of contract or breach of statutory duty on the part of the Organisers or Related Parties.
Photos and Videos
15. Competitors are aware that they may be photographed or videoed during their performance, and acknowledge this is particularly the case for a competition.
16. The competitor acknowledges that photos or video may be published by the Organisers and used for future promotional material by Organisers.
17. The competitor releases all rights or claims over any photos or videos, and acknowledges that! such material is the property of and can be used by the Organisers for promotional or other uses, without compensation to the competitor.
18. Competitors may film their own performances and are free to use them as they see fit.
19. By submitting the application to enter Pole Stars, the competitor acknowledges they have understood, agree to and accept:
a) the terms of the above clauses from 1 to 18; AND
b) Clauses below: 21 Video Entry Guidelines, 22. Division Criteria, and 23. Judging Criteria.
21. Video Entry Guidelines
Video must be at least 1 minute long but shorter than 2 minutes long.
Video segment showing the Applicant’s dancing must be filmed in one single take.
Video segment showing the Applicant’s dancing must not have been cut, altered or edited.
Video entries will be judged on presentation, pole tricks skills, dance skills and performance ability.
Videos must be on YouTube or Vimeo. Downloadable files are not allowed. Videos may be on unlisted setting inyoutube, but not private.
Videos must be of good quality with sufficient lighting.
Applicants will be selected based on their video entry which should be an unaltered video recording of the Applicant’s previous performance that demonstrates their floorwork and floor dance abilities.
The video does not need to reflect the Applicant’s intended performance for Pole Stars.
The video must show only the Applicant performing- group numbers are not accepted.
22. Division Criteria
To compete in divisions:
Nebula (Beginners), Protostar (Intermediate), and Supernova (Advanced)
a competitor must meet all the requirements for each division listed below AND:
A. Never have been paid to perform as a pole dancer or a dancer;
B. Never have been paid to instruct or teach pole dancing or dancing;
C. Never have won an amateur level competition or won an open amateur division of a competition in pole dancing or dancing; and
D. Never have won, placed or participated in a semi-professional or professional level pole competition or higher.
To compete in division:
Hypernova (Elite Level)
a competitor must meet all the requirements for the division listed above AND:
A. Never have won an amateur level competition at at Advanced level division or above;
B. Never won an open amateur division of a competition in pole dancing or dancing;
C. Never have won an amateur level competition at at Advanced level division or above; and
D. Never have won, placed or participated in a semi-professional or professional level pole competition or higher.
Nebula (Beginners Level)
- competitors must not have previously competed in a pole competition higher than Beginner level;
- Routine duration cannot exceed 2 minutes;
- Moves that fall under the following categories are NOT permitted in both entry videos and actual performance routines:
a) require any form of inversions (moves where the legs are above head including but not limited to inverts, shouldermounts and static v/ayesha); and/or
b) require less than 3 grip points on the pole (eg devil’s split, elbow grip ayesha etc).
- Exceptions to rule 1.b) include moves that require two hands on the pole in a non-inverted state OR one hand + forearm on the pole, and any other moves where prior permission was granted by the organisers in writing.
Protostar (Intermediate Level)
- competitors must not have previously competed in a pole competition at a level higher than the Intermediate division;
- Routine duration cannot exceed 2 minutes 30 seconds;
- Moves that fall under the following categories are NOT permitted in both entry videos and actual performance routines:
a) requires any form of aerial inversions (including but not limited to aerial inverts, aerial shouldermounts);
b) requires less than 3 grip points on the pole in an inverted state (eg static v/ayesha, devil’s split, elbow grip ayesha etc)
- Exceptions to rule 2(b) and moves that are permitted: cross-knee layback, straight leg layback, climbs and other transitionary positions on the pole that require 2 grip points for less than 1 second to go into other moves that result in more than three grip points (eg variations of climbs, aerial ballerina entries), and any other moves where prior permission was granted by the organisers in writing.
Supernova (Advanced Level)
- competitors must not have previously competed in a pole competition at a level higher than the amateur division;
- Routine duration cannot exceed 3 minutes.
- competitors must not have won a pole competition in any division or category higher than Beginner Level or Intermediate Level category;
- all moves are permitted.
Hypernova (Elite Level)
- competitors must not have won an amateur-level pole competition or won/placed or participated in a semi-professional or professional level pole competition or higher;
- Routine duration cannot exceed 3 minutes 30 seconds;
- current pole dance instructors and/or paid performers are permitted to enter;
- all moves are permitted.
Galaxy (Semi-Professional)
- competitors must have not won any Semi-Professional or higher level competitions (includes both graded and social competitions); and/or
- competitors must have not won or placed in any Professional level and/or National level competition (includes both graded and social competitions).
23. Judging Criteria
A. Nebula, Protostar, Supernova, Hypernova, and Galaxy
Pole Dance Tricks & Combos (15)
Clean execution & technically sound execution, display of lines, difficulty of pole tricks and/or transitions,
originality of pole tricks and/or transitions (this applies to basework tricks and up the pole tricks)
Dance & Musicality (10)
Ability to dance in harmony with the chosen music, ability to express concept of performance through connection between music and dance (this applies to both floorwork and dancing on & off the pole)
X-Factor (5)
Audience engagement/unique dance style or movement/ creative use of space and surroundings or props
Presentation (5)
Creativity in Costume and/or Appropriateness of presentation to theme/dance/concept being performed
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