IDO Team USA Acro Convention/Audition

(TEAM USA - ACRO DANCE)

About the International Dance Organization (IDO) and Team USA:

The IDO is a non-profit World Dance and Dancesport Federation consisting of over 90 member nations representing more than 500,000 dancers from all six continents. IDO events include every genre of dance and are hosted in several countries around the globe each year. This year the IDO will host over 40 World Championship events in 11 countries.

Each IDO member nation is required to form a Federation charged with the responsibility of administering sanctions to organizations that will host trial selections and assemble teams to represent their country in each facet of dance. In 2019, the United States Dance and Sport Competition Federation (USDSCF) granted the United States Tournament of Dance (USTD) the sanctions to select and assemble Team USA in both Hip Hop/Breaking and Acrobatic Dance. Until that point, neither facet had been represented by Team USA at World Championship events so when the Americans arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany in October 2019 all eyes were on them. A small but powerful team of just 22 American Hip Hop dancers competed against 3500 dancers from over 40 countries where they earned high ranking placements and even a medal in the Adult Male Breakdancing category in an "Olympic Style" Awards Ceremony. In 2023, USTD, in partnership with Acrobatic Arts, assembled the first US Acrobatic Dance Team to represent the United States at the IDO World Acrobatic Championships in Monterrey, Mexico. The team came from several states across America and competed in Mexico August of 2023 where they once again earned high placements and great respect from participating countries.

This past year, USTD and its sister company, CRU Dance, Inc. have been granted the sanction to assemble teams not only in Hip Hop and AcroDance, but; Contemporary, Jazz and Lyrical as well! Please see below details on how to audition for Team USA as well as information on this year’s World Championships.
IDO World Acrobatic Championship Dates/Location:
Event: IDO World “Acrobatic” Championships
Dates: November 29th – November 30th
Venue: Kielecki Teatr Tanca – Plac Moniuszki 2B
City: Kielce
Country: Poland
East Coast Auditions:
Saturday July 13th(Seniors ages 13 & Over) – Sunday July 14th (Juniors ages 12 & Under)
Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel
Crown Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Two Convention Blvd.
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Audition Fee:
$75.00 Per Dancer
Audition Inclusions:
1 – 90 Minute Acrobatic Class
Call Backs & Final Reviews
Registration Deadline Date:
Friday June 28th
*Space is limited, and registrations will be processed on a” first come first serve basis” – 85 MAX. PARTICIPANTS per session - Junior Session (ages 12 & Under) and Senior Session (ages 13 & Over)

IMPORTANT -
*For IDO World Championship Events – A competitor’s age division is determined by their year of birth as it falls withing the calendar year of the competition, so for example, if a dancer is age 12 in 2024, they are considered 12 for their age division at the World Championship (actual age in the calendar year). Please be sure to enter the correct Convention/Audition Session based on the IDO Age Determination

Observer Wristbands:
$20.00 Per Observer
*A limited number or Observer Wristbands (in both Junior and Senior Sessions) will be made available for sale and will also be processed on a” first come first serve basis” Observer Wristbands are Non-Refundable and may not be transferred from one person to another. USTD will not be held responsible for lost or stolen wristbands. Excessive talking, cell phone use, videotaping, and or otherwise disruptive behavior will result in the observer being escorted out by event personnel to maintain a proper atmosphere for participants to learn and artist to conduct class. Please also be sure to fill out the name of the observer upon purchase and provide that name to USTD staff when picking up wristband. The Wristband Pick Up Location will be in the Pre-Event Area just outside the Crown Ballroom
Checking In:
Participants should arrive at check-in time as posted on their respective schedule to allow ample time for “Warm Up.” The Check-In table will be divided evenly into two lines based on the first letter of the participant’s last name (A-M and N-Z). Upon Check-In, participants will receive a color-coded number card. Once checked in, participants will proceed directly to the event room for “Warm Up.”

Audition Class Numbers:
Each participant will be given a number card and safety pins upon check-in. These cards will be color coded based on which age division a dancer is registered in and will be used for choreographers to select dancers for Team USA positions. Number cards must be worn at all times throughout the event. If a participant should lose or remove their number card, USTD will require full repayment to re-enter convention room, no refunds, no exceptions.

Audition Schedule – Crown Ballroom (Level 2)
Saturday July 13th Senior Division (Ages 12 & Over)
7:00 pm – 7:45 pm Check-In
7:45 pm – 8:05 pm Warm-Up
8:05 pm – 8:15 pm Introductions
8:15 pm – 9:45 pm Acrobatic Master Class Team USA Head Coach Gary Coburn
9:45 pm – 10:15 pm Call Backs/Final Reviews
10:15 pm Team USA Announcements (AcroDance)
Sunday July 14th - Junior Division (Ages 7-12):
7:15 am – 8:00 am Check-In
8:00 am – 8:20 am Warm-Up
8:20 am – 8:30 am Introductions
8:30 am – 10:00 am Acrobatic Master Class Team USA Head Coach Gary Coburn
10:00 am – 10:30 am Call Backs/Final Reviews
10:30 am Team USA Announcements (AcroDance)
Waiver:
A signed Release Form is required for each participant. Save time during event check-in by downloading and filling out this form ahead of time. Please bring the Release Form with you and present to Event Check-In personnel upon arrival. Release Forms will be available on site and may also be filled out and signed at that point.
Please click the link below to download and print your waiver:

Food & Beverage Policy:
Participants are encouraged to bring water and light snacks. There will also be water stations provided in the convention room
What to Wear:
Dancers should wear whatever they would normally wear to take class at their studio. There is no requirement on what to wear, however, as the event is a “family friendly” atmosphere, participants are expected to dress appropriately.
Cancellation Policy:
Event producers reserve the right to cancel the event for any reason. Should event producers cancel the event a full refund shall be issued in the form of a credit to the credit card used for registration
Change of Venue:
Event Producers reserve the right to change venue locations due to any potential unseen circumstances
Refunds:
All registrations are NON-REFUNDABLE unless the event is otherwise cancelled by the producers at which time a full refund will be issued as a credit back to the credit card from which it was charged
“Sold Out Policy”:
All registrations will be processed on a “first come first serve basis” and be subject to availability. Class sizes WILL be limited; therefore, it is strongly recommended that interested participants register early. Once class sizes have reached their capacity the online system will automatically close out the event and a “Sold Out” message will appear in the registration area prohibiting any additional registrations
“Walk-In” & Late Rate Registration:
Walk In’s will be accepted on a given convention date providing the event has not been “Sold Out,” and will still be subject to availability on the convention date. Additionally, Walk-In registrants will be charged the late rate of $100.00
What to Expect if Selected for Team USA:
A Team meeting will take place with all parents and dancers on Sunday July 14th at the Sheraton Atlantic City (time & location TBD) to explain all details (fees, travel etc….) and IDO World Championship registration information. We will also begin rehearsing that day with a complimentary pizza party to follow. The Team will be formally announced with a parade and flag ceremony during the Awards Session of the USTD Final Qualifier and Miss Dance of the United States Preliminaries.

*Dancers will be required to purchase the official Team USA Warm Up Suit to be worn while at the World Championships in Poland.
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IDO Team USA Video Audition Details
(TEAM USA – ACRO DANCE)

Video Submission Dates June 1st – 28th 2024 :
Dancers/Routines selected to represent Team USA in Poland will be notified via email by July 1st 2024. Those dancers selected will also be invited to participate in a public event announcement and flag ceremony for Team USA (Acro/Jazz/Contemporary and Lyrical on Sunday July 14th in Atlantic City, NJ. All details including fees, registration, Team USA warm up suit (mandatory) and gear, championship details, etc… will be sent via email no later than July 15th 2024. There will also be an optional live parents meeting in Atlantic City on Sunday July 14th just prior to the public team announcement and flag ceremony.
Video Audition Routine Types :
(see time limits and IDO Acrobatic rules below)
Solo, Duo, Trio, Group and Formation routines will be eligible for video audition submission. Please ensure that at least 80% of the dancers in a group or formation will be able to attend the World Championships prior to submitting

Video Audition:

Video Audition Fee - $75.00 per video
Video Audition Routine Time Limits
Solos/Duos/Trios 1 minute & 45 seconds Min. and 2 minutes & 15 seconds Max.
Groups (3-7 dancers) 2 minutes & 30 seconds Min. and 3 minutes Max.
Formations (8-24 dancers) 2 minute & 30 seconds Min. and 4 minutes Max.
IDO 2024 Acrobatic Rules:
1.5 ACROBATIC DANCE

The categories of Acrobatic/ Gymnastic Dance are:
Solo Male, Solo Female, Duo, Group, Formation.

Age Divisions, Time Limits and Costume Rules see in General Provisions of Performing Arts.

Characteristics and Movement:
Acrobatic dance shall include many techniques, such as tumbling, balancing, contortions, and aerial tricks without hands and controlled movement, as well as acrobatic elements, static elements, jumps, hand support elements, turns, rolls, walkovers and saltos, all of which should be connected with dance movement and dance combinations. The emphasis is on strength, stretch, control and ease of movement, no matter what technique is being used. Dance
and Acrobatics should be in the same proportion (approximately half and half). Aerial tricks are iconic elements in this kind of dance, they are allowed in all age divisions except MINI KIDS. In MINI KIDS age division, all tricks are allowed if a body part is touching the floor.

Recommended groups of elements:

1) Flexibility elements / balances (intended figure shall be executed to show strength and control)
2) Gymnastics rolls / acrobatic skills
3) Jumps & Leaps
4) Turns
It is forbidden to choreograph an acrobatic dance routine based on Aerobic and sport Rock’ n ’Roll elements.
For safety reasons it is forbidden in MINI Kids age division:
a) To perform supports/lifts higher than dancers’ height as well as different throws from hands of other dancer except in the adult division.
b) To fall on the knees, stomach and back from the jumping position.
c) To perform the same acrobatic element more than three times in a row/consecutive (variations are allowed i.e. performance of different forms of the element. For example: cartwheel, one hand cartwheel, cartwheel with transition to the floor, elbow cartwheel etc.).
d) To perform headstand (head balance).

IMPORTANT NOTE :
Dancers are not allowed to perform tricks/elements that they have not been fully trained for or tricks/elements that are above their level/expertise. Physical development, core strength and age of each individual dancer should be taken into consideration by the trainer. Lifts, pyramids, throws: Lifts are permitted in all age divisions except MINI Kids. Pyramid is element of artistic, power and plastic acrobatics. It is a group position when dancers supporting each other form complex figures. While performing a pyramid, intended figure shall be fixed to show strength and control. In Children’s age division: different throws of one dancer by another are not allowed. In Children’s age division: performed lifts and pyramids should reflect the real age and physical ability of dancer/dancers. Gymnastic lines are allowed with a limit of four continuous tricks.

Groups (3-7 dancers) and Formations (8-24 dancers):
The choreography utilizes the full floor coverage with multiple formations/pictures, levels,
partnering being presented. Transitions are smooth and continuous while dancers maintain
a high caliber of dance technique throughout performance.

Clothing and decorative elements:
Costume rules and regulations are in General Rules in Section 2 of the

IDO Rule Book:
For safety reasons it is forbidden to wear decorative elements including earrings, piercing in nose, tongue, navel, face skin. Eye-glasses, hearing devices as well as decorations made of transparent plastic, bracelets, necklaces and pins are also forbidden. All decorations shall be taken off. (Exception: stresses on the dress and temporary tattoos). All accessories, for example hair accessories, shall be tight, and, if possible, soft and flat. Long hair shall be fastened and taken away from face.

Host or Publisher United States Tournament of Dance