COMPETITOR RULES
Applicable to Potential USA IBC Competitors with applications already on file with the USA IBC.
The USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS was designated in 1982 as the official international ballet competition in the United States by a Joint Resolution of the United States Congress.
The USA IBC is presented under the auspices of the International Dance Committee, International Theatre Institute of U.N.E.S.C.O.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Junior Division: For dancers 15 to 18 years of age by June 27, 2010.
Senior Division: For dancers 19 to 26 years of age by June 27, 2010.
Competitors may appear as a soloist or as a couple.
Couples may be formed between members of the same age division or separate age division.
Couples comprised of one Junior Division competitor and one Senior Division competitor must choose from the Junior Division Repertoire in Round I.
A competitor may appear with a competing partner or non-competing partner.
Those choosing to appear as a couple may not include solo works in either their classical or contemporary programs. They must appear with the same partner throughout the competition and always as a couple.
Competitors will be chosen by the Selection Committee of the USA IBC based on their written application and DVD with two variations for solos and one pas de deux for couples from the Round I classical ballet repertoire. Applicants must use the 2010 USA IBC rehearsal music CD when filming their video application. Practice clothes must be worn in the video, not costumes. (See video requirements on the back of the Competitor Application Form: Part II.)
Coaches traveling to Jackson must submit the coach application form (yellow form) included in this packet and required materials to the IBC office by February 1, 2010.
Non-competing partners traveling to Jackson must submit the non-competing partner application form ( pink form) included in this packet and required materials to the IBC office by February 1, 2010.
6. The USA IBC automatically accepts dancers who have won a
gold medal (first prize) or the Grand Prix at International Ballet
Competitions in Varna, Bulgaria; Moscow, Russia; Helsinki,
Finland; New York International Ballet Competition; and the
New York finals of Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) as a
soloist.
Applicants who have received one of these awards and wish to
waive the USA IBC selection process must submit a
copy of their certificate of award to USA IBC BEFORE
February 1, 2010. A completed Competitor Application Form:
Part II, signed release form and applicant agreement, copy of
passport, and black and white head shot are also due BEFORE
February 1, 2010. Dancers wishing to waive the selection process
must also meet USA IBC age and eligibility requirements. No
DVD (video application) is necessary provided that USA IBC
receives the above documentation BEFORE February 1, 2010.
The USA IBC automatically accepts dancers who have won a medal at a past USA IBC (Jackson, MS). Applicants who have received a medal at USA IBC and wish to waive the selection process must submit a completed Competitor Application Form: Part II, signed release form and applicant agreement, copy of passport, and black and white head shot are also due BEFORE February 1, 2010. Dancers wishing to waive the selection process must also meet USA IBC age and eligibility requirements. No DVD (video application) is necessary provided that USA IBC receives the above documentation BEFORE February 1, 2010.
PROGRAM
ROUND I: Eliminations (Classical)
Competitors must perform either two solo variations or one pas de deux selected from the obligatory classical repertoire. Junior competitors must choose from Junior Division Repertoire, and Senior competitors must choose from the Senior Division Repertoire. Couples comprised of one Junior Division competitor and on Senior Division competitor must choose from the Junior Division Repertoire.
ROUND II: Semi-Finals (Contemporary)
The USA IBC is interested in contemporary choreography that reflects the highest quality of dance created by contemporary or modern dance masters. Contemporary works from second and third rounds are eligible for a choreography award. Original choreography created especially for the USA IBC is automatically eligible for this choreography award.
Semi-finalists must perform one contemporary solo or duet.
Total stage time allowed is 4 minutes.
Competitors should choose from the repertoire of music included in the ASCAP catalog or BMI catalog.
Competitors are responsible for and must provide written permission for use of choreography for Round II contemporary pieces.
ROUND III: Finals (Classical and Contemporary)
Finalists must perform a pas de deux or two solo variations of their choice from the obligatory classical ballet repertoire. Juniors and Seniors do not choose from separate repertoires in Round III.
§ Soloists must choose one variation from List A and one variation from List B from the classical ballet repertoire.
Finalists must perform a contemporary solo or duet choreographed after 2006. Total stage time allowed is 4 minutes.
Competitors should choose from the repertoire of music included in the ASCAP catalog or BMI catalog.
Competitors are responsible for and must provide written permission for use of choreography in Round III contemporary pieces.
Contemporary entries in Round III are eligible for a choreography award.
Classical and contemporary pieces performed in Round III must be different than those performed by the competitor in previous rounds. Pieces must differ in technical elements.
RULES
Stage Appearance
The order of appearance on stage will be determined by drawing numbers.
Competitors will appear in numerical order. For couples, the number of the female competitor will be used. Juniors will appear first on the program during each performance.
Competitors may appear as a soloist, with a competing partner or with non-competing partner. Those choosing to appear as a couple may not include solo works in either their classical or contemporary programs and must appear with the same partner throughout the competition.
If a partner is eliminated, he or she must continue to appear with his or her partner in subsequent rounds, the Awards Gala and the Encore Gala.
Competitors must furnish their own costumes and make-up.
Competitors may not use oil based body paint.
Performance in the nude is not allowed.
The USA IBC will be limited to approximately 100 competitors.
The competition takes place in Thalia Mara Hall on a stage with a Harlequin Liberty sprung floor, covered with Harlequin Reversible performance surface. The stage dimensions are 50 feet wide by 35 feet deep (16 meters x 11 meters).
All competition performances are held before a public audience.
MUSIC
Competitors must furnish their own musical material for contemporary pieces.
Competitors must use the provided 2010 USA IBC rehearsal music CD for classical pieces. No alterations of any kind may be made to the requisite CD. Pitch control may not be adapted in the theater. The CD includes a fast and slow tempo for variations.
Recorded music requirements: ONLY MINI DISCS ARE ACCEPTED FOR PERFORMANCES. Competitors must also submit a back-up CD.
§One mini disc and two CDs are required for each contemporary selection in Round II and Round III.
Competitors must mail a mini disc and one copy of your CD to arrive at the Competition office no later than April 15, 2010. An additional CD for studio rehearsals should be brought with the competitor.
All recordings for contemporary pieces must be in a plastic case marked with the competitor’s name, title of work and the Round number.
A CD recording of performance music for studio rehearsals is also required. MP3/CD players will be furnished by the Competition. Studio rehearsal sites will not be equipped for Mini Discs.
Only performance quality recordings will be accepted. The competitor will be responsible for payment to have inferior recordings remade.
Competitors should choose from the repertoire of music included in the ASCAP catalog or BMI catalog for contemporary pieces in Round II and Round III.
6. SCORING
Competitors will be judged individually by an international jury of 13 members.
No country will have more than one jury member.
Based on a 10-point system, each juror will vote individually for each competitor in each round.
A private evaluation session with a dance professional reviewing the judge’s comments and suggestions will be available to eliminated competitors only following each round.
The USA IBC does not give out jury scores. A summary of the jury’s comments will be provided during the evaluation session.
The jury reserves the right to withhold any award or to divide an award between more than one competitor.
Decisions of the jury will be final and without appeal.
7. AWARDS GALA AND ENCORE GALA
Dancers winning awards and their partners must appear in the awards gala performance on Saturday, June 26, and the Encore Gala performance on Sunday, June 27.
If a dancer is unable to perform due to injury, he or she must show a doctor’s statement.
Each dancer’s program will be selected by the jury from works performed during the competition.
Dancers appearing in classical works are required to perform with an orchestra. No exceptions will be made to this rule. Recorded music may be used only for contemporary works.
Competitors do not receive royalties for any television broadcast or taping of the Competition, Awards Gala or Encore Gala.
8. TRAVEL AND HOUSING
Travel expenses to Jackson and returning are the responsibility of the competitor.
Competitors, their coaches and partners will be met at the airport and taken to Belhaven College for registration. All transportation in Jackson will be provided by the competition.
The USA IBC will provide and pay for housing and food for each competitor and non-competing partner from noon Tuesday, June 8, 2010 through noon Sunday, June 27, 2010.
All Round III finalists will receive a stipend of $700 to help defray travel expenses.
e. All competitors and non- competing partners are required to stay
at Belhaven University.
§Housing is double occupancy. No single rooms are available.
§Members of the opposite gender may not share a room unless
married.
§Competitors and non-competing partners may not share a room
with a coach or any other person unless married to that
individual.
f. Housing will be provided in dormitories. The USA IBC will not
be responsible for any other person traveling with the competitor
and non-competing partner.
g. Meals will be provided at Belhaven College.
h. Special rates are available for housing and food for coaches and
family members at Belhaven College.
9. ARRIVAL DATES
Competitors must arrive in Jackson on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, to register and draw numbers. Please make your travel plans to arrive by this date. Anyone arriving before Tuesday, June 8, 2010 will be responsible for making their own arrangements at their own expense. The dormitories at Belhaven College will not be open for competitor housing before Tuesday, June 8, 2010.
10. COMPETITION
a. Daily studio rehearsal space will be provided.
b. Technical rehearsal is provided on stage for each round.
c. Daily class is provided for competitors and non-competing
partners.
d. Competitors and non-competing partners who have been
eliminated must participate in the choreography workshop in
order to stay on at no cost.
11. INSURANCE
The competition will provide insurance to competitors and non-competing partners for accidental injury only during the period of June 8—28, 2010, while participating in the competition. General health insurance must be provided by the competitor.
12. COACHES
Coaches must submit the enclosed Coach Application
form by February 1, 2010.
Advanced reservations are required for coaches wanting to stay at Belhaven College. Housing and 3 meals a day will be available at a very reasonable cost.
§Members of the opposite gender may not share a room unless married.
§Coaches may not share a room with a competitor and non-competing partner unless married to the dancer.
Due to scheduling restrictions, each coach may only work with 3 competitors/couples.
Each soloist/couple is restricted to one coach.
Coaches are responsible for purchasing their own performance tickets and will receive a 20% discount.