Momentum Dance Competition respects improvisation as a tool for student artists. Improv allows dancers to create and express spontaneously while inspiring original movement. We offer improvisation as a competitive performance category to dancers ages 9 and up to provide dancers with the exciting challenge of creating and performing simultaneously. 

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Each dancer registered for the Improv category is invited to join an Improv workshop, taught by one of our competition judges. Within this workshop, dancers will practice the format of the improv competition, which is as follows: each dancer will present herself to the judges with a jazz introduction, followed by a contemporary improv solo across the stage. Three finalists from each group will compete in the final round, where dancers will pull an objective out of a hat. Objectives are specific movement or performance quality phrases, written by the judges and competition directors. Finalist dancers will be awarded on their success and skill in performing the objectives, or embodying the words. 

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Example objectives:

SUSTAIN & COLLAPSE

SHRINK & EXPLODE

ROUND & JAGGED

CALM & ATTACK

FLOAT & SLASH

SINK & RISE

FALL & FLY

BUILD & BURST

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Contenders in each age category will dance to the same piece of music, which will be selected by Momentum staff.
 

Each dancer will have 32 counts for her jazz introduction, stepping forward from a line of her fellow contenders.

 

Each dancer will have 45 seconds for her contemporary improv solo, which travels across the stage.

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ALL IMPROV CONTENDERS MUST WEAR BLACK DANCE CLOTHING. BARE FEET REQUIRED.

 

Improv Category Competitors will be judged on artistry, originality, musicality and technique, and there will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awarded in each group. Although tricks are relevant and valuable training in dance, our judges will score dancers according to the rubric as listed below.

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First place winners of the Improv Contest are ineligible to compete the following year, however, winners may register for the Improv Workshop, and can showcase improv onstage, limited to the jazz introduction and contemporary across the floor. Returning winners will not be scored.